Civil War

Title: Examination of Jacob Weyler
Description: This is Jacob Weyler's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Weyler, a 51-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Bavaria, has lived in Missouri for 13 years, and remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 25 in a bound volume, was signed by Weyler in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of James Leach
Description: This is James Leach's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Leach, a 38-year-old Virginia native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 12 years, and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 238 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Memorandum of Articles Taken From Col. Eldridge's Company
Description: This document, signed by Lieut. Col. Philip St. George Cooke on October 10, 1856, is a memorandum of articles taken from Col. Eldridge’s Company. Cooke claims that 120 packages were opened, and that a large number of new saddles were stolen.
Date: October 10, 1856

Title: Examination of Lawrence Zucker
Description: This is Lawrence Zucker's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Zucker, a 36-year-old European native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 11 years and served in the militia during the war. The oath is No. 202 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description: This letter, dated November 7, 1863, is from Lieut. Joseph H. Trego of the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment to his wife Alice. He tells her that he recently left Fort Scott, Kansas and travelled to Maysville, Arkansas. He adds that he will be marching to Fort Smith soon and does not expect to run into any danger. He also mentions that Capt. Haskell has been relieved of his duties and is leaving the regiment.
Object Type: Letter
Date: November 7, 1863

Title: From E.F. Slaughter to Eliza Colgan
Description: On December 11, 1864, E.F. Slaughter writes from Hickmans Mill, Jackson County, Missouri, to Mrs. Eliza Colgan. Slaughter, a member of the local home guards, states that he was captured by "Prices men Shelby's division. We were taken to their camp and next morning paroled. We all started home…directly after we started the battle commenced." He says that both the Confederate and Union wounded were taken to Kansas City, "which shows that our armies are merciful as well as brave." He adds that guerrillas are becoming more active in the area since the soldiers have left.
Date: December 11, 1864

Title: Circular No. 21
Description: This document, entitled Circular No. 21, is dated April 18, 1865 and is signed by Col. E.B. Alexander in St. Louis. Since drafting and recruiting have been discontinued, the Circular instructs Provost Marshals to "make every effort" to reduce their office expenses by terminating rental agreements, discharging unnecessary employees, and eliminating business contracts.
Date: April 18, 1865

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

Title: Examination of William H. Corbin
Description: This is William H. Corbin's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Corbin, a 21-year-old Virginia native, states that he has resided in Missouri for 14 years and manifested his loyalty during the war "by obeying the laws and staying at home and behaving myself." The oath is No. 213 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Map of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad
Description: Map of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, which was chartered in 1847 and completed in 1859. Map depicts northern Missouri and parts of Kansas and Illinois, showing rivers, settlements, railroads, and the land grant awarded to the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad.
Object Type: Map, Image

Title: Examination of John Chrisman
Description: This is John Chrisman's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Chrisman, a 40-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 38 in a bound volume, was signed by Chrisman in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From E.B. Alexander to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated October 20, 1863, is from Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Alexander informs Comingo that the reward for the arrest of military deserters has changed according to recent orders from the War Department.
Date: October 20, 1863

Title: From Daniel R. Anthony to Father
Description: This letter, dated June 10, 1857, was written by Daniel R. Anthony in Leavenworth, Kansas, to his father. Anthony has just arrived in Leavenworth, calling it “the most enterprising city in all Kansas.” Anthony states that land prices are very high but will likely decline during the winter until emigration begins again in the spring. He predicts that insurance will be a "good business" in Leavenworth and discusses various investment options. Anthony reports that he saw Gov. Harney, Sheriff Jones, and Judge Lecompte, who is presiding over the murder trial of Charles Fugett.
Date: June 10, 1857

Title: Col. Jas. A. Mulligan
Description: This black-and-white carte de viste depicts Union Col. Jas. A. Mulligan in military uniform. Mulligan served as colonel of the 23rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and commanded the Union forces at the first Battle of Lexington.
Object Type: Image

Title: From John F. Youngs to Jenney and Mother
Description: This letter is from Lt. John F. Youngs, Company E, 5th Regiment, to his family. Youngs writes from camp in Fort Scott, Kansas on September 18, 1861 and gives a detailed account of the Battle of Dry Wood Creek. He describes hiding in a ravine and firing on thousands of advancing troops. Since then, "we have been buisy scouting with an occasional scirmish," and says that an infantry company has gone to "break up a secession camp."
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 18, 1861

Title: Jefferson Davis in Prison at Fortress Monroe
Description: This drawing depicts Jefferson Davis in his prison cell at Fortress Monroe, Virginia after the conclusion of the Civil War. Two guards stand in Davis' cell, while the prisoner sits on his bed. Written in the lower, right hand corner: "The casemate, Fortress Monroe, Jeff Davis in prison."
Object Type: Image
Date: 1865

Title: Plat of Centralia, Boone County, Missouri
Description: Plat of Centralia, Boone County, Missouri. On September 27, 1864, 80 guerillas under the command of bushwhacker William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson killed 22 Union soldiers after stopping a train on the North Missouri Railroad in Centralia.
Date: 1898

Title: From Mary Hall to Venitia Hall
Description: Mary Hall—the original recipient of this envelope—used it in 1863 to write a message to her sister Venitia Colcord Page, who was incarcerated at the Union Jail for Women in Kansas City. “Don’t say one word before anyone,” Mary warns, “The guards say they like you…They say very hard things of the others.” Mary gave the message to Venitia, who was married to Major Page, during a prison visit; Venitia escaped or was released before the prison collapsed in August 1863.
Date: 1863

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: On October 26, 1864, John A. Bushnell writes from Calhoun, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. John refers to a fight “at Clinton yesterday,” and adds that several local men have joined the Confederates; John himself has been “sworn and paroled.” John predicts that “bands of men” will soon be “robbing and plundering” on the order of Bushwhackers and other groups. He advises Eugenia to hide her valuables and “any letters you do not want read” in case her house is searched. John writes of hearing rumors about the whereabouts of General Price’s army.
Object Type: Letter
Date: October 26, 1864

Title: General Orders, No. 34
Description: Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis issued General Order No. 34 from the Department of the Missouri Headquarters in St. Louis on May 4, 1863. The order details the proceedings of a recent Military Commission in St. Joseph, Missouri, where several citizens were tried for war crimes, including disloyal conduct, violation of the conduct of war, bearing arms against the Government, violation of the Oath of Allegiance, and disturbing the peace of Union men. The order was signed by Assistant Adjutant General A.V. Colburn.
Date: May 4, 1863

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

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