John Wheeler of Troy, Kansas, mustered into the 13th Kansas Infantry as lieutenant colonel on September 20, 1862, at Atchison, Kansas, the same date the regiment was organized. The regiment fought in the 1862 battles of Newtonia and Prairie Grove. The 13th was involved in the capture of Fort Smith and several other skirmishes and scouts in Missouri, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory, but also spent considerable time performing garrison duty.

Wheeler mustered out on June 26, 1865, while the regiment was mustered out on July 13, 1865 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Carte-de-Visite by Unknown Photographer.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31716