Civil War

Title: From E.B. Alexander to A. Comingo
Description: On December 15, 1863, Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General in St. Louis, writes to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington, Missouri. Alexander sends Comingo the text of a telegram he received that day from Provost Marshal General James B. Fry: "Enlisted men on detailed service as recruiting parties are entitled to the premium of fifteen (15) and twenty five (25) Dollars as referred to." Alexander instructs Comingo to inform the appropriate persons in his district.
Date: December 15, 1863

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Mother
Description: Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas writes a letter to his mother in Massachusetts on June 15, 1856. He voices disappointment with James Buchanan and predicts that if John C. Fremont is not elected president, Kansas will be admitted to the Union as a slave state. Yet he expresses optimism that “the death knell of slavery has been tolled.” He reports that Colonel Sumner has been gathering troops in Palmyra, Kansas, and he predicts that violence will ensue. He adds that in Lawrence, a number of Free State men have been robbed, and that “Men are being found dead more or less every little while.”
Date: June 15, 1856

Title: Jefferson City, Missouri
Description: This sketch by St. Louis resident Orlando C. Richardson, originally published in Harper’s Weekly on July 6, 1861, depicts Jefferson City, Missouri on the banks of the Missouri River.
Object Type: Image
Date: July 6, 1861

Title: Colonel McClurg Orders the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment to Shape Up
Description: By order of Colonel J. W. McClurg, 1st Lt. David Hunter writes that, "the Colonel Commanding trusts that this will be the last time... to insist upon the orders contained therein being strictly obeyed." These orders include commanding officers being properly uniformed, weekly inspection of equipment, and commanding officers not eating rations issued to the privates. Hunter warns that any offending officer will be sent before a General Court Martial.
Date: July 13, 1862

Title: From M. W. Johnson to James J. Akard
Description: In this military correspondence, Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment Lt. M. W. Johnson instructs Lt. James J. Akard on how subsistence for his company should be procured and documented.
Date: June 15, 1862

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

Title: Soldiers Enlisted in Ray County, Missouri
Description: This military roll lists the names of slaves enlisted in the 7th sub-district of the 6th congressional district of Missouri. They were recruited in January 1864 in Ray County. The document includes the names of the slaves' owners, the dates of their enlistment, and the names of the military personnel who enlisted them. The list is dated March 30, 1864 and is signed by G.N. Black, Recruiting Agent.
Date: March 30, 1864

Title: Claiborne Fox Jackson
Description: Illustration of Claiborne Fox Jackson, former Missouri Governor.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: From D.M. Frost to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This dispatch, dated November 27, 1860, is from Brig. Gen. D.M. Frost to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Frost states that he has just arrived in Smithton, Pettis County, Missouri, and is preparing for an expedition. He also tells Stewart that James Montgomery and his band of guerrillas invaded Missouri, captured a citizen, and hanged him in Kansas. He adds that some people have left the area out of fear for their lives.
Date: November 27, 1860

Title: Missouri Confederates Thomas H. Brown, William A. Brown, and Abe Brown
Description: Photograph of Missouri Confederate soldiers Thomas H. Brown, William A. Brown, and Abe Brown posing with their weapons. All three men served under Colonel Upton Hays at the Battle of Lone Jack.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Camp Saunders, Kansas Territory
Description: Photograph of proslavery stronghold, Camp Saunders, located 12 miles southwest of Lawrence, Kansas Territory, 1856. Camp (Fort) Saunders, one of three proslavery "forts" in Douglas County, Kansas, came under attack from Free-Staters, led by James H. Lane and angered at the Sacking of Lawrence and the murder of Major S. D. Hoyt, who had traveled to Fort Saunders to request an end to hostilities. The proslavery men at Fort Saunders (which was really no more than a sturdy log cabin), surrendered before any fighting began. The building was burned to the ground, and the Free-Staters turned their attention to Fort Titus.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1856

Title: General Orders, No. 42
Description: Brig. Gen. James Totten and Maj. Lucien J. Barnes of the Missouri State Militia issued General Order No. 42 on September 18, 1862 in Springfield, Missouri. The order cites instructions from C.W. Marsh at the Headquarters of the District of Missouri in St. Louis. Marsh requests that Totten furnish a list of officers who have not complied with Order No. 11.
Date: September 18, 1862

Title: Examination of Darius Gittings
Description: This is Darius Gittings's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Gittings describes himself as a 50-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Maryland. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States during the Civil War by remaining "here with the citizens of the town all the time." He says that he "felt sorry for the defeat of the govt." when he heard that Gen. Price had captured Gen. Milligan's army at Lexington, Missouri. The oath, labeled No. 80 in a bound volume, was signed by Gittings in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From A. Comingo to E.B. Alexander
Description: This November 13, 1863 dispatch is from Capt A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri to Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri. Comingo forwards Alexander two "rebel letters" that were intercepted in Chariton County, Missouri. A note on the back of the letter, dated November 16, states that the letter shall be returned to Comingo and that all intercepted correspondence must be forwarded to Col. Broadhead.
Date: November 13, 1863

Title: Examination of James Walker
Description: This is James Walker's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Walker, a 69-year-old Virginia native, states that he has resided in Missouri for 18 years. When asked how he manifested his loyalty to the Government during the war, Walker replies, "by remaining quiet." The oath is No. 148 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Mary E. Bedford to A.M. Bedford
Description: This letter, dated June 13, 1863, is from Mary E. Bedford to her husband, Lieut. Alex M. Bedford. She states that she sent him $30 and asks if he needs more money or clothing. She also reports that she has rented out her farm and that she might spend the summer visiting relatives in Kentucky. She asks her husband if she would be permitted to visit him.
Date: June 13, 1863

Title: From James H. Birch to Hamilton R. Gamble
Description: This letter, ca. August 1861, is from James H. Birch at Planter's House to Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble. Birch says that Gamble may send arms for the Plattsburg Company to his personal address in Cameron, Missouri, and he will ensure their "legal disposition." Birch also seeks military appointments from Gamble for himself and his son.
Object Type: Letter

Title: From James M. Boyer to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 29, 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 send him a blank form for enrolling soldiers, and says that he requested a current list of enrolled soldiers from Gen. Gray. He also mentions that he is "anxiously awaiting" the authority to recruit soldiers.
Date: November 29, 1863

Title: List of Colored Recruits Enlisted, 6th District Missouri
Description: This December 1863 military roll lists the names of "colored recruits" enlisted in the 27th sub-district of the 6th congressional district of Missouri in Chariton County. The roll provides the soldiers' physical characteristics, occupation, birthplace, and the names of their owners.
Date: December 1863

Title: Receipt of Clothing for Military Duty, 1862
Description: This military document shows that "the Non-commissioned Officers, Artificers, Musicians and Privates of Co. "A", 8th Regt. Cav., Mo. S. Militia do hereby acknowledge to have received of Capt. David D. Stockton the several articles of Clothing" that are listed along with the names and signatures of those enrolled in this company. The original first page of this document appears to be missing.
Date: 1862

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

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