Stephen Jennings, a native of New York and a resident of Topeka, Kansas, enlisted and was mustered into Company A, 5th Kansas Cavalry as sergeant on July 16, 1861; he was promoted to regimental sergeant major on September 5, 1861. Jennings was promoted to second lieutenant in Company A on January 1, 1862, and to first lieutenant on September 15, 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Helena, Arkansas, and captured at Marks’ Mill, Arkansas, on April 25, 1864. Jennings was held at the Confederate prison camp in Tyler, Texas, until he was exchanged.

The 5th Kansas Cavalry was organized at Leavenworth, Kansas, and fought at the 1863 battles of Helena and Pine Bluff, and the 1864 battles of Lexington, Little Blue River, Independence, Byram’s Ford, Westport, Marais des Cygnes, Mine Creek, Marmiton River, and Newtonia.

Jennings mustered out of service on April 6, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He died in Patchogue, New York, on August 6, 1888.

Carte-de-Visite by Unknown Photographer.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31772