Civil War

Title: Examination of R.C. Ewing
Description: This is R.C. Ewing's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Ewing, a 33-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by "obeying the laws of the country." The oath, labeled No. 123 in a bound volume, was signed by Ewing in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Nathaniel Lyon
Description: Illustration of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon before his final charge at the battle of Wilson's Creek. Originally published in Harper's Weekly on August 31, 1861, this illustration's caption states: "General Lyon at the Battle of Springfield." Although Harper's Weekly describes this as the Battle of Springfield, this conflict has come to be known as the Battle of Wilson's Creek. The next skirmish in the area, Zagonyi's Charge, occured near Springfield, Missouri on October 25, 1861.
Object Type: Image
Date: August 31, 1861

Title: List of Arms and Other Property Taken by Capt. T.J. Wood
Description: This is a report of arms and other property taken from Chicago emigrants by U.S. Army Capt. T.J. Wood on September 14, 1856. On that day, Wood also confiscated horses, wagons, and equipment from a group of Iowa emigrants. The report is addressed to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary.
Date: September 14, 1856

Title: From William Rachel to Josiah Miller
Description: This letter, dated March 2, 1858, is from William Rachel in New Orleans to Josiah Miller in Kansas. He expresses disappointment that many members of the Kansas Free State Party chose not to vote in the recent election on the Lecompton Constitution. He criticizes the constitution, referring to it as "the Lecompton Swindle," but predicts that Stephen Douglas and "the northern Democrats" will encounter trouble for opposing it.
Date: March 2, 1858

Title: Battle of the Wilderness--Desperate Fight on the Orange C.H. Plank Road, Near Todd's Tavern, May 6th, 1864
Description: Kurz & Allison lithograph of the Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5-7, 1864.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description: Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas writes a letter to his parents in Massachusetts on September 30, 1855. He tells them that the pro-slavery faction will vote the next day to elect a Congressional delegate; however, the Free State Party intends to boycott the election. The Free State Party will instead vote on "Tuesday the 9th" and elect another candidate, at which point "Congress must decide which is entitled to a seat." According to rumors, Fitch says, proslavery Missourians plan to attack Lawrence and “kill all the Yankees.”
Date: September 30, 1855

Title: Invoice of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores for 1st Quarter 1863
Description: This military document is a collection of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores Invoices for the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment Company "A" that shows transfers of weapons and ammunition in between Captain C. C. Owens, Captain David D. Stockton, Lieutenant James J. Akard, Lieutenant Stockley Etter, Lieutenant T. E. Gray, et al.
Date: 1863

Title: Battlegrounds of Price's Raid
Description: Maps of the battlefields at "Mine Creek, Oct. 22d 64," "Westport, Oct. 23d 64" "Charlot, Oct. 25th 64," and "Newtonia, Nov. 4th 64," showing the positions of troops, roads, drainage, a few houses, and relief by hachures. Charlot refers to "Charlot's Farm" near Richards, MO. This event is better known as the Battle of the Marmaton River. The Battle of Mine Creek took place south of Pleasanton, KS.
Date: 1865

Title: Examination of James Love
Description: This is James Love's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Love, a 45-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that during the Civil War, he "considered my enemies as the enemies of the Govt.," and that he "felt very badly" when he heard of the defeat of the Federal army at Bull Run in 1861. The oath, labeled No. 50 in a bound volume, was signed by Love in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Alex M. Bedford to Mary E. Bedford
Description: On November 4, 1862, Alex M. Bedford writes to his wife, Mary E. Bedford. Alex says that he was wounded and taken as a prisoner of war by the Federals near Corinth, Mississippi. He is now staying at the home of a wealthy man in Franklin County, Alabama, where “we are furnished with every thing we want…the kindness I have received from the family I will never forget.” Alex instructs Mary to direct her letters to Iuka Hospital via Corinth, and declares, “If I get killed I cannot die in a better cause.”
Date: November 4, 1862

Title: Examination of D.D. Gant
Description: This is D.D. Gant's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Gant, a 32-year-old North Carolina native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 29 years, and served in the militia during the war. When asked which side he supported during the war, Gant replies, "I claimed to be a government man and a southern man at the same time." The oath is No. 257 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Fort Union
Description: A drawing made at the close of the war depicting the Quartermaster's Department, Fort Union, and the Coates House Hotel foundation. These structures were located on the southeast corner of 10th and Broadway in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description: This letter, dated December 21, 1863, is from Joseph H. Trego, a lieutenant in the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, to his wife Alice. He informs Alice that his regiment has just arrived at Fort Smith, Arkansas and that they have settled into warm and comfortable quarters. He jokes about “flirting around with the secesh ladies” and says it is possible he will be home by Christmas.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 21, 1863

Title: Examination of Matthew M. Franklin
Description: This 1866 loyalty examination document bears the name Matthew M. Franklin. According to the unnamed official conducting the loyalty examination, Franklin "refuses to take the oath" or answer questions regarding his loyalty. The document is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Robert M. Stewart to G.A. Parsons
Description: This dispatch, dated June 10, 1858, is from Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart to Adj. Gen. G.A. Parsons. Stewart restates previous orders for Parsons to limit his military actions to the defense of Missouri citizens and to refrain from crossing the Kansas border. He emphasizes that Missouri citizens should avoid participating in any aggression against Kansas citizens, and urges Parsons to “do all in your power to promote peace.”
Date: June 10, 1858

Title: From Charles Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on December 19, 1860 by Charles Adair in Hudson, Ohio, to his father Samuel Lyle Adair. Charles writes that he finished school for the year and he has been feeling very homesick. He reports that his mother, Florella Brown Adair, plans to go to Grafton, Ohio the following week. Charles says that Uncle Jeremiah has gone to New York and that he often becomes depressed because of the prospect of financial ruin.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 19, 1860

Title: Mileage Reimbursement Forms, Abstract of Articles Expended, Return of Quartermaster's Stores
Description: These military documents pertaining to the 6th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry include two mileage reimbursement forms from Major Wyllys Cadwell Ransom; an abstract of articles expended in public service filled out by 1st Lieutenant R.J. Lewis; and a return of quartermaster's stores completed by Lewis.
Date: 1863-1865

Title: From Eugenia Bronaugh to John A. Bushnell
Description: This letter, dated July 6, 1865, was written by Eugenia Bronaugh while visiting relatives in Coal Bank, Cooper County, Missouri to John A. Bushnell. Eugenia describes meeting a young man familiar with her relatives in Henry County, Missouri, and refers to a soldier named Mr. Douglas, who “is still here and will remain until he can look about for something to do. Poor Brave, returning soldiers!”
Date: July 6, 1865

Title: From Samuel Lyle Adair to Florella Brown Adair
Description: This letter was written March 26 and 29, and April 1, 1861 by Samuel Lyle Adair in Osawatomie, Kansas, to his wife Florella Brown Adair. Samuel writes that he was forced to borrow money to continue work on the church’s construction, and will likely need to borrow more; he explains that this is difficult in Osawatomie because money is scarce. He states that many people in Kansas are destitute, although aid continues to arrive in the county, including a shipment of seed wheat from the New England Relief Committee.
Date: March 26, 1861-April 1, 1861

Title: List of Deceased Soldiers
Description: This document is a list of deceased officers of the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment.
Date: n.d.

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

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