Civil War

Title: Sale of Slave
Description: This document declares the sale of four slaves—Ritter, Bird, Fanny, and John—to Stephen Bedford for $182.50. It was signed and dated by Marion M. Biggerstaff of Clinton County, Missouri on July 5, 1857.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: July 5, 1857

Title: Examination of Henry Hill
Description: This is Henry Hill's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Hill, a 62-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri, states that he was born in Philadelphia and remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War. The oath, labeled No. 36 in a bound volume, was signed by Hill in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Llewellyn Fritzlin
Description: This is Llewellyn Fritzlin's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Fritzlin, a 23-year-old Missouri native, states that he left the state during the war, but "I did not leave to keep out of the service[.] I had exemption papers." He also says he was not required to give bond during the war. The oath is No. 250 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of William B. Pence
Description: This is William B. Pence's 1866 Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Pence, 30, states that he resides in Clay County, Missouri. He says he was enrolled by the military authorities as "Disloyal against my will" in 1862, and required to give bond. The oath is No. 210 in a bound volume.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of George Hughes
Description: This is George Hughes's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Hughes describes himself as a 40-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri. He states that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War, but expresses concern that requiring voters to make an oath of loyalty is "contrary to the Constitution of the U.S." The oath, labeled No. 48 in a bound volume, was signed by Hughes, a professor at William Jewell College, in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description: In this January 20, 1856 letter to his parents in Massachusetts, Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas writes that Missourians launched an attack near Leavenworth on Election Day and tried to confiscate the ballot boxes. Fitch predicts an imminent war, and laments: “How long O Lord must we suffer thus. I hope you will raise an army in the East and March through Missouri and Proclaim liberty to the slave.” Included is a copy of a September 15, 1855 broadside published by John Speer that challenges the Bogus Legislature.
Date: January 20, 1856

Title: Examination of William J. Bishop
Description: This is William J. Bishop's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Bishop, who was born in New York, describes himself as a 52-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the Union during the Civil War "by doing military duty for the govt." The oath, labeled No. 44 in a bound volume, was signed by Bishop on September 29, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: September 29, 1866

Title: From Lewis Stafford to Kate Newland
Description: This letter, dated September 28, 29, and 30, 1861 is from Lewis Stafford in Chillicothe, Missouri to Kate Newland. Stafford reports on the recent movement of his regiment, the 1st Kansas Infantry, from Rolla to Chillicothe, Missouri. He eagerly anticipates fighting the Secessionists and giving them “an awful thrashing . . . But I shudder to think of the brave men who will fall victims to the rage of the ruthless enemy.”
Date: September 28, 1861-September 30, 1861

Title: Invoices of Quartermaster's Stores
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 mule collars and wagons in between Lieutenant T. E. Gray, Captain James J. Akard, and Captain R. B. Owen.
Date: 1863 - 1865

Title: From R.R. Boone to Dear Father
Description: R.R. Boone writes a letter from Buchanan County, Missouri to his father on September 12, 1858. Boone reacts to news of guerrilla warfare in Kansas, proclaiming "I am a great mind some times to gather my Rifle and gow & skalp some of these infernal theaving abolitionist." He criticizes both political parties and voices anger that the government has not put a stop to the violence in Kansas.
Date: September 12, 1858

Title: Circular No. 23
Description: This document, entitled Circular No. 23, is dated April 22, 1865 and is signed by Col. E.B. Alexander in St. Louis. The Circular instructs Provost Marshals to discontinue all printing, publishing, and advertising connected with the business of their offices, and to close all accounts existing for the same purpose.
Date: April 22, 1865

Title: From Alex M. Bedford to Mary E. Bedford
Description: On October 31, 1863, Alex M. Bedford writes from Johnson’s Island, near Sandusky City, Ohio, to his wife Mary E. Bedford. Alex advises Mary not to return home until she is sure it’s safe. Alex describes an agreement made with M. Jeff Thompson about paying to send longer letters, which “suits us first rate.” He recalls his experience the previous year as a wounded prisoner of war in Alabama, where he recovered at the home of a kind family who "seem like my relations."
Date: October 31, 1863

Title: Inventory and Inspection Report of Unserviceable Ordnance Stores
Description: This military document is an inventory and inspection report of unserviceable ordnance and ordnance stores for which Captain James J. Akard, Company "A" 8th Cavalry Regiment, Missouri State Militia was responsible for. The inventory which includes rifles and revolvers was examined by John W. Goldston, Lieutenant and Assistant Inspector.
Date: January 11, 1865

Title: Special Order No. 10
Description: This January 10, 1865 document, titled "Special Order No. 10," is ordered by Maj. Gen. Dodge and signed by Asst. Adj. Gen. J.W. Barnes in St. Louis. The order states that all courts of record must notify the appropriate Provost Marshal "of all persons who declare their intentions to become Citizens or who take out papers of citizenship," so they can be enrolled in the draft.
Date: January 10, 1865

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 June 24, 1863 and May 19, 1864. Capt. A. Comingo was appointed Provost Marshal of the 6th District of Missouri in June 1863 and corresponded frequently with Missouri Provost Marshal General E.B. Alexander and U.S. Provost Marshal General James B. Fry. Topics addressed include the appointment of deputy provost marshals, military enrollment, recruitment of black soldiers, and the threat of attack by bushwhackers and guerrillas.
Date: June 24, 1863-May 19, 1864

Title: An Act to Organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas
Description: This is a copy of “An Act to Organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas,” otherwise known as the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The act, proposed by Senator Stephen Douglas, allowed Kansas to determine through popular sovereignty whether or not to legalize slavery. Despite much dissent in the House and Senate, the Kansas-Nebraska Act passed and was signed into law by President Franklin Pierce on May 30, 1854.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: May 30, 1854

Title: From J.F. Snyder to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This dispatch is from J.F. Snyder to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Snyder writes from the headquarters of the 6th Division, Missouri Militia, in Polk County, Missouri on July 29, 1858. He informs Stewart that he has received his commission as District Inspector and will report to Bates County to await further orders.
Date: July 29, 1858

Title: Examination of James W. Mosby
Description: This is James W. Mosby's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Mosby, a 29-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri states that he remained loyal to the United States Government during the Civil War, but he states, "I dont know as I did anything either way" to oppose the enemies of the government. The oath, labeled No. 117 in a bound volume, was signed by Mosby in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Soldiers Enlisted in Ray County, Missouri
Description: This military roll lists the names of soldiers enlisted in the 5th, 6th, and 8th sub-districts of the 6th congressional district of Missouri. They were recruited in January 1864 in Ray County. The list is dated March 30, 1864 and is signed by G.N. Black, Recruiting Agent.
Date: March 30, 1864

Title: From George W. Bearnes to J.F. Benjamin
Description: This letter, dated August 19, 1863, is from Capt. George W. Bearnes, Deputy Provost Marshal of Macon County, Missouri, to Col. J.F. Benjamin, Provost Marshal of the 8th district of Missouri. Bearnes tells Benjamin that he is in possession of two military rolls, which list the names of soldiers from Macon County. He adds that he is unsure whether or not he and Lieut. Williamson are enlisted.
Date: August 19, 1863

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

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