Civil War

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: From A.J. Huntoon to Lizzie Huntoon
Description: A.J. Huntoon writes a letter from Shawnee County, Kansas to his wife Lizzie in New Hampshire. The letter, dated December 30, 1860-January 4, 1861, describes Huntoon’s daily life in Kansas Territory. He also reports to his wife that he plans to travel to Lecompton the following week “to witness the convening of our territorial legislature.”
Date: December 30, 1860-January 4, 1861

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 James A. Holmes to John W. Geary
Description: This letter, dated October 2, 1856, was written by James A. Holmes on behalf of the people of Osawatomie, Kansas, to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary. Holmes states that on August 30, 1856, a band of 410 Border Ruffians led by Martin White attacked Osawatomie, killing two men and injuring a third before plundering and burning the town. Holmes seeks permission for the citizens of Osawatomie to organize in self-defense against another attack by White.
Date: October 2, 1856

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

Title: Examination of William S. Garvey
Description: This is William S. Garvey's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Garvey describes himself as a 46-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Kentucky. He states that he enrolled in the militia "and took up arms" during the Civil War. Garvey states that he left the state "to get me a wife but not to avoid service." The oath, labeled No. 112 in a bound volume, was signed by Garvey in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From James H. Lane to Charles A. Foster
Description: This note, dated December 5, 1855, was sent by James H. Lane in Lawrence, Kansas, to Charles A. Foster. The note reads: “We want every true Free State man in Kansas at Lawrence immediately,” probably referring to the conflict known as the Wakarusa War.
Date: December 5, 1855

Title: Payne Jones
Description: Charcoal portrait of Payne Jones in hat, shirt, and pullover typical of Quantrill's guerrillas trimmed with buttons along the shoulders, V neck, and tops of pockets. Jones was part of Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas, August 21, 1863, and the Centralia, Missouri, massacre on September 27, 1864. After the war, he became a member of the James-Younger gang. According to the "Missouri Republican," November 11, 1867, Jones was shot November 6, 1867, during a robbery attempt.
Object Type: Image

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell writes a letter from Clinton, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. In the letter, dated July 3 and 5, 1864, Bushnell expresses fear that his life may be in danger and that his letters may be misconstrued as disloyal. He criticizes traitors and declares that this country was “not made by selfish hands for selfish purposes.” He says that soldiers have left Calhoun, and that he would like to know what they are doing next, but does not want to “manifest any unusual curiosities.” He also mentions hearing a sermon on Independence Day about racial equality.
Object Type: Letter
Date: July 3, 1864-July 5, 1864

Title: From J.F. Snyder to Robert M. Stewart
Description: In this dispatch, dated August 7, 1858, J.F. Snyder reports to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart on “the true condition of affairs upon the border” in Bates County, Missouri. He informs Stewart that a number of Kansas citizens who sought safety in Missouri returned to Kansas to commit acts of revenge, and were followed back into Missouri by their victims. He adds that citizens of Bates County feel unsafe, and declares that military force is necessary. He suggests that Stewart offer a reward for the capture of five people involved in a recent murder.
Date: August 7, 1858

Title: Fort Riley
Description: This stereograph of Fort Riley, Kansas was taken by Alexander Gardner. Gardner titles the image, "Fort Riley. No longer an outpost, Kansas. 420 miles west of St. Louis, Mo."
Object Type: Image
Date: 1867

Title: From William P. Richardson to Wilson Shannon
Description: This dispatch, dated August 20, 1856, was written by Major General William P. Richardson of the Kansas Militia, Northern Division, at Headquarters at Whitehead, Doniphan County, Kansas, to Kansas Governor Wilson Shannon. Richardson tells Shannon that General James Lane has recruited a large military force and intends to enter Kansas. Richardson says he has issued an order to assemble the Northern Division militia at Whitehead and awaits Shannon’s authorization to employ the troops.
Date: August 20, 1856

Title: Examination of John Ferrel
Description: This is John Ferrel's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Ferrel, an 81-year-old Virginia native, states that he has resided in Clay County, Missouri for 28 years. The oath is No. 141 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Letters Received (Kansas Provost Marshal's Office)
Description: This notebook is a record of correspondence received by the Kansas Provost Marshal's Office in Leavenworth, Kansas, between 1863 and 1865. Topics addressed include army deserters; American Indians; information about new recruits and substitutions; and special orders from Washington. Participants in the correspondence include Gen. H.S. Halleck; Maj. Gen. John Pope; and Sidney Clarke, Kansas Acting Asst. Provost Marshal General.
Date: 1863-1865

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

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