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Title: The Western Dispatch.
Description: This is the August 17, 1856 evening issue of the Western Dispatch, printed in Independence, Missouri. The newspaper announces that war is "being waged by the Abolitionists," and reports that James Henry Lane, John Brown, and their forces have robbed several Kansas residents and driven them into Missouri. The paper also mentions that Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon requested aid from the U.S. military, but was refused. A last minute extra, printed at the bottom of the paper, states that Lane and his men have captured Lecompton.
Object Type: Newspaper Article
Date: August 17, 1856

Title: From Daniel Woodson to William P. Richardson
Description: This order, dated August 30, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Major General William P. Richardson, Kansas Militia, Northern Division. Woodson orders Richardson to occupy the area between Leavenworth and Lawrence to prevent General James Lane’s escape with his forces. Woodson states that he has ordered Major General Coffey, Kansas Militia, Southern Division, to proceed to or near Lawrence.
Date: August 30, 1856

Title: From John M. Schofield to Thomas Carney
Description: This letter, written on the letterhead of Headquarters, Department of the Missouri and dated August 29, 1863, was sent by John M. Schofield in St. Louis to Kansas Governor Thomas Carney in Topeka, Kansas. Writing in the aftermath of Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence, Kansas, Major General Schofield states his hope that President Lincoln will appoint a Court of Inquiry to investigate the raid. Schofield refers to a meeting proposed for September 8, 1863 in Paola, Kansas, in which participants plan to enter Missouri “to recover their stolen property.” Schofield emphasizes the need to preempt this potentially violent meeting.
Date: August 29, 1863

Title: War in Kansas!
Description: This 1856 broadside announces the commencement of civil war in Kansas. It urges the citizens of Lafayette County, Missouri to gather with their guns and horses in Lexington on August 20, and "put an end to Abolitionism in Kansas." The broadside, signed by twelve men, reports that John Brown, James Henry Lane, and their forces have launched several guerrilla attacks upon Kansas residents, and are now "advancing upon us--the next breath from Kansas may bring to our ears the death shrieks of our Fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, neighbors and friends."
Object Type: Broadside
Date: August 1856

Title: From George D. Bayard to Father
Description: This is a copy of an October 1, 1856 letter from George D. Bayard in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to his father. Bayard tells his father that Kansas is overrun with invaders from Missouri who want to make it a slave state, and with northern emigrants who want to make it a free state. He criticizes Gov. John W. Geary for not taking a strong stand against slavery. He also mentions that troops from Lecompton are pursuing James Henry Lane and his men.
Date: October 1, 1856

Title: From G.A. Parsons to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This dispatch, dated December 2, 1860, is from G.A. Parsons, Adjutant General of the Missouri Militia, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Parsons relays a rumor that James Montgomery has publicly stated his intention to drive his enemies out of Kansas Territory. Parsons also reports that several men from Kansas passed through Bates County, Missouri that morning and told residents about Montgomery’s attacks. “The excitement here is on the increase,” Parsons states, and he informs Stewart that “we have plenty of troops already on their way to the border.”
Date: December 2, 1860

Title: From Lewis A. Waterman to Dear Mother
Description: This letter, dated July 22, 1864, is from Lewis A. Waterman at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to his mother in Providence, Rhode Island. Waterman reports that William Quantrill invaded Kansas with about 500 Bushwhackers. In retaliation, Col. Jennison crossed into Missouri with 700 troops and killed about 150 men. Waterman also tells his mother about daily life at Fort Leavenworth.
Date: July 22, 1864

Title: From G.A. Parsons to Robert M. Stewart
Description: This letter, dated December 2, 1860, is from G.A. Parsons, Adjutant General of the Missouri Militia, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Parsons informs Stewart that he has just arrived in Bates County and has found among its citizens “a good deal of uneasiness” because of recent attacks by Jayhawkers. He mentions that a citizen named Bishop was recently shot in his own house. Parsons states that he is enclosing a petition from Bates County citizens.
Date: December 2, 1860

Title: From Fred to Dear Cousins
Description: This February 28, 1862 letter is from a soldier named Fred to his cousins. He reports that he just marched from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with Company A, to Kansas City, Missouri, where they are guarding Fort Union against the Jayhawkers. He tells his cousins that the 2nd Battalion of his regiment "had a brush with the rebels at Independence," and adds that he may be marching to St. Louis soon.
Date: February 28, 1862

Title: From Daniel Woodson to E.V. Sumner
Description: This dispatch, dated June 30, 1856, was sent by Acting Kansas Gov. Daniel Woodson in Lecompton, Kansas, to Col. E.V. Sumner at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Woodson states that the “bogus Legislature” of Free-Staters will undoubtedly meet at Topeka on July 4, 1856, and that Gen. Lane’s forces are believed to be approaching Topeka. Woodson has ordered Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke to secure the area between Fort Riley, Kansas, and Topeka. He instructs Sumner to go to Topeka personally with at least two more companies of U.S. troops.
Date: June 30, 1856

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