Civil War

Title: General Nathaniel Lyon
Description: Illustration of General Nathaniel Lyon by Joseph Edward Baker.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1861

Title: From Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Description: On August 12, 1862, Leigh R. Webber writes from Gibson County, Tennessee to Miss Brown. Webber criticizes the government's management of the war, declaring "there is no genuine Union sentiment in the Seceded States, to any extent...Unless the Government feels itself able to subjugate the South, it ought to acknowledge its independence at once. The restoration of the union as it was previous to the war is an impossibility." He refers to Generals Halleck, McClellan, Buell in his letter.
Date: August 12, 1862

Title: Examination of John R. Courtney
Description: This is John R. Courtney's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Courtney, a native of Kentucky, states that he has lived in Missouri for 27 years. He says that in 1862 he was enrolled by the military authorities as "disloyal--but against my wishes." Courtney was also required to give bond, although "at the time I told Col[.] Penick I could prove my loyalty." The oath is No. 246 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of R. Fisher
Description: This 1866 Oath of Loyalty document bears the name of R. Fisher. Fisher, a 47-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 13 years. He states, "I am willing to take the Oath to support the Constitution but can not take the whole Oath of Loyalty." The document is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of John S. Reynolds
Description: This is John S. Reynolds's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Reynolds, a 29-year-old native of Clay County, Missouri, states that he manifested his loyalty during the war by staying at home, and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 187 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From John Stillman Brown to John L. Rupur
Description: On September 1, 1863, John Stillman Brown writes a letter to John L. Rupur about Quantrill's August 21 Raid on Lawrence. He lists the names of friends who were killed in the raid, and describes watching the bushwhackers from a hill west of Lawrence "as they went to their work of death, burning and plunder." He also mentions seeing "the brave" Gen. James Henry Lane.
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 1, 1863

Title: Examination of Edward Pickett
Description: This is Edward Pickett's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Pickett, a native of North Carolina, states that he has lived in Clay County, Missouri for 37 years. He declines to answer the question regarding his loyalty during the war. The oath is No. 255 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell writes a letter from Calhoun, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh on July 16, 1863. He tells her that Missouri has recently instituted a draft and that he plans to apply for exemption. If he does not succeed, he says he will sell his belongings and attempt to “pay out” of service. He expresses his hope for a peaceful future with Eugenia and discusses his faith: “If God is with us, we are safe.”
Date: July 16, 1863

Title: From Lizzie Deavenport to Mrs. Colgan
Description: On February 22, 1865, Lizzie Deavenport writes from Hick Mill, Missouri, to Mrs. Colgan. Lizzie says that W.H. was slightly wounded during a fight in Independence, Missouri. She shares news of various friends and family members, and tells Mrs. Colgan, "your home place does not look like it did when you was there. there is not but one hole window in your house…your house has been [mighty] abused."
Date: February 22, 1865

Title: From C.F. Smith to A. Comingo
Description: On December 24, 1863, C.F. Smith writes from Kansas City, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri. Smith reports that he has about 50 names to add to the published enrollment list, explaining that "before the list was published it was exceedingly difficult to get any information but now every man reports his neighbor if his name is not on the list." Smith adds that some men were accidentally enrolled twice.
Date: December 24, 1863

Title: From Eugenia Bronaugh to John A. Bushnell
Description: Eugenia Bronaugh writes to John Bushnell from Hickory Grove, Missouri on May 30, 1865. She describes a severe thunderstorm, and says the shrubbery in her garden is “destroyed since the war.” Eugenia says her relatives in Saline County, Missouri wish they could relocate from their home because it reminds them of “evils committed in the name of ‘Liberty.’” Eugenia herself also longs to relocate to escape unfaithful friends and memories of “the cruelties of war.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: May 30, 1865

Title: From George W. Dietzler to Charles Robinson
Description: George W. Dietzler writes on April 16, 1861 from Lawrence, Kansas, to Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson. Dietzler declares that “Old Abe has decided ‘to put his foot down firmly’ against the ‘Confederate government,’” and suggests that Robinson offer 1000 or more Kansas troops to support Lincoln. He writes, “We must be ready for war—all Lawrence will enlist at short notice. Heaven grant that peace may not be restored until the disease is effectively & permanently cured.”
Date: April 16, 1861

Title: Emancipation of Eliza Jane
Description: These documents include the bill of sale and the letter of emancipation for a slave, Eliza Jane. The bill of sale, signed and dated December 5, 1844 by Alexander Duncan, confers Eliza Jane and two other slaves to Jeremiah and Nancy Smith of Nodaway County, Missouri for the sum of $550. The letter of emancipation is signed and dated August 31, 1863 by Jeremiah and Nancy Smith. It states that the Smiths “forever set FREE a certain Woman of color, named Eliza Jane, aged twenty-five years.”
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: December 5, 1844 and August 31, 1863

Title: From Mary E. Bedford to Alex M. Bedford
Description: On August 11, 1863, Mary E. Bedford writes from her home to her husband, Alex M. Bedford. Mary says that she has not yet received her permit to visit him, and writes that she hopes the war will soon end. She says that she is ready to go to Kentucky to stay with relatives, because although “times are better hear now…the Lord only knows how long [they] may stay so.” Mary also informs Alex that Cousin Oscar is in Tennessee serving in General Wheeler’s army.
Date: August 11, 1863

Title: Examination of Benjamin White
Description: This 1866 loyalty examination document bears the name Benjamin White. White, a 27-year-old Missouri native, states that he resides in Clay County, Missouri and admits, "I have sympathized with the Rebellion and do not wish to take the Oath of Loyalty." The document is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William Belcher
Description: This is William Belcher's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Belcher, a 28-year-old South Carolina native, states that he has resided in Missouri for ten years and did not leave the state during the war. This oath is No. 146 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William G. Garth
Description: This is William G. Garth's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Garth, a 34-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 10 years and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 214 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: On July 8, 1864 John A. Bushnell writes from Calhoun, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. John states that two Citizen Guard companies are forming at Calhoun; he is skeptical of the plan, but discusses it only in vague terms: “A better plan I think could have been adopted, but as I am said to talk too much, I will not say anything…I have written more than I intended.”
Date: July 8, 1864

Title: Examination of James Sullivan
Description: This is James Sullivan's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Sullivan states that he has resided in Liberty, Missouri for 27 years. The oath is No. 138 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of James Fraher
Description: This is James Fraher's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Fraher, a 47-year-old native of Ireland, states that he has lived in Missouri for 16 years and "served in the militia here in town." He also says that he was "put under bond against my wish." The oath is No. 184 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

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

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