Civil War

Title: From Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Description: On August 12, 1862, Leigh R. Webber writes from Gibson County, Tennessee to Miss Brown. Webber criticizes the government's management of the war, declaring "there is no genuine Union sentiment in the Seceded States, to any extent...Unless the Government feels itself able to subjugate the South, it ought to acknowledge its independence at once. The restoration of the union as it was previous to the war is an impossibility." He refers to Generals Halleck, McClellan, Buell in his letter.
Date: August 12, 1862

Title: From John Stillman Brown to John L. Rupur
Description: On September 1, 1863, John Stillman Brown writes a letter to John L. Rupur about Quantrill's August 21 Raid on Lawrence. He lists the names of friends who were killed in the raid, and describes watching the bushwhackers from a hill west of Lawrence "as they went to their work of death, burning and plunder." He also mentions seeing "the brave" Gen. James Henry Lane.
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 1, 1863

Title: From Abishai Stowell to Margaret Torrence
Description: On February 12, 1865, Abishai Stowell writes from Clarksville, Arkansas to his sister Margaret Torrence in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. Stowell says that his company will likely stay in Clarksville for some time, and then return to Kansas in April to be mustered out of service. He reports that the soldiers are receiving full rations "for the first time since we have been here. we have been on half rations for 15 months." Stowell describes their typical rations and living arrangements in camp, and notes that Gen. Thayer has been relieved by Gen. Bussey.
Date: February 12, 1865

Title: Soldiers, Sixth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This portrait, taken ca. 1861-1865, depicts fifteen members of the Sixth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, Company B. The photograph was taken in Pleasanton, Linn County, Kansas. On the back of the photograph is a list of the soldiers' names and hometowns.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Thomas Carney to James L. McDowell
Description: This letter was written by Kansas Gov. Thomas Carney in St. Louis to Gen. James L. McDowell on June 15, 1863. Carney states that he expects Gen. Schofield will soon authorize a regiment for state defense. He asks McDowell to inform Gen. Ewing that he will soon have command of “the entire district" instead of Gen. Blunt. Carney asks McDowell “to accept the Cols. position in the regiment if you can do so without too much sacrifice.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: June 15, 1863

Title: James Henry Lane, United States Senator from Kansas
Description: Portrait of James Henry Lane, Republican Senator from Lawrence.
Object Type: Image

Title: From James Henry Lane to Dr. Speer
Description: This letter, dated April 11, 1866, is from Senator James Henry Lane to Dr. Speer. Lane informs Speer that he intends to defend his controversial stance on the Civil Rights Bill, which he believes is “injurious to the best interests of the black man.” Lane claims that if he fails to convince the people of Kansas that he is correct, then he will surrender the position he holds in Legislature.
Date: April 11, 1866

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description: On May 19, 1862, Abishai Stowell writes from Fort Riley, Kansas, to his sister. Stowell reports that the entire New Mexico Brigade, except his own regiment, was ordered back to Leavenworth, Kansas. He says that Co. A and D of his regiment will soon move to Fort Union in New Mexico to guard a train, while the rest of the regiment will continue to guard Fort Riley. Stowell states that it is unlikely he will visit home again before he is discharged because he will be so far away.
Object Type: Letter
Date: May 19, 1862

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

Title: From James Montgomery to George L. Stearns
Description: This letter, dated March 11, 1861, was written by James Montgomery in Mound City, Kansas, to George L. Stearns. Montgomery offers his opinion of sending fugitive slaves to Canada: “it will cost less to protect them here…and, besides, the principle is much better.” He believes that “Kansas is truly a free state, and ever shall be. A fugitive can travel as safely here, in Southern Kansas, as he can in Canada.” Montgomery adds that a free African-American was recently kidnapped by the Missouri Militia, because his guns had not been kept in firing condition.
Date: March 11, 1861

Title: Florella Brown Adair
Description: Florella Brown Adair was the wife of Samuel Lyle Adair and the half-sister of abolitionist, John Brown. She settled near Osawatomie, Kansas Territory, with her husband, who was a Congregational minister. She and her husband were free state supporters. The identification on the photograph indicates it is an enlargement of a small photograph taken in 1862.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1862

Title: D.R. Porter
Description: This carte de visite depicts D.R. Porter, who served as Assistant Surgeon in the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: From George Collamore to George L. Stearns
Description: This letter, dated July 21, 1862, is from George Collamore in Lawrence, Kansas to George L. Stearns. Collamore reports “almost unanimous” support in Kansas for the proposal to enlist African Americans in the military. He predicts that at least two African-American regiments could be raised in Kansas, but he warns Stearns that “various irresponsible persons are maneuvering here for commissions in such regiments.”
Date: July 21, 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: List of Arms and Other Property Taken by Capt. T.J. Wood
Description: This is a report of arms and other property taken from Chicago emigrants by U.S. Army Capt. T.J. Wood on September 14, 1856. On that day, Wood also confiscated horses, wagons, and equipment from a group of Iowa emigrants. The report is addressed to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary.
Date: September 14, 1856

Title: From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description: This letter, dated December 21, 1863, is from Joseph H. Trego, a lieutenant in the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, to his wife Alice. He informs Alice that his regiment has just arrived at Fort Smith, Arkansas and that they have settled into warm and comfortable quarters. He jokes about “flirting around with the secesh ladies” and says it is possible he will be home by Christmas.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 21, 1863

Title: From Charles Adair to Samuel Lyle Adair
Description: This letter was written on December 19, 1860 by Charles Adair in Hudson, Ohio, to his father Samuel Lyle Adair. Charles writes that he finished school for the year and he has been feeling very homesick. He reports that his mother, Florella Brown Adair, plans to go to Grafton, Ohio the following week. Charles says that Uncle Jeremiah has gone to New York and that he often becomes depressed because of the prospect of financial ruin.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 19, 1860

Title: From Samuel Lyle Adair to Florella Brown Adair
Description: This letter was written March 26 and 29, and April 1, 1861 by Samuel Lyle Adair in Osawatomie, Kansas, to his wife Florella Brown Adair. Samuel writes that he was forced to borrow money to continue work on the church’s construction, and will likely need to borrow more; he explains that this is difficult in Osawatomie because money is scarce. He states that many people in Kansas are destitute, although aid continues to arrive in the county, including a shipment of seed wheat from the New England Relief Committee.
Date: March 26, 1861-April 1, 1861

Title: Charles L. Wall
Description: This sepia carte de visite depicts Charles L. Wall, 1st Lieut. of Company H, Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: Olin E. Morse
Description: This carte de visite depicts Capt. Olin E. Morse, who served in Company D, Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

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

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