Civil War

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

Title: From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Wife
Description: This letter, dated September 4, 1861, is from A.J. Huntoon to his wife Lizzie. He reports that his regiment, a part of Lane’s Brigade, has recently moved to Camp Lincoln in Bourbon County, Kansas. He describes several recent battles between his regiment and a large contingent of Secessionists. He tells Lizzie that he has been put in charge of a military hospital, and he discusses caring for wounded soldiers. He states that his regiment is anticipating and preparing for an imminent attack.
Date: September 4, 1861

Title: Muster-Out Roll of Hugh D. Fisher, Chaplain
Description: This muster-out roll, dated August 26, 1864, certifies the honorable discharge of Hugh D. Fisher, Chaplain of the 5th Regiment of Kansas Cavalry Volunteers. Rev. Fisher served from August 16, 1861 to June 30, 1864, and was mustered out “by reason of expiration of term of service.”
Date: August 26, 1864

Title: From Daniel Woodson to A.M. Coffey
Description: This order, dated August 30, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Major General A.M. Coffey, Kansas Militia, Southern Division. Woodson directs Coffey to move his division in the direction of Lawrence, Kansas in response to the threat of guerrilla violence from James Lane’s forces. Woodson writes that since Lane’s reinforcements are “constantly coming in on the north side…he should be routed at the earliest practicable period.”
Date: August 30, 1856

Title: From Daniel Woodson to A.M. Coffey
Description: This order, dated August 21, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Major General A.M. Coffey, Kansas Militia, Southern Division. Woodson orders Coffey to proceed with his division to Palmyra, Kansas in response to ongoing guerrilla raids. Woodson emphasizes that the militia must protect all peaceable citizens and their property regardless of their political views. He adds that no houses may be destroyed unless they are proven to be used as forts or arsenals against the territorial government.
Date: August 21, 1856

Title: Francis M. Malone
Description: This sepia carte de visite depicts Capt. Francis M. Malone, who served in Company F, Seventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph, ca. 1861-1865, was produced by Armstead & White of Corinth, Mississippi.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Lewis Stafford to Kate Newland
Description: Lewis Stafford writes a letter from Camp Washington near Clinton, Missouri to Kate Newland on July 6, 1861. Stafford, a member of the 1st Kansas Infantry, Company E, tells Newland that Union troops recently took possession of a printing press that had printed a secession journal. He says that Clinton used to be a “hot bed of secession” but “secession in this place is now pretty generally squelched out.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: July 6, 1861

Title: H.D. Fisher
Description: This ca. 1867 black-and-white photograph depicts Rev. H.D. Fisher in military uniform. Fisher, known as “Parson Fisher,” was a Methodist minister who settled in Lawrence, Kansas, and served as chaplain of the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Daniel L. Chandler to James H. Buxton
Description: In a letter dated May 5, 1862, Daniel L. Chandler writes to James H. Buxton. Chandler is encamped on the prairie near Fort Scott, but expects to be ordered to Fort Scott in a few days. He informs James that his mother and brothers have been driven from Arkansas by the "secesh" and are now in Missouri, and that James's brother Thomas is in a "Missouri Union Regt." stationed at Mount Vernon, Missouri. Chandler also discusses James's discharge from the military.
Object Type: Letter
Date: May 5, 1862

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description: On February 18, 1863, Abishai Stowell writes from camp in Springfield, Missouri, to his sister. Stowell reports that his regiment will likely leave Springfield soon, "as we have to get a new set of arms and Horses before we will be of any use in the field, but may the time soon come when we will be able to face the God forsaken Rebels once more & spread terror & confusion in their midst…the very name of the Kans 2nd is sufficient to drive a thousand of them." He adds that "it seems a pity" for so many young men to waste their time idle in camp.
Date: February 18, 1863

Title: From Daniel R. Anthony to Dear Sister
Description: Daniel R. Anthony writes a letter from Camp “Johnson” in Morristown, Missouri to his sister on December 26, 1861. He tells her that he is in command of the camp and 1500 troops while Col. Jennison is away in Mound City, Missouri. Anthony says that he and three other commanders have occupied a Secessionist soldier’s house and established it as their headquarters. He reports that he expects to stay there for about two months, and then move south.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 26, 1861

Title: Memorandum of Articles Taken From Col. Eldridge's Company
Description: This document, signed by Lieut. Col. Philip St. George Cooke on October 10, 1856, is a memorandum of articles taken from Col. Eldridge’s Company. Cooke claims that 120 packages were opened, and that a large number of new saddles were stolen.
Date: October 10, 1856

Title: From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description: This letter, dated November 7, 1863, is from Lieut. Joseph H. Trego of the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment to his wife Alice. He tells her that he recently left Fort Scott, Kansas and travelled to Maysville, Arkansas. He adds that he will be marching to Fort Smith soon and does not expect to run into any danger. He also mentions that Capt. Haskell has been relieved of his duties and is leaving the regiment.
Object Type: Letter
Date: November 7, 1863

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

Title: From John F. Youngs to Jenney and Mother
Description: This letter is from Lt. John F. Youngs, Company E, 5th Regiment, to his family. Youngs writes from camp in Fort Scott, Kansas on September 18, 1861 and gives a detailed account of the Battle of Dry Wood Creek. He describes hiding in a ravine and firing on thousands of advancing troops. Since then, "we have been buisy scouting with an occasional scirmish," and says that an infantry company has gone to "break up a secession camp."
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 18, 1861

Title: From F.L. Pilla to Dear Brother
Description: F.L. Pilla writes a letter to his brother on September 21, 1863. Pilla writes about Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence, explaining that Lawrence is seven miles from his home in Eudora, Kansas. On the day of the Raid, he heard a rumor that Quantrill planned to target Eudora, and readied himself for a possible attack. The following day, he visited Lawrence and found "the best part of the City burned down" and "dead bodies laying around in all directions."
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 21, 1863

Title: Soldier, Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This sepia carte de visite, ca. 1861-1865, depicts an unidentified soldier who served in the Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. Carte de visites were small photographs that were often used as calling cards and became very popular during the Civil War.
Object Type: Image

Title: From Unknown to H.J. Strickler
Description: This letter, dated November 27, 1855, was presumably sent by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon at Headquarters, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, to Gen. H.J. Strickler. Shannon has been informed by Sheriff Samuel J. Jones of Douglas County, Kansas, that a prisoner was forcibly taken from him “by a band of armed men.” Jones has requested 3,000 men to assist him in enforcing the law, and Shannon instructs Strickler to raise as many men as he can and report to Sherriff Jones immediately.
Date: November 27, 1855

Title: From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description: On September 20, 1862, Abishai Stowell writes from Camp Drywood near Fort Scott, Kansas, to his sister. Stowell says that his regiment just returned from Fort Union, New Mexico. He was able to visit home on the return trip, and reports that most of the family is well. Stowell also gives his sister a list of the officers of his regiment, including General James G. Blunt, Col. William F. Cloud, and Lt. Col. Owen A. Bassett.
Date: September 20, 1862

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

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