Civil War

Title: Release of Robert T. Van Horn
Description: This November 1861 document certifies that Major R.T. Van Horn was released after being a prisoner of war. He had been taken prisoner by the Missouri State Guard at the First Battle of Lexington on September 20, 1861, and was released in accordance with an agreement made between Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price. The certificate is signed by Price and by D. Robert Barclay, Commissioner.
Date: November 1861

Title: Certificate of Exemption of James O. Swinney
Description: This document exempts James O. Swinney from serving in the Missouri Militia during 1864, as per General Order No. 19. The exemption was issued by the Office of Commissary of Exemptions in Howard County, Missouri on April 30, 1864. It was signed by Capt. George H. Carson, Commissary of Exemptions for Howard County.
Date: April 30, 1864

Title: Platte River near Platte City, Platte County, Missouri
Description: Present day photograph of the Platte River near Platte City in Platte County, Missouri.
Object Type: Image
Date: October 4, 2006

Title: Invoices of Quartermaster's Stores in 1863
Description: This military document is a collection of Quartermaster Property Invoices for the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment Company "A" that shows the transfer of various items such as horse collars and harnesses in between Lieutenant Stockley Etter, Captain James J. Akard, and Lieutenant T. E. Gray.
Date: 1863

Title: John C. Fremont
Description: Lithograph by Charles G. Crehan of Jules-Émile Saintin's original painting of John C. Fremont, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left
Object Type: Image

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description: On June 11, 1863, Abishai Stowell writes from Mount Gilead, Kansas, to his sister. Stowell states that he is visiting his family and will return to his regiment, the 2nd Kansas Volunteers, in Springfield, Missouri tomorrow. He says they have drawn new horses and arms, and "I suppose we will soon be marching into Dixie land again." Stowell also tells his sister he is not in General Blunt's command.
Date: June 11, 1863

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated June 4, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner at Headquarters, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Shannon informs Sumner that there are about 300 Free State men in Prairie City, Kansas, “fortified and prepared to fight.” Shannon adds that Capt. Pate and twenty or thirty prisoners are confined there.
Date: June 4, 1856

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated June 4, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner at Headquarters, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. With the goal of “preserving the peace and good order of this Territory,” Shannon gives Sumner a detailed set of instructions to station U.S. troops at various points in Franklin and Douglas Counties in Kansas. Shannon warns that in carrying out the plan, the troops must treat all persons equally regardless of party affiliation.
Date: June 4, 1856

Title: From John Donnelly to Mrs. Brown
Description: In a letter dated April 3, 1864, John Donnelly writes from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to "My dear old friend Mrs. Brown." Donnelly tells Mrs. Brown that he is well "and having lots of sport." He adds that he heard "some of the school boys joined the army I hope they will enjoy it."
Date: April 3, 1864

Title: Plan of the Public Surveys in Kansas and Nebraska
Description: This black-and-white map, signed by J. Calhoun, Surveyor General of Kansas and Nebraska, was issued by the Surveyor General’s office in Wyandott, Kansas Territory on October 20, 1856. The map is entitled "Plan of the Public Surveys in Kansas and Nebraska." It was printed by Ackerman Lithographers in New York.
Object Type: Map
Date: October 20, 1856

Title: From George D. Bayard to Father
Description: This is a copy of an October 1, 1856 letter from George D. Bayard in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to his father. Bayard tells his father that Kansas is overrun with invaders from Missouri who want to make it a slave state, and with northern emigrants who want to make it a free state. He criticizes Gov. John W. Geary for not taking a strong stand against slavery. He also mentions that troops from Lecompton are pursuing James Henry Lane and his men.
Date: October 1, 1856

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description: In an April 28, 1861 letter to his parents in Massachusetts, Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas declares, “did you think that you would ever live to see it—a Civil War, the most horrible of all wars.” He informs them that he has joined an artillery company. He adds that the military “is organising in large numbers” in Lawrence, but he expresses his fear that if Missouri secedes from the Union, Kansas will not have enough arms or ammunition for defense. He also expresses concern that the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes will fight for the South.
Date: April 28, 1861

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated May 21, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner at Headquarters, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Due to recent civil unrest in Lawrence, Kansas, Shannon instructs Sumner to station companies of U.S. troops at or near Lawrence, Lecompton, and Topeka, Kansas. Shannon explains that federal troops are the only ones he feels safe using in response to “these civil commotions.” He notes that the U.S. Marshal has made several arrests for the crime of high treason.
Date: May 21, 1856

Title: From Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon
Description: This letter, dated May 6, 1862, is from Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon. Ayres states that he was ordered, along with the 7th Kansas Volunteer Regiment, to report at Fort Riley. The 1st and 2nd Kansas Volunteer Regiments and the 12th and 13th Wisconsin Regiments are also at Fort Riley, Ayres says, and they are all preparing to move to New Mexico. Ayres suspects that the purpose of the relocation is to move the abolitionist soldiers away from “the vicinity of slavedom.”
Date: May 6, 1862

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This letter, dated June 23, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner. Shannon, who is leaving for St. Louis, instructs Sumner to station U.S. troops in areas where disturbances have recently occurred, and to station two companies at Topeka before the Free State legislative assembly meets on July 4th. Shannon believes that “if this body meets, enacts laws, and seeks to enforce them…civil war will be the inevitable result.” He orders Sumner to disband the assembly by force if necessary.
Date: June 23, 1856

Title: From Thomas Swords to John Dougherty
Description: This letter, dated June 25, 1856, is from Col. Thomas Swords in New York to Maj. John Dougherty. Swords expresses regret that the Kansas-Nebraska Act has resulted in conflict for Kansas Territory. He describes the Kansas-Nebraska Act as "a most just one" that "should have been carried out in the right spirit," and he voices hope that the future will bring peace to Kansas.
Date: June 25, 1856

Title: From Persifor Smith to M.C. Dickey
Description: This letter, dated July 23, 1856, is from Persifor Smith, a U.S. Army Major at Fort Leavenworth, to M.C. Dickey and “others, conductors of emigrating companies.” Smith responds to a letter in which Dickey and the others request military protection from armed bodies guarding the Kansas border. Smith denies their request: “I have no evidence that any parties are in arms to oppose you . . . I cannot act on your vague suspicions.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: July 23, 1856

Title: From D.B. Mitchell to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter was written on April 29, 1858 by D.B. Mitchell in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart in Jefferson City, Missouri. Mitchell says it is likely that two regiments of Missouri volunteers will be called into service, and that one of them will be taken from the state. Mitchell writes, “Should this be the case please bear in mind that you promised the command to me. I can tender you the service of a splendid regiment within ten days after the requisition is made.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: April 29, 1858

Title: From Wilson Shannon to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated June 23, 1856, was sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner. Shannon, who says he will soon leave for St. Louis, urges Sumner to attend the meeting of the Topeka legislature. Shannon indicates that he fears an outbreak of violence will occur if U.S. troops are withdrawn from Kansas, and says he will write to President Pierce saying so. Shannon requests that Sumner make no changes with the troops until he returns in ten days’ time.
Date: June 23, 1856

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Distant But Not Forgotten Sister"
Description: On February 4, ca. 1862-1865, Abishai Stowell writes from Leavenworth, Kansas to his "Distant but not Forgotten Sister." Stowell reports that regiments from Kansas and Wisconsin have arrived in Leavenworth, "and there are more coming in every day." He expects that his own mounted rifle regiment will move south very soon. Stowell says he plans to send a daguerreotype of himself "if we get paid before we leave here."
Object Type: Letter

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

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