Civil War

Title: From James Griffing to My Dear Wife
Description: This letter, dated October 23, 1864, was written by James Griffing in camp at Kansas City, Missouri, to his wife. James provides an account of “a tremendous battle about five miles south of this” (presumably the Battle of Westport), which he heard about via dispatches from the battlefield. James includes an assessment of the Union casualties from regimental surgeon Dr. Hidden: “he thought but few cases would prove fatal.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: October 23, 1864

Title: Examination of Darwin J. Adkins
Description: This is Darwin J. Adkins's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Murray, a 45-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and that he served in the militia during the Civil War. Upon hearing that Gen. Sterling Price had captured Gen. Mulligan and his army at Lexington, Missouri, Adkins "was badly scared over it." The oath, labeled No. 99 in a bound volume, was signed by Murray on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: From Charles T. Gilman to Albert G. Boone
Description: In this letter, dated September 16 and 17, 1856, Charles T. Gilman informs Col. Albert G. Boone that 20 abolitionists recently launched an attack on the proslavery citizens living near Council Grove, Kansas. Gilman states that the attackers stole horses and mules, wounded a woman, and threatened to burn down houses and force the proslavery men out of Kansas. They also claimed that they would return in four days with 400 men; Gilman tells Boone that the people of Council Grove have been awaiting their arrival and have plenty of arms and ammunition to defend themselves.
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 16, 1856-September 17, 1856

Title: Examination of James Malony
Description: This is James Malony's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Malony, a native of Ireland, states that he has lived in Missouri for 15 years. When asked what side he supported during the war, Malony replies, "I was not on either side but my feelings were more for the Govt." The oath is No. 251 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From G.C. Bingham to Hamilton R. Gamble
Description: On June 8, 1863, G.C. Bingham writes from the Treasurer's Office in Jefferson City, Missouri to Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble. Bingham informs Gamble of his suspicion that Gen. Loan plans to cooperate with Kansas Jayhawkers "in subjecting Lafayette and Johnson Counties to the desolation which has depopulated Jackson and Cass." Bingham predicts that Loan is also plotting to overthrow the Missouri provisional government, and asks Gamble to appoint a "Loyal commander...before the meeting of the Convention."
Object Type: Government Document
Date: June 8, 1863

Title: Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, Officer of the Federal Army
Description: Black and white portrait of Major General John M. Schofield, officer during the Civil War. Schofield later served as U.S. Secretary of War and Commanding General of the United States Army.
Object Type: Image

Title: Samuel A. Croft
Description: This carte de visite depicts Samuel A. Croft, who served in the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: John R. Boyd Handbill
Description: This handbill, signed by John R. Boyd, urges the citizens of Buchanan County, Missouri to join arms and fight against the “usurping invader, Fremont.” Boyd instructs them to bring their shot guns and rifles to Rock House Prairie, where hundreds of men have set up camp and plan to fight until they achieve freedom, “or be buried beneath the dead bodies of men who would rather die than be slaves.”
Object Type: Leaflet

Title: From Maurice E. Pitcher to Mr. Colgan
Description: On November 6, 1864, Maurice E. Pitcher writes from Independence, Missouri to Mr. Colgan. Pitcher states that he saw Colgan's son Willie on October 21 when he came into Missouri with Gen. Price's army: "he is looking quite well…he had no appearance of being 'one of Price's starved to death, rag-muffins.'" He says that Price's men "had a series of battles from little blue (in this county) until within a few miles of Fort Scott, and you may well imagine they had a series of successes."
Date: November 6, 1864

Title: Robert John Walker, 1801-1869
Description: Portrait of Robert J. Walker from an 1887 issue of Centry Magazine.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1887

Title: Examination of John G. Wood
Description: This is John G. Wood's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Wood, a 31-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by serving in the army from 1861 to 1865. The oath, labeled No. 34 in a bound volume, was signed by Wood in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: John R. Howe against William Mitchell
Description: Dated November 7, 1859, this document states that its signers will pay a sum of $400 to John P. Bowman, Lafayette County sheriff, for a female slave aged about 42 years. The slave was “sold by said sheriff...in the Probate Court of Lafayette County” as part of a lawsuit brought by John R. Howe against William Mitchell.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 7, 1859

Title: Petition from Jackson County Citizens
Description: This petition, ca. 1860, is addressed to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart and signed by 43 citizens of Jackson County, Missouri. The signers declare their need for protection from the “murderous attacks of Montgomery” and his band of guerrillas. They ask Stewart to authorize Samuel Ralston to raise a company of troops to serve under the command of Col. Frost.
Object Type: Petition

Title: From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description: This letter, dated August 6 and 7, 1862, is from Joseph H. Trego to his wife Alice. Trego, a lieutenant in the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, writes from Camp Beech Grove. He reports that the weather is so hot that a number of his fellow soldiers have become ill. He includes $690 with his letter and instructs his wife to “take good care of it . . . you may need it before you will find anyone to take my place if I should be so unfortunate as to get killed.”
Date: August 6, 1862-August 7, 1862

Title: Examination of John N. Estes
Description: This is John N. Estes's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Estes, a 35-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky, and admits that he did not remain loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. In response to the question, "Did you at any time during the rebellion advise, counsel, or urge any person whomsoever to enter into the rebel service?" Estes replies, "I did." The oath, No. 23 in a bound volume, was signed by Estes in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Battle of Chattanooga
Description: L. Prang & Co. lithograph print of the Battle of Chattanooga as painted by Thure de Thulstrup, circa 1880.
Object Type: Image

Title: Inauguration of James Buchanan
Description: First photograph of an inauguration at the Capitol, which was still under construction in 1857. The stone yard in the foreground was covered with boards to provide a platform for the crowd. The life dates of the photographer, John Wood, are unknown, but he was the photographer for the Architect of the Capitol from 1856 to 1861. Mr. Wood then entered the war as a photographer of maps for McClellan. Another print of this image of Buchanan's inauguration in 1857 is in the photography collection of the Architect of the Capitol.
Object Type: Image
Date: March 4, 1857

Title: Examination of Mortaca Scott
Description: This is Mortaca Scott's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Scott, a resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Ohio and served in "the Northern Army" during the Civil War. The oath, No. 21 in a bound volume, was signed by Scott in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

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 July 15, 1863 and June 30, 1864. The correspondence, written by Capt. William Fowler, Provost Marshal of the 7th District, addresses such topics as military enrollment and recruitment of free blacks, army deserters, and management of the draft. Correspondents include Missouri Provost Marshal General E.B. Alexander and U.S. Provost Marshal General James B. Fry.
Date: July 15, 1863-June 30, 1864

Title: From W.A. King to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 9, 1863, is from W.A. King in Liberty, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. King states that he obeyed a military commander's orders to publish a notice urging all citizens to enlist. He reports to Comingo the expenses he paid for printing and requests reimbursement.
Date: November 9, 1863

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

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