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Title: Charles Fletcher (Fletch) Taylor
Description: Charcoal portrait of Charles Fletcher Taylor (Fletch) dressed in suit coat, shirt, tie, and hat. Fletch Taylor was one of the first members of Quantrill's raiders. He took part in the Lawrence, Kansas, massacre on August 21, 1863, and lost his arm from a gunshot wound in 1864. After the war he became a wealthy and respected citizen as vice president and general superintendent of the Joplin Mining and Smelting Co. Date of death is uncertain but may have been sometime between August 1916 and August 1917.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1893

Title: From Allen T. Ward to My Dear Sister
Description: Allen T. Ward writes a letter from Paola, Kansas to his sister, S.T. Roberts, on October 21, 1861. He describes the warfare in Missouri: “as the Secession army sweeps over it, the union party has to fly for their lives; then in turn comes the union forces under Jim Lane and Montgomery, and all the Secessionists have to leave in a hurry or be shot down as so many wolves.” He states that the war has destroyed much of western Missouri, rendering it “almost entirely depopulated.” He tells her that Jayhawkers have been robbing people in both Kansas and Missouri, and that business and farming in Kansas have mostly ceased.
Date: October 21, 1861

Title: From James M. Boyer to A. Comingo
Description: This dispatch, dated November 25, 1863, is from James M. Boyer, Deputy Provost Marshal of Chariton County, Missouri, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Boyer tells Comingo he suspects that several Chariton County residents are military deserters, but without a proper police force he cannot apprehend them. He expresses further concerns about Bushwhackers and "rebel deserters" who have not taken the Oath of Allegiance.
Date: November 25, 1863

Title: From Sterling Price to John W. Geary
Description: This letter, dated September 9, 1856, was written by Sterling Price on Executive Department letterhead in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary. Price believes that the Missouri citizens currently in Kansas are there to “protect their friends and relatives in Kansas from the murderer, the incendiary, and the robber,” and will disband immediately upon Geary’s order. Price states that if he is wrong, he will do everything in his power to assist Geary in quelling the “disturbance.”
Date: September 9, 1856

Title: From W.J. Patterson to Sterling Price
Description: This telegram is from W.J. Patterson in Parkville, Missouri to Gov. Sterling Price in Jefferson City, Missouri. The telegram, dated April 26, 1855, states that an armed mob destroyed Patterson’s printing press and threatened to kill the citizens of Platte County if they did not leave. Patterson, an editor of a Free Soil paper, The Parkville Luminary, asks Gov. Price to send state authorities to protect the county, emphasizing that danger is imminent.
Object Type: Telegram
Date: April 26, 1855

Title: From George W. Deane to the Commander of Lawrence Forces
Description: This dispatch, dated August 26, 1861, is from George W. Deane at Camp Briggs in New Lancaster, Miami County, Kansas to the “Commander of Lawrence forces.” Deane asks the officer to join forces “for the purpose of Clearing the Border of Rebel forces.” He states that his goal is to concentrate as many forces in New Lancaster as he possibly can. He tells the officer to meet him in New Lancaster.
Date: August 26, 1861

Title: From A. Comingo to E.B. Alexander
Description: This dispatch, dated November 19, 1863, is from Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri, to Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri. Comingo asks for Alexander's help in procuring military escorts for an Enrolling Officer. The officer will be recruiting volunteers in Lafayette County, which is threatened by "a few guerrillas prowling around."
Date: November 19, 1863

Title: From Robert M. Stewart to Samuel Medary
Description: This letter, dated December 31, 1858, is from Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart to Kansas Gov. Samuel Medary. Stewart reports a recent invasion by James Montgomery and his “band of marauders” and says that he has received a request to send an officer to the border to capture armed men and prevent Montgomery from escaping. Stewart also informs Medary that the Missouri General Assembly is in session and will discuss preventing further invasions and bringing the guilty to justice.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: December 31, 1858

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: 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: From S.G. Allen to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter, dated May 30, 1858, was written by S.G. Allen in Harrisonville, Missouri, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Allen states that three military companies have been organized in Bates and Cass Counties in Missouri “to act only in self defence” against guerrillas from Kansas. Allen asks Stewart to provide additional protection for the citizens, explaining that “new depredations have been committed new threats have been made and vigorous preparations are going on just over the line—what is to be the end God only knows.”
Date: May 30, 1858

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description: Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas writes a letter to his parents in Massachusetts on September 30, 1855. He tells them that the pro-slavery faction will vote the next day to elect a Congressional delegate; however, the Free State Party intends to boycott the election. The Free State Party will instead vote on "Tuesday the 9th" and elect another candidate, at which point "Congress must decide which is entitled to a seat." According to rumors, Fitch says, proslavery Missourians plan to attack Lawrence and “kill all the Yankees.”
Date: September 30, 1855

Title: From Robert M. Stewart to G.A. Parsons
Description: This dispatch, dated June 10, 1858, is from Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart to Adj. Gen. G.A. Parsons. Stewart restates previous orders for Parsons to limit his military actions to the defense of Missouri citizens and to refrain from crossing the Kansas border. He emphasizes that Missouri citizens should avoid participating in any aggression against Kansas citizens, and urges Parsons to “do all in your power to promote peace.”
Date: June 10, 1858

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Wife
Description: This letter, dated September 4, 1861, is from A.J. Huntoon to his wife Lizzie. He reports that his regiment, a part of Lane’s Brigade, has recently moved to Camp Lincoln in Bourbon County, Kansas. He describes several recent battles between his regiment and a large contingent of Secessionists. He tells Lizzie that he has been put in charge of a military hospital, and he discusses caring for wounded soldiers. He states that his regiment is anticipating and preparing for an imminent attack.
Date: September 4, 1861

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell writes a letter to Eugenia Bronaugh in Calhoun, Missouri on October 5, 1863. He mentions having a conversation with a stranger in St. Louis and says it is important to be careful when meeting new people because they may be spies. Spies and detectives are necessary in war, he argues, but they sometimes make errors at the expense of the people they are supposed to protect. He tells Eugenia about a Dr. Zimmerman who was arrested, tried, and shot after fighting Bushwhackers who invaded his home. Still, Bushnell has hope for justice: “like Death it is sure to come.”
Date: October 5, 1863

Title: From Daniel Woodson to A.M. Coffey
Description: This order, dated August 30, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Major General A.M. Coffey, Kansas Militia, Southern Division. Woodson directs Coffey to move his division in the direction of Lawrence, Kansas in response to the threat of guerrilla violence from James Lane’s forces. Woodson writes that since Lane’s reinforcements are “constantly coming in on the north side…he should be routed at the earliest practicable period.”
Date: August 30, 1856

Title: From Robert M. Stewart to Samuel Medary
Description: This letter, dated April 8, 1859, is from Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart to Kansas Gov. Samuel Medary. Stewart states that he has ordered Adj. Gen. G.A. Parsons to patrol the state line in Cass, Bates, and Vernon Counties, to protect Missouri citizens and repel attacks from bands of Kansas guerrillas. He adds that the Missouri General Assembly has given him authority to use $30,000 for protection of the state border. Stewart asks for Medary’s cooperation in preventing violence.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: April 8, 1859

Title: From R.A. Boggess to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter was written on May 22, 1858 by R.A. Boggess in Harrisonville, Missouri, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart in Jefferson City, Missouri. In this letter of introduction for S.G. Allen, Boggess informs Stewart that Allen will present him with a paper concerning “matters of very great importance…to the section of country in which we live.” Boggess refers Stewart to Allen for additional information, since “he is thoroughly acquainted with the minutia.”
Date: May 22, 1858

Title: From Daniel Woodson to A.M. Coffey
Description: This order, dated August 21, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Major General A.M. Coffey, Kansas Militia, Southern Division. Woodson orders Coffey to proceed with his division to Palmyra, Kansas in response to ongoing guerrilla raids. Woodson emphasizes that the militia must protect all peaceable citizens and their property regardless of their political views. He adds that no houses may be destroyed unless they are proven to be used as forts or arsenals against the territorial government.
Date: August 21, 1856

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell of Calhoun, Missouri writes a letter to Eugenia Bronaugh on May 11, 14, and 25, 1864. He ponders the idea that the Civil War is a punishment from God. He relates rumors that a raid is coming from the South, that there are Bushwhackers in Bates and Henry Counties, and that John Marmaduke and Sterling Price are leading 90,000 troops into Missouri. He questions the validity of these rumors, but warns Eugenia to be careful in case there are Bushwhackers nearby.
Date: May 11, 1864-May 25, 1864

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

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