General James G Blunt

Kansas' only major Civil War-era general. Despite his absence from most Civil War histories, Union general James Gilpatrick Blunt was an immensely successful leader. He and John Brown helped escaped slaves reach Canada; he led the defeat of Confederate troops at Fort Wayne, Prairie Grove, and Cane Hill. Though his successful military campaigns were well-reported and he was viewed as a hero, Blunt was also accused of corruption, womanizing, and was known for his egotistical tirades throughout his military career. This biography gives perspective on the western frontier of the Civil War, along with some insight into the behavior of an important general in the West.