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Title
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Battle of Hickory Point
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Description
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Painting by Samuel J. Reader depicting the Battle of Hickory Point. On September 13, 1856, James H. Lane led a force of jayhawkers against Hickory Point, a proslavery settlement in Jefferson County, Kansas that had supported an attack against Grasshopper Falls. Lane soon understood that he lacked artillery to attack the log buildings, and he retreated. During the retreat, Missourians pursued Lane's forces and attacked, but the jayhawkers returned fire. After receiving word that Territorial Governor John Geary had ordered a ceasefire, Lane withdrew, but reinforcements from Lawrence under command of Colonel James A. Harvey arrived on September 14, toting the captured cannon "Old Sacramento," and fired on the town. One proslavery man was killed, four others wounded, and several Free-Staters were wounded before a ceasefire was called and the Missourians withdrew from the area. 100 Free-Staters were arrested by U.S. troops, but they were later acquitted for acting in self-defense.
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Object Type
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Image
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Title
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From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
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Description
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On September 8, 1855, Edward Fitch writes a letter from Lawrence, Kansas to his parents in Massachusetts, reporting that Governor Andrew Reeder was nominated for Congress at the recent convention in Big Springs, Kansas. He also informs his parents of his efforts to protect a free black man against a group of pro-slavery men who wanted to capture and enslave him. If they hadn’t eventually backed down, Fitch says, “we should have pitched in to them with our rifles.”
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Date
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September 8, 1855
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Title
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From John B. Wood to George L. Stearns
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Description
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On November 19, 1861, John B. Wood writes a letter from Lawrence, Kansas to his friend George L. Stearns in Boston, informing him that thousands of slaves have escaped Missouri and settled in Kansas. He says that in the past ten days, 131 escaped slaves have moved into Lawrence. Most of them have found employment on farms, Wood writes, but when the harvest season is over, they may be out of work. Wood worries that there will be “much suffering” and death, and he asks Stearns to “lay this matter before the friends of humanity of the East and ask them to send us funds” to assist the liberated slaves.
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Date
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November 19, 1861
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Title
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Black Jack Battleground in Douglas County, Kansas
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Description
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Photograph of the site of the Black Jack battlefield near Palmyra in Douglas County, Kansas. On June 2, 1856, abolitionist John Brown and his followers attacked the forces of a proslavery settler, Henry C. Pate in the unofficial first battle of the Civil War (nearly five years prior to the war's beginning). Pate, who held two of Brown's sons captive, exchanged them for 23 prisoners after Brown and his free-state forces won the battle.
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Object Type
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Image
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Date
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December, 1888
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Title
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From Samuel Medary to Robert M. Stewart
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Description
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This letter, dated April 14, 1859, is from Kansas Gov. Samuel Medary to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Medary responds to Stewart’s April 8 letter stating that Gen. Parsons is patrolling the Kansas-Missouri state line to protect Missourians from guerrilla attacks. Medary expresses surprise and claims no knowledge of guerrilla bands in Kansas. He assures Stewart that he will investigate and that he will cooperate with Stewart’s efforts to preserve peace along the border.
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Object Type
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Government Document
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Date
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April 14, 1859
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Title
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Description of Territorial Seal
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Description
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This is an excerpt from a newspaper article published in January 1855 by the Easton Argus in Easton, Pennsylvania. The article describes the Territorial Seal of Kansas, which was engraved by Robert Lovett of Philadelphia according to the design of Kansas Gov. Andrew Reeder. The article declares that the motto “is a beautiful allusion to the principle on which the Territory was organized, and consists of ‘Populi voce,’ thus translated—Born of the popular will.”
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Object Type
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Newspaper Article
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Date
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January 1855
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Title
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From Daniel Woodson to William P. Richardson
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Description
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This order, dated September 1, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Major General William P. Richardson, Kansas Militia, Northern Division. Woodson reminds Richardson that General Order No. 1, issued August 21, 1856, directed that all peaceable Kansas citizens and their property were to be protected regardless of their political views, and that no houses were to be destroyed unless they were proven to be used as forts or arsenals against the territorial government. Woodson directs Richardson to use the “severest penalties” against soldiers violating the order, and prohibits the burning of dwellings.
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Date
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September 1, 1856
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Title
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From William Murphy to John W. Geary
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Description
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This letter, dated October 3, 1856, is from William Murphy, mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas, to Gov. John W. Geary. Murphy states that three Leavenworth citizens received letters signed by “Regulators” ordering them to leave Kansas Territory; he tells Geary that he has investigated the incident but cannot determine who sent the letters. Murphy admits to Geary that citizens have complained about his performance as mayor, but he insists that their criticism is not justified. Murphy complains about people who are disloyal to the country and to President Pierce, and he expresses his support of the Democratic Party.
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Date
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October 3, 1856
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Title
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Petition from Leaders of Emigrant Train
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Description
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This petition, dated October 14, 1856, is addressed to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary and is signed by six conductors of an emigrant train that brought families from Mount Pleasant, Iowa to settle in Kansas. They tell Geary that they brought sabres with them because they had heard that armed men were blockading the Missouri River to Free State emigrants. They state that they were stopped at the border by U.S. troops, who searched their wagons, stole their arms, and imprisoned them. The conductors assert their rights as American citizens “to bear arms, and to be exempt from unlawful search or seizure,” and they request Geary’s assistance.
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Object Type
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Petition
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Date
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October 14, 1856
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Title
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From Daniel Woodson to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore
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Description
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This letter, dated September 3, 1856, was written by Acting Kansas Gov. Daniel Woodson at Lecompton, Kansas to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore in behalf of the Kansas State Central Committee. Woodson states that he received their letter asserting that a deputation from their committee is being illegally detained at Lecompton. Woodson replies that although he met with two men from the committee, they did not represent themselves as a deputation and were rightly arrested as spies.
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Date
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September 3, 1856
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Title
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From W.L. Marcy to John W. Geary
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Description
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This telegram was sent from W.L. Marcy in Washington, D.C. to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary on September 27, 1856. Marcy acknowledges receipt of an earlier dispatch from Geary. He informs Geary that “Military law can properly be applied, But you have not power to proclaim Martial law, you must get along without doing so.”
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Object Type
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Telegram
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Date
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September 29, 1856
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Title
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From John Wright to John W. Geary
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Description
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In this September 20, 1856 letter to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary, John Wright complains that a mob of 15 to 20 armed men raided his house. According to Wright, the mob was led by Capt. Miller of Leavenworth County, Kansas. They broke into his home with revolvers, threatened to kill him, and captured Joseph Wright and John Kissinger. Wright asks Geary to rescue Joseph and John from the mob and “Save their Lives.”
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Object Type
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Letter
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Date
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September 20, 1856
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Title
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From Samuel Jones to John W. Geary
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Description
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Samuel Jones, Sheriff of Douglas County, Kansas, writes a letter to Gov. John W. Geary on November 15, 1856. He informs Geary that he has a warrant to arrest Thomas Addy. He states that he anticipates Addy will resist, and he requests that Geary send troops to aid in the arrest.
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Date
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November 15, 1856
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Title
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From W.W. to M.
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Description
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On June 22, 1856, W.W. writes from Washington to "M." (possibly Matthew Walker). W.W. reports that Gen. Whitfield arrived in Washington with several other men from Kansas, who "maintained a most singular and studied reserve" when they saw him. He adds that "the Abolition members are woefully down in the mouth about the availability of Sharp's rifles in Kansas. Pomeroy, Roberts and Eldridge have arrived, but no Gov. Reeder."
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Object Type
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Letter
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Date
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June 22, 1856
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Title
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From G.B. Danman to Matthew R. Walker
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Description
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On July 2, 1856, G.B. Danman writes from Hunstville to Matthew R. Walker. Danman asks for news about "the important changes that have taken place" since he left Kansas, including whether the Territory will become a slave or free state.
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Date
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July 2, 1856
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Title
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From John Brown to Orson Day
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Description
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This letter, dated February 21, 1856, is from John Brown at his homestead in Osawatomie, Kansas to Orson Day in White Hall, New York. Brown states that he and his family will be ready for Day's arrival in early April. He gives Day instructions and advice on travelling through Kansas City and Westport, Missouri, and assures him that "The Contractors on the route from here to Westport are good Free State men; & Friends."
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Object Type
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Letter
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Date
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February 21, 1856
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Title
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From John Brown, Jr. to Orson Day
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Description
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This letter, dated January 23, 1856, is from John Brown, Jr. at his homestead in Osawatomie, Kansas to Orson Day in White Hall, New York. Brown provides instructions on how to safely travel to Kansas by railroad or boat. He advises Day to purchase a cooking stove in St. Louis, and tells him that if he takes a boat from there, he will land in Kansas City, "a small town on the Western border of Mo." before travelling to Osawatomie, Kansas.
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Date
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January 23, 1856
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Title
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From John Brown to Orson Day
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Description
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This letter, dated December 14, 1855, is from John Brown to Orson Day of White Hall, New York. Writing from his homestead in Osawatomie, Kansas, Brown tells Day that he has just returned from the "Kansas War" and that he believes Kansas Territory is now "entirely in the power of the Free State men." He announces that on the following day, Kansas residents will vote on whether to adopt the Free State Constitution. Brown also informs Day that he has secured a piece of land for him in Kansas.
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Date
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December 14, 1855
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Title
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From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
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Description
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This dispatch, dated June 4, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner at Headquarters, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Shannon informs Sumner that there are about 300 Free State men in Prairie City, Kansas, “fortified and prepared to fight.” Shannon adds that Capt. Pate and twenty or thirty prisoners are confined there.
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Date
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June 4, 1856
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