Civil War

Title: Signing the Ordinance of Secession of Louisiana, January 26, 1861
Description: Painting by Enoch Wood Perry, Jr. depicting the signing of the Ordinance of Secession of Louisiana on January 26, 1861, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1861

Title: From Charles Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on February 20, 1861 by Charles Adair in Hudson, Ohio, to his father Samuel Lyle Adair. Charles says that he plans to stop attending school the following week before joining his mother, Florella Brown Adair, in Grafton, Ohio to travel south. He states that his school’s schedule was briefly disrupted by Lincoln’s recent visit to Hudson.
Date: February 20, 1861

Title: John Otis Wattles
Description: A photograph of John Otis Wattles, abolitionist and founder of the Free-State town of Moneka, in Linn County, Kansas.
Object Type: Image

Title: Lexington Courthouse
Description: Partial frontal view of courthouse in Lexington showing cannon ball embedded in column.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: From G.A. Parsons to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter, dated June 4 and 5, 1858, is from Adj. Gen. G.A. Parsons to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Parsons reports that he will ask a former Kansas resident named Hamilton to submit a statement about the crimes of James Montgomery and his followers. Parsons relays a rumor that 100-200 Kansas citizens who have sought refuge in Missouri plan to return to Kansas and seek revenge on Montgomery. He also reports a recent attack on Butler County, Missouri, and informs Stewart that Col. Blakey is organizing a volunteer company of Missouri citizens.
Date: June 4, 1858-June 5, 1858

Title: Gen. John W. Geary
Description: Glass plate negative of General John W. Geary circa 1860-1870. John W. Geary, former mayor of San Francisco, took office as Kansas territorial governor on September 9, 1856. Geary was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to replace Wilson Shannon and attempt to bring peace to "Bleeding Kansas." Geary attempted to remain neutral in the debate over slavery, but he increasingly sided with Free-Staters and drew the ire of proslavery residents and their Missouri neighbors. After receiving numerous death threats, Geary tendered his resignation to President James Buchanan, but Buchanan fired him on March 12. On March 20, 1857, Geary left office and served as a brigadier general with mixed success under General Ulysses S. Grant.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of John A. Estes
Description: This 1866 loyalty examination document bears the name John A. Estes. Estes, a 48-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has resided in Missouri for 35 years. He declares that he is a "sympathizer with the Rebellion" and does not wish to take the Oath of Loyalty. The document is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: "An Abolition Trick Exposed!" Eh?
Description: This broadside was published by H. Miles Moore, a writer for the Weston Reporter in Platte County, Missouri, on August 12, 1854. Moore responds to B.F. Stringfellow’s accusations that he is a Freesoiler and “the secret tool of abolitionists.” He angrily denies the charges and claims to despise abolitionists. He includes a letter, signed by 17 other Platte County citizens, that accuses Stringfellow of publicly stating that “all who labor for their daily bread . . . are slaves” and “all females who labor for their daily bread are whores.”
Object Type: Broadside
Date: August 12, 1854

Title: From John S. Jones to George R. Smith
Description: On June 30, 1854, John S. Jones writes from the National Hotel in Washington, DC to Gen. George R. Smith. Jones wishes Smith well in the legislative elections, but admits that he hopes "a good Democrat will beat you by a small majority." He declares that Old Bullion "has thrown him self in the arms of Free Soilers and Abolitionists," and adds that he hopes Price is not elected.
Object Type: Letter
Date: June 30, 1854

Title: The Surrender of General Lee
Description: Illustration of General Lee surrendering to General Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 12, 1865.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Examination of Michiel Castalo
Description: This is Michiel Castalo's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Castalo, a 44-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, originally from Ireland, states that during the Civil War, he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government by nursing the sick and wounded. The oath, No. 15 in a bound volume, was signed by Castalo in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Nathl. Lyon, Brig. Genl., U.S.A. Killed at the battle of Springfield, Mo., Aug. 10, 1861.
Description: Illustration of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon created after his death at the Battle of Springfield, Missouri, circa 1862-1863.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of Henry Chaney
Description: This is Henry Chaney's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Chaney, a 43-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 40 in a bound volume, was signed by Chaney in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Battle of Chickamauga
Description: Kurz & Allison lithograph of the Battle of Chickamauga, circa 1890.
Object Type: Image

Title: William Clarke Quantrill
Description: Charcoal portrait of William Clarke Quantrill in suit coat and tie. Captain William Clarke Quantrill was the most noted of all guerrilla leaders. His commission was as Captain of Cavalry Scouts for the Confederates. He led the raid or massacre on Lawrence, Kansas, on August 21, 1863. After the Battle of Westport in October 1864, Quantrill went to Kentucky where he was mortally wounded by Federal soldiers. He was taken to a hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, where he died June 6, 1865, at the age of 27.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of W. Mayhugh
Description: This is W. Mayhugh's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Mayhugh, a 49-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri since 1849, and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 233 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Edward Fitch to Mr. Editor
Description: In a July 23, 1856 letter to the editor of the Hopkinton (MA) Patriot, Edward Fitch writes that “two or three” men were killed for attending a meeting of the Free State Legislature in Topeka. He says that U.S. Troops have been disarming members of the Free State party and that Border Ruffians have driven out and captured a number of Free State men. He ends the letter by stating that the people of Kansas will not allow themselves to be taxed by the Bogus Legislature.
Date: July 23, 1856

Title: The Battle of the Crater
Description: John Adams Elder painting of the Battle of the Crater, part of the Siege of Petersburg, which took place on July 30, 1864.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Examination of Jackson L. Petty
Description: This is Jackson L. Petty's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Petty, a 28-year-old Virginia native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 13 years. When asked which side he support during the war, Petty replies, "I did all my fighting on the Federal. I believe I don't wish to answer farther on that." The oath is No. 259 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Benjamin Gillis
Description: This is Benjamin Gillis's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Gillis, who was born in Germany, describes himself as a 32-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri. He states that he "entered the service" and fought for the Union during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 39 in a bound volume, was signed by Gillis in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

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

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