Civil War

Title: Battle of Wilson's Creek
Description: This sketch, originally published in Harper's Weekly on August 31, 1861, depicts the Union retreat at the end of the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861, after Nathaniel Lyon's death and after Sigel's horses had been killed. The caption states: "General Siegel forcing his prisoners [Confederate and Native American] to draw off his cannon 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: Examination of Elihue Dillingham
Description: This is Elihue Dillingham's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Dillingham, a 36-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky, has lived in Missouri for 12 years, and remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, No. 23 in a bound volume, was signed by Dillingham in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Charles L. Wall
Description: This sepia carte de visite depicts Charles L. Wall, 1st Lieut. of Company H, Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of Marion Tarflett
Description: This is Marion Tarflett's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Tarflett describes himself as a 21-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Jackson County, Missouri. He states that he served in the United States military for three years during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 72 in a bound volume, was signed by Tarflett in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: John Brown, 1800-1859, Memorial Frame
Description: Memorial portrait of Abolitionist John Brown. Frame includes the words, "The Just man shall be in eternal remembrance -- Gave his life for the liberation of the slave."
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of William F. Ford
Description: This is William F. Ford's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Ford, a 50-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 14 years, and was not required to give bond during the war. The oath is No. 247 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Sarah A. Fitch to My Dear Mother
Description: Sarah A. Fitch writes a letter to her mother on April 24, 1861 from Lawrence, Kansas. She discusses her son's health and reports that her husband Edward has postponed his trip to St. Louis after hearing news of the war’s commencement, and says, “I feel as tho I could fight when I read of the outrageous conduct of the South.” She mentions the possibility of Missouri seceding and predicts that Missourians will face trouble if they do not “let Kansas alone.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: April 24, 1861

Title: Battle of Pea Ridge
Description: Currier & Ives lithograph depicting the Battle of Pea Ridge, circa 1862.
Object Type: Image

Title: Olin E. Morse
Description: This carte de visite depicts Capt. Olin E. Morse, who served in Company D, Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Wife
Description: This letter, dated September 4, 1861, is from A.J. Huntoon to his wife Lizzie. He reports that his regiment, a part of Lane’s Brigade, has recently moved to Camp Lincoln in Bourbon County, Kansas. He describes several recent battles between his regiment and a large contingent of Secessionists. He tells Lizzie that he has been put in charge of a military hospital, and he discusses caring for wounded soldiers. He states that his regiment is anticipating and preparing for an imminent attack.
Date: September 4, 1861

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell writes a letter to Eugenia Bronaugh in Calhoun, Missouri on October 5, 1863. He mentions having a conversation with a stranger in St. Louis and says it is important to be careful when meeting new people because they may be spies. Spies and detectives are necessary in war, he argues, but they sometimes make errors at the expense of the people they are supposed to protect. He tells Eugenia about a Dr. Zimmerman who was arrested, tried, and shot after fighting Bushwhackers who invaded his home. Still, Bushnell has hope for justice: “like Death it is sure to come.”
Date: October 5, 1863

Title: Examination of John A. Denny
Description: This is John A. Denny's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Denny, a 58-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in North Carolina and that he served in the Home Guards during the Civil War. He says that he "was struck with astonishment and surprise" when he heard that Gen. Price captured Gen. Mulligan's army at Lexington, Missouri. The oath, labeled No. 71 in a bound volume, was signed by Denny in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Sacking of Lawrence
Description: Depiction of the ruins of Free State Hotel following the Sacking of Lawrence on May 21, 1856. Douglas County's own sheriff, Samuel J. Jones, led a posse of 800 proslavery settlers in the sacking of the town of Lawrence, Kansas. The Free-State Hotel and two newspaper print shops were destroyed, and one of the attackers was killed by falling masonry.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1856

Title: Battle of Pea Ridge
Description: This illustration of the final advance of Union troops at the Battle of Pea Ridge was originally published in Harper's Weekly on March 8, 1862.
Object Type: Image
Date: March 8, 1862

Title: Receipt of Clothing for Military Duty, 1864
Description: This military document shows that "the undersigned Non-commissioned Officers, Artificers, Musicians and Privates... do hereby acknowledge to have received of JJ Akard Capt Co A 8 Cav MSM the several articles of Clothing" that are listed along with the name and signature of those enrolled in the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment Company "A".
Date: March 1864

Title: Muster-Out Roll of Hugh D. Fisher, Chaplain
Description: This muster-out roll, dated August 26, 1864, certifies the honorable discharge of Hugh D. Fisher, Chaplain of the 5th Regiment of Kansas Cavalry Volunteers. Rev. Fisher served from August 16, 1861 to June 30, 1864, and was mustered out “by reason of expiration of term of service.”
Date: August 26, 1864

Title: Letters Sent (Provost Marshal's Office, 7th District Missouri)
Description: This notebook contains copies of letters sent from the Provost Marshal's Office, 7th District of Missouri, in St. Joseph, Missouri, between April 22, 1865 and October 6, 1865. The letters, written by Abraham C. Miller, Acting Provost Marshal of the 7th District, include information on closing up the Provost Marshal's Office and a detailed report on the office's history, organization, and management.
Date: April 22, 1865-October 6, 1865

Title: From Philip St. George Cooke to John W. Geary
Description: This dispatch, dated October 10, 1856, is from Lieut. Col. Philip St. George Cooke to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary. Cooke, stationed at a camp near the Nemaha River, reports that he and Deputy Marshal Colonel Preston have arrested and disarmed a party of immigrants, including two officers and 61 privates. He informs Geary that he is sending the prisoners with military escort to appear before him in Lecompton.
Date: October 10, 1856

Title: James Buchanan
Description: Bust portrait of James Buchanan, facing right
Object Type: Image
Date: 1850-1870

Title: From William H. Doah to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter was written on November 25, 1859 by William H. Doah in Tipton, Missouri, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Doah states that he sent a letter to Stewart on September 7, 1859, requesting reimbursement for $12.20 he spent on ammunition for Company B, Missouri Militia. Since he did not receive a reply to his letter, Doah again asks Stewart for reimbursement.
Date: November 25, 1859

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

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