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Title: From James B. Fry to E.B. Alexander
Description: This letter, dated November 7, 1863, is from James B. Fry, Provost Marshal General, to Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri. Writing from the War Department in Washington, D.C., Fry tells Alexander the number of volunteers that must be recruited from each Missouri district. To comply with President Lincoln's October 17 proclamation ordering the United States to recruit 300,000 volunteers, the state of Missouri must recruit 13,516 volunteers.
Date: November 7, 1863

Title: From Powell Clayton to John Halderman
Description: Powell Clayton writes a letter from Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Gen. John Halderman on October 21, 1864. He says that he is not convinced by Gen. Magruder’s threats to attack Pine Bluff; he believes that Magruder is attempting to detract attention from Gen. Price’s movements in Missouri. Clayton expresses hope that slavery will be abolished and that Lincoln will win the upcoming presidential election. He declares, “it is the duty of all Patriots, independent of past party predilections, to vote for Lincoln and Johnson.”
Date: October 21, 1864

Title: From Unknown to Dear Brother
Description: This letter, dated September 30, 1861, is from an unknown writer in Pleasant Nook, Missouri to his or her brother. Since newspaper reports are “entirely one sided,” if not “entirely false,” the letter writer endeavors to provide an account of recent Missouri politics and warfare. The writer refers to Hamilton Gamble’s appointment as governor and his subsequent call for “42 thousand volunteers;” local recruitment efforts have been unsuccessful. The writer also describes battles at Carthage and Springfield, noting that a local boy claims to have ripped General Sigel’s epaulette from his uniform during the Springfield conflict.
Date: September 30, 1861

Title: From Edward and Sarah Fitch to Dear Mother
Description: Edward Fitch, along with his wife Sarah, writes a letter to his mother in Massachusetts on December 8, 1861. They describe their family’s Thanksgiving celebration in Lawrence, Kansas, where they served a baked turkey and twenty-five pies. Edward goes on to criticize James Henry Lane and accuses him of stealing money. He also expresses disappointment about the removal of John Fremont from military command: “He has been grossly abused by men in high places because they thought he was getting to be more popular than they themselves were.”
Date: December 8, 1861

Title: From T.W. Trego to Dear Sister Alice
Description: This letter, dated September 24, 1862, is from T.W. Trego of Chicago to his sister-in-law Alice in Kansas. He decries the “anxieties of the War” and praises Alice and other women in Kansas for their bravery: “we think very, very often of your exposed situation and believe you must be perfect heroines.” He also commends President Lincoln for announcing that he will issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
Date: September 24, 1862

Title: General Orders, No. 39
Description: Brig. Gen. James Totten and Maj. Lucien J. Barnes of the Missouri State Militia issued General Order No. 39 on September 1, 1862 in Springfield, Missouri. The order warns the militia's officers to stop "preventing their men from entering the volunteer service . . . by so doing they render themselves liable to arrest under the Presidents order for 'discouraging enlistments.'"
Date: September 1, 1862

Title: From John B. Henderson to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This letter, dated December 11, 1863, is from J.B. Henderson in Washington City to Col. R.T. Van Horn in Jefferson City, Missouri. Henderson states that he has an upcoming appointment to speak with President Lincoln about "Missouri affairs." He tells Van Horn that he will submit "a special request, on the subject you allude to."
Date: December 11, 1863

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 J.B. Henderson to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This letter, dated August 31, 1864, is from J.B. Henderson in Louisiana, Missouri to Col. R.T. Van Horn in Jefferson City, Missouri. Henderson tells Van Horn that before leaving Washington, he spoke with President Lincoln, who said he wanted Van Horn to run for Congress.
Date: August 31, 1864

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: 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: From J.B. Henderson to R.T. Van Horn
Description: This letter, dated April 7, 1864, is from J.B. Henderson in Washington City to Col. R.T. Van Horn in Jefferson City, Missouri. Henderson writes that he might try to get Van Horn appointed to office. He expresses his frustration with politics in Washington, stating that "It requires a degree of subservience that I hate," and that whenever President Lincoln makes decisions, "some secretary interferes and he caves."
Object Type: Letter
Date: April 7, 1864

Title: From Calvin Iserman to Brother William
Description: This letter, ca. April 1861, was sent by Calvin Iserman in Independence, Missouri, to his brother William. Calvin writes that Independence “is the strongest secession town” in Missouri. He writes that men from Independence “seized the State Arsenal” at Liberty, and Lincoln has ordered federal troops to retake it. Calvin declares that all Union supporters “who can get away” are leaving the area. The letter includes a brief note addressed to “sister Gusta,” presumably written by Calvin's wife.

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