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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: 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 Brown's Photographic & Ambrotype Gallery in Paola, Miami County, 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: From Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown
Description: This letter, dated April 22, 1862, is from Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown. Chandler reports that his regiment recently marched from Wyandotte, Kansas to Paola, Kansas and merged with the "3d Regt." He adds that the staff officers, including colonels and surgeons, have been mustered out of his regiment, and that he may lose his position as hospital steward.
Object Type: Image
Date: April 22, 1862

Title: From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This undated letter was written ca. December 1862 by Florella Brown Adair in Osawatomie, Kansas, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella expresses distress over reports regarding “the great battle of the 6 of this month.” She states that their son Charles is among the missing, and does not know if he is dead or has been taken prisoner. Florella says that her friends “seemed to sympathize & hoped it might not be so bad, or that it was not true, as many reports are exagerated.”

Title: From Samuel Worthington to Dear Father
Description: This letter, dated October 27, 1864, was written by Samuel Worthington at Headquarters, District of South Kansas, Paola, Kansas, to his father. Worthington states that he recently returned from the front, where he took part in five cavalry charges in one day during the Battle of Mine Creek. He describes participating in a charge with the 7th Kansas Cavalry in which they took 5 pieces of artillery and captured 300 prisoners including Confederate Gen. Marmaduke. “The Rebs are whipped completely,” Worthington declares.
Date: October 27, 1864

Title: From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: On November 30, 1862, Florella Brown Adair writes from Osawatomie, Kansas, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella discusses various household and community matters, stating that she has “a black woman coming to help me.” She says she heard a report that Gen. Blunt was going to Fort Smith with his whole command, and also heard that their son Charles was involved in battle and was “among the first to take the Rebbel Battery.”
Date: November 30, 1862

Title: From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on December 13 and 14, 1862 by Florella Brown Adair in Osawatomie, Kansas, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella writes that Robert Loomis, a local soldier, is home on furlough with the news that their son Charles is well. Loomis reports that Charles asked him to take $35.00 to his family, but the money was stolen from him in Fort Scott, Kansas. Florella tells Samuel she believes Loomis gambled with the money and lost it all.
Date: December 13, 1862-December 14, 1862

Title: From J. Heath to John Stillman Brown
Description: In a letter dated September 30, 1862, J. Heath writes from Paola, Kansas to John Stillman Brown. Heath implies that it is too late for Brown to be appointed Chaplain of his regiment, but reassures him that "I should prefer you for Chaplain...to any one I know of." Heath also discusses life in camp, and reports that his regiment drills "four and one half hours per day now beside dress parade at halft past five PM. Our time hangs heavily on our hands and I think upon the whole I should rather be on the move."
Date: September 30, 1862

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: 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 Charles Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair, Florella Brown Adair, Emma Adair, and Ada Adair
Description: On December 10 and 13, 1862, Charles Adair writes from Rays Mill and Cane Hill, Arkansas, to his parents Florella Brown Adair and Samuel Lyle Adair, and sisters Emma and Ada Adair. Charles reports that he was involved in a “hard battle” at Boonesboro, Arkansas on November 28, and provides a brief account of the fighting. He also describes the Battle of Prairie Grove, in which his regiment fought on December 7. Charles says that they are given enough clothing and food in the army, but “I have suffered dreadfully for the want of sleep.”
Date: December 10, 1862-December 13, 1862

Title: From Edward Hoogland and John A.W. Jones to John W. Geary
Description: In this November 29, 1856 letter, Edward Hoogland and John A.W. Jones report to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary about their recent expedition to southeastern Kansas. They inform Geary that they took depositions, issued warrants, and made arrests in relation to a number of crimes, including some committed during the Pottawatomie Massacre. They also report that they found and returned a substantial amount of stolen property. Hoogland and Jones ask Geary to station U.S. troops in southeastern Kansas, suggesting that “their presence would aid in restoring confidence.”
Date: November 29, 1856

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