Civil War

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From Fred L. Haywood to Dear Sister Loesa
Title
From Fred L. Haywood to Dear Sister Loesa
Description
This letter, dated April 6, 1863, is from Fred L. Haywood, a soldier in the 1st Minnesota Battery, McArthur’s Division, Army of the Tennessee, to his sister Loesa. He writes from Louisiana, where both his regiment and the 1st Kansas Regiment are camped. He tells his sister that the 1st Kansas Regiment recently discovered, upon the death of one of their sergeants, that the sergeant was a woman: “You can imagine their astonishment . . . She was brave as a Lion in battle . . . She would have been promoted to a Lieutenancy in a few days if she had lived.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
April 6, 1863
From Edward Fitch to Dear Father
Title
From Edward Fitch to Dear Father
Description
This unsigned May 20, 1858 letter is presumably from Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas to his father in Massachusetts. Fitch criticizes the Lecompton Constitution and the English Bill due to their proslavery stance. He fears that those in the Kansas territory will accept the English Bill since it offers large amount of public lands to Kansas settlers. Though Fitch fears Kansas' entrance into the Union as a slave state, he ends his letter in an optimistic tone, remarking that it would be as impossible to make Kansas into a slave state “as it would be to make Hell out of Heaven.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
May 20, 1858
From Mary E. Bedford to Alex M. Bedford
Title
From Mary E. Bedford to Alex M. Bedford
Description
On November 12, 1864, Mary E. Bedford writes from her home to her husband Alex M. Bedford, a prisoner of war at Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia. Mary reports that their children are attending school in Savannah, Missouri with Mrs. Boone and are “learning very fast.” She reports the recent death of her father’s horse, Old Sal, and laments, “I cannot get another horse to work as well in the cart…I feel like I was all most broke up.” Mary tells Alex that she will send him a box of provisions and clothing when she is sure he has not been exchanged.
Object Type
Letter
Date
November 12, 1864
From George H. Hall to Dear Lydia
Title
From George H. Hall to Dear Lydia
Description
This letter is from George H. Hall to his sister Lydia. Hall writes from St. Joseph, Missouri on November 17, 1859, and refers to John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. He calls Brown a coward, and argues that "his only acts in Kansas Territory . . . were the assassination of unarmed families and his great skill in running off negroes."
Object Type
Letter
Date
November 17, 1859
From A.M. Bedford to Mary E. Bedford
Title
From A.M. Bedford to Mary E. Bedford
Description
This letter, dated February 3, 1865, is from Lieut. Alex M. Bedford in Hilton Head, S.C. to his wife, Mary E. Bedford. He tells his wife that he has been taking medicine, but that his health is still poor. He informs her that he will likely be home by the middle of March, but “if I cannot live at home in peace I can go to my Brothers in nevada territory.” He asks her to send him a check so that he has enough money to travel home.
Object Type
Letter
Date
February 3, 1865
From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Title
From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description
This letter, dated August 3, 4, and 6, 1862, is from John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh. Bushnell states that two Missouri Militia companies came into his town and ordered every citizen over the age of fifteen to join arms. They also ordered women “not to give any encouragement to Southern men or Companies, not to waive a Handkerchief, not to talk or give advice to the enemy.” Bushnell also mentions an order issued in a recent newspaper for Southern sympathizers to stay at home and surrender their arms.
Object Type
Letter
Date
August 3, 1862-August 6, 1862
From Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon
Title
From Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon
Description
On July 28 and 29, 1861, Lizzie P. Huntoon writes from Walpole, New Hampshire to her husband A.J. Huntoon. On July 28, Lizzie begs A.J. not to join the army, urging him to hire someone to go in his place even “if it takes all we have.” After receiving a letter from A.J. on July 29, in which he states he has joined the army, she writes of her “hard feelings” toward him for this action.
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 28, 1861-July 29, 1861
From S. Norton to John W. Geary
Title
From S. Norton to John W. Geary
Description
This letter, dated September 9, 1856, was sent to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary by S. Norton and seven other citizens of Leavenworth, Kansas. Writing from St. Louis, Norton states that on September 2, 1856, he and the others were ordered to leave Leavenworth by Capt. Emory and his “armed posse.” They seek protection from Geary so they may safely return to their homes.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 9, 1856
From Unknown to John Stillman Brown
Title
From Unknown to John Stillman Brown
Description
This faded letter, dated January 23, 1862, is from an unknown writer to John Stillman Brown. The writer reports that his company recently "jayhawked (or got in some way) a large quantity of tinware, but most of it is of such a kind as to be of no use to us." The writer adds that his health is very good, and "so is that of all the men generally." The letter is written on stationery featuring an image of an eagle with the caption "Liberty and Union."
Object Type
Letter
Date
January 23, 1862
From John Brown, Jr. to My Dear Friend
Title
From John Brown, Jr. to My Dear Friend
Description
This letter, dated July 18, 1862, is from John Brown, Jr., a former member of the 7th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, to his friend Parker Pillsbury. Last winter, Brown writes, he and his regiment helped to free more than 2,000 slaves. Now, he says, the commander of the regiment, Lieut. Col. Daniel R. Anthony, is under arrest. Brown includes a copy of a letter he received from another friend, Arthur T. Reeve, concerning Brig. Gen. Mitchell's arrest of Anthony. Brown writes: “His arrest for such a cause is in the estimation of every true man a greater honor than to have won a battle.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
June 26, 1862-July 18, 1862
From Charles W. Graeff to Robert M. Stewart
Title
From Charles W. Graeff to Robert M. Stewart
Description
This letter, dated July 29, 1858, is from Charles W. Graeff to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Graeff reports that he has just arrived in Polk County, Missouri and will soon travel to Jefferson City, Missouri. He tells Stewart that several hundred men are hiding in a place called “Osage rocks” in Kansas Territory. These men, he states, have invaded Missouri, robbed citizens, driven families away from their homes, murdered a man, and injured several others.
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 29, 1858
From George Collamore to G.L. Stearns
Title
From George Collamore to G.L. Stearns
Description
This letter was written on October 23, 1861 by George Collamore in Lawrence, Kansas to G.L. Stearns. Collamore writes that Kansas cannot expect a good harvest next year because so many men have volunteered for the service and left the state. He says that “large numbers of fugitives from Missouri…are daily arriving,” and many of them lack clothing for the winter. Collamore adds that “slavery is fast disappearing in Missouri,” and may be completely abolished within six months.
Object Type
Letter
Date
October 23, 1861
From Calvin Iserman to Brother William
Title
From Calvin Iserman to Brother William
Description
In this letter of October 3, 1858, Calvin Iserman writes from Independence, Missouri to his brother William. Calvin wants to leave Independence, where non-slaveholders are “counted just nobody at all," and “a poor man, and mechanic is looked upon as no better than a slave.” He declares that “any man East that upholds Slavery…should be made to live in a Slave State all of his life time.” Calvin plans to go to Kansas Territory and “take a look around.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
October 3, 1858
From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Title
From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description
John A. Bushnell writes a letter from Clinton, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. In the letter, dated July 3 and 5, 1864, Bushnell expresses fear that his life may be in danger and that his letters may be misconstrued as disloyal. He criticizes traitors and declares that this country was “not made by selfish hands for selfish purposes.” He says that soldiers have left Calhoun, and that he would like to know what they are doing next, but does not want to “manifest any unusual curiosities.” He also mentions hearing a sermon on Independence Day about racial equality.
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 3, 1864-July 5, 1864
From Sara Robinson to "My Dear Martha"
Title
From Sara Robinson to "My Dear Martha"
Description
This letter, dated October 19, 1862, is from Sara Robinson in Topeka, Kansas to Martha. Sara reports that her husband, Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson, went to Altoona, Pennsylvania to meet "the Governors," but by the time he arrived they had already gone to Washington, D.C. Charles "had no wish to see the Sec. of War or the President, both of whom have treated him & the young state of Kansas so villainously & did not follow them." Sara states that when Charles returned, he went to St. Louis to see Gen. Curtis.
Object Type
Letter
Date
October 19, 1862
From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Title
From Abishai Stowell to "Dear Sister"
Description
On March 26, 1862, Abishai Stowell writes from Springfield, Missouri to his sister, Margaret. Stowell, a member of Co. A, 2nd Regt., Kansas Volunteers, says that he recently went home and reports that their family was mostly in good health. Stowell asks his sister to write to Jim "and try to persuade him to go home…if he will only stay at home till this war is ended."
Object Type
Letter
Date
March 26, 1862
From Emma Adair to Florella Brown Adair
Title
From Emma Adair to Florella Brown Adair
Description
On May 10, 11, and 21, 1862, Emma Adair writes from Oberlin, Ohio, to her mother Florella Brown Adair. Emma writes that her school term ends on May 27, and that she believes there will be a place for her next term. She says that a report came by telegram “that Richmond was taken, but there was not much confidence put in it.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
May 10, 1862-May 21, 1862
From Charles T. Gilman to Albert G. Boone
Title
From Charles T. Gilman to Albert G. Boone
Description
In this letter, dated September 16 and 17, 1856, Charles T. Gilman informs Col. Albert G. Boone that 20 abolitionists recently launched an attack on the proslavery citizens living near Council Grove, Kansas. Gilman states that the attackers stole horses and mules, wounded a woman, and threatened to burn down houses and force the proslavery men out of Kansas. They also claimed that they would return in four days with 400 men; Gilman tells Boone that the people of Council Grove have been awaiting their arrival and have plenty of arms and ammunition to defend themselves.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 16, 1856-September 17, 1856
From Daniel R. Anthony to Dear Father
Title
From Daniel R. Anthony to Dear Father
Description
Daniel R. Anthony writes a letter from Leavenworth, Kansas to his father on November 5, 1861. He states that he will command his regiment on a trip to Sedalia, Missouri to bring oxen and wagons to Gen. Fremont’s army, while Col. Jennison stays behind in Kansas. At the end of the letter, Anthony lists the equipment his regiment needs, including saddles, clothing, sabres, rifles, and revolvers.
Object Type
Letter
Date
November 5, 1861
From Eugenia Bronaugh to John A. Bushnell
Title
From Eugenia Bronaugh to John A. Bushnell
Description
Eugenia Bronaugh writes a letter from Hickory Grove, Missouri to John A. Bushnell of Calhoun, Missouri on October 15, 1863. She says that she went to the post office to pick up a letter from him and the officer on duty refused to give it to her because it had been determined to be disloyal. Eugenia argues that, “You meant no disloyalty, it is far from you to do anything against our government—the government which has and is protecting us.” Nevertheless, she warns him to “weigh every word” he writes.
Object Type
Letter
Date
October 15, 1863

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