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From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Title
From Edward Fitch to Dear Parents
Description
This letter, dated September 21, 1856, is from Edward Fitch of Lawrence, Kansas to his parents in Massachusetts. He tells them that he and his army regiment marched to Franklin the previous week in an attempt to defend the town from Border Ruffians. The Ruffians rode into town, burned several buildings, robbed Fitch of everything he owned, and then “dispersed in different directions . . . stealing and murdering as they went.” Fitch mentions his suspicion that Governor Geary is a traitor who has negotiated with the Border Ruffians.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 21, 1856-September 28, 1856
From Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown
Title
From Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown
Description
This letter is from Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown. Chandler writes from West Point and Kansas City, Missouri, and Mapleton, Kansas on September 25 and 28, and October 1 and 6, 1861. Chandler, a steward at a military hospital, describes caring for soldiers wounded in the Battle of Dry Creek and the Sacking of Osceola. Chandler shares his fears about the future: "The condition of the State of Missouri is indeed most gloomy, and if the war continues a year longer the territory will be turned into a desert."
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 25, 1861-October 6, 1861
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 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 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 Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon
Title
From Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon
Description
This letter from Samuel R. Ayres to Lyman Langdon is dated January 1, 1863, the day that President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. In his letter, Ayres expresses support for the proclamation, but mentions the possibility of it being revoked and questions whether or not slaves will indeed be set free. Ayres also reports that his two sons are in Gen. Grant’s division of the 7th Kansas Cavalry Regiment and have had to fight nearly every day.
Object Type
Letter
Date
January 1, 1863
From George Collamore to G.L. Stearns
Title
From George Collamore to G.L. Stearns
Description
This letter was written on May 2 and 7, 1861 by George Collamore in Leavenworth, Kansas to G.L. Stearns in Boston. Collamore writes that Kansas is under threat of attack from Missouri and the Cherokee and Osage Indians, and that Kansas’s defenses are weak. He reports that Gov. Robinson offered him the position of Quartermaster General of the Kansas Militia, which he temporarily accepted. Collamore asks Stearns to send “thick colored blankets” and other items to Kansas, urging Stearns to keep his activities secret and to be cautious about what he writes in future letters.
Object Type
Letter
Date
May 2, 1861 and May 7, 1861
From James W. Denver to Robert M. Stewart
Title
From James W. Denver to Robert M. Stewart
Description
This letter was written on August 18, 1858 by Kansas Gov. James W. Denver in Lecompton, Kansas, to Missouri Gov. Robert M. Stewart. Denver writes that he disagrees with Stewart's decision to "station an armed force along the borders” in response to "the unsettled state of affairs" in southeastern Kansas. Denver asserts that after he sent U.S. and volunteer troops to the “troubled districts,” peace has been fully restored, and that “the only marauders now in this Territory are organized bands of horse thieves, such as are too common in all new countries.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
August 18, 1858
From Wilson Shannon to Franklin Pierce
Title
From Wilson Shannon to Franklin Pierce
Description
This letter, dated June 27, 1856, was written by Kansas Gov. Wilson Shannon in St. Louis to President Franklin Pierce. Shannon informs Pierce that after recent “troubles” in Kansas Territory, the area is no longer threatened by any “illegal military bodies” as far as he knows. Shannon believes that the presence of federal troops helped to restore peace, and states that these troops should be maintained in Kansas to help suppress future conflicts. Shannon is particularly concerned about the threat of civil unrest if the Free State legislature meets, as planned, on July 4, 1856.
Object Type
Letter
Date
June 27, 1856
From Daniel Woodson to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore
Title
From Daniel Woodson to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore
Description
This letter, dated September 3, 1856, was written by Acting Kansas Gov. Daniel Woodson at Lecompton, Kansas to William Hutchinson and H. Miles Moore on behalf of the Kansas State Central Committee. Woodson refers to Gen. James Lane’s recent raid on Franklin, Kansas and several other areas of the Territory. He reminds Hutchinson and Moore about the proclamation issued August 25, 1856, declaring Kansas to be in a state of insurrection, and also cites the recent general order issued to Gen. Richardson and Gen. Coffey forbidding the burning of houses under any circumstances.
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 3, 1856
From George Miller to Dear Father and Mother
Title
From George Miller to Dear Father and Mother
Description
This letter, dated January 14, 1861, is from George Miller in Pleasant Hill, Cass County, Missouri, to his parents. Miller writes that Lt. Col. Daniel R. Anthony and his Kansas troops invaded Pleasant Hill, stealing 55 slaves and $10,000 worth of property. He complains that the Missouri Secessionists are "fast beginning to give up the contest" and laments that "the country is being ruined."
Object Type
Letter
Date
January 14, 1861
From D.R. Anthony to Dear Father
Title
From D.R. Anthony to Dear Father
Description
On December 22, 1861, D.R. Anthony writes a letter to his father, describing recent “skirmishes” with rebels. He says that he and his comrades killed Hurst, a Missouri Confederate colonel, and several of his soldiers. They also gave horses, mules, oxen, wagons, and carriages to 129 slaves and helped them escape to Kansas. Anthony informs his father that he took possession of a Secessionist flag in Harrisonville, Missouri, and adds that he hopes to take Col. Jennison’s position if Jennison is promoted to General.
Object Type
Letter
Date
December 22, 1861
From Thomas Carney to James L. McDowell
Title
From Thomas Carney to James L. McDowell
Description
This letter was written by Kansas Gov. Thomas Carney in St. Louis to Gen. James L. McDowell on June 15, 1863. Carney states that he expects Gen. Schofield will soon authorize a regiment for state defense. He asks McDowell to inform Gen. Ewing that he will soon have command of “the entire district" instead of Gen. Blunt. Carney asks McDowell “to accept the Cols. position in the regiment if you can do so without too much sacrifice.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
June 15, 1863
From Josiah Miller to Dear Father and Mother
Title
From Josiah Miller to Dear Father and Mother
Description
This letter, dated January 25, 1856, is from Josiah Miller in Lawrence, Kansas to his parents living in a Southern state. Miller tells his parents about a recent election for Kansas state officers that ended in a skirmish between Free State men and proslavery men, including some from Missouri. He predicts that "this slavery question" will result in civil war, and urges his parents to move to a free state.
Object Type
Letter
Date
January 25, 1856
From Daniel R. Anthony to Dear Sister
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
From John F. Youngs to Jenney and Mother
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
From F.L. Pilla to Dear Brother
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
From Unknown to Abraham Lincoln
Title
From Unknown to Abraham Lincoln
Description
This letter, dated May 19, 1862, is presumably from Missouri Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble in St. Louis to President Lincoln. Gamble asks for Lincoln's help in restoring peace to Missouri's border counties by ordering that no troops raised in Kansas may enter Missouri unless by request. Gamble adds that in the interest of impartiality, "I am perfectly willing that Missouri troops shall be prohibited from entering Kansas without like request."
Object Type
Letter
Date
May 19, 1862
From John W. Reid to John W. Geary
Title
From John W. Reid to John W. Geary
Description
John W. Reid writes a letter from Independence, Missouri to Kansas Gov. John W. Geary on September 20, 1856. Reid states that he obeyed Geary’s order to disband his troops and terminate an expedition to plunder Lawrence. He admits that “some bad men who were with us did commit some outrages . . . which I hope you will believe was beyond my control or power to prevent.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
September 20, 1856
From Thomas Carney to James L. McDowell
Title
From Thomas Carney to James L. McDowell
Description
This letter, dated February 9, 1864, was written by Kansas Governor Thomas Carney in Topeka, Kansas to Major General James L. McDowell. Carney orders McDowell to organize and assume command of the Topeka militia for the purpose of protecting the city and its vicinity from guerrilla attacks. Carney states that he will promptly grant any necessary assistance in securing the public safety.
Object Type
Letter
Date
February 9, 1864

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