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Title: General Orders, No. 15
Description: This is Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis’s General Order No. 15, signed and dated October 23, 1864 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The order revokes General Order No. 54, which had established Martial Law north of the Kaw River. Curtis states that the enemy has moved south and that the area is no longer in danger. He adds that he is “glad to relieve the People from this burden.”
Date: October 23, 1864

Title: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Description: Stereograph of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from 1867. Fort Leavenworth was originally established in 1827 to provide protection along the Santa Fe Trail. During the Civil War, Fort Leavenworth served as a training station for Kansas volunteers, and in 1864 the fort's garrison prepared for a possible attack by Major General Sterling Price on his Missouri Expedition. At an age of more than 180 years, Fort Leavenworth is the oldest post west of Washington, D.C. that remains in continuous operation.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1867

Title: General Orders, No. 2
Description: Maj. Gen. John A. Halderman of the 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment issued General Order No. 2 on November 17, 1862 at the Headquarters of the Northern Division of the Kansas State Militia in Leavenworth. Under the command of Gov. Robinson, Halderman orders the Militia to acquire an additional 500 troops to assist in defending northern Kansas.
Date: November 17, 1862

Title: A Letter from the Original Members of the Leavenworth Association, K.T. to Jefferson Davis
Description: This pamphlet, dated March 13, 1855, is entitled “A Letter from the Original Members of the Leavenworth Association, K.T. to Hon. Jefferson Davis, Secretary of the War Department.” The pamphlet voices the Association’s concerns about Executive Document No. 50 of the 2nd Session of the 33rd Congress, regarding the military Indian reservation at Fort Leavenworth. The pamphlet was printed by Finch & O’Gorman in Weston, Missouri, and is signed by 26 Association members.
Object Type: Pamphlet
Date: March 13, 1855

Title: From Frederick Starr to Unknown
Description: This is an excerpt from a letter written on December 1, 1854 by Frederick Starr to an unknown recipient. Starr describes a recent “outrage on the ballot box” during elections in Kansas, when “Some 1200 or 1400 Missourians armed with bowie-knives & revolvers took the polls.” Starr says that many free-soilers were unable to reach the polls at all, and declares that “Big times are coming.” He adds that circumstances in Weston, Missouri “look dark.”
Date: December 1, 1854

Title: Leavenworth City, Kansas Territory
Description: Depiction of the city of Leavenworth, Kansas in 1856. Missourians from Weston, Missouri and residents of Fort Leavenworth founded the city in the fall of 1854.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Report of the Secretary of War
Description: This is Executive Document No. 50, 2nd Session, 33rd Congress, presented to the Senate on February 14, 1855 by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. The report contains copies of correspondence “respecting a claim advanced by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the military reservation at Fort Leavenworth; together with the result of his investigation of the alleged interference of certain army officers…with the rights of the Delaware Indians.”
Object Type: Government Document
Date: February 14, 1855

Title: Wyllys C. Ransom vs. George C. Bingham
Description: These documents, created between 1866 and 1867, relate to the Jackson County, Missouri court case Wyllys C. Ransom vs. George C. Bingham. Ransom accuses Bingham of slander, asserting that Bingham publicly and repeatedly said he was a “murderer, robber, thief and a house burner” during the Civil War. Portions of testimony are from Ransom’s fellow officers in the Kansas Volunteers. Ransom seeks $30,000 in damages.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: 1866-1867

Title: Plan of the Public Surveys in Kansas and Nebraska
Description: This black-and-white map, signed by J. Calhoun, Surveyor General of Kansas and Nebraska, was issued by the Surveyor General’s office in Wyandott, Kansas Territory on October 20, 1856. The map is entitled "Plan of the Public Surveys in Kansas and Nebraska." It was printed by Ackerman Lithographers in New York.
Object Type: Map
Date: October 20, 1856

Title: From George D. Bayard to Father
Description: This is a copy of an October 1, 1856 letter from George D. Bayard in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to his father. Bayard tells his father that Kansas is overrun with invaders from Missouri who want to make it a slave state, and with northern emigrants who want to make it a free state. He criticizes Gov. John W. Geary for not taking a strong stand against slavery. He also mentions that troops from Lecompton are pursuing James Henry Lane and his men.
Date: October 1, 1856

Title: Muster Rolls of Kansas Volunteer Regiments
Description: These muster rolls from 1861 and 1862 list the names, ranks, and enrollment dates of soldiers in companies from the 4th and 10th Kansas Volunteer Regiments. They also list the names of soldiers who deserted their regiments or were discharged, transferred, or deceased. The companies were commanded by Capt. James M. Harvey, Capt. James H. Harris, Col. William Weir, and Col. William Cloud.
Date: 1861-1862

Title: From Thomas Swords to John Dougherty
Description: This letter, dated June 25, 1856, is from Col. Thomas Swords in New York to Maj. John Dougherty. Swords expresses regret that the Kansas-Nebraska Act has resulted in conflict for Kansas Territory. He describes the Kansas-Nebraska Act as "a most just one" that "should have been carried out in the right spirit," and he voices hope that the future will bring peace to Kansas.
Date: June 25, 1856

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Distant But Not Forgotten Sister"
Description: On February 4, ca. 1862-1865, Abishai Stowell writes from Leavenworth, Kansas to his "Distant but not Forgotten Sister." Stowell reports that regiments from Kansas and Wisconsin have arrived in Leavenworth, "and there are more coming in every day." He expects that his own mounted rifle regiment will move south very soon. Stowell says he plans to send a daguerreotype of himself "if we get paid before we leave here."
Object Type: Letter

Title: From G.A. Parsons to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This dispatch, dated December 2, 1860, is from G.A. Parsons, Adjutant General of the Missouri Militia, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Parsons relays a rumor that James Montgomery has publicly stated his intention to drive his enemies out of Kansas Territory. Parsons also reports that several men from Kansas passed through Bates County, Missouri that morning and told residents about Montgomery’s attacks. “The excitement here is on the increase,” Parsons states, and he informs Stewart that “we have plenty of troops already on their way to the border.”
Date: December 2, 1860

Title: From Lewis A. Waterman to Dear Mother
Description: This letter, dated July 22, 1864, is from Lewis A. Waterman at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to his mother in Providence, Rhode Island. Waterman reports that William Quantrill invaded Kansas with about 500 Bushwhackers. In retaliation, Col. Jennison crossed into Missouri with 700 troops and killed about 150 men. Waterman also tells his mother about daily life at Fort Leavenworth.
Date: July 22, 1864

Title: From A.J. Sexton to Catherine
Description: A.J. Sexton writes a letter from Leavenworth, Kansas to his wife Catherine in Wisconsin on February 26, 1862. Sexton, a member of the 12th Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, describes daily life at Fort Leavenworth, where his company is headquartered. He also announces that the city of Nashville recently surrendered to the Union and “the general opinion is that the war will soon close.”
Date: February 26, 1862

Title: From G.A. Parsons to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter, dated December 2, 1860, is from G.A. Parsons, Adjutant General of the Missouri Militia, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Parsons informs Stewart that he has just arrived in Bates County and has found among its citizens “a good deal of uneasiness” because of recent attacks by Jayhawkers. He mentions that a citizen named Bishop was recently shot in his own house. Parsons states that he is enclosing a petition from Bates County citizens.
Date: December 2, 1860

Title: From Unknown to Thomas Carney
Description: This telegram was sent from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Kansas Gov. Thomas Carney on April 26, 1864. The telegram consists of an April 23, 1864 telegraph communication between Col. Phillips and Major General S.R. Curtis. Phillips informs Curtis that his troops are tracking Quantrill’s movements through Kansas along the Arkansas River, and that one of his companies stationed near the river may meet Quantrill soon. Curtis replies that from Phillips’ telegram, he infers Quantrill’s location to be on the southern side of the Arkansas.
Object Type: Telegram
Date: April 26, 1864

Title: From W.E. Prince to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This telegram was sent from Capt. W.E. Prince at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Maj. R.T. Van Horn on August 23, 1861. Prince instructs Van Horn to "destroy everything" if forced to "abandon position." He also tells Van Horn to "continue work on gun" and to "communicate with Lexington and obtain Grahams Company ordered by me to this place."
Object Type: Telegram
Date: August 23, 1861

Title: From Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon
Description: In this letter, dated November 15, 1861, Samuel R. Ayres tells Lyman Langdon that he recently travelled to Kansas City, Missouri on an expedition to escort a provision train, but the train was captured by Secessionists. Ayres tells Langdon that there are a lot of Secessionists in Clay County, Missouri, and he suspects that they will try to take possession of Kansas City. He also mentions a rumor that Gen. Lane is in danger, as his regiment is vastly outnumbered by the enemy, but he plans to unite his forces with those of Col. Jennison.
Date: November 15, 1861

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

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