Civil War

Title: Missouri Confederates Thomas H. Brown, William A. Brown, and Abe Brown
Description: Photograph of Missouri Confederate soldiers Thomas H. Brown, William A. Brown, and Abe Brown posing with their weapons. All three men served under Colonel Upton Hays at the Battle of Lone Jack.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Camp Saunders, Kansas Territory
Description: Photograph of proslavery stronghold, Camp Saunders, located 12 miles southwest of Lawrence, Kansas Territory, 1856. Camp (Fort) Saunders, one of three proslavery "forts" in Douglas County, Kansas, came under attack from Free-Staters, led by James H. Lane and angered at the Sacking of Lawrence and the murder of Major S. D. Hoyt, who had traveled to Fort Saunders to request an end to hostilities. The proslavery men at Fort Saunders (which was really no more than a sturdy log cabin), surrendered before any fighting began. The building was burned to the ground, and the Free-Staters turned their attention to Fort Titus.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1856

Title: General Orders, No. 42
Description: Brig. Gen. James Totten and Maj. Lucien J. Barnes of the Missouri State Militia issued General Order No. 42 on September 18, 1862 in Springfield, Missouri. The order cites instructions from C.W. Marsh at the Headquarters of the District of Missouri in St. Louis. Marsh requests that Totten furnish a list of officers who have not complied with Order No. 11.
Date: September 18, 1862

Title: Examination of Darius Gittings
Description: This is Darius Gittings's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Gittings describes himself as a 50-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Maryland. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States during the Civil War by remaining "here with the citizens of the town all the time." He says that he "felt sorry for the defeat of the govt." when he heard that Gen. Price had captured Gen. Milligan's army at Lexington, Missouri. The oath, labeled No. 80 in a bound volume, was signed by Gittings in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From A. Comingo to E.B. Alexander
Description: This November 13, 1863 dispatch is from Capt A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri to Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri. Comingo forwards Alexander two "rebel letters" that were intercepted in Chariton County, Missouri. A note on the back of the letter, dated November 16, states that the letter shall be returned to Comingo and that all intercepted correspondence must be forwarded to Col. Broadhead.
Date: November 13, 1863

Title: Examination of James Walker
Description: This is James Walker's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Walker, a 69-year-old Virginia native, states that he has resided in Missouri for 18 years. When asked how he manifested his loyalty to the Government during the war, Walker replies, "by remaining quiet." The oath is No. 148 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Mary E. Bedford to A.M. Bedford
Description: This letter, dated June 13, 1863, is from Mary E. Bedford to her husband, Lieut. Alex M. Bedford. She states that she sent him $30 and asks if he needs more money or clothing. She also reports that she has rented out her farm and that she might spend the summer visiting relatives in Kentucky. She asks her husband if she would be permitted to visit him.
Date: June 13, 1863

Title: From James H. Birch to Hamilton R. Gamble
Description: This letter, ca. August 1861, is from James H. Birch at Planter's House to Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble. Birch says that Gamble may send arms for the Plattsburg Company to his personal address in Cameron, Missouri, and he will ensure their "legal disposition." Birch also seeks military appointments from Gamble for himself and his son.
Object Type: Letter

Title: From James M. Boyer to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 29, 1863, is from James M. Boyer, Deputy Provost Marshal of Chariton County, Missouri, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Boyer asks Comingo to send him a blank form for enrolling soldiers, and says that he requested a current list of enrolled soldiers from Gen. Gray. He also mentions that he is "anxiously awaiting" the authority to recruit soldiers.
Date: November 29, 1863

Title: List of Colored Recruits Enlisted, 6th District Missouri
Description: This December 1863 military roll lists the names of "colored recruits" enlisted in the 27th sub-district of the 6th congressional district of Missouri in Chariton County. The roll provides the soldiers' physical characteristics, occupation, birthplace, and the names of their owners.
Date: December 1863

Title: Receipt of Clothing for Military Duty, 1862
Description: This military document shows that "the Non-commissioned Officers, Artificers, Musicians and Privates of Co. "A", 8th Regt. Cav., Mo. S. Militia do hereby acknowledge to have received of Capt. David D. Stockton the several articles of Clothing" that are listed along with the names and signatures of those enrolled in this company. The original first page of this document appears to be missing.
Date: 1862

Title: Death of General Lyon
Description: This cover of the August 24, 1861 issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper contains an illustration of the death of General Nathaniel Lyon at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861.
Object Type: Image
Date: August 24, 1861

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: On June 27, 1863, John A. Bushnell of Calhoun, Missouri writes a letter to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri, expressing fear for her safety. He shares a rumor of “men going to your house” and targeting the Bronaugh family. He makes reference to “a systematic effort to get you out of the country.” Bushnell also mentions the Kansas raids, but he expresses frustration about receiving inconsistent information and complains that neither newspapers nor rumors are reliable.
Date: June 27, 1863

Title: Discharge for Richard H. Brown
Description: These are the official discharge papers for Richard H. Brown, who served as a private in the Fifth Regiment of the Missouri U.S. Reserve Corps from June 14, 1861 to August 11, 1861. The document, dated August 11, 1861, notes that Brown was born in Manchester, England and worked as a “Boundary man and Iron worker.” The 28-year-old Brown was discharged at Lexington, Missouri at the end of his term of service.
Date: August 11, 1861

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Lizzie
Description: On April 26, 1861, A.J. Huntoon writes a letter from Topeka to his wife Lizzie. He informs her that Kansas is preparing for war and that he plans to start a company of mounted riflemen in Williamsport Township. He says that rumors have circulated about a possible attack by the Osage tribe, and that Governor Robinson responded by warning the Osage to leave the white settlers alone. Huntoon also says he heard a rumor that Indians attacked Fort Riley. He does not believe the rumor, and yet “We are preparing for the worst.”
Date: April 26, 1861

Title: Examination of John H. Frick
Description: This is John H. Frick's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Frick, a 21-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he served as a Union soldier in the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 102 in a bound volume, was signed by Frick in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Robert Younger, Henrietta Younger, Cole Younger and James Younger
Description: Group photograph of siblings Robert Younger, Henrietta Younger, Cole Younger and James Younger. Cole, James (Jim), and Robert (Bob) were members of the notorious James-Younger Gang with fellow Bushwhackers Jesse and Frank James among others.
Object Type: Image

Title: Soldier, Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This tintype photograph, ca. 1861-1865, depicts an unidentified member of the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Ordnance Office to James J. Akard
Description: The War Department Ordnance Office in Washington D. C., under the charge of Captain of Ordnance George T. Balch, replies to Captain James J. Akard's Return of Ordnance Stores for Company "A" 8th Cavalry Regiment, Missouri State Militia.
Date: December 17, 1863

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

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

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