Civil War

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description: In a May 18, 1856 letter to his parents in Massachusetts, Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas announces that “the blow has been struck, the war has begun.” He reports that two men have been killed near Lawrence and that several, including Governor Robinson, have been captured. He expresses concern that Kansas does not have adequate resources for defense, and he appeals for support: “Tell every one who has the least interest in Kansas that now we want help-–men money and arms.”

Title: Examination of W.H. Ellis
Description: This is W.H. Ellis's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Ellis, a 35-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Tennessee and that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by "taking care of my family the best I could." The oath, labeled No. 120 in a bound volume, was signed by Ellis in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William Galvin
Description: This is William Galvin's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Galvin, a resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Ireland and that he aided the United States Government during the Civil War by serving in the militia. The oath, labeled No. 57 in a bound volume, was signed by Galvin in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William A. King
Description: This is William A. King's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. King, a 34-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the Union during the Civil War by "risking my life as a Provost Marshall." The oath, labeled No. 46 in a bound volume, was signed by King in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of M.A. Miller
Description: This is M.A. Miller's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Miller, a 22-year-old native of Liberty, Missouri, states that he sympathized with the southern side during the war. The unnumbered oath is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Petersburg, Va. Bomb-Proof Shelter in Federal Lines
Description: Black and white photograph of a Union fortification at the Siege of Petersburg.
Object Type: Image

Title: Anderson Morton's Appointment to Second Sergeant
Description: Colonel Joseph W. McClurg informs the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment that Anderson Morton is appointed to Second Sergeant, in Company "A", of the Eighth Regiment of Cavalry, M.S.M..
Date: June 23, 1862

Title: Siege of Atlanta
Description: L. Prang & Co. lithograph print of the Siege of Atlanta as painted by Thure de Thulstrup, circa 1888.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Unknown to A. Comingo
Description: In this letter to A. Comingo, sent December 3, 1863 from Harrodsburg, the writer asks Comingo to send several items he left in Independence, Missouri to Lexington, Kentucky. The writer says that since "all is now quiet at Independence--and…there are no [soldiers] there," Comingo should be able to send the articles he requests.
Date: December 3, 1863

Title: The Burning of Osceola, Missouri
Description: An illustration of James Lane's Sacking of Osceola on September 22, 1861, as published in "The Border Outlaws" (1880) by James W. Buel.
Object Type: Image

Title: Petition from Citizens of Vernon County, Missouri
Description: This petition was sent to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart on March 28, 1859 by 43 citizens of Vernon County, Missouri. The petitioners request military protection from a threatened attack by Kansas guerrillas. They state that the guerrillas are assembling near the Little Osage River under the command of James Montgomery, and that “the notorious Brown” has again made an appearance in Kansas. The petitioners believe that "it is the full intention of those lawless men to invade the State and rob and murder the inhabitants.”
Object Type: Petition
Date: March 28, 1859

Title: Quarterly Return of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, 1865
Description: This military document is a return of ordnance and ordnance stores for Company "A" 8th Cavalry Regiment Missouri State Militia under command of Captain James J. Akard for the second quarter of 1865.
Date: May 26, 1865

Title: From James D. Eads to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter, dated November 26, 1860, is from James D. Eads of Warrensburg, Missouri to Robert M. Stewart, Governor of Missouri. Eads offers Stewart the services of a company of volunteers “to march to our frontier for the protection of our citizens.”
Date: November 26, 1860

Title: From James M. Boyer to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 23, 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 clarify policies on intercepting "rebel correspondence." He also asks if he will be protected under the law in cases of mistaking innocent letters for contraband.
Date: November 23, 1863

Title: Examination of William Wade
Description: This is William Wade's Oath of Loyalty to the United States, signed October 13, 1866. Wade, a 54-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 35 years and was never enrolled by the military authorities in 1862. The oath is No. 171 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 13, 1866

Title: Statement of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores
Description: This military document is a half completed statement of ordnance and ordnance stores for Company "A", 8th Cavalry Regiment, Missouri State Militia. Soldiers are listed on the statement along with articles charged to them, but no commanding officer signed or certified the document.
Date: 1863-1865

Title: Examination of Kemp S. Wills
Description: This is Kemp S. Wills's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Wills, a 32-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by "staying at home and attending to my business." The oath, labeled No. 70 in a bound volume, was signed by Wills in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From John W. Pattison to Unknown
Description: In this letter, John W. Pattison asks for a reply to his previous letter and requests any amount of money the letter recipient may have collected concerning John Bloomer.
Date: October 4, 1863

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description: Edward Fitch writes a letter to his parents from Lawrence, Kansas on May 5, 1861. He tells them that if Missouri secedes, Kansas will have to fight. He asks how people in Massachusetts feel about the war, and expresses hope that the “Yankees” will go to battle with the South and not stop until slavery is eradicated. “War is terrible,” he says, “but sometimes it is necessary for the good of the whole world.”
Date: May 5, 1861

Title: Sherman's March to the Sea
Description: Engraving of Sherman's March to the Sea, by Alexander Hay Ritchie.
Object Type: Image

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

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