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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

Title: From William Augustus Hall to Oswald Swinney
Description: This letter, ca. 1861-1864, is from William Augustus Hall in Washington to Oswald Swinney in Missouri. Hall says he is attempting to remove the Federal troops from Northern Missouri, where "they are a constant source of arrogance in stealing our negros." He argues that the Enrolled Missouri Militia can adequately protect the region without assistance. He expresses concern about "damage done by rebels" and the possibility of future violence, and he asks Swinney to report on the conditions in Northern Missouri.

Title: From Thomas Fletcher to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This dispatch, dated October 20, 1866, is from Thomas Fletcher in Jefferson City, Missouri to Hon. R.T. Van Horn. Fletcher reports that his plans concerning troop movements within Missouri have changed. He had originally planned to send troops to Platte, Clay, Carroll, Ray, and Chariton counties, but is now occupied with political concerns: "The ablest men in the Conservative Party are detailed to the duty of getting up a disturbance between Genls Sherman[,] Hancock & myself, and it keeps me busy & watchful to prevent them making us trouble."
Date: October 20, 1866

Title: Special Orders, No. 29 and 313
Description: These orders certify that Lieut. Col. R.T. Van Horn was honorably discharged from the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Special Order No. 29 was issued by Maj. Gen. Grant and signed by T.S. Bowers, Assistant Adjutant General, at the Headquarters of the Military Division of the Mississippi in Nashville, Tennessee on February 3, 1864. Special Order No. 313, issued by the War Department on June 19, 1867, amends Order No. 29 to show that Van Horn was discharged on January 1, 1864. It was signed by E.D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General, in Washington, D.C.
Date: February 3, 1864-June 19, 1867

Title: Diary of Jonathan B. Fuller
Description: This is an excerpt from the diary of Rev. Jonathan B. Fuller. Fuller, a pastor in Kansas City, Missouri, writes about visiting military hospitals, leading prayer meetings for soldiers, and hearing the sounds of muskets in nearby skirmishes. His diary entries, dated June 4, 1864 - June 25, 1865, also describe the Battle of Westport, and mention the movements of Gen. Price and Col. Jennison, and the assassination of President Lincoln.
Object Type: Diary
Date: June 4, 1864-June 25, 1865

Title: Petition to Henry Wager Halleck
Description: This ca. 1862 petition is addressed to Maj. Gen. Halleck of the Commanding Department of the Mississippi, and is signed by twenty officers of the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. The petitioners urge Halleck to promote Lieut. Col. R.T. Van Horn to Colonel, citing his skill and bravery in the First Battle of Lexington and in the Battle of Shiloh.
Object Type: Petition

Title: Petition to H.R. Gamble
Description: This July 11, 1862 petition is addressed to H.R. Gamble, Governor of Missouri. The petitioners, citizens of Jackson County, Missouri, request that Lieut. Col. R.T. Van Horn of the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry be assigned "to the Command of the Troops." They cite Van Horn's familiarity with the area, and argue that the Federal troops' ignorance of the area is "the principal reason why the Guerilla bands infesting this District have not been broken up."
Object Type: Petition
Date: July 11, 1862

Title: From Susan A. Staples to Mary W. Mason
Description: On February 1, ca. 1863, Susan A. Staples writes from Independence, Missouri to Mary W. Mason. After reporting on the health of her family, Susan states that Col. Penick's command is stationed at Independence. "He deals very strict with Southerners," Susan writes, and "he has a great many female prisoners and says that he is going to [banish] every lady that has husbands in the Southern Army or with the bushwhackers." She adds that her family has been "dreadfully Jayhawked."

Title: From the 25th Missouri Volunteers to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This December 12, 1863 letter is from eight members of the 25th Missouri Volunteers to Col. R.T. Van Horn in Jefferson City, Missouri. The Volunteers, writing from camp in Columbus, Kentucky, state that their regiment has been ordered to consolidate with Bissell's Engineer Corps, and they ask Van Horn to remain with them as their Commander.
Date: December 12, 1863

Title: From J.B. Henderson to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This letter, dated March 3, 1864, is from J.B. Henderson in Washington City to Col. R.T. Van Horn. Henderson expresses regret that Van Horn has been mustered out of service, and says he filed an application authorizing Van Horn to raise a brigade. Henderson also reports that "Mr. Lincoln will favor immediate emancipation," and predicts that Lincoln will win the nomination at the Union Convention.
Date: March 3, 1864

Title: Affidavit of Charles H. Vincent
Description: This is Charles H. Vincent's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Vincent states that he was familiar with the building, that it was well constructed, and that it shared a common wall with a building occupied by soldiers. He adds that the soldiers removed columns and partitions in that building, causing it to fall and thus causing the adjoining prison to fall. The affidavit is dated September 7, 1863 and signed by Vincent and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 7, 1863

Title: From Jonathan B. Fuller to Dear Father
Description: On October 24, 1864, Jonathan B. Fuller writes from Kansas City, Missouri to his father. Fuller describes the recent Battle of Westport in which the Confederates were "repulsed" and reportedly suffered 32 casualties. He admits, "I do not feel overmuch pleased with our defenders. It seems to me that with the force we had yesterday, we ought to have driven the Rebels like chaff--instead of acting as we seem to have done for half the day on the defensive simply."
Date: October 24, 1864

Title: From S. Shelly to Mrs. Staples
Description: This letter, dated February 20, 1865, is from S. Shelly in Independence, Missouri to Mrs. Staples. Shelly writes that the Missouri Militia will be recruiting soldiers in the area, and "I don't suppose any one will be exempted unless they are blind in boath eys or boath arms taken off." Shelly tells Mrs. Staples that there have been cases of smallpox in the area, but mostly among "negroes and soldiers." Shelly also mentions that mail service was stopped in Denver City "on account of Indian hostilities" but will resume again under military escort.
Date: February 20, 1865

Title: Release of Robert T. Van Horn
Description: This November 1861 document certifies that Major R.T. Van Horn was released after being a prisoner of war. He had been taken prisoner by the Missouri State Guard at the First Battle of Lexington on September 20, 1861, and was released in accordance with an agreement made between Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price. The certificate is signed by Price and by D. Robert Barclay, Commissioner.
Date: November 1861

Title: Invoices of Quartermaster's Stores in 1863
Description: This military document is a collection of Quartermaster Property Invoices for the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment Company "A" that shows the transfer of various items such as horse collars and harnesses in between Lieutenant Stockley Etter, Captain James J. Akard, and Lieutenant T. E. Gray.
Date: 1863

Title: From James Boyer to A. Comingo
Description: On December 23, 1863, James Boyer, Deputy Provost Marshal for Chariton County, Missouri writes from Brunswick, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington, Missouri. Boyer informs Comingo that his check on the Treasury at St. Louis has been drawn at Washington, DC in favor of enrolling officer Joseph Standley. Boyer states that he also received two checks drawn at Washington as "payment in full" for services rendered by James Sportsman as enrolling officer for Subdistrict No. 30.
Date: December 23, 1863

Title: Report on Loss of Clothing and Equipage
Description: This report, dated March 30, 1865, is signed by Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, and members of his Enrollment Board. The report attempts to explain "the destruction and loss of Clothing, Camp and Garrison Equipage…that occurred during the rebel raid into this state" in October 1864. Comingo concludes that the loss was "inevitable" under the circumstances. The report includes a copy of a letter sent by Gen. Samuel R. Curtis to Comingo on October 5, 1864.
Date: March 30, 1865

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

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