William Weer
| William Weer | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General, Kansas Militia Colonel, U.S.V.
|
| Commands held |
4th Kansas Volunteer Infantry 10th Kansas Infantry |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | Kansas Attorney General |
William Weer (a.k.a. William A. Weer and William Weir) was a lawyer, attorney general for Kansas and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is notable for his service in the Trans-Mississippi Theater early in the war and later for being dismissed from the army following a court-martial.
During the time Weer worked as a lawyer he served as legal council for the Wyandott Reservation in Kansas. In 1857 Weer became the second person to hold to position of attorney general in the territory of Kansas. He held that post from 1857-1858. He was also active in the Kansas State Militia and became a brigadier general of militia in 1861.
On June 29, 1861 Weer was appointed colonel of the 4th Kansas Volunteer Infantry intended to serve in Jim Lane's "Kansas Brigade". . Before the regiment was fully up to strength, General James G. Blunt chose Weer, then the senior colonel at Baxter Springs, Kansas, to command the so-called "Indian Expedition" into the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). A sizable force of 5,000 men was assembled and departed from Baxter Springs, Kansas. The expedition started well for the Union soldiers. Weer drove off pro-Confederate Cherokee forces, and defeated a force of Missourians under Colonel J. J. Clarkson at the battle of Locust Grove, capturing the Rebel's supply train. The expedition moved from Locust Grove to Flat Rock, 14 miles (23 km) from Fort Gibson. Low supplies, oppressive summer heat, and indecision on Weer's part led to extreme low morale among the Union troops. Weer's habitual drunkenness led to a mutiny among the other officers of the expedition, spearheaded by Colonel Frederick Salomon. Salomon placed Weer under arrest and assumed command of the expedition and withdrew to meet up with the supply trains.
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