During this interlude a District of Kansas existed under the command of Brigadier General James W. Denver from March 19-April 10, 1862.
On August 16, Blunt created the Army of Kansas which was virtually synonymous with the department.
On October 13 Curtis organized the Army of the Border, composed of troops from his department to confront Price's Missouri Raid.
For the first time of the war troops from the Department of Kansas were involved in a major campaign, turning back Price's Confederates at the Battle of Westport.
It was also during this time that Colonel John M. Chivington, commander of the District of Colorado Territory, committed the Sand Creek massacre against the Cheyenne and Arapaho people on November 29, 1864.