Civil War

Title: John Brown
Description: A Half-length portrait of John Brown with his arms folded.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1856

Title: Examination of Edward McSweeny
Description: This is Edward McSweeny's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. McSweeny, a 37-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Ireland and remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 27 in a bound volume, was signed by McSweeny on September 22, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 22, 1866

Title: From B.F. Dawson to Colonel of the Second Kansas Militia
Description: This letter, dated October 14, 1864 but presumably written ca. October 22, 1864, was sent by B.F. Dawson in Topeka, Kansas, to the Colonel of the 2nd Kansas Militia. Dawson, a member of Capt. Huntoon’s Company B, 2nd Kansas Militia, describes his participation in the Battle of the Blue, during which he was taken prisoner by the Confederates. He was later paroled by Gen. Shelby and marched back to Topeka.

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell of Calhoun, Missouri writes a letter on February 28, 1863 to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. He tells her that “petty acts of tyranny have been committed elsewhere” and predicts that if similar violence occurs where he lives, his neighbors will be too cowardly to defend themselves. He also complains about censorship in newspapers and shares news that General Price “is appointed to the command in rebel army west of the Mississippi.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: February 28, 1863

Title: From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair and Emma Adair
Description: This letter was written on April 1, 2, and 8, 1861 by Florella Brown Adair in Greenfield, Ohio, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair and daughter Emma Adair. Florella writes about going on a “calling & begging trip for Kansas” among friends in the area, and how she was disappointed to receive only $3.00 for her efforts. Florella discovered that many people had already given funds for Kansas to Mr. Stephenson, who managed to collect over $300.00 by representing himself as an acquaintance of John Brown.
Date: April 1, 1861-April 8, 1861

Title: Disloyalists Banished from Western Missouri
Description: This newspaper clipping, ca. August 1863, lists the names of "disloyalists" who were banished from Western Missouri in accordance with Gen. Ewing's General Order No. 11. The people listed were residents of Kansas City, Missouri; Independence, Missouri; Osage County, Kansas; and Olathe, Kansas. The order prohibits these "disloyal" citizens from residing in their homes or in Platte, Clay, Ray, or Carroll counties.
Object Type: Newspaper Article

Title: Representatives of Kansas, 1868
Description: This legislative panel shows the members of the Kansas House of Representatives for A.D. 1868. In the lower portion of the panels the legislature's names are listed in numeric order. Notable historical figures in this panel include: Everard Bierer, labeled "2"; John B. Bruner, "5"; Thomas H. Butler, "6"; Joel Kishler Goodin, "13"; Joel Grover, second left picture from bottom center; John Guthrie, "15"; John Hamilton, "55"; Richard W. Jenkins, top of left-most column; Charles Ransford Jennison, "22"; William Henry Harrison Kelley, "23"; Vincent J. Lane, "24"; Samuel D. Lecompte, "25"; William Mitchell, "66"; Preston Bierce Plumb, "31"; Philip Rockefeller, "33"; Charles May Sears, second right picture from bottom center; William Hillary Smallwood, "37"; George W. Smith, center; James Donaldson Snoddy, "39"; Thomas Jefferson Vanderslice, "44"; Henry H. Williams, "47"; and John K. Wright, "50".
Object Type: Image
Date: 1868

Title: Battle of Antietam
Description: Thure de Thulstrup's painting of the Battle of Antietam, the deadliest single day of battle in U.S. history.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of George H. Holbert
Description: This is George H. Holbert's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Holbert describes himself as a 42-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri who was born in Kentucky. He affirms that he cooperated with "the known supporters of the government" during the Civil War and never aided the rebels. The oath, labeled No. 86 in a bound volume, was signed by Holbert on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: From Emma Adair to Florella Brown Adair, Samuel Lyle Adair, and Ada Adair
Description: On May 30 and 31, 1862, Emma Adair writes from Leavenworth, Kansas, to her parents Florella Brown Adair and Samuel Lyle Adair and sister Ada Adair. Emma writes about staying with her Uncle and his family, who live in Leavenworth and own a store there. She supposes they have already heard about the evacuation of Corinth by the Rebels, and notes that “5 boats left here yesterday filled with soldiers.”
Date: May 30, 1861-May 31, 1861

Title: Examination of Andrew C. Davidson
Description: This is Andrew C. Davidson's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Davidson, a 45-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 35 years and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 216 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Franklin G. Adams
Description: Portrait of Franklin G. Adams, the election judge who presided over the 1858 vote on the Lecompton Constitution, circa 1876-1883.
Object Type: Image

Title: Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans at the Battle of Murfreesboro
Description: Currier & Ives lithograph depicting a romanticized General Rosecrans at the Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River), January 2, 1863. Rosecrans gained fame during the Civil War as victor at several Western Theater battles. Rosecrans military career effectively ended, however, following his defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863, after which General Grant relieved him of his command.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of Thomas J. Kidd
Description: This is Thomas J. Kidd's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Kidd, a 56-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri since 1849. During the war, he was required to give bond, but "Col. Penick said my case was a light one but that I was an influential man and he would require a light bond for fear I might do something." The oath is No. 219 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Battle of Fredericksburg
Description: Currier & Ives hand-colored lithograph of the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1862

Title: From Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon
Description: This letter was written on August 24 and 27, 1863 by Samuel R. Ayres in Moneka, Kansas, to Lyman Langdon. Ayres writes that “along our Missouri border we are subject to almost constant raids from the Bushwhackers over the line who rob our citizens burn their houses and murder prominent men.” Ayres offers a description of Quantrill’s recent raid on Lawrence, Kansas, calling it “an act of barbarity but seldom if ever equaled by the most savage tribes.” Ayres says that he and other local citizens are organizing to defend Mound City, Kansas from guerrilla attacks.
Date: August 24, 1863-August 27, 1863

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description: On April 22, 1865, Abishai Stowell writes from Lewisburg, Arkansas to his sister. Stowell, a member of Co. B, 2nd Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, reports that "the prospect is good for me to go home in a few days for the war is just about ended." He says the assassination of President Lincoln "has caused a great deal of excitement here[,] the Union people feel the loss to be one that can never be repaid while the Secesh are overjoyed with the news."
Object Type: Letter
Date: April 22, 1865

Title: Russell W. Maryhugh
Description: This sepia carte de visite depicts Russell W. Maryhugh, who served in Company E, Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph, ca. 1861-1865, was produced by Armstead & White of Corinth, Mississippi.
Object Type: Image

Title: Soldier, Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This sepia carte de visite depicts an unidentified officer of the Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph, ca. 1861-1865, was produced by A.C. Nichols of Leavenworth, Kansas.
Object Type: Image

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

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

Error message

In collections

Pages

Pages

Object Type

Local Subject

People

Geographic Subject

Owning Organization