Civil War

Title: Union Men and Their Sufferings in North-Western Missouri
Description: This 1864 pamphlet, entitled “Union Men and Their Sufferings in North-Western Missouri,” was written by Major J.M. Bassett, former Provost Marshal-General of the Northwest District of Missouri. Bassett provides a “glance at the history of the Rebellion in Northwest Missouri,” admitting “it may be that my hatred for rebels is too intense, my sympathy for loyal men too strong, to make every sentence I write acceptable to all.” The pamphlet, which features several black-and-white illustrations, was published by the Press of Wynkcop, Hallenbeck, and Thomas in New York, with proceeds from its sale given to The Ladies’ Aid Society of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Date: 1864

Title: From Alex M. Bedford to Joseph L. Bennett
Description: On April 13, 1865, Alex M. Bedford writes from Fort Delaware, Delaware, Division 34, to Joseph L. Bennett in Savannah, Missouri. Bedford writes about the surrender of Gen. Lee and his army: “they have gone up & our confederacy has played out & I will return home by taking the oath or any other way.” Complaining of poor health, Bedford seeks Bennett’s help in expediting his release, and suggests that he ask Major Bruce of St. Joseph, Missouri, to write to the War Department on his behalf.
Date: April 13, 1865

Title: From Henry H. Harris to Isaac C. Dodge
Description: This letter, dated February 14, 1867, is from Henry H. Harris of Arrow Rock, Missouri to attorney Isaac C. Dodge of St. Louis. Harris states that he is sending Dodge claims from two former slave owners seeking compensation from the United States government for the military service of their slaves. The first claim, he says, is from Bemis Brown, former owner of eight male slaves, and the second is from Mary C. George, former owner of one male slave. Harris also asks Dodge about the status of a previous claim.
Date: February 14, 1867

Title: Examination of Joseph Thorp
Description: This is Joseph Thorp's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Thorp, a 62-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 57 years and says that "although I was over age and did not take up arms" during the war, "I opposed others going into the Confederate service." The oath is No. 180 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: The Osawatomie Battlefield
Description: Osawatomie Battlefield courtesy of Oswald Garrison Villard's John Brown 1800-1859: A Biography Fifty Years After. On August 30, 1856, Abolitionist John Brown and 40 other Free-Staters unsuccessfully defended the town of Osawatomie, Kansas against 250-300 border ruffians under John W. Reid. The Free-Staters were routed, Osawatomie was burned, and one of Brown's sons was killed, but Brown escaped with his life and earned the nickname "Osawatomie Brown" for his spirited defense.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Examination of R.P. Wood
Description: This is R.P. Wood's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Wood describes himself as a 52-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri who was born in Kentucky. He states that he supported the United States Government during the Civil War and that he "volunteered here several times in defence of the town." The oath, labeled No. 87 in a bound volume, was signed by Wood on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Examination of George W. Warren
Description: This is George W. Warren's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Warren, a 55-year-old Kentucky native who lived in Missouri for 21 years, states that he was too old to enlist in the Union army. The oath is No. 175 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of A.J. Turpin
Description: This is A.J. Turpin's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Turpin, a 61-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 12 years. He was arrested twice during the war: once in August 1862 for feeding Quantrill's men; and in June 1863 by Lt. Col. Hayes. Turpin declares, "I was always always a strong Union man until the Red legs stole my Property." The oath is No. 191 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Diary of John Ament
Description: This diary, kept by John Ament or possibly one of his children between August 7, 1863 and August 24, 1863, records the family's flight out of Cass County, Missouri after being ordered to leave their home. Ament and several neighboring families travelled by wagon “in the dust and dirt,” through the towns of Boonville, Sturgeon, Mexico, and others. The diary, kept in a penmanship notebook originally used to document Ament’s work as Treasurer for his church, includes a transcription of the poem “The Soldier’s Misfortune.”
Object Type: Diary
Date: August 7, 1863 - August 24, 1863

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: 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 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: 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: From R.T. Branaugh to A.M. Bedford
Description: This letter, dated September 3, 1863, is from R.T. Branaugh to A.M. Bedford, Esq. Branaugh reports that Bedford’s horse was “taken by the Feds.” He adds that a mutual acquaintance got it back, only to have it taken by the Feds once again. He also discusses the prices of corn, hemp, and hogs.
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 3, 1863

Title: Examination of Ranson Herndon
Description: This is Ranson Herndon's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Herndon was born in Kentucky and describes himself as a 31-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri. He states that during the Civil War he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government by "picking up my arms and going into the field." The oath, No. 19 in a bound volume, was signed by Herndon in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Indenture of Robertson Moore and David L. Cavanagh
Description: This April 1864 document declares the upcoming sale of the late John C. Cavanagh’s real estate and his three slaves, Abe, Lucy, and Eliza. Robertson Moore, Sheriff of Chariton County, announces that he will auction off Cavanagh’s property outside of the courthouse in Keytesville, Missouri.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: April 1864

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell of Calhoun, Missouri writes a letter on January 10, 1863 to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. He complains that he has not received any newspapers in a week. The only information, he says, that he could possibly share with her would be considered contraband: “but contraband . . . what a word for free America to use under our Constitution, our once free and happy Government, the land of Washington.”
Date: January 10, 1863

Title: Parole for Lisbon Applegate
Description: This document certifies the parole of Private Lisbon Applegate of Company C, Reserve Corps Regiment, Texas Infantry C.S.A, by order of Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby. Applegate, a resident of Chariton County, Missouri, was paroled in Marshall, Texas on June 30, 1865.
Date: June 30, 1865

Title: Edward Payson Fitch, Jr.
Description: This black and white photograph, taken circa 1890, depicts Edward Payson Fitch, Jr., son of Edward and Sarah Fitch. He was born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1863. As a baby, he survived Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence, but his family’s house was burned down and his father was killed in the attack.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Mary E. Bedford to Alex M. Bedford
Description: On July 17, 1863, Mary E. Bedford writes from Savannah, Missouri to her husband Alex M. Bedford. Mary says that she believes Alex will be exchanged soon, and expresses hope that the war will soon come to an end. She states that she could not retrieve the horse Alex left in Clay County, Missouri, because it was taken as contraband. Mary provides an update about various friends in the area, including several who have left and some who joined the military. She adds that the price of goods is very high and that she may go to Kentucky to stay with relatives.
Date: July 17, 1863

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

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