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Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Wife and Boy
Description: This letter, dated October 6, 7, 10, and 11, 1861, is from A.J. Huntoon to his wife Lizzie and son Prentice. Huntoon, a member of the 5th Kansas Cavalry volunteer regiment, tells his family that he was ordered to take charge of a military hospital in Mapleton, Bourbon County, Kansas. He estimates that there are 50,000-55,000 Union soldiers in Missouri, including the companies of Generals Sturgis, Siegel, and Fremont, and that there are about 70,000 Confederate troops in Missouri under the commandment of Generals McCulloch and Rains. Huntoon predicts that “We will have a big battle in this vicinity ere so long.”
Date: October 6, 1861-October 11, 1861

Title: Order for Funding from Lexington, Missouri
Description: This is an order for funding issued by the headquarters of the Sixth Military District E.M.M., Lexington, Missouri. The order, issued by Brigadier General Vaughn and dated October 29, 1862, declares that “the disloyal citizens of the City and Township of Lexington are assessed $15,000 for the subsistence of the troops, the families of such as are in indigent circumstances, and refugees.” Recipients of the order are directed to pay their “proportion of the said assessment” at headquarters within ten days.
Date: October 29, 1862

Title: From H.C. Wood to A. Comingo
Description: This dispatch, dated December 10, 1863, is from U.S. Army Capt. H.C. Wood to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Wood writes from the Provost Marshal General's Office at the War Department in Washington, D.C., clarifying a policy related to the employment of Enrolling Officers on Sundays.
Date: December 10, 1863

Title: From Walthall Robinson to Sister Em
Description: This letter, dated October 25, 1863, was written by Walthall Robinson in Miami, Missouri, to his sister Em. Walthall provides a detailed account of Shelby’s Raid and the Battle of Marshall, declaring, "Affairs have not changed any for the better…I greatly fear a complete state of anarchy and terrorism.” He describes a violent encounter between some aquaintances and two “Jim Lane men,” and concludes that the November elections will determine “whether there will be any safety whatever” in Missouri.
Date: October 25, 1863

Title: From J.H. Smith to A. Comingo
Description: On March 17, 1864, Assistant Provost Marshal J.H. Smith writes from the Headquarters of the 3rd Sub-District, Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, presumably to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri. Smith states that he is sending a list of "colored recruits" enlisted from Lafayette, Jackson, and Saline Counties since January 1, 1864.
Date: March 17, 1864

Title: Letters and Telegrams Sent (Provost Marshal's Office, 6th District Missouri)
Description: This notebook contains copies of letters and telegrams sent from the Provost Marshal's Office, 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington Missouri, between May 21, 1864 and November 3, 1864. The letters, written by A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th District of Missouri, address topics such as guerrilla activity in Chariton County, Missouri and reopening the Provost Marshal's office in Lexington following "the rebel invasion." Correspondents include Missouri Provost Marshal General E.B. Alexander, U.S. Provost Marshal General James B. Fry, and Maj. Gen. W.S. Rosecrans.
Date: May 21, 1864-November 3, 1864

Title: From S.F. Chalfin to A. Comingo
Description: This dispatch, dated August 26, 1863, is from S.F. Chalfin, Assistant Adjutant General, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Writing from the War Department in Washington, D.C., Chalfin states that the Provost Marshal General has approved Comingo's request for payment of his employees.
Date: August 26, 1863

Title: From P. McClanahan to A. Comingo
Description: On December 23, 1863, P. McClanahan writes from Independence, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo in Lexington, Missouri. McClanahan discusses various financial matters and informs Comingo that William Rodewald should begin enlisting black men in the service as soon as possible: "Some five negroes passed through here last night which he would have got had he had his papers--There is a recruiting Officer here now from the State of Kansas and unless Rodewald gets his documents soon I fear it will be [too] late."
Date: December 23, 1863

Title: From C.F. Smith to A. Comingo
Description: On December 10, 1863, C.F. Smith, Enrolling Officer for the 9th subdistrict of Missouri, writes to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri. Smith reiterates that "the enrolling business" in his district was completed on November 28, and that he already sent Comingo a list of 150 names. Smith says that if Comingo has not received his earlier communication, he will provide a second copy.
Date: December 10, 1863

Title: From W. Leonard Birney to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 9, 1863, is from Sgt. W. Leonard Birney in Plattsburg, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Birney states that he has enclosed vouchers for military expenditures and asks Comingo to verify whether he filled them out correctly.
Date: November 9, 1863

Title: From Hamilton R. Gamble to Abraham Lincoln
Description: On May 2, 1863, Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble writes from St. Louis to President Lincoln. Gamble informs Lincoln about "the perpetration of murders and arsons and other outrages committed by persons connected with the Army…and whose crimes you have the power to restrain." He asks Lincoln to put a stop to the "butcheries" occurring in Missouri's western counties, and suggests that Lincoln replace Gen. Curtis as commander of the district in favor of someone who is "too brave to be cruel."
Object Type: Government Document
Date: May 2, 1863

Title: Application of John H. Peacock
Description: This is John H. Peacock’s application for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slave, Antony Mason. The application, dated December 11, 1866, includes an oath of allegiance to the United States and the signatures of four witnesses and a notary public in Lafayette County, Missouri. Also attached is a signed statement that Peacock lawfully purchased another slave, Archie, and the October 9, 1854 bill of sale for Archie.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: October 9, 1854 and December 11, 1866

Title: Diary of Dr. J.H.P. Baker
Description: This is an excerpt from the diary of Dr. J.H.P. Baker, an army doctor working under the command of Gen. Joseph O. Shelby. The entries included here are from October 10-27, 1864. Baker discusses conscription, bushwhackers, travelling across Missouri, and marching to Price’s headquarters. He mentions the Battle of Boonville, the Second Battle of Lexington, the Battle of the Big Blue, the Second Battle of Independence, the Battle of Westport, and the Battle of Cedar Creek.
Object Type: Diary
Date: October 10, 1864-October 27, 1864

Title: From W. Leonard Birney to A. Comingo
Description: On December 25, 1863, W. Leonard Birney writes from Plattsburg, Clinton County, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington, Missouri. Birney states that he has accepted the position of Recruiting Agent for Clinton County, but has not heard anything more from Comingo. He adds that the printed enrollment lists need to be corrected, because certain names are missing.
Date: December 25, 1863

Title: Slave Bill of Sale
Description: This slave bill of sale, dated March 31, 1860, is signed by Lafayette County sheriff John P. Bowman. Bowman attests that he sold a female slave and a slave boy named John to Nathaniel Mitchell at auction on November 7, 1859. Mitchell paid $400 for the female slave and $150 for John.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: March 31, 1860

Title: From A.F. Cox to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 16, 1863, is from A.F. Cox, Deputy Provost Marshal of Platte County, Missouri, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Cox reports that the latest payrolls have not arrived, and informs Comingo that he plans to travel to St. Louis the following day. He also states that he lost the "letter of direction" that Comingo sent.
Date: November 16, 1863

Title: From William S. Field to George R. Smith
Description: William S. Field writes a letter from Lexington, Missouri to Gen. George R. Smith in Georgetown, Missouri on June 10, 1856. Field informs Smith that M.W. Smallwood recently received a nomination to the Georgetown Convention. He encourages Smith in his candidacy for Congress: "you have many friends here & should you receive the nomination you will get a heavey majority here notwithstanding the howl of freesoilism against you."
Date: June 10, 1856

Title: From Daniel J. Routt to Mrs. Chinece Routt
Description: This letter, dated August 12, 1862, was written by Union soldier Daniel J. Routt in Lexington, Missouri, to his wife Chinece in Huntsville, Missouri. Daniel describes the recent Battle of Independence and says that Union forces expect an attack on their Lexington camp at any time. He tells Chinece that he has mailed her ten dollars, a lock of hair, and his picture, “to remember me as long as you live.” Daniel was killed four days later in the Battle of Lone Jack.
Date: August 12, 1862

Title: From Henry Bugler to A. Comingo
Description: On December 1, 1863, Henry Bugler writes from Independence, Missouri to A. Comingo in Lexington, Missouri. Bugler states that although he received Comingo's letter dated September 18, 1863, he did not receive the warrants that should have been enclosed, and he suggests they may have been destroyed. Bugler says he can still get the money if the warrants can be reproduced, and asks Comingo to prepare an affidavit attesting to their loss.
Date: December 1, 1863

Title: From E.B. Alexander to A. Comingo
Description: On December 15, 1863, Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General in St. Louis, writes to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington, Missouri. Alexander sends Comingo the text of a telegram he received that day from Provost Marshal General James B. Fry: "Enlisted men on detailed service as recruiting parties are entitled to the premium of fifteen (15) and twenty five (25) Dollars as referred to." Alexander instructs Comingo to inform the appropriate persons in his district.
Date: December 15, 1863

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

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