CASPER, Wyo. — Casper historian Johanna Wickman will be signing copies of her just-released book “The Forgotten Soldier: The Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb” at Fort Caspar Museum from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25.
“Plumb is unquestionably the most important United States senator who you have never heard of,” one reviewer said.
Before he served as a senator, Plumb was a member of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry during the Civil War. His unit deployed to Platte Bridge Station (Fort Caspar) at the war’s end and was here when Caspar Collins lost his life in the Battle of Platte Bridge.
Many items belonging to Plumb will be in Casper for the first time in over 150 years in a new exhibit, “Soldiers of the Republic: The 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.”
Wickman is the author of “The Lost Forts of Casper,” and in her new book on Lt. Colonel Plumb, she continues her efforts to tell the forgotten stories of the men who served in the U.S. army on the western frontier. She is collaborating with Fort Caspar Museum staff as well as museums and private collectors in Kansas on the 11th Kansas exhibit that will be on display March 25 for the book signing event.
“Visitors will see items on view that were involved in the very battles that gave Casper its name,” Wickman said.
Objects borrowed for the exhibit include Plumb’s saddle and shoulder insignia as well as a magazine dated 1863.
The book is available in the museum’s gift shop. Visitors are encouraged to have it signed by the author and then enjoy a visit to the museum. Admission to the book signing is free, but there is a small fee to visit the exhibits: $2 for adults; $1.50 for youth (ages 13–18 years), seniors (ages 62 and over) and children 12 years and younger. Museum members are free.
The museum’s winter hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Fort Caspar is located at 4001 Fort Caspar Road in Casper. The phone number is 307-235-8462 and the website is http://www.fortcasparwyoming.com.
