Civil War

Title: From D.R. Anthony to Dear Sister
Description: D.R. Anthony writes a letter from Leavenworth, Kansas to his sister on September 10 and 11, 1858. He reports the results of a recent municipal election, which put into office three Democrats, two Whigs, and fourteen Republicans. He expresses dismay about local Irish-Americans voting Democrat and their desire to establish a “Free white state for white men.” Anthony decries the rampant racism of the times, as well as “the ignorance and prejudice of the Irish.” He tells his sister that his antislavery stance has earned him “the reputation of being one of the most radical men in Kansas.”
Date: September 10, 1858-September 11, 1858

Title: From E.V. Sumner to Daniel Woodson
Description: This dispatch, dated July 2, 1856, was sent by Col. E.V. Sumner at Headquarters, 1st Cavalry in camp at Topeka, Kansas, to Acting Kansas Gov. Daniel Woodson. Sumner states that he will be glad to meet the following day with Woodson, Judge Cato, Col. Isaacs, and U.S. Marshal Donalson. He asks Woodson to bring the Governor’s and President’s proclamations, along with his instructions under them, and the Governor’s letter about the Topeka legislature.
Date: July 2, 1856

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

Title: Gaius Jenkins
Description: Ambrotype of Gaius Jenkins, active member of the Free-State cause and Lawrence resident who was killed by James Lane over a land dispute.
Object Type: Image

Title: John Ritchie
Description: Carte de visite portrait of John Ritchie, an abolitionist who worked on the Underground Railroad and served as a delegate to the Leavenworth Constitutional Convention.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Certificates of Kansas Soldiers
Description: These papers list the names of soldiers who served in the Wakarusa War for the Kansas Rifles No. 1, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade of Kansas Volunteers. The papers were signed in Lawrence on December 12, 1855 by Capt. William I.R. Blackman, Col. Lyman Allen, Gen. James Henry Lane, and Maj. Gen. Charles Robinson.
Date: December 12, 1855

Title: Planters Hotel, Leavenworth, Kansas
Description: The Planters Hotel in Leavenworth, Kansas, where Abraham Lincoln gave a speech denouncing slavery and popular sovereignty on December 5, 1859.
Object Type: Image

Title: From E.S. Lowman to Charles Robinson
Description: This letter was written by E.S. Lowman in Paola, Kansas, to Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson on August 13, 1861. Lowman writes that the citizens of Olathe, Kansas were recently in a state of “confusion and alarm,” fearing invasion by guerrillas. After the local sheriff arrested several suspected guerrillas from a “secret organization,” the situation settled down. Lowman believes that Aubrey, Kansas is at risk of attack by “’Jayhawkers’ from both sides of the line,” and states that he delivered additional arms to troops stationed there. He also describes recent efforts by law enforcement to recover property stolen by Jayhawkers.
Date: August 13, 1861

Title: From William Murphy to John W. Geary
Description: William Murphy, mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas, writes a letter to Gov. John W. Geary on October 11, 1856. In response to Geary’s inquiry about the death of Addison Rogers, Murphy states that Rogers was not killed in a political skirmish, but was shot by a fellow gambler. Murphy also informs Geary that U.S. Marshal Israel Donalson took M.J. Mitchell into custody and will bring him to Lecompton to stand trial before Judge Samuel Lecompte.
Date: October 11, 1856

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to Lizzie P. Huntoon
Description: This letter, dated January 27-28, 1861, was written by A.J. Huntoon at Johnson House in Lawrence, Kansas, to Lizzie Huntoon. Huntoon reports that he has reached Lawrence from Williamsport, Kansas, after a delay due to severe winter weather. He describes activity in the Kansas Legislature and says that everyone is eager for news of Kansas’ application for statehood; he believes “we will not get to be a state this session.”
Date: January 27, 1861-January 28, 1861

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

Title: Jacob Ruppelins
Description: This sepia carte de visite depicts Jacob Ruppelins, who served in Company D, Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced by Tuttle's Fine Art Gallery of Olathe, Kansas ca. 1870.
Object Type: Image

Title: Camp Saunders, Kansas Territory
Description: Photograph of proslavery stronghold, Camp Saunders, located 12 miles southwest of Lawrence, Kansas Territory, 1856. Camp (Fort) Saunders, one of three proslavery "forts" in Douglas County, Kansas, came under attack from Free-Staters, led by James H. Lane and angered at the Sacking of Lawrence and the murder of Major S. D. Hoyt, who had traveled to Fort Saunders to request an end to hostilities. The proslavery men at Fort Saunders (which was really no more than a sturdy log cabin), surrendered before any fighting began. The building was burned to the ground, and the Free-Staters turned their attention to Fort Titus.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1856

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Lizzie
Description: On April 26, 1861, A.J. Huntoon writes a letter from Topeka to his wife Lizzie. He informs her that Kansas is preparing for war and that he plans to start a company of mounted riflemen in Williamsport Township. He says that rumors have circulated about a possible attack by the Osage tribe, and that Governor Robinson responded by warning the Osage to leave the white settlers alone. Huntoon also says he heard a rumor that Indians attacked Fort Riley. He does not believe the rumor, and yet “We are preparing for the worst.”
Date: April 26, 1861

Title: Soldier, Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This tintype photograph, ca. 1861-1865, depicts an unidentified member of the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Julia Mariata to Unknown
Description: In this October 5, 1856 letter, Julia Mariata describes the arrest and capture of her brother-in-law, H. Miles Moore. On October 2, Mariata says, she and Moore left Lawrence, Kansas and stopped at the American Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, where Moore was arrested and taken away by a group of men. A Mr. King told Mariata that Moore was arrested because he had served as Adjutant General under Gen. Lane, and that “he was considered guilty of High Treason!”
Date: October 5, 1856

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

Title: From Florella Brown Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on December 13 and 14, 1862 by Florella Brown Adair in Osawatomie, Kansas, to her husband Samuel Lyle Adair. Florella writes that Robert Loomis, a local soldier, is home on furlough with the news that their son Charles is well. Loomis reports that Charles asked him to take $35.00 to his family, but the money was stolen from him in Fort Scott, Kansas. Florella tells Samuel she believes Loomis gambled with the money and lost it all.
Date: December 13, 1862-December 14, 1862

Title: Samuel Forster Tappan
Description: Photograph of Samuel Forster Tappan, a Kansas Territory resident who served as secretary of the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention.
Object Type: Image
Date: n.d.

Title: Petition of P. Fuller and Wm. Moore of Centropolis
Description: This petition, written ca. 1856, is addressed to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary and is signed by P. Fuller and William Moore of Centropolis, Kansas. Fuller and Moore request, on behalf of the citizens of Douglas County, that Geary send troops to protect them from armed men in the area. The petitioners claim that 600-700 armed men were recently spotted marching near Sugar Creek and Turkey Creek.
Object Type: Petition

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

Error message

In collections

Pages

Pages

Object Type

Local Subject

People

Geographic Subject