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Title: From James Griffing to Cuttie
Description: This October 30, 1864 letter was written by James Griffing in Lincoln, to Cuttie. James describes General Price’s capture of the arsenal at Topeka, declaring “The Topeka boys fought like tigers.” He gives an account of acquaintances killed in the Battle of Westport, adding that he believes “Missouri will be safer now.” He cautions Cuttie not to buy much at current prices, since “everything is bound to change after the election.”
Date: October 30, 1864

Title: From John C. Gage to Dear Friends
Description: This letter, dated December 8, 1862, was written by John C. Gage in Kansas City, Missouri to friends in Pelham, New Hampshire. Declaring that the “guerrillas” have gone, John describes how his community has been altered by the war: “It is the common course of things for anybody to get killed. Even their own families hardly seem to mourn for them.” He adds that those injured in battle are often seen “about the streets with their crutches.”
Date: December 8, 1862

Title: From Jacob Hall to My Dear Daughter
Description: This letter, dated February 7, 1864, was written by Jacob Hall in Independence, Missouri, to his daughter. Jacob writes that the counties of “Jackson, Cass, Bates and the Southern portion of Vernon have been reattached to the District of Missouri and placed under the command of Gen. Brown – and Gen. Ewing has left for Kansas with nearly all his command.” He adds that “Col. Fort is in command of…the above named counties.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: February 7, 1864

Title: From Cyrus Leland, Jr. to Dear Mother
Description: Cyrus Leland, Jr. writes a letter to his mother in Troy, Kansas on September 16, 1863. Leland, a lieutenant of the 10th Kansas Infantry, Company F, reports that he recently arrived in Kansas City, Missouri from Atchison, Kansas. He tells his mother that a colonel fought a band of Bushwhackers the previous day: “He killed several and captured forty Horses.”
Date: September 16, 1863

Title: From Jonathan B. Fuller to Dear Father
Description: On July 18, 1864, Jonathan B. Fuller writes from Kansas City, Missouri to his father. Fuller reports rumors of recent battles "across the river," and says that Platte City, Missouri may have been "burned to the ground by our own soldiers." He mentions his anxiety over mounting political tensions in his church, fearing that the congregation may split after the August 4 "Fast day" service.
Object Type: Letter
Date: July 18, 1864

Title: Affidavit of Peter Arnoldia
Description: This is Dr. Peter Arnoldia's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Arnoldia states that he had been in the building that housed the prison many times, including the day before it collapsed, and considered it safe and well constructed. The affidavit is dated September 12, 1863 and signed by Arnoldia and Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 12, 1863

Title: From Jonathan B. Fuller to Dear Father
Description: On June 20, 1864, Jonathan B. Fuller writes from Kansas City, Missouri to his father. Fuller reports that his Sunday church congregation was smaller than usual "on account of the details for Guard duty. For everybody is under arms. The soldiers are off scouring the country for bushwhackers. We…are supposed to be in danger of an attack--so all hands, Rebel & Radical--old and young--are armed and standing guard every night." Fuller also describes escalating political tension within his church.
Date: June 20, 1864

Title: From D.L. Shouse to Jonathan B. Fuller
Description: This October 1863 letter is from D.L. Shouse in Kansas City, Missouri, to Rev. Jonathan B. Fuller in Louisiana, Missouri. Shouse writes that his church must postpone the invitation it extended to Fuller to become their minister. He tells Fuller, "we have lost quite a large number of our members by military orders as well as by voluntary removal," and says that the congregation lacks the resources to support a minister until "quiet is restored" in Jackson County.
Date: October 1863

Title: Special Orders, No. 232
Description: This military document, "Special Orders, No. 232", commands Lieut. Col. R.T. Van Horn of the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry to report for duty to Brig. Gen. Ewing in Kansas City, Missouri. The document is signed by Maj. Gen. J.M. Schofield, Assistant Adjutant General, at the Head Quarters of the Department of the Missouri in St. Louis on August 26, 1863.
Date: August 26, 1863

Title: Affidavit of Elijah M. McGee
Description: This is Elijah M. McGee's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. McGee states that before the prison collapsed, he entered the adjoining building, saw that its columns had been removed, and predicted that it would collapse. The affidavit is dated September 10, 1863 and signed by McGee and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 10, 1863

Title: Affidavit of Solomon S. Smith
Description: This is Solomon S. Smith's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Smith, a brick mason, states that he built the walls of the prison and the adjoining building, using the "best quality Bricks." He describes the building's construction, then states that the prison could not have collapsed from ordinary usage, but only from "undermining the Walls in Some way or removing the Supports." The affidavit is dated September 10, 1863 and signed by Smith and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 10, 1863

Title: Campaign Circular for R.T. Van Horn
Description: This campaign circular, printed in Kansas City on August 30, 1864, presents several reasons why Col. R.T. Van Horn should be elected to represent the Sixth Congressional District of Missouri. It references his military career, including his role in the Battle of Lexington, and declares that Van Horn was "the very first man in Western Missouri who sprung to arms in 1861." The document is signed by A.G. Newgent and G. Thomas.
Object Type: Circular
Date: August 30, 1864

Title: From E.S. Dulin to Jonathan B. Fuller
Description: This letter, dated March 12, 1863, is from E.S. Dulin, a pastor in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Jonathan B. Fuller, a pastor in Kansas City, Missouri. Dulin describes his community as "worn down" and tells Fuller that "our young men & all others that can are leaving to get rid of being 'Conscripted.'"
Date: March 12, 1863

Title: From J.A. Hay to Jonathan B. Fuller
Description: This letter is from J.A. Hay, the uncle of President Lincoln's private secretary, to Rev. Jonathan B. Fuller, a pastor in Kansas City, Missouri. Hay writes from St. Joseph, Missouri on January 30, 1863 and asks Fuller to visit a church in that town. He tells Fuller that the pastor supports the Union and mentions that he was "much gratified to hear brother Doulin make an earnest prayer for our Government."
Date: January 30, 1863

Title: Document Regarding Collapse of Women's Prison
Description: This document certifies that a building known as "No. 13 Metropolitan Block" housed a women's prison in July and August 1863, by order of Brig. Gen. Thomas E. Ewing, Jr. The building, located in McGee's Addition to Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed on August 13, 1863. This document was signed by Ewing at the Headquarters of the District of the Border in Kansas City on September 11, 1863.
Date: September 11, 1863

Title: Diary of Jonathan B. Fuller
Description: This is an excerpt from the diary of Rev. Jonathan B. Fuller. Fuller, a pastor in Kansas City, Missouri, writes about visiting military hospitals, leading prayer meetings for soldiers, and hearing the sounds of muskets in nearby skirmishes. His diary entries, dated June 4, 1864 - June 25, 1865, also describe the Battle of Westport, and mention the movements of Gen. Price and Col. Jennison, and the assassination of President Lincoln.
Object Type: Diary
Date: June 4, 1864-June 25, 1865

Title: From Jonathan B. Fuller to Dear Father
Description: On May 23, 1864, Jonathan B. Fuller writes from Kansas City, Missouri to his father. Fuller writes about his plans for his church congregation, and describes attending a school picnic in Kansas City, at which he gave a short address. He mentions that a colleague plans to start east on a collecting trip, provided General Grant "is successful on the Potomac." Fuller adds that there are bushwhackers in the area, but only a few and therefore "not likely to do any general mischief."
Date: May 23, 1864

Title: Petition to H.R. Gamble
Description: This July 11, 1862 petition is addressed to H.R. Gamble, Governor of Missouri. The petitioners, citizens of Jackson County, Missouri, request that Lieut. Col. R.T. Van Horn of the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry be assigned "to the Command of the Troops." They cite Van Horn's familiarity with the area, and argue that the Federal troops' ignorance of the area is "the principal reason why the Guerilla bands infesting this District have not been broken up."
Object Type: Petition
Date: July 11, 1862

Title: From Susan A. Staples to Mary W. Mason
Description: On February 1, ca. 1863, Susan A. Staples writes from Independence, Missouri to Mary W. Mason. After reporting on the health of her family, Susan states that Col. Penick's command is stationed at Independence. "He deals very strict with Southerners," Susan writes, and "he has a great many female prisoners and says that he is going to [banish] every lady that has husbands in the Southern Army or with the bushwhackers." She adds that her family has been "dreadfully Jayhawked."

Title: From Jonathan B. Fuller to Dear Father
Description: On June 13, 1864, Jonathan B. Fuller writes from Kansas City, Missouri to his father. Fuller discusses church activities and says that there are probably a few bushwhackers in the area. "Patrols are out every night," he writes, "but the object of them seems more to prevent smuggling ammunition & supplies out of town to the guerrillas than to guard against any attack." Fuller adds that he is to give an address at William Jewell College.
Date: June 13, 1864

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

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