Search results

Title: From E.B. Alexander to William Fowler
Description: On August 8, 1863, Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General in St. Louis, writes to Capt. William Fowler, Provost Marshal for the 7th District of Missouri. Alexander reports that four "desperate" horse thieves have escaped from a court house in Iowa and are rumored to be in northern Missouri. He adds that one of the men, Washington Rodgers, is charged with enlisting men for the Confederate side "and is supposed to have been an active guerrilla in northern Missouri."
Date: August 8, 1863

Title: The Battle of Lexington, Missouri
Description: This image depicting the Battle of Lexington appeared in the October 12, 1861 issue of Harper's Weekly.
Object Type: Image
Date: October 12, 1861

Title: From Eugenia Bronaugh to John A. Bushnell
Description: On October 22, 1863, Eugenia Bronaugh writes a letter from Hickory Grove, Missouri to John A. Bushnell, who is away in St. Louis. Referring to herself in the third person, she claims to be a Union devotee. She recounts recent correspondence from her brothers, who fought in the Battle of Helena for the Federal army. She praises their bravery, and relates their descriptions of the “toil and hardships of war”.
Date: October 22, 1863

Title: Missouri State Militia Special Order No. 30
Description: By order of Brigadier General John B. Sanborn, 1st Lt. W. D. Hubbard calls for six particular squadrons of the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment to muster out any amount of enlisted men in excess of the minimum required for organization of a Cavalry Company. Lieutenant Colonel J. D. Brutsche is charged with making sure the order is carried out.
Date: February 1, 1864

Title: Benjamin W. Grover
Description: This ca. 1861 sepia photograph depicts Benjamin W. Grover, a prominent early citizen of Warrensburg, Missouri. After a career with the railroad, Grover served in the 27th Missouri Infantry, U.S. Volunteers, and died October 30, 1861 from wounds received in the first Battle of Lexington. Grover is believed to have been a friend of General Grant; the coat he is wearing in the photograph may have been given to him by Grant.
Object Type: Image

Title: Benjamin W. Grover
Description: This ca. 1861 tintype depicts Benjamin W. Grover, a prominent early citizen of Warrensburg, Missouri. After a career with the railroad, Grover served in the 27th Missouri Infantry, U.S. Volunteers, and died October 30, 1861 from wounds received in the first Battle of Lexington. Grover is believed to have been a friend of General Grant; the coat he is wearing in the photograph may have been given to him by Grant.
Object Type: Image

Title: From John B. Henderson to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This letter, dated December 11, 1863, is from J.B. Henderson in Washington City to Col. R.T. Van Horn in Jefferson City, Missouri. Henderson states that he has an upcoming appointment to speak with President Lincoln about "Missouri affairs." He tells Van Horn that he will submit "a special request, on the subject you allude to."
Date: December 11, 1863

Title: From Jonathan B. Fuller to Dear Father
Description: On July 18, 1864, Jonathan B. Fuller writes from Kansas City, Missouri to his father. Fuller reports rumors of recent battles "across the river," and says that Platte City, Missouri may have been "burned to the ground by our own soldiers." He mentions his anxiety over mounting political tensions in his church, fearing that the congregation may split after the August 4 "Fast day" service.
Object Type: Letter
Date: July 18, 1864

Title: From Henry Van Horn to Robert Van Horn and Adela Van Horn
Description: This letter, dated May 9 - May 27, 1861, is from Henry Van Horn in Missouri to his son Robert and his wife Adela. Van Horn writes about the commencement of the War: "there is one Regiment ready to organize and march now and there is part of a second one forming." He also tells his family that an acquaintance, B.M. Warin, was killed when a threshing machine exploded.
Date: May 9, 1861-May 27, 1861

Title: From W.A. Bevis to Jonathan B. Fuller
Description: This letter, dated October 15, 1864, is from Capt. W.A. Bevis in Westport, Missouri to Rev. Jonathan B. Fuller. Bevis states his belief that the "threatened Troubles to this Part of the County" are over, and gives Fuller permission to resume his church services. The Battle of Westport occurred eight days later.
Date: October 15, 1864

Title: Affidavit of Peter Arnoldia
Description: This is Dr. Peter Arnoldia's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Arnoldia states that he had been in the building that housed the prison many times, including the day before it collapsed, and considered it safe and well constructed. The affidavit is dated September 12, 1863 and signed by Arnoldia and Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 12, 1863

Title: From Jonathan B. Fuller to Dear Father
Description: On June 20, 1864, Jonathan B. Fuller writes from Kansas City, Missouri to his father. Fuller reports that his Sunday church congregation was smaller than usual "on account of the details for Guard duty. For everybody is under arms. The soldiers are off scouring the country for bushwhackers. We…are supposed to be in danger of an attack--so all hands, Rebel & Radical--old and young--are armed and standing guard every night." Fuller also describes escalating political tension within his church.
Date: June 20, 1864

Title: From William to Ellen W. McCoy
Description: On June 7, 1863, William writes from Independence, Missouri to his wife Ellen W. McCoy. William writes that "the Bushwhackers still continue their annoyance," and explains that two "German Union citizens" were taken from their homes the previous week in retaliation for a recent hanging in Kansas City, and have not been heard from since. William notes, "if this kind of retaliation is to be carried on there is no knowing where it will stop or whose life would be safe."
Object Type: Letter
Date: June 7, 1863

Title: From Henry Van Horn to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This letter, dated January 27, 1864, is from Henry Van Horn to his son, R.T. Van Horn in Missouri. Henry commends the progress that Missouri has made "towards liberty and emancipation" and tells his son, "you have the sincere praise of the men here." He expresses concern for his son's well-being after suffering an injury, and informs him that an acquaintance named Mr. Elliott has passed away.
Date: January 27, 1864

Title: From D.L. Shouse to Jonathan B. Fuller
Description: This October 1863 letter is from D.L. Shouse in Kansas City, Missouri, to Rev. Jonathan B. Fuller in Louisiana, Missouri. Shouse writes that his church must postpone the invitation it extended to Fuller to become their minister. He tells Fuller, "we have lost quite a large number of our members by military orders as well as by voluntary removal," and says that the congregation lacks the resources to support a minister until "quiet is restored" in Jackson County.
Date: October 1863

Title: Special Orders, No. 232
Description: This military document, "Special Orders, No. 232", commands Lieut. Col. R.T. Van Horn of the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry to report for duty to Brig. Gen. Ewing in Kansas City, Missouri. The document is signed by Maj. Gen. J.M. Schofield, Assistant Adjutant General, at the Head Quarters of the Department of the Missouri in St. Louis on August 26, 1863.
Date: August 26, 1863

Title: Discharge Papers of Lawrence Shannon
Description: This document certifies that Lawrence Shannon was discharged from the United States military on October 29, 1861 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The document describes Shannon as a 30-year old stone mason from Ireland. It states that Shannon was captured during the Battle of Lexington and mustered out of service per General Order No. 13. The document is signed by Capt. William Millar and Maj. R.T. Van Horn.
Date: October 29, 1861

Title: Affidavit of Elijah M. McGee
Description: This is Elijah M. McGee's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. McGee states that before the prison collapsed, he entered the adjoining building, saw that its columns had been removed, and predicted that it would collapse. The affidavit is dated September 10, 1863 and signed by McGee and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 10, 1863

Title: Affidavit of Solomon S. Smith
Description: This is Solomon S. Smith's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Smith, a brick mason, states that he built the walls of the prison and the adjoining building, using the "best quality Bricks." He describes the building's construction, then states that the prison could not have collapsed from ordinary usage, but only from "undermining the Walls in Some way or removing the Supports." The affidavit is dated September 10, 1863 and signed by Smith and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 10, 1863

Title: Campaign Circular for R.T. Van Horn
Description: This campaign circular, printed in Kansas City on August 30, 1864, presents several reasons why Col. R.T. Van Horn should be elected to represent the Sixth Congressional District of Missouri. It references his military career, including his role in the Battle of Lexington, and declares that Van Horn was "the very first man in Western Missouri who sprung to arms in 1861." The document is signed by A.G. Newgent and G. Thomas.
Object Type: Circular
Date: August 30, 1864

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

Error message

Pages

Pages

Object Type

Local Subject

People

Geographic Subject

Owning Organization