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From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Title
From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description
Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas, writes a letter to his parents in Massachusetts on August 9, 1857, announcing that Kansas has voted to ratify the Topeka Constitution. He adds that Free State supporters appear to comprise a majority in Kansas. Fitch complains about a recent Herald of Freedom article on the apportionment of the Kansas Legislature, and claims that it is “the most damning piece of villany ever perpetrated by any men or set of men.”
Date
August 9, 1857
From Daniel Woodson to William P. Richardson
Title
From Daniel Woodson to William P. Richardson
Description
This order, dated August 30, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Major General William P. Richardson, Kansas Militia, Northern Division. Woodson orders Richardson to occupy the area between Leavenworth and Lawrence to prevent General James Lane’s escape with his forces. Woodson states that he has ordered Major General Coffey, Kansas Militia, Southern Division, to proceed to or near Lawrence.
Date
August 30, 1856
John Doy and Rescue Party
Title
John Doy and Rescue Party
Description
Photograph taken by Amon Gilbert DaLee in Lawrence, Kansas Territory in the summer of 1859 depicting Dr. John Doy, his son Charles, and his rescue party, which freed him from the St. Joseph, MO jail on July 23, 1859, where he was being held on charges of abducting slaves.
Object Type
Image
Date
1859
From John M. Schofield to Thomas Carney
Title
From John M. Schofield to Thomas Carney
Description
This letter, written on the letterhead of Headquarters, Department of the Missouri and dated August 29, 1863, was sent by John M. Schofield in St. Louis to Kansas Governor Thomas Carney in Topeka, Kansas. Writing in the aftermath of Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence, Kansas, Major General Schofield states his hope that President Lincoln will appoint a Court of Inquiry to investigate the raid. Schofield refers to a meeting proposed for September 8, 1863 in Paola, Kansas, in which participants plan to enter Missouri “to recover their stolen property.” Schofield emphasizes the need to preempt this potentially violent meeting.
Date
August 29, 1863
Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas
Title
Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas
Description
Stereograph by Alexander Gardner depicting Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence, Kansas. Founded by members of the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society (later renamed the New England Emigrant Aid Company) in 1854, Lawrence was a center of Free-State activism during the Border War.
Object Type
Image
Date
1867
Findings of the Grand Jury in Relation to the Herald of Freedom, Kansas Free State, and Free State Hotel
Title
Findings of the Grand Jury in Relation to the Herald of Freedom, Kansas Free State, and Free State Hotel
Description
This document describes the findings of the Grand Jury, 1st District Court, Douglas County, Kansas, regarding the Herald of Freedom and Kansas Free State newspapers, and the Free State Hotel in Lawrence, Kansas. Concluding that the two newspapers are guilty of publishing “inflammatory and seditious” reports, and that the Free State Hotel is clearly intended to be a military stronghold, the Grand Jury recommends the newspapers’ “abatement,” and the hotel’s removal. The document, ca. 1854-1860, is signed by Owen C. Stewart, Grand Jury foreman.
Object Type
Legal Document
From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Title
From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description
In this November 21, 1856 letter to his parents, Edward Fitch describes attending a fundraising dinner in Lawrence, Kansas for the Free State Prisoners in Lecompton. He reports that Governor Geary was not there and that, according to rumors, Judge Lecompton had ordered Geary arrested. He mentions that Governor Robinson and Lieutenant Governor Roberts were both in attendance and gave optimistic speeches about the future of Kansas as a free state.
Object Type
Letter
Date
November 21, 1856
From Edmund G. Ross to My Dear Wife
Title
From Edmund G. Ross to My Dear Wife
Description
Edmund G. Ross, a captain in the 11th Kansas Cavalry, writes a letter to his wife on June 15, 1864. He informs her that he has just arrived in Olathe from Lawrence, Kansas, and has heard rumors of “a great scare along the border” of Kansas and Missouri. Ross predicts that Kansas troops will soon cross into Missouri to fight the Bushwhackers.
Date
June 15, 1864
From Daniel Woodson to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore
Title
From Daniel Woodson to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore
Description
This letter, dated September 3, 1856, was written by Acting Kansas Gov. Daniel Woodson at Lecompton, Kansas to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore on behalf of the Kansas State Central Committee. Woodson refers to Gen. James Lane’s recent raid on Franklin, Kansas and several other areas of the Territory. He reminds Hutchinson and Moore about the proclamation issued August 25, 1856, declaring Kansas to be in a state of insurrection, and also cites the recent general order issued to Gen. Richardson and Gen. Coffey forbidding the burning of houses under any circumstances.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 3, 1856
New England Emigrant Aid Company Sign
Title
New England Emigrant Aid Company Sign
Description
Sign advertising the New England Emigrant Aid Company.
Object Type
Image
From Philip St. George Cooke to John W. Geary
Title
From Philip St. George Cooke to John W. Geary
Description
This dispatch, dated September 16, 1856, is from Lieut. Col. Philip St. George Cooke to Gov. John W. Geary. Cooke states that after returning to camp near Lecompton, he discovered that 101 prisoners who were taken at the Battle of Hickory Point are now being held at the camp. Cooke asks Geary to send a “proper civil officer” to take the prisoners into custody.
Date
September 16, 1856
Wakarusa Treaty (Draft)
Title
Wakarusa Treaty (Draft)
Description
This document is a draft of the Wakarusa Treaty, signed by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon, Charles Robinson, and James H. Lane on December 8, 1855, ending the Wakarusa War. The signers declare that they "have no knowledge of the previous--present or prospective existence of any organization in [Kansas] Territory for the resistance of the laws." They agree to “aid the Governor in securing a posse” to execute the laws, provided that accused individuals are arrested with “legal process” and receive a hearing before a U.S. District Court judge.
Object Type
Government Document
Date
December 8, 1855
From Cyrus Leland, Jr. to Dear Mother
Title
From Cyrus Leland, Jr. to Dear Mother
Description
Cyrus Leland, Jr. writes a letter from Leavenworth, Kansas to his mother in Troy, Kansas on September 2, 1863. He disputes a rumor that Maj. Preston Plumb had displayed cowardice during Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence: “It is all wrong about him. . . I was with him and saw all.” He also mentions that some people are trying to have Gen. Ewing removed from his position.
Date
September 2, 1863
Certificates of Kansas Soldiers
Title
Certificates of Kansas Soldiers
Description
These papers list the names of soldiers who served in the Wakarusa War for the Kansas Rifles No. 1, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade of Kansas Volunteers. The papers were signed in Lawrence on December 12, 1855 by Capt. William I.R. Blackman, Col. Lyman Allen, Gen. James Henry Lane, and Maj. Gen. Charles Robinson.
Date
December 12, 1855
From R.G. Elliott to Dear Sister
Title
From R.G. Elliott to Dear Sister
Description
This letter, dated August 3, 1863, is from R.G. Elliott in Lawrence, Kansas to his sister. He responds to her complaints about Copperheads: "If you could only send them out here we would make them keep quiet." He writes about a political meeting in Leavenworth that ended in threats of violence. He adds that there has been an increase in guerrilla activity near the Kansas-Missouri border, and that the people of Kansas are preparing to defend themselves against attack.
Date
August 3, 1863
From E.S. Lowman to Charles Robinson
Title
From E.S. Lowman to Charles Robinson
Description
This letter was written by E.S. Lowman in Paola, Kansas, to Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson on August 13, 1861. Lowman writes that the citizens of Olathe, Kansas were recently in a state of “confusion and alarm,” fearing invasion by guerrillas. After the local sheriff arrested several suspected guerrillas from a “secret organization,” the situation settled down. Lowman believes that Aubrey, Kansas is at risk of attack by “’Jayhawkers’ from both sides of the line,” and states that he delivered additional arms to troops stationed there. He also describes recent efforts by law enforcement to recover property stolen by Jayhawkers.
Date
August 13, 1861
From A.J. Huntoon to Lizzie P. Huntoon
Title
From A.J. Huntoon to Lizzie P. Huntoon
Description
This letter, dated January 27-28, 1861, was written by A.J. Huntoon at Johnson House in Lawrence, Kansas, to Lizzie Huntoon. Huntoon reports that he has reached Lawrence from Williamsport, Kansas, after a delay due to severe winter weather. He describes activity in the Kansas Legislature and says that everyone is eager for news of Kansas’ application for statehood; he believes “we will not get to be a state this session.”
Date
January 27, 1861-January 28, 1861
From Edward Fitch to Dear Mother
Title
From Edward Fitch to Dear Mother
Description
Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas writes a letter to his mother in Massachusetts on June 15, 1856. He voices disappointment with James Buchanan and predicts that if John C. Fremont is not elected president, Kansas will be admitted to the Union as a slave state. Yet he expresses optimism that “the death knell of slavery has been tolled.” He reports that Colonel Sumner has been gathering troops in Palmyra, Kansas, and he predicts that violence will ensue. He adds that in Lawrence, a number of Free State men have been robbed, and that “Men are being found dead more or less every little while.”
Date
June 15, 1856
From Julia Mariata to Unknown
Title
From Julia Mariata to Unknown
Description
In this October 5, 1856 letter, Julia Mariata describes the arrest and capture of her brother-in-law, H. Miles Moore. On October 2, Mariata says, she and Moore left Lawrence, Kansas and stopped at the American Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, where Moore was arrested and taken away by a group of men. A Mr. King told Mariata that Moore was arrested because he had served as Adjutant General under Gen. Lane, and that “he was considered guilty of High Treason!”
Date
October 5, 1856
From George W. Deane to the Commander of Lawrence Forces
Title
From George W. Deane to the Commander of Lawrence Forces
Description
This dispatch, dated August 26, 1861, is from George W. Deane at Camp Briggs in New Lancaster, Miami County, Kansas to the “Commander of Lawrence forces.” Deane asks the officer to join forces “for the purpose of Clearing the Border of Rebel forces.” He states that his goal is to concentrate as many forces in New Lancaster as he possibly can. He tells the officer to meet him in New Lancaster.
Date
August 26, 1861

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