Civil War

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description: In a June 29, 1856 letter to his parents in Massachusetts, Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas predicts the onset of war and states that he is happy about it, “for the North needs something to wake them up once.” He also expresses happiness about the recent presidential nomination of John C. Fremont. He anticipates that there will be trouble at the July 4 convention of the Topeka Legislature, stating, “I hope for the best, but fear for the consequences.” He recommends that his parents read the book "Six Months in Kansas" by Hannah Anderson Ropes.
Object Type: Letter
Date: June 29, 1856

Title: Quantrill's Raid
Description: An illustration entitled, "The War in Kansas-Fearful Massacre at Lawrence by Quantrell's Guerillas", originally published in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.
Object Type: Image
Date: September 12, 1863

Title: Leonard Tripp
Description: This carte de visite depicts Leonard Tripp, who served in Company A, Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865 by Hasie & Benton of Helena, Arkansas.
Object Type: Image

Title: Map Showing the Distribution of the Slave Population of the Southern States of the United States
Description: Map created by the U.S. Coast Survey in 1861 using census data from 1860, which depicts the distribution of slavery in Southern counties of the United States. The map indicates the percentage of slaves in each county by varying shades of gray.
Object Type: Map
Date: September, 1861

Title: Quarterly Return of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, 1864
Description: This military document is a return of ordnance and ordnance stores for Company "A" 8th Cavalry Regiment Missouri State Militia under command of Captain James J. Akard for the third quarter of 1864.
Date: December 14, 1864

Title: Charles Robinson
Description: An artist's rendering of Free-State activist Charles Robinson speaking to the Lecompton Territorial Legislature. On October 6, 1856, Free-Staters boycotted the territorial elections that resulted in the second territorial legislature at Lecompton, Kansas. The Free-Staters complained that the options given on the referendum asked voters to choose between making Kansas a slave state or merely banning the new importation of slaves. The latter option would have sanctioned slavery for slaves who were already in Kansas, and its restrictions on new importations of slaves were likely unenforceable.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1856

Title: Soldier, Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This sepia carte de visite, ca. 1861-1865, depicts an unidentified soldier who served in the Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The carte de visite was produced by Durland & Company in Lawrence, Kansas. Carte de visites were small photographs that were often used as calling cards and became very popular during the Civil War.
Object Type: Image

Title: Kansas Executive Department Council Journal
Description: This excerpt from the 1855 Kansas Executive Committee Council Journal records the Council’s discussion of various proposed acts and bills. These acts and bills address topics such as coal mining, the territorial capital at Lecompton, Kansas, enacting a state census and state constitutional convention, enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law, and voting rights for American Indians. The journal also features correspondence from Andrew Reeder.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1855

Title: From Thomas Hart Benton to Unknown
Description: In this letter ca. 1856-1858 to an unknown recipient, Senator Thomas Hart Benton provides evidence to prove his place of residence in St. Louis in order to run for office in Missouri. He states that he first arrived in St. Louis in 1815, “bringing with me slaves.” Benton relates details of his family’s connections to St. Louis, asserting that he “never thought of quitting the state.” He gives the names of three witnesses who can verify that St. Louis is his place of residence.

Title: From T.W. Trego to Dear Sister Alice
Description: This letter, dated June 10, 1862, is from T.W. Trego in Chicago to his sister-in-law Alice. He asks Alice about her husband Joseph, a lieutenant in the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment. He mentions that Col. Jennison told him that Joseph might have been transferred to the 6th Regiment; he asks Alice whether this is true. T.W. adds that he hopes “the biggest part of the fuss will soon be over so that Joseph can be released from his duties in the field, and devote himself to you.”
Date: June 10, 1862

Title: From Philip St. George Cooke to John W. Geary
Description: This letter, dated September 18, 1856, was written by Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke in camp near Lecompton, Kansas to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary. Cooke states that he received Geary’s recent dispatch, but objects to Geary’s instructions to divide his force at Lecompton and cross the river. Cooke argues that if his forces “meet an armed body…it would be under circumstances in which we could not legally stop them.”
Date: September 18, 1856

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell writes a letter from St. Louis to Eugenia Bronaugh of Hickory Grove, Missouri on August 3, 1864. He tells her that one of his former slaves was arrested and brutally attacked in Sedalia, Missouri, and he expresses hope that the Conservative Party will put an end to the violence and lawlessness. He tells Eugenia that he wishes he could write to her freely, without “the fear of fiendish eyes,” but he suspects that all of the letters he sends her are intercepted and read.
Date: August 3, 1864

Title: From Thomas R. Mitchell to J.T. Sweringen
Description: This letter is from Thomas R. Mitchell to J.T. Sweringen. Mitchell writes from Huntsville, Missouri on June 20, 1857, to inform Sweringen that Mrs. Ralston has safely arrived in town: "She found no difficulty in getting along amongst the 'border ruffians.'" He also expresses his concern that crops in Missouri are scarce this season.
Date: June 20, 1857

Title: From J. Locke Hardeman to George R. Smith
Description: On June 10, 1855, J. Locke Hardeman writes from Saline County, Missouri to George R. Smith in Georgetown, Missouri. Hardeman asserts that he differs "very widely" from Smith in his opinion on the Kansas question. "If Kansas be settled by Abolitionists," Hardeman asks, "can Missouri remain a slave state? If Missouri goes by the board what will become of Kentucky[,] Maryland, Virginia?...I know that Abolition & Union can not stand together."
Object Type: Letter
Date: June 10, 1855

Title: List of Colored Recruits Enlisted, 6th District Missouri
Description: This January 1864 military roll lists the names of "colored recruits" enlisted in the 30th sub-district of the 6th congressional district of Missouri in Chariton County. The roll provides the soldiers' physical characteristics, occupations, birthplaces, and the names of their owners.
Date: January 1864

Title: Examination of Archibald C. Courtney
Description: This is Archibald C. Courtney's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Courtney, who was born in Kentucky, describes himself as a 52-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, and states that he "volunteered into the services" during the Civil War. He declares loyalty to the United States Government "with all my heart." The oath, labeled No. 25 in a bound volume, was signed by Courtney in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Petition of F.G. Adams
Description: This petition, dated September 13, 1856, was sent to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary by F.G. Adams and five other citizens of Leavenworth, Kansas. The petitioners, writing from Lawrence, Kansas, state that Leavenworth is “infested by armed bands of men” who robbed them of their property and drove them away from their homes and families. The petitioners seek military protection from Geary to ensure a safe return to Leavenworth.
Object Type: Petition
Date: September 13, 1856

Title: View of St. Joseph, Mo. from Prospect Hill
Description: Right side of panorama view of St. Joseph, Missouri, taken from Prospect Hill by Louis Charles McClure, circa 1890-1910.
Object Type: Image

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Lizzie
Description: A.J. Huntoon writes a letter from Williamsport in Shawnee County, Kansas to his wife Lizzie, announcing that the country is “in a state of great political excitement” following the seizure of Fort Sumter. The letter, dated April 19, 21, and 22, 1861, states that Confederate supporters tried to raise a Palmetto flag in St. Joseph, Missouri, but Union supporters stopped them. Huntoon informs his wife that militia companies are organizing in Kansas, and he asks her if she objects to him becoming an assistant surgeon for the army. He also relays the news that Gen. Lane has been placed in command of 1,000 men in Washington.
Date: April 19, 1861-April 22, 1861

Title: Receipt of Clothing for Military Duty, 1863
Description: This military document shows that "the Non-commissioned Officers, Musicians and Privates... acknowledge to have received of Capt DD 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 the document appears to be missing.
Date: 1863

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

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