Civil War

Title: Examination of Robert Walker
Description: This is Robert Walker's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Walker describes himself as a 64-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Kentucky. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by "staying at home and attending to my business and advising my boys not to go South." The oath, labeled No. 125 in a bound volume, was signed by Walker in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Albert Lincoln
Description: This is Albert Lincoln's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Lincoln, a 47-year-old Missouri native, states that he served in the Clay County militia during the war. The oath is No. 143 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of James A. Saffoon
Description: This is James A. Saffoon's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Saffoon, a 30-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by serving in the militia. The oath, labeled No. 63 in a bound volume, was signed by Safoon in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Absalom Maib
Description: This is Absalom Maib's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Maib describes himself as a 70-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri who was born in North Carolina. He states that to demonstrate his loyalty during the Civil War, he "stayed at home and attended to my work." The oath, labeled No. 103 in a bound volume, was signed by Maib on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Free-State Legislative Council, Kansas Territory
Description: Photograph of the Free-State Legislative Council, 1857-1858.
Object Type: Image

Title: Lexington, Missouri
Description: Bird's eye view of the city of Lexington, Lafayette Co., Missouri in 1869.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1869

Title: From J. French Simpson to Whom It May Concern
Description: In this letter, dated September 5, 1865, J. French Simpson of Carrollton, Illinois, testifies to John Ament’s loyalty: “Mr. Ament is a gentleman and Christian, and since he has lived in this county, I have never heard a disloyal sentiment uttered by him.” Simpson notes that Ament is “formerly of this place and more recently of Missouri.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 5, 1865

Title: Affidavit of William C. Childers
Description: This is the affidavit of William C. Childers, dated May 28, 1856. Childers states that John Brown Jr. came to Prairie City, Kansas the previous week with two slaves owned by a Mr. Jones; he believes Brown is guilty of stealing the slaves from their owner. The affidavit is signed by Charles P. Bullock, clerk pro tem of the 2nd U.S. District Court, Kansas Territory.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: May 28, 1856

Title: Southern "Volunteers"
Description: Currier & Ives political cartoon, which appeared following the Confederate national conscription act passed on April 16, 1862. The cartoon characterizes Confederate troops negatively, with the artist depicting them as criminals and Mexican "banditos."
Object Type: Image

Title: Ely Hall
Description: Sketch of Ely Hall on the campus of William Jewell College from "History of William Jewell College: Liberty, Clay County, Missouri" by William Jewell College and James Gregory Clark.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1893

Title: Fort Union
Description: Camp Union at 10th and Central Streets in Kansas City, Missouri.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1861

Title: Examination of Frederick Meffert
Description: This is Frederick Meffert's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Meffert, a 39-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Germany and remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. He admits that he left Missouri during the war because "It got too hot for a Dutchman in this State." The oath, labeled No. 91 in a bound volume, was signed by Meffert on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Kansas City, Missouri
Description: This bird's eye view of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri was created by A. Ruger in 1869. A drawing of Kansas City in 1855 is shown in the bottom left corner of the image.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1869

Title: Sworn Statement of George W. Harris
Description: This affidavit was sworn by George W. Harris before Edmund Bartlett, J.B.C.C., in Bates County, Missouri on July 12, 1858. Harris states that on July 8, he and William Pape were threatened and robbed by several men accusing them of being part of James Montgomery’s company. The outlaws took Harris and Pape to Papinville, Missouri and subsequently shot both men, injuring Harris in the arm before he escaped. Harris believes that the outlaws killed Pape although he admits he did not actually witness the murder.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: July 12, 1858

Title: Examination of Hiram Chaney
Description: This is Hiram Chaney's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Chaney, a 43-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, swears that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 131 in a bound volume, was signed by Chaney in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Unidentified Civil War Soldier or Guerrilla
Description: Charcoal portrait of unidentified Civil War soldier or guerrilla in uniform with cloak. Drawing is signed by the artist with "93" immediately below the signature. Person in this drawing is from another drawing in this collection (MVO-101F).
Object Type: Image
Date: 1893

Title: Affidavit of Harvey G. Hicklin
Description: This affidavit, given by Harvey G. Hicklin of Vernon County, Missouri, swears that on December 20, 1858, “an armed band of robbers, from Kansas Territory invaded his premises, made him prisoner, and carried off five negroes," horses, oxen, and a wagon "belonging to the Estate of Js. Lawrence.” The affidavit, which presumably refers to John Brown's raid on Vernon County, is signed by John A. Sartorius, Justice of the Peace.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: February 5, 1859

Title: Proceedings of the Citizens of Tecumseh
Description: This document details the proceedings of a meeting of Tecumseh, Kansas citizens held at the Tecumseh courthouse on November 26, 1856. The attendees appointed 12 men to serve as delegates at an upcoming convention in Leavenworth. They also voted on and approved several resolutions, including a commitment to establishing peace in Kansas, and an agreement to support Gov. John W. Geary. The document is dated November 29, 1856 and is signed by 18 citizens.
Object Type: Document
Date: November 29, 1856

Title: From John W. Geary to F.J. Marshall
Description: This dispatch, dated September 16, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. John W. Geary in Lecompton, Kansas, to Gen. F.J. Marshall, 1st Division, Northern Kansas Militia. Geary received Marshall’s dispatch about the threatened invasion of Gen. Lane’s troops and his proposal to station regiments of the Kansas Militia along the northern Kansas line. Geary replies that if such an invasion occurs, he will first employ U.S. troops to combat it, and then call upon Kansas Militia troops if necessary.
Date: September 16, 1856

Title: From Frederick Starr to Dear Father
Description: On February 26, 1855, Frederick Starr writes from Weston, Missouri to his father. Starr states that after the Self Defensive Association ordered all free blacks to leave the city within 30 days, the local citizens armed themselves to prevent the order being carried out. Ten days later, the citizens forced “a mulatto barber, who was in the habit of gambling & drinking with white men,” to leave the city; “To this no one made any objection for he was generally considered a bad citizen.” Starr adds that the community has turned against Gen. Stringfellow, who was accused of calling all servants “whores.”
Date: February 26, 1855

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

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