Civil War

Title: From Charles Adair to Florella Brown Adair and Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: On June 17, 1862, Charles Adair writes from Emporia, Kansas, to his parents Florella Brown Adair and Samuel Lyle Adair. Charles writes that his company is encamped near the town of Emporia, and explains that they have no arms other than sabers. He says that since he is not allowed to ride his government-issued horse home on furlough, he may try to buy his own horse. Charles plans to write a letter home once a week, but says his parents should not worry if they don't hear from him: "It is hard work to get a chance to write when on the march.”
Date: June 17, 1862

Title: From James M. Boyer to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated October 9, 1863 is from James M. Boyer, Deputy Provost Marshal of Chariton County, Missouri, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Boyer asks Comingo for information about the proper procedure for discharging soldiers. He also reports that Jefferson J. Shaw of Chariton County was discharged from his regiment despite being fit and wanting to remain in the service. "It does seem to me," Boyer writes, "that there is a screw loose somewhere."
Date: October 9, 1863

Title: U.S. vs. Charles Robinson
Description: These legal documents include a warrant, dated May 24, 1856, for the arrest of Charles Robinson for committing treason against the United States. Attached is a summary of a witness's testimony: “he had heard Charles Robinson, in common conversation, repeatedly urge upon the people the propriety and necessity of resisting the enforcement of the Territorial laws.” Also included is a motion to sever Robinson’s case from that of a co-defendant, as well as a motion for continuance, dated September 10, 1856. The court documents are from the First District Court of the United States, Douglas County, Kansas Territory.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: May 24, 1856 and September 10, 1856

Title: From Unknown to Dear Brother
Description: This unsigned letter, dated September 30, 1861, describes a recent Missouri state convention, which resulted in a majority vote against secession. The writer expresses ambivalence about the motivations for this vote: "As the Union at that time was hanging on a pivot, and all were anxious that it should be preserved--few having the boldness to assert that they were for secession--of course we elected good Union men . . . but there is no telling what men will do when they have the power."
Date: September 30, 1861

Title: Examination of William Tapp
Description: This is William Tapp's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Tapp, a 55-year-old Virginia native, states that he has resided in Missouri for 40 years and was "too old to take up arms" during the war. He says he was enrolled as "loyal" by the military authorities in 1862. The oath is No. 166 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Application of Elizabeth Turner
Description: This is Elizabeth Turner’s application for compensation from the United States government for the military service of her slave, Nelson. The application, dated November 17, 1866, includes an oath of allegiance to the United States and a statement that Turner, of Howard County, Missouri, lawfully obtained her slave. The application is signed by two witnesses and a notary public in Cooper County, Missouri.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 17, 1866

Title: From Morse to Joseph H. Trego
Description: This letter, dated October 28, 1862, is from a soldier named Morse to Lieut. Joseph Trego of the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment. Morse says that he was elected to Trego’s position after Trego left the company. He updates Trego on daily life at Camp Vandiver, informing him that Col. Clayton is planning to build barracks and that Lieut. Cox, who had gone AWOL, returned to camp drunk. He also mentions that rebels recently attacked an Illinois regiment and took 70 prisoners.
Date: October 28, 1862

Title: Election Results, 1860
Description: This document lists the results of an August 1860 election in Missouri. It shows Claiborne Fox Jackson receiving a large majority of the votes in the election for Governor. It also shows the results of elections for Congressman, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, and several other positions.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: August 1860

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description: On January 15, 1864, Abishai Stowell writes from Fort Smith, Arkansas to his sister. Stowell reports that his company has just returned from escorting Gen. McNeil to Fayetteville, Arkansas; he expects they will soon be sent back to their regiment. He tells his sister the names of his company's officers, including Capt. John Johnston. Stowell also states that he belongs to the Veteran Corps.
Date: January 15, 1864

Title: Soldier, Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This sepia carte de visite, ca. 1861-1865, depicts an unidentified soldier who served in the Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The carte de visite was produced by R.H. Kimball & Company of Leavenworth, Kansas. Carte de visites were small photographs that were often used as calling cards and became very popular during the Civil War.
Object Type: Image

Title: Jewell Hall
Description: Illustration of Jewell Hall on the campus of William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. The building was constructed in 1852, and temporarily housed Union soldiers during the Battle of Liberty.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Jane C. Tandy to My Dear Grand Mother
Description: This letter, dated October 22 and October 31, 1866, is from Jane C. Tandy to her grandmother. Tandy describes the tension between "conservatives" and "radicals" in Missouri following the Civil War. She reports that conservatives are taking the Oath of Loyalty to the United States Government required for Missouri voters, while the radicals are refusing.
Date: October 22, 1866 and October 31, 1866

Title: Captain Curtis and Soldiers, Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This tintype photograph, taken ca. 1861-1865, depicts Capt. Oran Curtis (far left) and eight other members of the Fifteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, Company F. Curtis's son was Charles Curtis, 31st Vice President of the United States.
Object Type: Image

Title: Joseph S. Martin
Description: This sepia carte de visite depicts Joseph S. Martin, who served in the Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph, ca. 1861-1865, was produced by Armstead & White of Corinth, Mississippi.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of William H. Rymer
Description: This is William H. Hymer's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Hymer, a 34-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by "staying at home and attending to my business." He admits that when he heard of Gen. Price capturing Gen. Mulligan's army at Lexington, Missouri, "I thought both sides wrong." The oath, labeled No. 67 in a bound volume, was signed by Hymer in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Elizabeth Peery to George F. Peery
Description: On January 1, 1856, Elizabeth Peery writes a letter from Edinburgh, Missouri to George F. Peery. Elizabeth describes local festivities for the Christmas holiday, including a large party held by slaves. She reports that friends and family in the area are well, and recounts some of their recent activities. Elizabeth writes that she has a new baby boy, as yet unnamed; she asks George to suggest a name.
Date: January 1, 1856

Title: Examination of Trigg T. Allen
Description: This is Trigg T. Allen's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Allen, a 43-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 43 in a bound volume, was signed by Allen on September 29, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 29, 1866

Title: From E.P. Duncan to Mr. S. Wildbahn and Ransome Butler
Description: E.P. Duncan writes a letter from Desha County, Arkansas to Mr. S. Wildbahn and Ransome Butler on August 17, 1864. He tells them he has considered joining the army, and says his plans keep changing day to day “to suit the emergencies” as they present themselves. He states that he has heard a rumor that General Price will be moving his troops into Missouri, and predicts that it will be a big expedition.
Date: August 17, 1864

Title: Examination of J.D. Morris
Description: This is J.D. Morris's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Morris, a 35-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for six years and served "in the Paw Paw militia under James H. Moss." He says he was enrolled by the military authorities "as a southern sympathizer" in 1862, but "it was against my wishes and consent[.] I claimed to be loyal." The oath is No. 245 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Mary Savage to Jane Simpson
Description: This is an excerpt from a November 29, 1863 letter that Mary Savage wrote to Jane Simpson about Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence. She describes watching two bushwhackers murder her neighbor: “I can never efface from my memory the look and cry of anguish that he gave as he fell, the blood running in streams from his wounds.” Mary says the bushwhackers also threatened to kill her husband, but she saved his life by convincing them that he was sick and was not a member of the Kansas Militia. She writes that nearly every house in town burned down, but some “heroic” women put out a few of the fires. After the raid, she says, downtown Lawrence was reduced to “a heap of ashes.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: November 29, 1863

Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict, 1854-1865

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