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Title: From Willard P. Hall to Hamilton R. Gamble
Description: On August 12, 1862, Willard P. Hall writes from St. Joseph, Missouri to Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble in St. Louis. Hall assures Gamble that Gen. Loan is not guilty of insubordination and remains loyal to the provisional state government. He suggests that Loan's enemies are trying to discredit him with false rumors. Hall adds that no applications have been made for the "privileges" accorded by Order No. 23.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: August 12, 1862

Title: From A.M. Bedford to Mary E. Bedford
Description: This letter, dated July 19, 1864, is from Lieut. Alex M. Bedford, of the 3rd Missouri Cavalry, to his wife Mary E. Bedford in Savannah, Missouri. Writing from Fort Delaware, where he is imprisoned, Bedford tells his wife that he and his friend, Lieut. James M. Bohart, are attempting to get parole. He asks his wife to find Gen. James Craig and ask for his assistance in granting Bedford parole.
Date: July 19, 1864

Title: From Lucie Davis to John Pigg
Description: This letter, dated September 15, 1864, is from Lucie Davis in Clay County, Missouri to John Pigg. Davis tells Pigg that her mother died after a long illness. She also tells him that Louis Vandiver was moved from a prison in St. Joseph, Missouri to one in St. Louis. Davis predicts that “The bushwhackers are about to take this country,” and adds that they robbed the mail in Clay County and had a fight near Fredericksburg.
Date: September 15, 1864

Title: Special Orders, No. 81
Description: This Special Order No. 81 was issued December 16, 1862 by Major General Curtis at the headquarters of the Department of the Missouri in St. Louis, Missouri. The order states that Col. O. Guitar, 9th Cavalry M.S.M. “will proceed without delay to St. Joseph, MO and temporarily relieve Brig. Genl. W.P. Hall…in command of the District of Northwestern Missouri.” C.H. Dyer adds that transportation has been arranged from St. Louis to St. Joseph, Missouri.
Date: December 16, 1862

Title: From John A. Halderman to B.M. Prentiss
Description: This dispatch, dated October 13, 1861, is from Maj. John A. Halderman at Camp Prentiss near Chillicothe, Missouri to Gen. Benjamin Prentiss. Halderman informs Prentiss that he recently visited Kansas to discuss with military authorities the defense of their state and of St. Joseph, Missouri. In the event of an insurrection or invasion, Halderman states, “you may safely rely upon two thousand troops being raised on a short notice from the ranks of the state militia.” He also mentions that Gov. Charles Robinson expressed his gratitude for Prentiss’s concern about Kansas.
Date: October 13, 1861

Title: From J.L. Bennett to Alex M. Bedford
Description: This letter, dated April 24, 1865, was written by J.L. Bennett in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Lt. Alex M. Bedford, a prisoner of war. Bennett states that he recently met with Gen. Craig and Maj. Bruce in St. Joseph, and that Maj. Bruce telegraphed Washington to request Bedford’s release. He advises Bedford to write to Gen. Hickcock in Washington and say that he is “tired of the war & willing to take the oath and return home.” Bennett instructs Bedford to let him know when he is released, and that he will make arrangements for him to meet his family in St. Joseph.
Date: April 24, 1865

Title: From Unknown to Hamilton R. Gamble
Description: This letter, dated August 2, 1862, is from an unknown writer in DeKalb, Missouri to Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble. The writer asks Gamble to replace Gen. B.F. Loan, claiming that Loan is disobeying Gamble's orders and plotting to appoint a military governor in Missouri. In a statement written on the reverse side, Gamble notes that he referred the letter to Lieut. Gov. Hall, and expresses doubt that Gen. Loan is guilty of "the insubordinate language imputed to him" by the anonymous writer.
Date: August 2, 1862

Title: From Alex M. Bedford to Mary E. Bedford
Description: On June 6, 1863, Alex M. Bedford writes from Johnson’s Island, near Sandusky City, to his wife Mary E. Bedford. Alex reports that he and Mary’s brother are in good health, and that they have been moved from Indianapolis to Johnson’s Island. Alex asks Mary to send him several items of clothing, and states that he recently sent her $60.00 to be given to Sister Mary of St. Joseph, Missouri. He explains that he is only permitted to write a one-page letter to her.
Date: June 6, 1863

Title: John R. Boyd Handbill
Description: This handbill, signed by John R. Boyd, urges the citizens of Buchanan County, Missouri to join arms and fight against the “usurping invader, Fremont.” Boyd instructs them to bring their shot guns and rifles to Rock House Prairie, where hundreds of men have set up camp and plan to fight until they achieve freedom, “or be buried beneath the dead bodies of men who would rather die than be slaves.”
Object Type: Leaflet

Title: From "C." to "Col."
Description: This letter, dated September 21, 1861, is from "C." in St. Joseph, Missouri to "Col." C. reports that the Federal troops surrendered at the Battle of Lexington on September 20. He writes that "our country has been rob[b]ed by both parties . . . nearly evry body that is worth any thing has been rob[b]ed more or less, no matter what their politics are." He adds that people are "bitter" about the Platte Purchase, and predicts that fighting will ensue.
Date: September 21, 1861

Title: Union Men and Their Sufferings in North-Western Missouri
Description: This 1864 pamphlet, entitled “Union Men and Their Sufferings in North-Western Missouri,” was written by Major J.M. Bassett, former Provost Marshal-General of the Northwest District of Missouri. Bassett provides a “glance at the history of the Rebellion in Northwest Missouri,” admitting “it may be that my hatred for rebels is too intense, my sympathy for loyal men too strong, to make every sentence I write acceptable to all.” The pamphlet, which features several black-and-white illustrations, was published by the Press of Wynkcop, Hallenbeck, and Thomas in New York, with proceeds from its sale given to The Ladies’ Aid Society of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Date: 1864

Title: From Alex M. Bedford to Joseph L. Bennett
Description: On April 13, 1865, Alex M. Bedford writes from Fort Delaware, Delaware, Division 34, to Joseph L. Bennett in Savannah, Missouri. Bedford writes about the surrender of Gen. Lee and his army: “they have gone up & our confederacy has played out & I will return home by taking the oath or any other way.” Complaining of poor health, Bedford seeks Bennett’s help in expediting his release, and suggests that he ask Major Bruce of St. Joseph, Missouri, to write to the War Department on his behalf.
Date: April 13, 1865

Title: View of St. Joseph, Mo. from Prospect Hill
Description: Right side of panorama view of St. Joseph, Missouri, taken from Prospect Hill by Louis Charles McClure, circa 1890-1910.
Object Type: Image

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Lizzie
Description: A.J. Huntoon writes a letter from Williamsport in Shawnee County, Kansas to his wife Lizzie, announcing that the country is “in a state of great political excitement” following the seizure of Fort Sumter. The letter, dated April 19, 21, and 22, 1861, states that Confederate supporters tried to raise a Palmetto flag in St. Joseph, Missouri, but Union supporters stopped them. Huntoon informs his wife that militia companies are organizing in Kansas, and he asks her if she objects to him becoming an assistant surgeon for the army. He also relays the news that Gen. Lane has been placed in command of 1,000 men in Washington.
Date: April 19, 1861-April 22, 1861

Title: From George Collamore to G.L. Stearns
Description: This letter was written on May 2 and 7, 1861 by George Collamore in Leavenworth, Kansas to G.L. Stearns in Boston. Collamore writes that Kansas is under threat of attack from Missouri and the Cherokee and Osage Indians, and that Kansas’s defenses are weak. He reports that Gov. Robinson offered him the position of Quartermaster General of the Kansas Militia, which he temporarily accepted. Collamore asks Stearns to send “thick colored blankets” and other items to Kansas, urging Stearns to keep his activities secret and to be cautious about what he writes in future letters.
Object Type: Letter
Date: May 2, 1861 and May 7, 1861

Title: From Andrew Brownlow to Hamilton R. Gamble
Description: On August 1, 1862, Andrew Brownlow writes from Sugar Creek Grove, Buchanan County, Missouri to Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble. Brownlow describes the "troubled" state of affairs in Buchanan County, predicting that recent outrages "will make desperate men out of good citizens." He accuses Gen. Loan of "playing in to the hands of the Kansas thieves" and predicts that unless Gamble "does something to protect the people on the Border all there property will…be taken to Kansas."
Date: August 1, 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

Title: General Orders, No. 34
Description: Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis issued General Order No. 34 from the Department of the Missouri Headquarters in St. Louis on May 4, 1863. The order details the proceedings of a recent Military Commission in St. Joseph, Missouri, where several citizens were tried for war crimes, including disloyal conduct, violation of the conduct of war, bearing arms against the Government, violation of the Oath of Allegiance, and disturbing the peace of Union men. The order was signed by Assistant Adjutant General A.V. Colburn.
Date: May 4, 1863

Title: General Orders, No. 38
Description: Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis issued General Order No. 38 from the Department of the Missouri Headquarters in St. Louis on May 22, 1863. The order details the proceedings of recent Military Commissions in St. Joseph, St. Louis, and Springfield, Missouri, where citizens were tried for war crimes, including consorting with guerrillas and bushwhackers, killing United States soldiers from the Seventh Cavalry Regiment Missouri Volunteers, and encouraging rebellion against the government. The order was signed by Assistant Adjutant General A.V. Colburn.
Date: May 22, 1863

Title: From Mary E. Bedford to A.M. Bedford
Description: This letter, dated March 8, 1864, is from Mary E. Bedford to her husband, Lieut. A.M. Bedford, who is at the military hospital in Point Lookout, Maryland. Mary reports that she has just arrived in St. Joseph, Missouri after visiting relatives and friends in Kentucky. She expresses hope that her husband will soon be able to return home. She encourages him to write letters to his relatives, and offers to send him money.
Object Type: Letter
Date: March 8, 1864

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

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