Samuel Walker (soldier)

Samuel Walker (October 19, 1822 — February 6, 1893) was an American lawman and politician from Pennsylvania, who served as officer during Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War.

Early life
Samuel Walker was born on October 19, 1822, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. After marrying Marian E. Lowe in 1842, Walker moved to Ohio in 1848, and worked there as a cabinet maker. In 1855, Samuel then settled permanently in Lawrence, Kansas. There he became a founding member of the Bloomington Guards, a local Militia Company, in late 1855; and he quickly was elected First Sergeant. In the following year he was elected the Colonel of the 4th Kansas Cavalry, which participated in all the campaigns of the free-state men during Bleeding Kansas. In that capacity he was present at the sieges of Lawrence and Fort Saunders and in command at the capture of Fort Titus. In 1856 Walker served as a member of the short-lived Territorial House of Representatives under the Topeka Constitution; around the same time he also was a Deputy U.S. Marshal. He also became the Sheriff of Douglas County, Kansas in October, 1857 and served in this capacity untill January, 1862.

Civil War
When the American Civil War began in April, 1861, Walker volunteered to fight for the Union and was elected the Captain of Company F, in the 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became Major in the 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on May 24, 1862. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, of the 16th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on October 8, 1864; and instantly participated in opposing Price's Raid. In the wave of mass promotions by brevet at the war's end, he received the brevet promotions to Colonel, and to Brigadier General, on March 13, 1865.

The Powder River Expedition
In the summer of 1865, Major General Grenville M. Dodge ordered the expedition as a punitive campaign against the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho. Led by Brigadier General Patrick E. Connor, it was the strategy to have three independently marching columns of soldiers; and Walker was assigned the command of the Middle Column. Made up of eight Companies of the 16th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry and joined by Company H, of the 15th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, he had an aggregate of 600 men. The column was to head north from Fort Laramie and traverse the country west of the Black Hills. Marching through Montana Territory, and Dakota Territory, the force dwindled due to bad water, weather, supply shortages, and harassing Indian attacks. Though Connor's column was able to construct Fort Connor (later renamed Fort Reno) the Army was neither able to defeat the Indians nor to pacify the region. They were recalled to Fort Laramie, and when the 16th Kansas Cavalry mustered out in November 1865, Walker did the same.

Later life
In 1865 Walker was named a Major General of Kansas Militia, and held this rank untill 1875. Walker also served as the Sheriff of Douglas County again, from 1868 to 1872, and as City Marshal, his last office, to which he was elected in 1872. Walker was a republican in the State Senate. Walker died on February 6, 1893, in Lawrence, Kansas; and is buried there on Oak Hill Cemetery.