Check out this page for news and updates regarding Preston Plumb, “The Forgotten Senator,” and the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
Wickman Discovers First Known Photograph of Captain James E. Greer of the 11th Kansas Cavalry
A chance find in an online auction led to the first known photograph of Captain James E. Greer of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. Greer’s service is especially notable at the Fort Caspar Museum in Casper, Wyoming, who now can put a face to the name. The following article describes the find:
First Stage Production of “The Senator” Since 1915 Held in Casper, Wyoming
Johanna Wickman led a project with the Fort Caspar Museum Association, Theatre of the Poor, and Stage III Community Theatre to produce the lost 1890 play “The Senator” at Natrona County High School September 15th through 17th. The main character of Senator Rivers was modeled in Preston Plumb, and the story of the play is featured in Chapter 18 of “The Forgotten Senator.” The play was also streamed live and can be viewed on YouTube.
Fort Caspar Museum Association Adding Headstones to Commemorative Cemetery for 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Soldiers
Members of the Wyoming Veterans Commission presented Fort Caspar Museum director Rick Young and FCMA vice president Johanna Wickman with a $3,500 donation for the headstone project July 22, 2023.
The Fort Caspar Museum Association is working to add nine headstones to the commemorative cemetery honoring soldiers who died at Fort Caspar. Currently, the cemetery only contains eleven headstones for soldiers of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. This project will involve adding roughly 35 more headstones to the cemetery. The first phase is the installation of the nine markers for the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, followed by the 6th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry, and additional markers for the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. For more information on this project or to donate, please visit the Fort Caspar Museum Association website here or contact Johanna Wickman who is spearheading this project.
Reunion of Descendants of 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Johanna Wickman organized a reunion of descendants of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry July 20th through 22nd in Casper, Wyoming this summer. Over 25 people attended, representing 15 different soldiers of the regiment. They traveled from all over the country to attend a welcome barbecue, driving tours to historic sites connected with the regiment, and a living history day at the Fort Caspar Museum with programs given by Wickman. They were also able to pose for a group photo in front of the Fort Caspar Barracks taken by renowned wet plate photographer Robert Szabo. It was wonderful to see so many families who were strangers at the beginning leave as friends, just as their ancestors were so many years ago.
“The Forgotten Senator” Book Signing at Fort Caspar Museum
Author Johanna Wickman was at the Fort Caspar Museum to sign copies of “The Forgotten Senator” and talk about Preston Plumb on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The museum SOLD OUT of copies of the book during the event! Take a look at the article below to read more about Wickman and her interest in Plumb and writing this book.
New Exhibit at Fort Caspar Museum Features 11th Kansas Cavalry and Preston B. Plumb Memorabilia
Opening March 22, 2023, the Fort Caspar Museum will be home to a new exhibit showcasing the history of the 11th Kansas Cavalry who was stationed at the site in 1865. The exhibit features a number of items that have not been in Casper, Wyoming since 1865–including several items belonging to Preston B. Plumb. Check out the Casper Star Tribune article for more information HERE
Author Johanna D. Wickman to Have Book Signing at the Fort Caspar Museum for the “Forgotten Senator”
On Saturday, March 25th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Johanna Wickman, author of “The Forgotten Senator” will be hosting a book signing at the Fort Caspar Museum in Casper, Wyoming.
“The Forgotten Senator” Interview with Johanna D. Wickman
Johanna Wickman was a guest of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry’s YouTube channel for an interview about Preston B. Plumb and her book, “The Forgotten Senator” on March 5, 2023. Wickman shared several stories about Plumb and the 11th Kansas Cavalry, as well as her experiences researching this topic. The full interview is included below:
National Historic Trails Center Documentary
June 30, 2022: At the beginning of the year, I was asked to participate in a 20 minute documentary film about the 1865 Battle of Red Buttes involving the 11th Kansas Cavalry. This film will be shown in a new exhibit at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming. The Bureau of Land Management (who operates the museum) recently acquired the Red Buttes battlefield and is producing this exhibit to coincide with that purchase. Although Lt. Col. Preston Plumb was not present at the battle, (he was stationed at Fort Halleck at the time) the 11th Kansas was his regiment and I was able to give some background on their history prior to arriving to what is now Wyoming and offer some details of the fight. The exhibit and film are expected to open in August 2022. The following is a link to a Casper Star Tribune article about the film: https://trib.com/news/local/casper/trails-center-to-show-new-documentary-on-battle-of-red-buttes/article_238317a8-e840-11ec-8d88-c33d82fb9f95.html
KVOE Emporia Live Radio Interview
March 23, 2022: Johanna Wickman was a guest on the KVOE radio station in Emporia, Kansas for a one hour chat discussing her background, interest in Preston Plumb, the biography, and also shared some stories from the life of Preston Plumb. You can listen to the interview HERE. It is the last audio file on the page.
Who Was Preston B. Plumb?
Follow the link HERE to read a short article written by Johanna Wickman about Preston Plumb featured in the Emporia Gazette on March 12, 2022.