Veteran of US Civil War (1861-1865) – Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas

“Comrad (sic) Craig’s history is part of the history of the state of Kansas, and it is most fitting that he breathed his last in a home provided by the state for which he did so much.

He was born July 12th, 1829, in Smith county, Tenn. In 1855 he emigrated to Bourbon county, Kansas territory. Through (sic) from a slave state and at a time when locality lines were sharply drawn, he early cast his lot with the free soil party, and was an associate and follower of John Brown and Col. Montgomery, and, by his acts of bravery and pronounced sentiments, drew the wrath of pro-slavery leaders. In 1856 Col. Hamilton, a pro-slavery leader living in Missouri, gathered a band of cutthroats and murders (sic), and went from home to home in Kansas, taking the most pronounced free soilers (sic), including Comrade Craig, and after taking them to a secluded spot, informed them that twenty minutes was their allowed time on earth.

After being drown (sic) up in line, Craig made a rush for one of Hamilton’s horses, mounted it, and made his escape-not without receiving two bullets, one in the right side and the second in the calf of the left leg. Of the forty, seventeen were killed in line, some made their escape, and the balance were shot and supposed to be dead. A few recovered, but many died of their wounds.

Comrade Craig, after months of suffering, sufficiently recovered to again join Montgomery and Brown’s band and had the satisfaction of knowing that, with a solitary exception (one never being heard of), Col. Hamilton and his entire band paid the penalty of their deeds, some being hung by judgment of court, but the greater number met death at the hands of the outraged free soilers (sic)

On August 17th, 1893, Comrade Craig volunteered in Co. D 6th Kansas Cavalry, and was made a sergeant in the company. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Lone Jack, Ft. Smith, and Elkhorn. March 13th, 1893, he was discharged by reason of rheumatism, caused by wound received in 1865. Since then he has lived in southeast Kansas and Webb City, Mo. He was married three times and leaves a large family. One daughter, Lillie, now sick, and three sons were with him at the home for years. He has been constant member of the M.E. Church and the grand army of the republic. Rheumatic fever and pneumonia, superinduced by wounds. But a few days before his death, he informed the writer that he suffered greatly from his wounds.”1

1Dodge City Daily Globe 31 Mar 1893, Fri Page 1