Civil War

Title: From A.J. Sexton to Catherine
Description: A.J. Sexton writes a letter from Leavenworth, Kansas to his wife Catherine in Wisconsin on February 26, 1862. Sexton, a member of the 12th Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, describes daily life at Fort Leavenworth, where his company is headquartered. He also announces that the city of Nashville recently surrendered to the Union and “the general opinion is that the war will soon close.”
Date: February 26, 1862

Title: From Samuel R. Curtis to Thomas Carney
Description: This telegram, dated June 7, 1864, was sent by Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Kansas Gov. Thomas Carney. Curtis states that he has been authorized to issue 1,000 arms and 200,000 rounds of ammunition to the militia. He tells Curtis that “Bushwhackers are east & south of us and hostile thieving indians west but with great vigilance on the part of federal & state troops we may protect the settlement.”
Object Type: Telegram
Date: June 7, 1864

Title: Sectional Map of the Territory of Kansas
Description: This color map, entitled “Sectional Map of the Territory of Kansas,” was compiled from the field notes in the Surveyor General’s office. It was published in 1857 by John Halsall in St. Louis.
Object Type: Map
Date: 1857

Title: From G.A. Parsons to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter, dated December 2, 1860, is from G.A. Parsons, Adjutant General of the Missouri Militia, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Parsons informs Stewart that he has just arrived in Bates County and has found among its citizens “a good deal of uneasiness” because of recent attacks by Jayhawkers. He mentions that a citizen named Bishop was recently shot in his own house. Parsons states that he is enclosing a petition from Bates County citizens.
Date: December 2, 1860

Title: From Unknown to Thomas Carney
Description: This telegram was sent from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Kansas Gov. Thomas Carney on April 26, 1864. The telegram consists of an April 23, 1864 telegraph communication between Col. Phillips and Major General S.R. Curtis. Phillips informs Curtis that his troops are tracking Quantrill’s movements through Kansas along the Arkansas River, and that one of his companies stationed near the river may meet Quantrill soon. Curtis replies that from Phillips’ telegram, he infers Quantrill’s location to be on the southern side of the Arkansas.
Object Type: Telegram
Date: April 26, 1864

Title: From W.E. Prince to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This telegram was sent from Capt. W.E. Prince at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Maj. R.T. Van Horn on August 23, 1861. Prince instructs Van Horn to "destroy everything" if forced to "abandon position." He also tells Van Horn to "continue work on gun" and to "communicate with Lexington and obtain Grahams Company ordered by me to this place."
Object Type: Telegram
Date: August 23, 1861

Title: From Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon
Description: In this letter, dated November 15, 1861, Samuel R. Ayres tells Lyman Langdon that he recently travelled to Kansas City, Missouri on an expedition to escort a provision train, but the train was captured by Secessionists. Ayres tells Langdon that there are a lot of Secessionists in Clay County, Missouri, and he suspects that they will try to take possession of Kansas City. He also mentions a rumor that Gen. Lane is in danger, as his regiment is vastly outnumbered by the enemy, but he plans to unite his forces with those of Col. Jennison.
Date: November 15, 1861

Title: From Fred to Dear Cousins
Description: This February 28, 1862 letter is from a soldier named Fred to his cousins. He reports that he just marched from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with Company A, to Kansas City, Missouri, where they are guarding Fort Union against the Jayhawkers. He tells his cousins that the 2nd Battalion of his regiment "had a brush with the rebels at Independence," and adds that he may be marching to St. Louis soon.
Date: February 28, 1862

Title: Kansas and Nebraska 1856
Description: This color map, entitled “Kansas and Nebraska 1856,” was printed by J.G. Wells in New York.
Object Type: Map
Date: 1856

Title: From W.E. Prince to James Henry Lane
Description: This dispatch, dated September 23, 1861, is from Capt. W.E. Prince at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Gen. James Henry Lane. Prince reports that the Union forces surrendered to the Missouri State Guard at the First Battle of Lexington on September 20. He also states that Gen. Sturgis expects Lane and his troops to report to Kansas City.
Date: September 23, 1861

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated June 4, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon to Col. E.V. Sumner. Shannon informs Sumner that Col. Preston, Deputy Sheriff of Douglas County, Kansas, will accompany the U.S. troops “so as to be ready to act as circumstances may require.”
Date: June 4, 1856

Title: From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description: In this letter, dated November 23, 1863, Lieut. Joseph H. Trego of the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment informs his wife Alice that he has safely arrived at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He says that scouts from his regiment captured about a dozen Bushwhackers and that Gen. McNeil “is keeping them here to have them ready to hang to telegraph poles.” Trego also mentions that Gen. Blunt is at Fort Smith and is likely to be reinstated to his command.
Date: November 23, 1863

Title: From Samuel R. Curtis to Edmund G. Ross
Description: This telegram, dated 1864, is from Major Samuel R. Curtis at Fort Leavenworth to Edmund G. Ross in Lawrence, Kansas. Curtis reports that 150-200 Missouri guerrillas have entered Kansas and are likely to invade Olathe, Lawrence, and Topeka. He tells Ross to warn Topeka of a possible attack and urges him to “be on your guard.”
Object Type: Telegram
Date: 1864

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated June 1, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner at Headquarters, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Shannon instructs Sumner to send one company of U.S. troops to reinforce Capt. Newby in Lawrence, Kansas, and a second company to reinforce Capt. Wood in Franklin County, Kansas. Shannon writes that each command is “too weak to deal with the armed bodies of lawless men by which they are surrounded.” Shannon adds that Maj. Sedgwick will communicate with Sumner about the events that have transpired.
Date: June 1, 1856

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated April 25, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner at Headquarters, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Shannon requests that a force of 30 U.S. troops be stationed at Lecompton in case of an emergency. Shannon asks Sumner to keep his troops ready to act at a moment’s notice “if required by me to enforce the laws and preserve the peace.”
Date: April 25, 1856

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated April 20, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner. Shannon states that after Douglas County Sheriff Samuel J. Jones arrested a man named S.N. Wood, he was forcibly rescued by a band of men. In order to recapture Wood and make several additional arrests, Shannon instructs Sumner to send an officer and six U.S. troops to Lecompton to assist Jones. Shannon indicates that he prefers to employ U.S. troops for this purpose because of their political neutrality.
Date: April 20, 1856

Title: Letters Received 1863-1865
Description: This notebook, kept by Capt. John A. Wilcox, 4th U.S. Cavalry, Mustering & Disbursing Officer, contains a record of letters received between 1863 and 1865. The book records the date each letter was received, the letter writer's name, and a summary of the content. Topics addressed include mustering out, enlistment of veterans, and general business. Letter-writers include Col. B.L.E. Bonneville in Benton Barracks, Missouri and Maj. J.E. Burbank in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Date: 1863-1865

Title: From Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Description: On May 28 and 29, 1862, Leigh R. Webber writes a letter from the Steamer Robert Campbell Jr. near Liberty, Missouri, to Miss Brown. Webber reports that he spent nine days marching from Fort Riley to Fort Leavenworth, and is now "moving down to 'Dixie's Land'…Our men are dying off so fast at Corinth, that we expect our turn will come next. But there is no fear or shrinking among us." He believes his regiment is better prepared for battle now than they were at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in 1861.
Object Type: Letter
Date: May 28, 1862 - May 29, 1862

Title: From Edward Hoogland and John A.W. Jones to John W. Geary
Description: In this November 29, 1856 letter, Edward Hoogland and John A.W. Jones report to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary about their recent expedition to southeastern Kansas. They inform Geary that they took depositions, issued warrants, and made arrests in relation to a number of crimes, including some committed during the Pottawatomie Massacre. They also report that they found and returned a substantial amount of stolen property. Hoogland and Jones ask Geary to station U.S. troops in southeastern Kansas, suggesting that “their presence would aid in restoring confidence.”
Date: November 29, 1856

Title: From James Henry Lane to E.M. Stanton
Description: This letter, dated February 8, 1862, is from James Henry Lane to E.M. Stanton, Secretary of War, in Washington, D.C. Writing from Leavenworth, Kansas, Lane states that he supports the proposal to extend the Platte County Rail Road from Weston, Missouri to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He urges Stanton to offer his support, arguing that the extension would help the government transport army supplies and troops.
Date: February 8, 1862

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

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