Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, a West Point Graduate

MAJ. GENERAL SAMUEL R. CURTIS

Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, a West Point graduate and veteran of the Mexico War, was commanding officer of the Department of Kansas when Camp Dunlap was established at the Walnut Creek crossing in June 1864. In the following month, Curtis renamed the post Fort Zarah in honor of his son, Maj. Zarah Curtis, who was killed by Quantrill forces at Baxter Springs, Kansas in 1863. Gen. Curtis is, perhaps, best known for his role in the defeat of Gen. Sterling Price's army at Westport, Missouri in October 1864.