Civil War

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: General Orders, No. 1
Description: These are General Orders from the Headquarters of the Recruiting Service of Missouri Volunteers at the Office of the Acting Provost Marshal General for Missouri. They instruct all District Provost Marshals of Missouri to submit weekly reports of the number of recruits enlisted in their districts, and to provide transportation for recruits. They also instruct Enrolling Officers to make weekly reports and to bring their recruits to the Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for examination. The orders are dated November 23, 1863 and signed by E.G. Bush, Captain of the 10th U.S. Infantry.
Date: November 23, 1863

Title: From H.C. Wood to J.F. Benjamin
Description: This dispatch, dated October 21, 1863, is from U.S. Army Capt. H.C. Wood to Capt. J.F. Benjamin, Provost Marshal of the 8th district of Missouri. Wood writes from the Provost Marshal General's Bureau in Washington, D.C. He tells Benjamin that his recent printing expenses will be reimbursed, but that in the future he must not incur expenses without prior approval from the Provost Marshal General or Col. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri.
Date: October 21, 1863

Title: Application of James R. Eshill
Description: This is James R. Eshill’s application for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slave, Allen. The application, dated November 9, 1866, includes an oath of allegiance to the United States, a power of attorney transfer to Isaac C. Dodge, and a statement that Eshill, of Howard County, Missouri, lawfully purchased his slave. The application is signed by four witnesses and a notary public in Cooper County, Missouri.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 9, 1866

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

Title: From Leigh R. Webber to John Stillman Brown
Description: This letter, dated December 23, 1864, is from Leigh R. Webber in Troy, Vermont to John Stillman Brown in Kansas. Webber disagrees with Brown's opinion of Sen. James Henry Lane: "I don't sympathize so much as you do, with the anti-Lane movement." Webber expresses gratitude for recent Union victories, and communicates his fear that a war with Great Britain is imminent.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 23, 1864

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: From Fred Brown and Sara Ann Brown to Michael H. Jose
Description: Fred Brown and his wife Sara Ann write a letter to Michael Jose on October 14, 1866 to share news of mutual acquaintances, including several that were killed by Bushwhackers or by members of the Missouri Militia during the War. They describe an atmosphere of political unrest in Vernon County but express a hope for peace in the aftermath of the conflict, stating “lets all do our next fighting at the Ballot Box.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: October 14, 1866

Title: List of Morgan County Radicals in This District
Description: This document, ca. 1861-1865, provides a list of “radicals in this District.” Each of the 22 “radicals” is identified by name, town, and county; most are from Andrew County, Missouri. A note on the reverse states “There are some others but don’t know their address.”

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: William O. Mead's Appointment to First Sergeant
Description: In this military document, Colonel Joseph W. McClurg informs the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment that William O. Mead is appointed to First Sergeant in Company "A", of the Eighth Regiment of Cavalry, M.S.M..
Date: June 23, 1862

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

Title: From P. McClanahan to A. Comingo
Description: On December 20, 1863, P. McClanahan writes from Independence, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo in Lexington, Missouri. McClanahan requests authorization to add names to the military enrollment lists since they are incorrect. He says he is glad Maj. Gen. Schofield "is not removed," and hopes he will be retained. McClanahan also asks Comingo to authorize William Rodewald to recruit blacks for the service.
Date: December 20, 1863

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: Certificate of Property Last Pertaining to Co. "F" 8th Cavalry Regiment Missouri State Militia
Description: In this military document, Captain James J. Akard certifies the transfer of a bugle last pertaining to Company "F", 8th Cavalry Regiment, Missouri State Militia.
Date: September 12, 1864

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

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