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From Sue Brawner to All at Home
Title
From Sue Brawner to All at Home
Description
This letter of July 24, 1859 is from Sue Brawner in Linneus, Missouri to “all at home.” She describes a recent trip from Lexington, Missouri to Linneus via the city of Brunswick. Along the way she and her traveling companions visited relatives. Sue writes of staying with Tom, a relative in Linneus who owns several slaves: “They have a black girl as large as I am.”
Object Type
Letter
Date
July 24, 1859
From Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Title
From Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Description
This letter, dated March 8, 1862, is from Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown. Webber describes marching with his regiment from Kansas City, Missouri to Fort Scott, Kansas, and shares concerns about an upcoming march to Fort Smith, Kansas.
Date
March 8, 1862
From J.C. Iserman to Brother William
Title
From J.C. Iserman to Brother William
Description
J.C. Iserman writes a letter from Independence, Missouri to his brother William on September 21, 1861. He tells William that he is surrounded by danger. He mentions the Battle of Liberty and the First Battle of Lexington, and says he can hear "cannons booming on all sides." He also writes about his desire to leave Missouri, complaining that "the Secessionist are stealing all the horses and cattle from the Unions and the Jayhawkers from Kansas are retaliating. Times are very hard."
Date
September 21, 1861
From R.C. Ewing to George R. Smith
Title
From R.C. Ewing to George R. Smith
Description
On June 18, 1856, R.C. Ewing writes from Lexington, Missouri to Gen. George R. Smith. Ewing warns Smith that his opinions regarding Kansas "are doing you…damage in Saline, Lafayette, and Jackson" counties in Missouri because "those who control matters here, say they are afraid of the effect of compromising anything on the Slavery question." Ewing predicts that these three counties will oppose Smith's nomination.
Date
June 18, 1856
From Leigh R. Webber to Mrs. Brown
Title
From Leigh R. Webber to Mrs. Brown
Description
This letter, dated January 11, 1862, is from Leigh R. Webber in Lexington, Missouri to Mrs. Brown. Webber reports that his regiment has been marching in rough weather since January, and the long march "has used up our men pretty badly," leaving many men ill. He adds that life in his undisciplined regiment, with its drunkenness, rioting, and stealing, "is a perfect hell to me." The letter is written on stationery featuring an eagle and the caption "Union Forever."
Date
January 11, 1862
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 William S. Field to George R. Smith
Title
From William S. Field to George R. Smith
Description
On May 27, 1856, William S. Field writes from Lexington, Missouri to Gen. George R. Smith in Georgetown, Pettis County, Missouri. Field states that he has consented to run for Circuit Attorney if he becomes the nominee for the American party, and will likely run against Mr. Crews of Saline County, Missouri. He refers to "the contest for Congress" between Smith and Mr. Akers, and warns Smith that "Many here are trying to slay you on the negro question, which is unjust & wrong."
Date
May 27, 1856
From "C." to "Col."
Title
From "C." to "Col."
Description
This letter, dated September 21, 1861, is from "C." in St. Joseph, Missouri to "Col." C. reports that the Federal troops surrendered at the Battle of Lexington on September 20. He writes that "our country has been rob[b]ed by both parties . . . nearly evry body that is worth any thing has been rob[b]ed more or less, no matter what their politics are." He adds that people are "bitter" about the Platte Purchase, and predicts that fighting will ensue.
Date
September 21, 1861
From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Wife and Boy
Title
From A.J. Huntoon to My Dear Wife and Boy
Description
This letter, dated October 6, 7, 10, and 11, 1861, is from A.J. Huntoon to his wife Lizzie and son Prentice. Huntoon, a member of the 5th Kansas Cavalry volunteer regiment, tells his family that he was ordered to take charge of a military hospital in Mapleton, Bourbon County, Kansas. He estimates that there are 50,000-55,000 Union soldiers in Missouri, including the companies of Generals Sturgis, Siegel, and Fremont, and that there are about 70,000 Confederate troops in Missouri under the commandment of Generals McCulloch and Rains. Huntoon predicts that “We will have a big battle in this vicinity ere so long.”
Date
October 6, 1861-October 11, 1861
Order for Funding from Lexington, Missouri
Title
Order for Funding from Lexington, Missouri
Description
This is an order for funding issued by the headquarters of the Sixth Military District E.M.M., Lexington, Missouri. The order, issued by Brigadier General Vaughn and dated October 29, 1862, declares that “the disloyal citizens of the City and Township of Lexington are assessed $15,000 for the subsistence of the troops, the families of such as are in indigent circumstances, and refugees.” Recipients of the order are directed to pay their “proportion of the said assessment” at headquarters within ten days.
Date
October 29, 1862
Laura Hidden Pearson
Title
Laura Hidden Pearson
Description
This tintype, ca. 1860, depicts Laura Hidden Pearson, an Ohio native who married William D. Pearson in Cass County, Missouri. William was the oldest child of Robert D. Pearson, an early Cass County pioneer. William served in Confederate Captain Shanks’ company for nine months until he was taken prisoner near Lexington, Missouri; he was eventually released on parole. Laura and William married after the war.
Object Type
Image
From J. Locke Hardeman to George R. Smith
Title
From J. Locke Hardeman to George R. Smith
Description
On June 10, 1855, J. Locke Hardeman writes from Saline County, Missouri to George R. Smith in Georgetown, Missouri. Hardeman asserts that he differs "very widely" from Smith in his opinion on the Kansas question. "If Kansas be settled by Abolitionists," Hardeman asks, "can Missouri remain a slave state? If Missouri goes by the board what will become of Kentucky[,] Maryland, Virginia?...I know that Abolition & Union can not stand together."
Object Type
Letter
Date
June 10, 1855
From Walthall Robinson to Sister Em
Title
From Walthall Robinson to Sister Em
Description
This letter, dated October 25, 1863, was written by Walthall Robinson in Miami, Missouri, to his sister Em. Walthall provides a detailed account of Shelby’s Raid and the Battle of Marshall, declaring, "Affairs have not changed any for the better…I greatly fear a complete state of anarchy and terrorism.” He describes a violent encounter between some aquaintances and two “Jim Lane men,” and concludes that the November elections will determine “whether there will be any safety whatever” in Missouri.
Date
October 25, 1863
From William S. Field to George R. Smith
Title
From William S. Field to George R. Smith
Description
William S. Field writes a letter from Lexington, Missouri to Gen. George R. Smith in Georgetown, Missouri on June 10, 1856. Field informs Smith that M.W. Smallwood recently received a nomination to the Georgetown Convention. He encourages Smith in his candidacy for Congress: "you have many friends here & should you receive the nomination you will get a heavey majority here notwithstanding the howl of freesoilism against you."
Date
June 10, 1856
War in Kansas!
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
Discharge for Richard H. Brown
Title
Discharge for Richard H. Brown
Description
These are the official discharge papers for Richard H. Brown, who served as a private in the Fifth Regiment of the Missouri U.S. Reserve Corps from June 14, 1861 to August 11, 1861. The document, dated August 11, 1861, notes that Brown was born in Manchester, England and worked as a “Boundary man and Iron worker.” The 28-year-old Brown was discharged at Lexington, Missouri at the end of his term of service.
Date
August 11, 1861
From W.L. Wood to W.P. Howard
Title
From W.L. Wood to W.P. Howard
Description
This letter, dated July 19, 1861, is from W.L. Wood in Liberty Landing, Missouri to Col. W.P. Howard in St. Louis. Wood informs Howard that he went to Lexington, Missouri with state troops and planned to travel farther south, but "did not precisely understand" Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson's intentions. He expresses ambivalence about Jackson, but supports his stance against Lincoln, and declares that he wants "to see Lincoln's troops whipped."
Date
July 19, 1861
From Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon
Title
From Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon
Description
This letter was written by Lizzie P. Huntoon to A.J. Huntoon on September 22, 1861. Writing from Langdon, “at Roswell’s,” Lizzie says Huntoon should not resign his military position, which he offered to do if she wished it. Lizzie is eager to come home, but is wary of travelling through Missouri, where they are “burning bridges &c.” She has been reading reports of the Battle of Lexington and an expected attack on St. Joseph, MO. Lizzie adds that a friend’s husband joined the Confederate army, leaving her ”very destitute.”
Date
September 22, 1861
Col. Jas. A. Mulligan
Title
Col. Jas. A. Mulligan
Description
This black-and-white carte de viste depicts Union Col. Jas. A. Mulligan in military uniform. Mulligan served as colonel of the 23rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and commanded the Union forces at the first Battle of Lexington.
Object Type
Image
From Thomas P. Akers to Hamilton Gamble
Title
From Thomas P. Akers to Hamilton Gamble
Description
On September 12, 1862, Thomas P. Akers writes from Kansas City, Missouri to Missouri Governor Hamilton Gamble in St. Louis. Akers, a former Missouri Congressmen who opposed secession, states that when he returned to Lexington, Missouri after a year's absence, his wife and children were forcibly removed from their home and his father-in-law was arrested and imprisoned under false charges. Fearing arrest, Akers seeks Gamble's permission to peacefully resolve his affairs in Lexington before leaving the state.
Date
September 12, 1862

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