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Muster Roll of Company C of the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry.
Kansas: 1863. Partially printed manuscript roster on sheet measuring 30” x 21”. Muster roll of the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, a unit celebrated for doing battle with the famed Quantrill’s Raiders in the Department of Missouri during the US Civil War. Listed here are the names of two Medal of Honor Recipients, the brothers James and George Pond. As a family the Ponds were stalwart abolitionists. James rode with John Brown during the Kansas Border war in the 1850s. Afterwards he returned to Wisconsin and took up the printing trade, only to return to battle with the outbreak of the Civil War. Shortly after their formation the unit was dispatched to Kansas to fight Confederate Guerillas operating there, joining with Co. D of the 3rd Wisconsin and the Co. A 2nd Kansas Colored Volunteers. During the battle of Fort Blair (aka Fort Baxter) on October 6, 1863, a severely out-manned James Pond was able to rout Quantrill’s forces, despite enduring a casualty rate of nearly 40%. The high losses and Quantrill’s alleged underhanded tactics led some to christen the conflict the “Fort Baxter” Massacre. George was awarded the medal of honor in 1899 for actions that took place in May 1864 under circumstances similar to those of his brother.
Recorded on the present muster roll are the names and ranks of all members of company C along with their pay from the period beginning August 31st, 1863 and ending October 31st of that year. The actions at Fort Blair are noted as follows:
“On the 6th day of October while stationed at Baxter Springs Kanas, Co. “C” with Co. “D” 3rd Wisconsin Vols. & Co. “A” 2d Kansas Colored Vols. Lieut. J.B. Pond in command were attacked by the notorious guerilla Quantrill with 500 men at 12 M. after sharp fighting for about 20 minutes the enemy were repulsed one loss 9 killed & 14 wounded that of the enemy were killed. Great credit is due W. CV. “C” for the undaunted bravery displayed in repelling the attack as it was a perfect surprise.” Signed by Pond on the verso and multiple times as the witness to payment. Following the war, Pond went into business as a promoter of speaking tours along with another of John Brown’s men, the famed British-born radical abolitionist James Redpath. Pond bought out Redpath’s half of the business shortly after their partnership was formed and went on to handle such famous clients as Mark Twain and Winston Churchill before his death from infection in 1903. CONDITION: Good, folds with old translucent cloth tape repairs, some text and manuscript thus covered but still legible.
Item #2982
Price: $975.00