Civil War

Title: Examination of Hugh McGowan
Description: This is Hugh McGowan's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. McGowan describes himself as a 48-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Ireland. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government by "coming to the Court House here with my gun in my hand." The oath, labeled No. 110 in a bound volume, was signed by McGowan on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Historical Note
Description: This historical note explains that the state of Missouri's second Constitution, adopted at the end of the Civil War, declared that any citizens who had ever "engaged in exciting or carrying on rebellion against the United States" would not be allowed to vote. Any person intending to vote would thus have to swear an "oath of loyalty" to the United States. This note, written by James M. Sandusky in 1916, appears at the front of a bound volume of loyalty oaths given by citizens of Liberty Township in Clay County, Missouri from 1866 to 1868.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1916

Title: Examination of John W. Tillery
Description: This is John W. Tillery's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Tillery, a 38-year-old Missouri native, states that he resides in Clay County, Missouri. He says he was required by the military authorities to give bond during the war, "but it was against my consent I told them I was a Loyal man." The oath is No. 165 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Milton Singleton
Description: This is Milton R. Singleton's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Singleton, a 48-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and served in the Enrolled Missouri Militia during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 26 in a bound volume, was signed by Singleton in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of John Sakey
Description: This is John Sakey's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Sakey, 70, states that he has lived in Missouri since the fall of 1815, and was required to give bond by the military authorities during the war. The oath is No. 226 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Edward Owens
Description: This is Edward Owens's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Owens, a 39-year-old native of England, states that he has lived in Missouri for 14 years, and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 261 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

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: Examination of John Hallessy
Description: This is John Hallessy's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Hallessy, who was born in Ireland and describes himself as a "50 or 52" year old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that during the Civil War "I did all I could for the Government." The oath, No. 22 in a bound volume, was signed by Hallessy in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Henry F. Estes
Description: This 1866 loyalty examination document bears the name Henry F. Estes. Estes, a 41-year-old Kentucky native, states that he has resided in Missouri for 36 years, served in Price's army during the war, and does not wish to take the Oath of Loyalty. The document is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of James G. Adkins
Description: This is James G. Adkins's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Adkins, a 32-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and that he belonged to the Oddfellows and the Knights of Palermo. He declares that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War "by taking arms and going into the Court House." The oath, labeled No. 47 in a bound volume, was signed by Adkins in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Hamilton R. Gamble to Abraham Lincoln
Description: On September 8, 1862, Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble writes from St. Louis to President Lincoln. Gamble states that Gen. Lane and Col. Jennison are raising a military force and plan to invade Missouri. Gamble declares that if the invasion is carried out, "I will resist it with all the force I can command and…shall find myself obliged to give the people of Kansas a taste of the evils of war in their own territory." Gamble asks Lincoln to forbid U.S. troops from entering Missouri without permission.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 8, 1862

Title: Examination of Anderville Franklin
Description: This is Anderville Franklin's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Franklin, a 23-year-old native of Clinton County, Missouri, states that he served in the militia in Nodaway County, Missouri during the war. The oath is No. 160 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Act to Provide for Calling a State Convention, 1861
Description: This act, approved January 21, 1861 by Missouri Secretary of State B.F. Massey in Jefferson City, Missouri, calls for a state convention to consider the “relations between the Government of the United States… and the Government and people of the State of Missouri; and to adopt such measures for vindicating the sovereignty of the State, and the protection of its institutions, as shall appear to them to be demanded.” The act states that delegates to the convention will be elected by popular vote on February 18, 1861 and will convene in Jefferson City on February 28, 1861. The document is signed by B.F. Massey and Missouri Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: January 21, 1861

Title: Examination of John McKarmin
Description: This is John McKarmin's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. McKarmin, a 22-year-old native of Ireland, states that he has lived in Missouri for 14 years and served in the militia during the war. The unnumbered oath is contained in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Patrick Barry
Description: This is Patrick Barry's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Barry, a 55-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Ireland and that he sympathized with the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 76 in a bound volume, was signed by Barry in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Martin Fisher
Description: This is Martin Fisher's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Fisher, a 71-year-old Virginia native, states that he has lived in Missouri for 50 years and was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 185 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Robert G. Robertson
Description: This is Robert G. Robertson's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Robertson, a 24-year-old Missouri native, states that he was enrolled by the military authorities as "loyal" in 1862. The oath is No. 217 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of B.A. Bailey
Description: This is B.A. Bailey's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Bailey describes himself as a 22-year-old lifelong resident of Liberty, Missouri. He states that he joined the army to fight for the Union during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 28 in a bound volume, was signed by Bailey on September 29, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 29, 1866

Title: Examination of John A.S. Majors
Description: This is John A.S. Majors's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Majors, a 46-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky. In response to the question, "Have you during the late rebellion been truly and loyally on the side of the Government of the United States and against all its enemies?" Majors replies, "I guess so." The oath, labeled No. 45 in a bound volume, was signed by Majors on September 29, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 29, 1866

Title: Wakarusa Treaty (Draft)
Description: This document is a draft of the Wakarusa Treaty, signed by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon, Charles Robinson, and James H. Lane on December 8, 1855, ending the Wakarusa War. The signers declare that they "have no knowledge of the previous--present or prospective existence of any organization in [Kansas] Territory for the resistance of the laws." They agree to “aid the Governor in securing a posse” to execute the laws, provided that accused individuals are arrested with “legal process” and receive a hearing before a U.S. District Court judge.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: December 8, 1855

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

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