Civil War

Title: From P. McClanahan to A. Comingo
Description: On December 23, 1863, P. McClanahan writes from Independence, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo in Lexington, Missouri. McClanahan discusses various financial matters and informs Comingo that William Rodewald should begin enlisting black men in the service as soon as possible: "Some five negroes passed through here last night which he would have got had he had his papers--There is a recruiting Officer here now from the State of Kansas and unless Rodewald gets his documents soon I fear it will be [too] late."
Date: December 23, 1863

Title: From C.F. Smith to A. Comingo
Description: On December 10, 1863, C.F. Smith, Enrolling Officer for the 9th subdistrict of Missouri, writes to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri. Smith reiterates that "the enrolling business" in his district was completed on November 28, and that he already sent Comingo a list of 150 names. Smith says that if Comingo has not received his earlier communication, he will provide a second copy.
Date: December 10, 1863

Title: Examination of Wiley C. Ellis
Description: This is Wiley C. Ellis's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Ellis describes himself as a 34-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Tennessee. He states that during the Civil War, he sympathized "with the people on both sides," and maintained his loyalty to the United States Government "by obeying all the laws so far as I was able." The oath, labeled No. 81 in a bound volume, was signed by Ellis in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From W. Leonard Birney to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 9, 1863, is from Sgt. W. Leonard Birney in Plattsburg, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Birney states that he has enclosed vouchers for military expenditures and asks Comingo to verify whether he filled them out correctly.
Date: November 9, 1863

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: Application of John H. Peacock
Description: This is John H. Peacock’s application for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slave, Antony Mason. The application, dated December 11, 1866, includes an oath of allegiance to the United States and the signatures of four witnesses and a notary public in Lafayette County, Missouri. Also attached is a signed statement that Peacock lawfully purchased another slave, Archie, and the October 9, 1854 bill of sale for Archie.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: October 9, 1854 and December 11, 1866

Title: Diary of Dr. J.H.P. Baker
Description: This is an excerpt from the diary of Dr. J.H.P. Baker, an army doctor working under the command of Gen. Joseph O. Shelby. The entries included here are from October 10-27, 1864. Baker discusses conscription, bushwhackers, travelling across Missouri, and marching to Price’s headquarters. He mentions the Battle of Boonville, the Second Battle of Lexington, the Battle of the Big Blue, the Second Battle of Independence, the Battle of Westport, and the Battle of Cedar Creek.
Object Type: Diary
Date: October 10, 1864-October 27, 1864

Title: From W. Leonard Birney to A. Comingo
Description: On December 25, 1863, W. Leonard Birney writes from Plattsburg, Clinton County, Missouri to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington, Missouri. Birney states that he has accepted the position of Recruiting Agent for Clinton County, but has not heard anything more from Comingo. He adds that the printed enrollment lists need to be corrected, because certain names are missing.
Date: December 25, 1863

Title: Examination of Nathaniel Grant
Description: This is Nathaniel Grant's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Grant, a 48-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, says that he felt "a little sorry" when Gen. Sterling Price captured Gen. Mulligan's army at Lexington, Missouri, and that he felt "rather down in the mouth" when the Federal army was defeated at Bull Run in 1861. The oath, labeled No. 52 in a bound volume, was signed by Nathaniel Grant in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Slave Bill of Sale
Description: This slave bill of sale, dated March 31, 1860, is signed by Lafayette County sheriff John P. Bowman. Bowman attests that he sold a female slave and a slave boy named John to Nathaniel Mitchell at auction on November 7, 1859. Mitchell paid $400 for the female slave and $150 for John.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: March 31, 1860

Title: From William S. Field to George R. Smith
Description: William S. Field writes a letter from Lexington, Missouri to Gen. George R. Smith in Georgetown, Missouri on June 10, 1856. Field informs Smith that M.W. Smallwood recently received a nomination to the Georgetown Convention. He encourages Smith in his candidacy for Congress: "you have many friends here & should you receive the nomination you will get a heavey majority here notwithstanding the howl of freesoilism against you."
Date: June 10, 1856

Title: From Daniel J. Routt to Mrs. Chinece Routt
Description: This letter, dated August 12, 1862, was written by Union soldier Daniel J. Routt in Lexington, Missouri, to his wife Chinece in Huntsville, Missouri. Daniel describes the recent Battle of Independence and says that Union forces expect an attack on their Lexington camp at any time. He tells Chinece that he has mailed her ten dollars, a lock of hair, and his picture, “to remember me as long as you live.” Daniel was killed four days later in the Battle of Lone Jack.
Date: August 12, 1862

Title: From Henry Bugler to A. Comingo
Description: On December 1, 1863, Henry Bugler writes from Independence, Missouri to A. Comingo in Lexington, Missouri. Bugler states that although he received Comingo's letter dated September 18, 1863, he did not receive the warrants that should have been enclosed, and he suggests they may have been destroyed. Bugler says he can still get the money if the warrants can be reproduced, and asks Comingo to prepare an affidavit attesting to their loss.
Date: December 1, 1863

Title: Examination of Willis S. Hymer
Description: This is Willis S. Hymer's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Hymer, a 45-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in Kentucky and that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by "sympathizing with the govt. and serving in the militia." The oath, labeled No. 68 in a bound volume, was signed by Hymer in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From E.B. Alexander to A. Comingo
Description: On December 15, 1863, Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General in St. Louis, writes to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal for the 6th District of Missouri, in Lexington, Missouri. Alexander sends Comingo the text of a telegram he received that day from Provost Marshal General James B. Fry: "Enlisted men on detailed service as recruiting parties are entitled to the premium of fifteen (15) and twenty five (25) Dollars as referred to." Alexander instructs Comingo to inform the appropriate persons in his district.
Date: December 15, 1863

Title: Examination of Darius Gittings
Description: This is Darius Gittings's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Gittings describes himself as a 50-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Maryland. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States during the Civil War by remaining "here with the citizens of the town all the time." He says that he "felt sorry for the defeat of the govt." when he heard that Gen. Price had captured Gen. Milligan's army at Lexington, Missouri. The oath, labeled No. 80 in a bound volume, was signed by Gittings in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From James M. Boyer to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated November 29, 1863, is from James M. Boyer, Deputy Provost Marshal of Chariton County, Missouri, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Boyer asks Comingo to send him a blank form for enrolling soldiers, and says that he requested a current list of enrolled soldiers from Gen. Gray. He also mentions that he is "anxiously awaiting" the authority to recruit soldiers.
Date: November 29, 1863

Title: Discharge for Richard H. Brown
Description: These are the official discharge papers for Richard H. Brown, who served as a private in the Fifth Regiment of the Missouri U.S. Reserve Corps from June 14, 1861 to August 11, 1861. The document, dated August 11, 1861, notes that Brown was born in Manchester, England and worked as a “Boundary man and Iron worker.” The 28-year-old Brown was discharged at Lexington, Missouri at the end of his term of service.
Date: August 11, 1861

Title: Applications of Moses Chapman
Description: These are Moses Chapman’s applications for compensation from the United States government for the military service of his slaves, Joseph Clark and Samuel A. Creel. The applications, dated November 21, 1866 and January 18, 1867, each include an oath of allegiance to the United States, a statement that Chapman lawfully obtained his slaves, and the signatures of four witnesses and a notary public in Lafayette County, Missouri. Notes on pages six and ten indicate that the applications were rejected.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: November 21, 1864-January 18, 1867

Title: From A. Comingo to E.B. Alexander
Description: This dispatch, dated November 19, 1863, is from Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri, to Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri. Comingo asks for Alexander's help in procuring military escorts for an Enrolling Officer. The officer will be recruiting volunteers in Lafayette County, which is threatened by "a few guerrillas prowling around."
Date: November 19, 1863

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

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