Civil War

Title: From Eugenia Bronaugh to John A. Bushnell
Description: Eugenia Bronaugh writes to John Bushnell from Hickory Grove, Missouri on May 30, 1865. She describes a severe thunderstorm, and says the shrubbery in her garden is “destroyed since the war.” Eugenia says her relatives in Saline County, Missouri wish they could relocate from their home because it reminds them of “evils committed in the name of ‘Liberty.’” Eugenia herself also longs to relocate to escape unfaithful friends and memories of “the cruelties of war.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: May 30, 1865

Title: From S. Chalfin to A. Comingo
Description: On December 16, 1863, Asst. Adj. Gen. S. Chalfin writes from the Provost Marshal General's Office in Washington, DC to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington, Missouri. Chalfin states that Comingo is authorized "to appoint an additional clerk, at a rate not to exceed $2.50 per diem." The letter was sent via Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General in St. Louis.
Date: December 16, 1863

Title: From James Montgomery to George L. Stearns
Description: This letter, dated March 11, 1861, was written by James Montgomery in Mound City, Kansas, to George L. Stearns. Montgomery offers his opinion of sending fugitive slaves to Canada: “it will cost less to protect them here…and, besides, the principle is much better.” He believes that “Kansas is truly a free state, and ever shall be. A fugitive can travel as safely here, in Southern Kansas, as he can in Canada.” Montgomery adds that a free African-American was recently kidnapped by the Missouri Militia, because his guns had not been kept in firing condition.
Date: March 11, 1861

Title: From Unknown to John Ament
Description: This letter, dated September 29, 1855, was sent by an unknown writer to John Ament. The writer proposes to buy John’s interest in the land and slaves on his father’s estate for $500 or 550 acres of land warrants. To defend his offer, he describes the estate land as “poor…and worn out,” and worth no more than $500. He adds that several of the estate’s slaves are too old or sick to be “worth much.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 29, 1855

Title: From George W. Dietzler to Charles Robinson
Description: George W. Dietzler writes on April 16, 1861 from Lawrence, Kansas, to Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson. Dietzler declares that “Old Abe has decided ‘to put his foot down firmly’ against the ‘Confederate government,’” and suggests that Robinson offer 1000 or more Kansas troops to support Lincoln. He writes, “We must be ready for war—all Lawrence will enlist at short notice. Heaven grant that peace may not be restored until the disease is effectively & permanently cured.”
Date: April 16, 1861

Title: Special Orders, No. 165
Description: Col. E.C. Catherwood issued Special Order No. 165 from the Headquarters of the Missouri State Militia in Springfield on June 16, 1864. He declares that "No person other than those regularly enlisted in the service of the United States, are allowed to keep, or wear any portion of the Uniform of the United States Army." Anyone found breaking the rules will be arrested and tried by Military Commission.
Date: June 16, 1864

Title: Emancipation of Eliza Jane
Description: These documents include the bill of sale and the letter of emancipation for a slave, Eliza Jane. The bill of sale, signed and dated December 5, 1844 by Alexander Duncan, confers Eliza Jane and two other slaves to Jeremiah and Nancy Smith of Nodaway County, Missouri for the sum of $550. The letter of emancipation is signed and dated August 31, 1863 by Jeremiah and Nancy Smith. It states that the Smiths “forever set FREE a certain Woman of color, named Eliza Jane, aged twenty-five years.”
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: December 5, 1844 and August 31, 1863

Title: Florella Brown Adair
Description: Florella Brown Adair was the wife of Samuel Lyle Adair and the half-sister of abolitionist, John Brown. She settled near Osawatomie, Kansas Territory, with her husband, who was a Congregational minister. She and her husband were free state supporters. The identification on the photograph indicates it is an enlargement of a small photograph taken in 1862.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1862

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Brother
Description: Edward Fitch writes a letter to his brother from Lawrence, Kansas, on November 8, 1857. He says he is happy about the results of the recent election in Kansas Territory, despite the Pro-Slavery ticket having won in Leavenworth “by stupendous frauds.” He mentions attending a meeting in Lecompton to support Governor Robert Walker’s attempt to throw out fraudulent votes from Johnson and McGee counties.
Object Type: Letter
Date: November 8, 1857

Title: From Mary E. Bedford to Alex M. Bedford
Description: On August 11, 1863, Mary E. Bedford writes from her home to her husband, Alex M. Bedford. Mary says that she has not yet received her permit to visit him, and writes that she hopes the war will soon end. She says that she is ready to go to Kentucky to stay with relatives, because although “times are better hear now…the Lord only knows how long [they] may stay so.” Mary also informs Alex that Cousin Oscar is in Tennessee serving in General Wheeler’s army.
Date: August 11, 1863

Title: Examination of Benjamin White
Description: This 1866 loyalty examination document bears the name Benjamin White. White, a 27-year-old Missouri native, states that he resides in Clay County, Missouri and admits, "I have sympathized with the Rebellion and do not wish to take the Oath of Loyalty." The document is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William Belcher
Description: This is William Belcher's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Belcher, a 28-year-old South Carolina native, states that he has resided in Missouri for ten years and did not leave the state during the war. This oath is No. 146 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William G. Garth
Description: This is William G. Garth's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Garth, a 34-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 10 years and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 214 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: D.R. Porter
Description: This carte de visite depicts D.R. Porter, who served as Assistant Surgeon in the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: On July 8, 1864 John A. Bushnell writes from Calhoun, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. John states that two Citizen Guard companies are forming at Calhoun; he is skeptical of the plan, but discusses it only in vague terms: “A better plan I think could have been adopted, but as I am said to talk too much, I will not say anything…I have written more than I intended.”
Date: July 8, 1864

Title: Examination of James Sullivan
Description: This is James Sullivan's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Sullivan states that he has resided in Liberty, Missouri for 27 years. The oath is No. 138 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of James Fraher
Description: This is James Fraher's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Fraher, a 47-year-old native of Ireland, states that he has lived in Missouri for 16 years and "served in the militia here in town." He also says that he was "put under bond against my wish." The oath is No. 184 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From W.L. Wood to W.P. Howard
Description: This letter, dated July 19, 1861, is from W.L. Wood in Liberty Landing, Missouri to Col. W.P. Howard in St. Louis. Wood informs Howard that he went to Lexington, Missouri with state troops and planned to travel farther south, but "did not precisely understand" Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson's intentions. He expresses ambivalence about Jackson, but supports his stance against Lincoln, and declares that he wants "to see Lincoln's troops whipped."
Date: July 19, 1861

Title: Pleasant Hill, Missouri
Description: This bird's eye view of Pleasant Hill, Cass County, Missouri was created by A. Ruger in 1869.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1869

Title: From George Collamore to George L. Stearns
Description: This letter, dated July 21, 1862, is from George Collamore in Lawrence, Kansas to George L. Stearns. Collamore reports “almost unanimous” support in Kansas for the proposal to enlist African Americans in the military. He predicts that at least two African-American regiments could be raised in Kansas, but he warns Stearns that “various irresponsible persons are maneuvering here for commissions in such regiments.”
Date: July 21, 1862

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

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