Fort Blair Memorial

'The Battle for Fort Blair in Blair Springs, Kansas, October 6, 1863. First Lieutenant Ralph Cook headed the 2nd Colored Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant James Pond who commanded Union forces at Fort Blair. Cook died bravely in the battle. Of the 2nd Colored Infantry, Lt. Pond said, "They fought the best of any men I ever saw.... I don't want to be without a company of coloreds if I can help it. The men of the 2nd Colored Infantry were the real heroes of the Battle for Fort Blair.'
--from the memorial tablet, at the Fort Baxter Memorial