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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: Fort Scott Army Post, Officers Quarters
Description: The Fort Scott officers quarters were constructed between 1842 to 1848. Army officers and their families who were posted at Fort Scott lived in the quarters.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1890-1900

Title: From Samuel Lyle Adair to Charles Adair and Ada Adair
Description: This letter was written on October 19, 1860 by Samuel Lyle Adair in Osawatomie, Kansas, to his son Charles and daughter Ada. Samuel warns that as Charles starts school in Ohio, “you will doubtless find many things to try your feelings in consequence of not having had better opportunities in times past.” Samuel reports on activities in Osawatomie, including two meetings to address the town’s shortage of bread for the winter, which he did not attend. "Money is growing scarcer all the time, and nothing but money will bring bread," he writes.
Object Type: Letter
Date: October 19, 1860

Title: From Charles Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on October 3-5, 1860 by Charles Adair in Akron and Hudson, Ohio to his father Samuel Lyle Adair. Charles describes going to the fair and meeting various relatives. He reports that Uncle Edward has just returned from Cleveland, where he attended a Republican meeting. Charles remarks that he feels “very lonely to day for the want of something to do. I find visiting hard work.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: October 3, 1860-October 5, 1860

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description: On November 14, 1863, Abishai Stowell writes from Fort Smith, Arkansas to his sister. Stowell reports that on November 12, Gen. Blunt arrived from Fort Scott with 250 wagons, and more wagons arrived from Springfield, Missouri. "It is thought by some that Gen Blunt will go South with his command in a few days," Stowell writes.
Date: November 14, 1863

Title: From Philip St. George Cooke to John W. Geary
Description: This dispatch, written ca. September 26, 1856, is from Lieut. Col. Philip St. George Cooke to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary. Cooke informs Geary that he will send artillery and cavalry companies to join Col. Johnston, who is marching north to intercept Col. Eldridge’s party at the Nebraska state line. Cooke says that they might cross the river at Lecompton, and asks Geary if he wants 150 men to stay in Lecompton.

Title: Thomas Carney
Description: Photograph of Republican Thomas Carney from Leavenworth, Kansas, who served as second Governor of Kansas from 1863 to 1865.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1860-1896

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: From Abishai Stowell to Margaret Torrence
Description: On February 12, 1865, Abishai Stowell writes from Clarksville, Arkansas to his sister Margaret Torrence in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. Stowell says that his company will likely stay in Clarksville for some time, and then return to Kansas in April to be mustered out of service. He reports that the soldiers are receiving full rations "for the first time since we have been here. we have been on half rations for 15 months." Stowell describes their typical rations and living arrangements in camp, and notes that Gen. Thayer has been relieved by Gen. Bussey.
Date: February 12, 1865

Title: Soldiers, Sixth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This portrait, taken ca. 1861-1865, depicts fifteen members of the Sixth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, Company B. The photograph was taken in Pleasanton, Linn County, Kansas. On the back of the photograph is a list of the soldiers' names and hometowns.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Thomas Carney to James L. McDowell
Description: This letter was written by Kansas Gov. Thomas Carney in St. Louis to Gen. James L. McDowell on June 15, 1863. Carney states that he expects Gen. Schofield will soon authorize a regiment for state defense. He asks McDowell to inform Gen. Ewing that he will soon have command of “the entire district" instead of Gen. Blunt. Carney asks McDowell “to accept the Cols. position in the regiment if you can do so without too much sacrifice.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: June 15, 1863

Title: James Henry Lane, United States Senator from Kansas
Description: Portrait of James Henry Lane, Republican Senator from Lawrence.
Object Type: Image

Title: From James Henry Lane to Dr. Speer
Description: This letter, dated April 11, 1866, is from Senator James Henry Lane to Dr. Speer. Lane informs Speer that he intends to defend his controversial stance on the Civil Rights Bill, which he believes is “injurious to the best interests of the black man.” Lane claims that if he fails to convince the people of Kansas that he is correct, then he will surrender the position he holds in Legislature.
Date: April 11, 1866

Title: Henry Miller
Description: This carte de visite depicts Henry Miller, who served in the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: From James Montgomery to George L. Stearns
Description: This letter, dated March 11, 1861, was written by James Montgomery in Mound City, Kansas, to George L. Stearns. Montgomery offers his opinion of sending fugitive slaves to Canada: “it will cost less to protect them here…and, besides, the principle is much better.” He believes that “Kansas is truly a free state, and ever shall be. A fugitive can travel as safely here, in Southern Kansas, as he can in Canada.” Montgomery adds that a free African-American was recently kidnapped by the Missouri Militia, because his guns had not been kept in firing condition.
Date: March 11, 1861

Title: From George W. Dietzler to Charles Robinson
Description: George W. Dietzler writes on April 16, 1861 from Lawrence, Kansas, to Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson. Dietzler declares that “Old Abe has decided ‘to put his foot down firmly’ against the ‘Confederate government,’” and suggests that Robinson offer 1000 or more Kansas troops to support Lincoln. He writes, “We must be ready for war—all Lawrence will enlist at short notice. Heaven grant that peace may not be restored until the disease is effectively & permanently cured.”
Date: April 16, 1861

Title: Florella Brown Adair
Description: Florella Brown Adair was the wife of Samuel Lyle Adair and the half-sister of abolitionist, John Brown. She settled near Osawatomie, Kansas Territory, with her husband, who was a Congregational minister. She and her husband were free state supporters. The identification on the photograph indicates it is an enlargement of a small photograph taken in 1862.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1862

Title: D.R. Porter
Description: This carte de visite depicts D.R. Porter, who served as Assistant Surgeon in the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: From George Collamore to George L. Stearns
Description: This letter, dated July 21, 1862, is from George Collamore in Lawrence, Kansas to George L. Stearns. Collamore reports “almost unanimous” support in Kansas for the proposal to enlist African Americans in the military. He predicts that at least two African-American regiments could be raised in Kansas, but he warns Stearns that “various irresponsible persons are maneuvering here for commissions in such regiments.”
Date: July 21, 1862

Title: From Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon
Description: This letter was written by Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon on September 22, 1861. Writing from Langdon, “at Roswell’s,” Lizzie says Huntoon should not resign his military position, which he offered to do if she wished it. Lizzie is eager to come home, but is wary of travelling through Missouri, where they are “burning bridges &c.” She has been reading reports of the Battle of Lexington and an expected attack on St. Joseph, MO. Lizzie adds that a friend’s husband joined the Confederate army, leaving her ”very destitute.”
Date: September 22, 1861

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

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