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Title: From E.C. to Dear Father and Mother
Description: This letter, dated March 21, 1862, is from E.C. to his father and mother. E.C. says he is well and is anxious for news of the fight at Sugar Creek: "it is current report that a fight…lasted 4 days with a loss of 8 or ten thousand on the side of the confederate and twenty two thousand killed wounded and prisinors." He adds that skirmishes continue to take place every two or three days.
Date: March 21, 1862

Title: Examination of R.P. Wood
Description: This is R.P. Wood's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Wood describes himself as a 52-year-old resident of Liberty, Missouri who was born in Kentucky. He states that he supported the United States Government during the Civil War and that he "volunteered here several times in defence of the town." The oath, labeled No. 87 in a bound volume, was signed by Wood on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Sterling Price
Description: Portrait of General Sterling Price taken by photographer Daniel T. Cowell in 1862.
Object Type: Image
Date: 1862

Title: From Samuel H. Robertson to Sterling Price
Description: This letter was written ca. October 7, 1854 by Samuel H. Robertson in Bates County, Missouri, to Missouri Gov. Sterling Price. Robertson states that Osage Indians have been crossing the state line into Missouri to steal horses and crops, and asks Price for protection against this “Indian outrage and oppression.” He suggests that Price call some military companies into service for this purpose, and says that the Osage should be prevented from crossing the state line without written permission from their agent.
Object Type: Letter

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: 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: From James Montgomery to George L. Stearns
Description: This letter, dated December 10, 1864, was written by James Montgomery in Mound City, Kansas, to Maj. George L. Stearns. Montgomery writes that he resigned his military position due to poor health, but then took command of 15 companies – including two companies of black militia – after the commencement of Price’s Raid. He briefly describes the Battle of Westport, and explains that Price's Raid disrupted planting season. Montgomery asks Stearns about the bounty paid to soldiers in his state, and says that he will bring a few recruits with him when he visits over the winter.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 10, 1864

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: 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: From Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Description: This letter, dated November 27, 1862, is from Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown. Webber writes from Tennessee, where he is camped with Grant's army. He describes daily life in the camp, including drills and dress parades, and states that "we have seen more of the 'Pomp and circumstance of war' than in our whole period of service before." He predicts his regiment will leave soon to meet Price's army and anticipates a battle.
Date: November 27, 1862

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: 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 Samuel Worthington to My Dear Father
Description: Samuel Worthington writes a letter from Fort Riley, Kansas to his father on October 12, 1864. He has just received news that Gen. Price is advancing his forces, and he expresses fear that Kansas does not have enough troops to defeat him. He also mentions the possibility of a new treaty with the Indians. In a postscript, Worthington reports that Rebels have just arrived in Kansas City, and tells his father “goodbye—If I dont return remember I fought for the right.”
Date: October 12, 1864

Title: From Sterling Price to John W. Geary
Description: This letter, dated September 9, 1856, was written by Sterling Price on Executive Department letterhead in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary. Price believes that the Missouri citizens currently in Kansas are there to “protect their friends and relatives in Kansas from the murderer, the incendiary, and the robber,” and will disband immediately upon Geary’s order. Price states that if he is wrong, he will do everything in his power to assist Geary in quelling the “disturbance.”
Date: September 9, 1856

Title: From W.J. Patterson to Sterling Price
Description: This telegram is from W.J. Patterson in Parkville, Missouri to Gov. Sterling Price in Jefferson City, Missouri. The telegram, dated April 26, 1855, states that an armed mob destroyed Patterson’s printing press and threatened to kill the citizens of Platte County if they did not leave. Patterson, an editor of a Free Soil paper, The Parkville Luminary, asks Gov. Price to send state authorities to protect the county, emphasizing that danger is imminent.
Object Type: Telegram
Date: April 26, 1855

Title: Examination of John A. Denny
Description: This is John A. Denny's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Denny, a 58-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he was born in North Carolina and that he served in the Home Guards during the Civil War. He says that he "was struck with astonishment and surprise" when he heard that Gen. Price captured Gen. Mulligan's army at Lexington, Missouri. The oath, labeled No. 71 in a bound volume, was signed by Denny in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: Examination of Andrew J. Wilson
Description: This is Andrew J. Wilson's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Wilson describes himself as a 32-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri who was born in Tennessee. He states that he demonstrated his loyalty to the United States Government during the Civil War by "attending strictly to my own business and letting other people alone." He admits he was arrested by military authorities for "hallooing for Jeff Davis" but says it was a mistake and they released him. The oath, labeled No. 126 in a bound volume, was signed by Wilson on October 6, 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 6, 1866

Title: Examination of Samuel H. Thompson
Description: This is Samuel H. Thompson's Oath of Loyalty to the United States. Thompson, a 27-year-old resident of Clay County, Missouri, states that he served in the militia during the Civil War, and admits that, "I had friends on both sides which I sympathized with." The oath, labeled No. 54 in a bound volume, was signed by Thompson in 1866.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: 1866

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: John A. Bushnell of Calhoun, Missouri writes a letter to Eugenia Bronaugh on May 11, 14, and 25, 1864. He ponders the idea that the Civil War is a punishment from God. He relates rumors that a raid is coming from the South, that there are Bushwhackers in Bates and Henry Counties, and that John Marmaduke and Sterling Price are leading 90,000 troops into Missouri. He questions the validity of these rumors, but warns Eugenia to be careful in case there are Bushwhackers nearby.
Date: May 11, 1864-May 25, 1864

Title: From E.F. Slaughter to Eliza Colgan
Description: On December 11, 1864, E.F. Slaughter writes from Hickmans Mill, Jackson County, Missouri, to Mrs. Eliza Colgan. Slaughter, a member of the local home guards, states that he was captured by "Prices men Shelby's division. We were taken to their camp and next morning paroled. We all started home…directly after we started the battle commenced." He says that both the Confederate and Union wounded were taken to Kansas City, "which shows that our armies are merciful as well as brave." He adds that guerrillas are becoming more active in the area since the soldiers have left.
Date: December 11, 1864

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

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