Search results

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 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 William Brining
Description: This is William Brining's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Brining describes himself as a 46-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, who was born in England. He states that he felt "Grief beyond Description" when he heard that Gen. Sterling Price had captured Gen. Mulligan and his army at Lexington, Missouri. The oath, labeled No. 30 in a bound volume, was signed by Brining on September 29, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 29, 1866

Title: From A.W. Mitchell to J.T. Sweringen
Description: This letter, dated May 29, 1861, is from A.W. Mitchell in Huntsville, Missouri to J.T. Sweringen in St. Louis. Mitchell notes that there has been some controversy over the U.S. providing arms to the Kansas Militia, and expresses concern that it will be detrimental to Missouri. He tells Sweringen that planting season has begun, and thus people are too busy "to attend much to politics," but adds that "no matter what our sentiments are we are all forced at this time to be Union men."
Date: May 29, 1861

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: On June 15, 1863, John Bushnell writes from Calhoun, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh. John references an incendiary “peace meeting” in New York (possibly the June 3 “Peace Convention”), likening it to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. He fears that war may soon permeate “every state in the Union.” John mentions a friend who has seen “every battle fought by General Price since the Lexington fight,” and is now awaiting exchange as a military prisoner.
Date: June 15, 1863

Title: Examination of Jefferson Slide
Description: This is Jefferson Slide's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Slide, a 48-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Canada and remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. He claims that he "felt a little sorry for Old Mulligan" when Gen. Sterling Price captured Gen. Mulligan's army at Lexington, Missouri. The oath, labeled No. 53 in a bound volume, was signed by Slide in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of John G. Price
Description: This is John G. Price's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Price, a 19-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and that he helped feed Union soldiers during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 88 in a bound volume, was signed by Price on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Examination of M.C. Drake
Description: This is M.C. Drake's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Drake, a 58-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 105 in a bound volume, was signed by Drake on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: From J.C. Iserman to Brother William
Description: J.C. Iserman writes a letter from Independence, Missouri to his brother William on September 21, 1861. He tells William that he is surrounded by danger. He mentions the Battle of Liberty and the First Battle of Lexington, and says he can hear "cannons booming on all sides." He also writes about his desire to leave Missouri, complaining that "the Secessionist are stealing all the horses and cattle from the Unions and the Jayhawkers from Kansas are retaliating. Times are very hard."
Date: September 21, 1861

Title: From B.F. Dawson to Colonel of the Second Kansas Militia
Description: This letter, dated October 14, 1864 but presumably written ca. October 22, 1864, was sent by B.F. Dawson in Topeka, Kansas, to the Colonel of the 2nd Kansas Militia. Dawson, a member of Capt. Huntoon’s Company B, 2nd Kansas Militia, describes his participation in the Battle of the Blue, during which he was taken prisoner by the Confederates. He was later paroled by Gen. Shelby and marched back to Topeka.

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell of Calhoun, Missouri writes a letter on February 28, 1863 to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. He tells her that “petty acts of tyranny have been committed elsewhere” and predicts that if similar violence occurs where he lives, his neighbors will be too cowardly to defend themselves. He also complains about censorship in newspapers and shares news that General Price “is appointed to the command in rebel army west of the Mississippi.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: February 28, 1863

Title: From Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon
Description: This letter was written on August 24 and 27, 1863 by Samuel R. Ayres in Moneka, Kansas, to Lyman Langdon. Ayres writes that “along our Missouri border we are subject to almost constant raids from the Bushwhackers over the line who rob our citizens burn their houses and murder prominent men.” Ayres offers a description of Quantrill’s recent raid on Lawrence, Kansas, calling it “an act of barbarity but seldom if ever equaled by the most savage tribes.” Ayres says that he and other local citizens are organizing to defend Mound City, Kansas from guerrilla attacks.
Date: August 24, 1863-August 27, 1863

Title: From Maurice E. Pitcher to Mr. Colgan
Description: On November 6, 1864, Maurice E. Pitcher writes from Independence, Missouri to Mr. Colgan. Pitcher states that he saw Colgan's son Willie on October 21 when he came into Missouri with Gen. Price's army: "he is looking quite well…he had no appearance of being 'one of Price's starved to death, rag-muffins.'" He says that Price's men "had a series of battles from little blue (in this county) until within a few miles of Fort Scott, and you may well imagine they had a series of successes."
Date: November 6, 1864

Title: Examination of Robert T. Lincoln
Description: This document attests that Robert T. Lincoln, a 41-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, did not remain loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. Lincoln admits that he served under Gen. Price during the Civil War and he refuses to take an Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Lincoln signed the document in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From "C." to "Col."
Description: This letter, dated September 21, 1861, is from "C." in St. Joseph, Missouri to "Col." C. reports that the Federal troops surrendered at the Battle of Lexington on September 20. He writes that "our country has been rob[b]ed by both parties . . . nearly evry body that is worth any thing has been rob[b]ed more or less, no matter what their politics are." He adds that people are "bitter" about the Platte Purchase, and predicts that fighting will ensue.
Date: September 21, 1861

Title: From G.W. Veale to George W. Dietzler
Description: On October 30, 1864, this dispatch was sent by Col. G.W. Veale at Headquarters, 2nd Regiment, Kansas State Militia in Topeka, Kansas, to Maj. Gen. Dietzler, Comm. Kansas State Militia. Veale reports on a recent campaign in which his regiment moved from Topeka to Shawneetown in Johnson County, Kansas, to Jackson County, Missouri, where it fought in the Battle of the Blue on October 22, 1864. Veale states that his regiment lost 44 killed and wounded, with 68 men taken prisoner after fighting “a force six times our number for three quarters of an hour.” The dispatch includes a list of the soldiers killed and wounded in the battle.
Date: October 30, 1864

Title: Examination of R.P. Wood
Description: This is R.P. Wood's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Wood describes himself as a 52-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri who was born in Kentucky. He states that he supported the United States Government during the Civil War and that he "volunteered here several times in defence of the town." The oath, labeled No. 87 in a bound volume, was signed by Wood on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Sterling Price
Description: Portrait of General Sterling Price taken by photographer Daniel T. Cowell in 1862.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1862

Title: From Samuel H. Robertson to Sterling Price
Description: This letter was written ca. October 7, 1854 by Samuel H. Robertson in Bates County, Missouri, to Missouri Gov. Sterling Price. Robertson states that Osage Indians have been crossing the state line into Missouri to steal horses and crops, and asks Price for protection against this “Indian outrage and oppression.” He suggests that Price call some military companies into service for this purpose, and says that the Osage should be prevented from crossing the state line without written permission from their agent.
Object Type: Letter

Title: Examination of Wiley C. Ellis
Description: This is Wiley C. Ellis's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Ellis describes himself as a 34-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Tennessee. He states that during the Civil War, he sympathized "with the people on both sides," and maintained his loyalty to the United States Government "by obeying all the laws so far as I was able." The oath, labeled No. 81 in a bound volume, was signed by Ellis in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

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

Error message

Pages

Pages

Object Type

Local Subject

People

Geographic Subject

Owning Organization