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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: Examination of James D. Baxter
Description: This is James D. Baxter's Oath of Loyalty to the United States, given on September 22, 1866. Baxter, a twenty-seven year old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that during the Civil War, he "sympathized with the Government" and served in the Missouri State Militia. He swears that he only left Missouri once during the war, when he was hired to "take some negroes South." He admits that he has cousins who served in the Missouri State Guard, but attests that "I know nothing further." The oath, No. 1 in a bound volume, is signed by Baxter and by James W. James, Clay County Register.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 22, 1866

Title: From D.R. Anthony to Dear Father
Description: On December 22, 1861, D.R. Anthony writes a letter to his father, describing recent “skirmishes” with rebels. He says that he and his comrades killed Hurst, a Missouri Confederate colonel, and several of his soldiers. They also gave horses, mules, oxen, wagons, and carriages to 129 slaves and helped them escape to Kansas. Anthony informs his father that he took possession of a Secessionist flag in Harrisonville, Missouri, and adds that he hopes to take Col. Jennison’s position if Jennison is promoted to General.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 22, 1861

Title: Examination of Nathan D. Law
Description: This is Nathan D. Law's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Law, a 35-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, 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. 153 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon
Description: This letter was written by Lizzie P. Huntoon between July 14 and July 21, 1861 to her husband A.J. Huntoon. Lizzie expresses concern for her husband’s safety, while questioning his decision to enlist in the military and leave her and their young son on their own. She writes that she wants to go home to Kansas as soon as possible, feeling like a burden upon the people with whom they are staying.
Date: July 14, 1861-July 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: Applications of Moses Chapman
Description: These are Moses Chapman’s applications for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slaves, Joseph Clark and Samuel A. Creel. The applications, dated November 21, 1866 and January 18, 1867, each include an oath of allegiance to the United States, a statement that Chapman lawfully obtained his slaves, and the signatures of four witnesses and a notary public in Lafayette County, Missouri. Notes on pages six and ten indicate that the applications were rejected.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 21, 1864-January 18, 1867

Title: Examination of James F. Hughes
Description: This is James F. Hughes's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Hughes describes himself as a 29-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Boone County, Missouri. He states that during the Civil War he "stayed home nearly all the time." The oath, labeled No. 128 in a bound volume, was signed by Hughes in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Certificate of Exemption for William Glenn
Description: This certificate of exemption, dated April 2, 1864, excuses William Glenn from serving in the Missouri Militia due to dyspepsia and “Constitutional disability”. It is signed by Dr. J.R. Sands and R.M. Holland, Commissioner of Exemptions, in the town of Laclede in Linn County, Missouri.
Date: April 2, 1864

Title: Examination of Mercer Bushsen
Description: This is Mercer Bushsen's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Bushsen, a 71-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has resided in Missouri for 31 years and manifested his loyalty during the war "by obeying the laws and staying at home and attending to my own business." The oath is No. 157 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Joseph H. Jenkins
Description: This unsigned 1866 Oath of Loyalty bears the name of Joseph H. Jenkins. The document is No. 134 in a bound volume of loyalty oaths given by citizens of Liberty Township in Clay County, Missouri between 1866 and 1868.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William B. Arnold
Description: This is William B. Arnold's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Arnold describes himself as a 38-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, who was born in Kentucky. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War "by taking up arms." The oath, labeled No. 116 in a bound volume, was signed by Arnold in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: John Brown
Description: Sepia-tone reproduction print of abolitionist John Brown.
Object Type: Image

Title: Examination of Michil Arthur
Description: This is Michil Arthur's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Arthur, a 66-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, originally from Kentucky, states that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War, though he performed no explicit acts of loyalty nor of disloyalty. The oath, No. 6 in a bound volume, was signed by Arthur in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

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

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

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