Thomas Payne was a hospital steward in St. Louis, Missouri during the Camp Jackson Affair of 1861. Payne was born in Kentucky in 1800, but had moved to the St. Louis area by 1850.1 While working for City Hospital, he attended to John G. Jones who had been fatally shot at Camp Jackson. Before his […]

Charles G. Upton was born in Osceola, Missouri in 1852. He would go on to write a memoir about his life in Missouri prior to the start of the Civil War and how his family survived the horrific event. Upton mentions in his account the Burning of Osceola by General James Henry Lane and his Brother Thomas’s service in the Union Army. The Upton family would have to leave Missouri and settled in Illinois to escape Confederate soldiers. Upton would go on to marry Mary Ellen Woodcock in 1871 and the two resided in Leavenworth, Kansas. Upton died in 1941 and is buried in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Richard Henry Roberts was born on November 11, 1843 in Brookville, Indiana to Billingsley and Emily Roberts.1 In the spring of 1853, he moved to Cedar County, Missouri where he lived until 1864 when Guerrilla violence forced his family to relocate to Nebraska.2 He received letters from two of his cousins in the Union army, […]

W.T. Stone corresponded with a friend in England, about his travels to Kansas and his stops in Lawrence and Leavenworth. Stone commented on the strong abolitionist sentiment in Lawrence and how the town is modeled after Boston, Massachusetts. There is little information about W.T. Stone, but according to the 1870 Census there was a W.T. Stone living in Shawnee, Kansas living with the White family. He was approximately 26 years old and working as a farmer.

The Tallman and Brown families lived in Miller County, Missouri, and kept correspondence with family members during the war. The principal correspondents were John, Martha, and Matthew Tallman who wrote to their brother, Jeremiah, while he served in the 1st Missouri Light Artillery, and John D. Brown, of the same regiment, who wrote to his sister, Hannah M. Brown. This collection of letters is the result of the marriage of Jeremiah W. Tallman and Hannah M. Brown. The collection spans from 1860-1865 and covers a variety of topics from family relations, conditions in the military camps, wartime communication, the economy, and life after the war.

Jonathan Pugh was born in Tennessee but moved to Illinois with his wife Minerva and family in the 1850s. Pugh was very outspoken regarding politics and wrote about his opinions on who should be elected in the 1856 election and why. Pugh was a Southern Whig and believed the Whigs and Democrats needed to unite to help get James Buchanan elected over John C. Freemont and Millard Fillmore. Pugh also commented on the growing tension between Missouri and Kansas and that he expected a battle to erupt if the issue of slavery in the Kansas-Nebraska territory was not dealt with soon.

Thomas Alexander was a resident of Jackson in Jasper County, Missouri in 1860 with his wife Mary and their large family. Alexander filed a law suit against Rice Challas and Hugh Challas on July 4, 1865 for burning and destroying his house and for contributing to the death of his daughter, who was burned to death in the fire. Alexander sought $3,000 in damages from the defendants. Alexander believed the defendants were guerrilla fighters, not from Missouri, and therefore the judge ordered that their summons to appear in court be published in the local paper for several weeks so that the defendants would know to appear in court. The results of case are unknown.

Jasper County’s location along the Missouri-Kansas border made guerrilla warfare a constant threat to its citizens. Bushwhackers or those who were not officially aligned with either side took advantage of the chaos for their benefit. These bands of men were responsible for huge amounts of violence and destruction in the county.

The Peter Wellington Alexander papers contain a significant collection of documents from Thomas C. Hindman’s military service from 1862-1863. Hindman assumed command of the Trans-Mississippi District on May 31, 1862, and his papers cover actions in southern Missouri, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory; including battles at Newtonia, Missouri and Cane Hill and Prairie Grove, Arkansas. The collection consists of military orders, telegrams, correspondence, military reports and other documents.

Frederick P. Leavenworth lived in Van Buren, Arkansas in May 1861, while preparing to join a company of Confederate men. Leavenworth’s wife and the other women of the town were secluded in the courthouse making uniforms for the troops. Leavenworth hoped to join the Engineer Corp and asked his father to send him a manual on field fortifications. Although Leavenworth was enthusiastic about serving the Confederacy, he was concerned about having enough provisions and for the safety of his wife while he was away.

In March 1828, Hamilton Schooley was born in New York, and by 1855, he was living in Mound City, in Linn County, Kansas, with his wife, Polly Ann, and their son, Willie. Schooley and his family had survived through the “Bleeding Kansas Era” and hoped all the violence and trouble was finally coming to an end. Schooley wrote his parents and sister in New York, about the large number of people traveling through Kansas, that were headed West in search of gold. Although Schooley was asked to go on several expeditions, he believed most people, including himself, would be disappointed in their venture.

On April 13, 1865, Higdon R. Jarrett filed suit against Joseph T. Morton for failing to fulfill a contract made in 1862, regarding the exchange of two slaves. In an effort to keep two slave families close together, Jarrett and Morton had entered into an agreement to swap their male slaves so that they could remain close to their wives. The fact that the slaves in question received their emancipation on January 1, 1863, by virtue of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation proved to have minimal influence on this case. To further complicate the case, Morton’s son, John A. Morton, re-exchanged the slaves with Jarrett without his father’s permission. After numerous depositions Jarrett and Morton settled out of court. Jarrett did not drop the suit however, even though Morton paid him the court ordered amount. Disputes over slave contracts and trades were common. They increased after the slaves were freed because many owners faced a significant loss in equity. Also, Confederate money was the only tender in circulation during this period and held little value, so neither man wanted to make an exchange using that as currency. The Jarrett Case represents the complexity of slave trading and the complications emancipation posed for slave holders’ post-1863.

Lee P. Grey, who was 23 years old in 1860, and lived with his father and four other siblings in Jasper County, Missouri. The Greys owned a small amount of land, which they farmed. Due to its proximity to the Kansas State line, Jasper County experienced a heavy amount of guerrilla warfare between 1854 and 1865. Most of the towns were destroyed at some point during that period that the county became vastly depopulated. Lee Grey claimed that John Dale stole two of his horses, valued at $300, on December 14, 1861. Grey filed his lawsuit against Dale in July 1865. The results of case are unknown, but case represents the wide ranging depredation taking place throughout the Ozarks. Once the war concluded, many civilians spent the post-war years in court filing claims of restitution.

John M. Weidemeyer was born January 10, 1834, in Charlottesville, Virginia. By 1850, John and his parents moved to Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri. Weidemeyer married Lelia V. Crutchfield in 1856, and the couple resided in Osceola until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Weidemeyer and his family supported the Confederacy and Missouri’s secession from the Union. Weidemeyer recorded in his diary and letters to his wife, Lelia, the struggles of military life for a Confederate soldier. He also gave a first-hand account of the raid and burning of Osceola by James H. Lane and Charles Jennison’s Jayhawkers. John M. Weidemeyer was Captain of Company F of the 6th Missouri Infantry CSA and served in Missouri, Arkansas, but the regiment primarily assisted the Confederate Army on the East coast. After the war, Weidemeyer rejoined his family in Texas, before moving them to Clinton, Missouri, where they lived the remainder of his life. John M. Weidemeyer died on January 12, 1911, at 77 years old.

Elam Gott was an acting Sheriff in Dade County, MO who was charged with aiding and abetting the escape of prisoner, Robert Freedle. Freedle, a soldier in Company D, 9th Missouri Cavalry, was in custody for having committed an assault with intent to kill. Gott faced serious consequences if he was found guilty, including up to five years imprisonment and a hundred dollar fine.

Mr. William H. Rhea was prominent leader and businessman in Washington County, Arkansas. Mr. Rhea was known for having the first and largest mill in the area, which made him a prime target for Federal troops stationed in Northwest Arkansas. Since resources were very limited soldiers either had to make their own food or take/buy it from citizens in the area. Mills were valuable resources for both armies and were often captured or destroyed by bushwhackers or soldiers passing through the region. Numerous battles throughout the Ozarks were fought either at or around mills.

The Isely Family Papers contain correspondence and other documents dating from the late 1850s through the 1930s. A significant portion of the collection consists of letters written during the Civil War between Christian H. Isely and his wife, Marie Elizabeth “Eliza” Dubach. Christian served in the 2nd Kansas Cavalry and they traveled throughout Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma; which was then Indian Territory. During the war, Eliza went to live with Christian’s parents in Ohio, rather than stay with her father in Willow Dale, Kansas, due to the unstable conditions in the Kansas-Missouri border region. The Isely’s were a profoundly religious family and their correspondences depict the deeply rooted connection between religion and political convictions and how their beliefs often divided their family.

In September 1863, William Gray claimed his life was threatened by William F. Steele a local neighbor along Wilson Creek in Greene County, Missouri. The dispute over a past business transaction, escalated into a violent conflict, which ended with William Gray’s wife being threatened at gun point by Steele and the Gray’s daughter being wounded by a misfired bullet. The Grays filed a complaint with Chesley Cannefax, a Justice of the Peace, for Greene County and Steele was imprisoned; although he was later released from jail on the grounds that the “evidence showed no legal and sufficient cause for the commitment.” This court case embodies the struggles among communities during the War and the polarizing effect the two parties had on individuals’ personal relationships. While the primary issue related to the case was a compromised business deal, the fact that William Gray was a Confederate supporter and William F. Steele a loyal Unionist, added further tension and hostility to the proceeding conflict. It is unknown which events in this case are true and which are exaggerations, but we know similar events occurred in communities throughout the Ozarks.

John Wesley Park moved to Smithville, in Clay County, Missouri in the mid-1850s. Park enjoyed life on the plains and even ventured to Colorado in search of gold. His papers primarily consist of correspondence with his sister Sarah Park in Ohio. In his letters, Park commented on the tension between Missourians and Kansans, and how the issue of slavery and border ruffians dominated social conversation. He did not conceal his feelings on any subject and wrote very honestly and opening about his personal political beliefs and the state of affairs in Missouri leading up to the Civil War.

On September 15, 1865 Amanda Ireland filed a law suit in Jasper County against a group of men for the wrongful death of her husband Austin Ireland in 1861. Amanda sued for five thousand dollars in damages. The Ireland proceedings expose the deadly and dire consequences of guerrilla tactics used during the War and also how individuals used the circumstances of the War to seek monetary wealth and revenge.

On August 13, 1866 Joseph B. Munsey filed a claim against William L. Kelly for stealing his horses and destruction of property. Kelly was arrested and found guilty of the crimes. This court cases embodies the violence and depredations taking places throughout the Ozarks, and documents how the Civil War turned acquaintances against one another.

Joseph H. Mason enlisted in Company D, 20th Texas Cavalry in 1862. He wrote his wife Mary, regarding his actions from July 29 until his death on December 13, 1862. His letters discuss the Confederate Army’s lack of supplies and disorganization. Mason participated in several skirmishes with the 20th Texas Cavalry and wrote briefly of them to Mary.

Ellen Cox Ewing was a native of Ohio and the wife of Union General Thomas Ewing. Mrs. Ewing lived in Leavenworth, Kansas with her children to be near her husband who was stationed at Fort Leavenworth during the war. Mrs. Ewing’s 1861 letter to her aunt and sister recalls the adventurous train ride home from visiting family in Ohio. On the journey she rode with notorious Jayhawker Charles R. Jennison, whose presence caused fear and panic among the other passengers.

E. A. Coleman was born in 1810 in Gosine County, Connecticut in 1810. She was living on a farm in Texana, Texas in 1861. Coleman’s father and sisters lived in Kansas. Coleman was apparently in higher society as she had access to the Texas state legislature and frequently attended “meetings.” Coleman was a strong supporter of the Southern cause and in her letter to her sister Lucinda; she describes the conditions in Texas now that the state have officially succeeded from the Union.

William G. Bulgin and his wife Elmina lived with her sister Mary and her husband David Holsman in Carthage, Missouri in 1860. On July 31, 1865, Bulgin filed suit against, John F Vestal, John Shirley, and John L Fuller for damaging and destroying his property during the war. Bulgin alleged that the men were a band of guerilla fighters, who supported the Confederacy. Due to the vicious nature and predominance of the guerrilla warfare in Missouri, many county court rooms were filled with civilian claims of restitution in the post-war years. The final verdict of Bulgin’s lawsuit is unknown, but the case represents types of depredation committed throughout the region and how civilians were left to recover their losses.

The Young-Corman Family Papers are the culmination of the marriage of James B. Young and Alice Corman. Young served in the 9th Kansas Cavalry with Isaac and Edward Corman, Alice’s brothers. The three men wrote Alice and the rest of their families throughout the Civil War. Young and the Corman brothers saw little military combat, but heavily patrolled the western frontier. Their letters reveal the political atmosphere of the time and difficulties faced by citizens who remained on the Kansas-Missouri border.

In March 1866, Elisha Estes and John Kelly filed a lawsuit against James Hamilton for theft of $467.50 worth of personal property during in 1863. The final verdict of the case is unknown, case represents the various types of depredation committed throughout the region and how civilians were left to recover their losses in the post-war time period.

Stephen Julian sued the estate of Leonidas Campbell on October 11, 1865 for ten thousand dollars. Julian claimed Campbell illegally and wrongfully imprisoned him in a cell on November 25, 1861. Julian further stated Campbell threatened his life and placed the bodies of dead men in his cell to terrorize him. Leonidas was dead by the time the case was brought to court, so his widow, Elizabeth Campbell, the administrator of his estate, was brought to court. Elizabeth remarried before the case concluded, and thus was removed from being the administrator of Leonidas’ estate.

In November 1866, Mary Rush filed a lawsuit against 21 men for the murder of her husband, John Rush. March claimed the men killed her husband without provocation, and asked for $5,000 in damages. The defendants denied involvement in Rush’s death. The final verdict of the case is unknown, but it represents the vicious nature of warfare that continued after the war in Missouri.

John Henry filed a lawsuit against 26 men after the war, claiming they imprisoned him for a month in October 1862. The men held him against his will for his loyalties to the Union. Eventually Henry was able to escape from the men, and he asked for $20,000 in damages. The defendants denied having taken part in the Henry’s imprisonment and harassment. The final verdict of the case is unknown, but it represents the vicious nature of guerrilla warfare in Missouri.

Charles Wadlow was involved in a legal case against Benjamin Perryman in May of 1858. The dispute was over the condition of a female slave Perryman sold to Wadlow. The Probate court did not allow some evidence to be heard in the case and therefore ruled in favor of Mr. Perryman. Wadlow took his appeal all the way to the State Supreme Court, where the judges found that the lower courts had erred and overturned the decision. Slaves were only deemed valuable if they were healthy and able to work for their owners. Therefore, if an individual sold a slave knowing that they were not healthy and did not divulge that information to the buyer, it was considered a breech of contract.

On November 17, 1864 Alvis Sheppard filed a law suit against George W. Messick and Harvey T. McCune for false imprisonment and abuse. Sheppard asked for five thousand dollars in damages for his pain and suffering. Messick and McCune were very familiar with the judicial system as multiple lawsuits were filed against them during the War. With widespread guerrilla warfare across the country there was a surge in the number of law suits brought against individuals and groups for radical criminal acts. The Sheppard case demonstrates how courts tried to maintain justice, during a time of turmoil and conflict.

On May 25, 1865 Joseph Degraftenried filed suit against Harvey T. McCune, George W. Messick, John Hagler, John Conley, Linsey Conley, and Gransom Holden for wrongful imprisonment and theft of a gun in August 1861. Degraftenried sought five thousand dollars in damages for the alleged transgression against him by the defendants. This was one of several law suits brought against McCune and Messick for crimes they allegedly committed during the Civil War. All of the cases involving McCune and Messick included imprisonment, destruction of property, false accusations of treason, theft, and abuse. McCune and Messick were Southern supporters and likely participated in guerilla warfare during the Civil War.

In this court case Elizabeth F. Cope sued Col. Benjamin Crabb for enlisting her minor son, William H.H. Williams, into the 19th Iowa Infantry without her consent. The petition was served to Col. Benjamin Crabb, who denied that he deprived Williams of his liberty, stated that on Aug. 14, 1862, the day of Williams’ enlistment, he was a captain in the 7th Iowa Infantry and was never a mustering officer of the 19th Iowa Infantry.

Coleman Bruce wrote to his children William and Martha Jane Jackson regarding the political tension within Missouri and the United States. While Bruce’s children supported the Union, he cited in his letter several injustices committed by Northern men. Bruce’s use of derogatory terminology conveyed his feelings about the Union troops. He also, commented on poor market values for crops and recent news from the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. Bruce even stated that Sample Orr, an 1860 Missouri gubernatorial candidate, robbed a Springfield bank of $24,000. Allegedly, the money was taken to Rolla to remain in Union hands. Little documentation on this event exists. Bruce encouraged his children to share this letter with their friends and family, perhaps in an attempt to persuade others to support the Confederacy. The letter draw attentions to the impact the War had on family dynamics as well as the crumbling economic condition in the country.

Michael Jose lived in Cass County, Missouri in 1850, but by the start of the Civil War he and his family moved west to California. F. Brown, an old friend of Michael Jose’s, still lived in Missouri after the War and wrote to Jose about their mutual friends in Henry, Bates, and Vernon County. Brown discusses the death of neighbors, the local agriculture, economy, and politics, and how former Confederates and Unionist were getting along living post-war. Brown’s letter highlights the changes within communities and the country tired to rebuild itself.

Partheny Horn was a strong southern supporter who in 1863, who along with a group of other Missouri women left the state seeking refuge in Texas. Partheny and her family lived in Cedar County, Missouri before the war. She recalled her brother’s departure into service and the trials she and the other woman faced on their harrowing journey to Texas. Horn’s memoir provides a fascinating account of their experiences and documents the physical and mental strength of women during the War. Horn authored the memoir fifty years after the war ended, thus her description are not entirely historically accurate. The memoir does, however, offer a very unique and invaluable perspective of the war’s impact on southern women in Missouri.

Elizabeth Thompson ran general store with her husband James in Clay, Missouri. James was a cattle header and farmer. At the beginning of the Civil War the Thompsons sold goods to confederate soldiers; however, in August 1862 the Provost Marshall forced them to take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States. After declaring their allegiance to the U.S. the Thompsons then sold supplies exclusively to the Union troops. While business owners and farmers may have felt personally aligned with a certain party, they had to support the controlling army in their area or face dire consequences. The Thompson family papers highlight the struggles the War placed on small business owners in Southwest Missouri.

Freeman Barrows moved to Missouri from Massachusetts in 1841. He was one of the early prominent figures of Bates County, serving as County Clerk, Recorder, and later Probate Judge. Freeman died on April 26, 1861, but wrote prolifically about the rising political tension along the Kansas Missouri border and throughout the country. During the war, Jayhawkers stole the family’s livestock, equipment, and anything else that was portable. Though the family survived the war, they incurred a large sum of debt. The Barrows collection consists of correspondence between family members from 1837-1883, and depicts the hardships families in southwest Missouri faced during the war and the years that followed.

William J. Rountree was born in Springfield, Missouri on October 17, 1847. Rountree lived in St. Louis until his father decided to venture west in search of gold, at that time he was sent to live with his grandfather in Springfield. William’s grandfather, Joseph Roundtree, was one of the earliest settlers to Greene County and helped build the first schoolhouse in the area. Rountree describes in his autobiography the events that led up to the outbreak of the Civil War in Missouri and how he and his family were directly affected. Rountree recalls the Battle of Wilson’s Creek and the occupation of Springfield by both Confederate and Union forces. He enlisted into the Union army when he was sixteen, noting the army was so desperate for men they overlook the fact that he his was underage. Rountree’s autobiography gives a first-hand account of a young man who lived in Springfield through the war.

John Dryden wrote his wife while on a cattle drive on the Miami Indian Reserve in Linn County, Kansas in July 1863. Dryden noted in his letter about the large band of bushwhackers in Harrisonville, Missouri and how the Union troops along the Missouri-Kansas border retreated to Paola, KS. Dryden was not tied to either military, although the language he uses in his letter suggests he was a loyal Unionist.

Dr. Albert Badger was among the early Caucasian settlers in Vernon County, Missouri. He built the first “modern” house in the area and owned over 2,000 acres of land. During the Civil War he served in the Missouri State Guard and Union Navy, and participated in the Battles of Carthage and Wilson’s Creek. The collection contains correspondence and records related to Badger’s military service.

John Polk Campbell was one of the first pioneers of European ancestry to settle in present day Springfield, Missouri. He and Louisa T. Campbell had ten children before his death in 1852. Four of John’s sons served in the Confederacy, and the Campbell family was forced from their home in Springfield after Union forces secured the town. Included in this collection is Louisa T. Campbell’s exile order from Springfield, Missouri, several letters reflecting on the war’s impact on the family and letters written by former family slaves.

In September 1863, James Morris wrote his wife, Sarah, while camp at Little Rock, Arkansas. Morris served in an unknown Confederate regiment, while his wife remained at their home in Vernon County, Missouri. Morris wrote about the deaths of family and friends and urged Sarah to send their children to school.

The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry was one of the earliest African-American regiments organized during the Civil War. This regimental order book documents correspondences, general orders and special orders between 1863 and 1864. During this period the 1st Kansas Colored was stationed in southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, western Arkansas, and Indian Territory, Oklahoma.

In October 1862, Soldiers from the regiment engaged Rebel troops at the Battle of Island Mound in Bates County, MO. This skirmish earned them the distinction of the first African-American troops from a northern state to see action as soldiers. The 1st Kansas Colored became seasoned veterans by the end of the war, participating in several battles and engagements. On December 13, 1864, the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry was re-designated as the 79th U.S. Colored Troops.

The Rice family papers consist of five letters written between family and friends of Isaac Tandy Rice and his wife Mary C. Rice. Isaac served in Company F, 35th Arkansas Infantry, CSA during the Civil War. The Rice family left northwest Arkansas during the war and settled in Texas. Their letters discuss family news and hopes of returning home.

Martha Hood married William B. Hood on July 30, 1854. The couple had five children and lived in Carthage, Missouri. On July 20, 1864, Martha claimed fifteen men unlawfully detained her husband at gunpoint. The men restrained William while Richard Fisher shot him at point blank range with his pistol. The bullet passed through the right side of William’s body, and the men left him for dead. He lingered in great misery and bodily pain for eight days until he died on July 28. Martha sued the fifteen men for five thousand dollars in damages to the quality of her life and her ability to raise, cloth, feed and educate her children.

On July 20, 1864, fifteen men without civil or military authority kidnapped Orange Clark at gunpoint. While their prisoner, Clark was executed. His wife, Martha, sued David Rusk, Monroe Scott, Hugh Challes, Thomas Halsell, Edward Halsell, Thomas Hockins, Hubbard Johnson, Daniel Johnson, John M Wilson, Wiley Webb, John Webb, James Tunnel, William A McRea, Isaac Scott and Richard Fisher for five thousand dollars in damages sustained from the murder of her husband, loss of quality of life and her ability to feed, cloth and educate her children.

The Ozias Ruark collection contains correspondence and a diary detailing the service of a captain in the 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Throughout his diary, Ruark comments on four underlying themes: the impact of the war on civilians, foraging, engagements with guerrillas and the daily routine of camp life. He also notes weather, towns and the Ozarks landscape. Ruark’s perspective as a soldier provides a valuable portrait of military life in the region.

Jane Page’s postwar letter notes family affairs and struggles during the Civil War. Jane lived with her husband, David Page, in Kingsriver, Arkansas until he was killed in March 1865 while Federal troops raided their home. She discussed the major battles and engagements in the Ozarks, and mentioned her difficulties during the postwar period.

The Thomas R. Livingston Collection consists of three civil law suits related to the estate of the notorious Confederate soldier. These suits include depositions from several of Livingston’s friends and family members. Livingston and his band of Confederates conducted raids throughout the Ozarks to contest the Union’s control of the region. Livingston was known for committing acts of arson, murder, robbery, and disrupting Union supply lines. His ruthless tactics outraged Union officials and civilians. Before the War, Livingston had been a successful and prominent business man. He owned a general store, hotel, saloon, real estate in three counties, and actively traded livestock. His assets were sought as restitution for his actions.

A Confederate Girlhood, the memoir of Louisa Cheairs McKenny Sheppard, reflects upon the life of a young lady raised in the Ozarks during the Civil War. While her reminiscence is decidedly sentimental, it is a compelling representation of wartime and economic struggles and refugee life. Louisa was twelve when the War began, and she recalled the impacted it had on Springfield. Her family eventually fled Missouri for her uncle’s plantation in Mississippi. Over time the family moved to Arkansas, and did not return to Springfield until after the War. A Confederate Girlhood is a recollection of Louisa’s youthful adventures and a tribute to her beloved grandmother.

“Old Age,” written by Clinton Owen Bates in 1949, reflects on the life of a young boy growing up in Arkansas during the Civil War, and his career as a teacher. Bates was born in 1857, and grew up on a farm in Fayetteville. The Bates family had split loyalty among the North and South, and even as a young child, Bates remembered the tension that the War brought into their home. Bates recalled the bloody conflict along the border of Missouri and Kansas, encounters with runaway slaves, and various Trans-Mississippi Theater battles. After the War, Bates began his career as a teacher. He taught at the Cherokee Headquarters on the Tahlequah Indian Reservation and later held a position in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The Hunter-Hagler collection provides rare documentation on how women endured the War in the Ozarks. The letters are written by Elizabeth Hunter and her daughters, Priscilla A. Hunter and Charlotte Elizabeth (Hunter) Hagler. The Hunters write Margaret Hunter Newberry, who married and left the family farm. The letters describe how the Hunter family survived harsh winters, sold goods at the market, and provide graphic details of murder, theft and destruction caused by bushwhackers in Jasper and Lawrence Counties. Perpetual violence caused the Hunter family to leave their beloved homestead, and flee to Illinois in late 1864. Elizabeth wrote her daughter affectionately and often, and through these letters Elizabeth relates the brutal conditions in which the family endured.

The Robert Carnahan Letters consists of two correspondences written by Carnahan to his wife in November of 1861. Carnahan enlisted as an officer in the 3rd Illinois Cavalry at Camp Butler, Illinois in August of 1861. The 3rd Illinois Cavalry first served as part of John C. Fremont’s campaign to capture Springfield, Missouri. The first letters is written from Springfield, and the second is from Lebanon as the 3rd Illinois Cavalry marched to Rolla.

This bill of sale lists supplies and services purchased from Joseph Engle. Thomas Franklin signed the bill, and he is listed as a Captain in the Dallas County Home Guard in the Missouri State Archives’ Soldiers’ Records database. Engle charged $2.50 a day for shipping goods on a two horse wagon. This document warrants further investigation into shipping charges during the War. It would be interesting to compare shipping rates between counties with varying numbers of guerrilla attacks. The bill is dated August 10, 1861 the same day as the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. Connections between the purchase of these supplies and the Battle is unlikely, as the Dallas County Home Guard probably did not know the Battle was taking place. This document adds to the understanding of economic conditions in the Ozarks during the War.

Lucy M. Garrett of Greenfield, Missouri writes this letter to her brother. She recently learned that her brother had been taken prisoner by Confederate Soldiers, and writes to him about the conditions in Greenfield. She notes the number of bushwhackers in the area, and comments that they were forced to sell their slaves in fear that they would be stolen by Rebels. The letter indicates while the Garrett family owned slaves, they supported the Union.

The Minos Miller letters are a collection of correspondence written by Miller to his mother, Martha Hornaday, in Indiana. Miller served in the 36th Iowa Infantry, and his letters home describe the strange and often life altering events that he experiences in the Arkansas. Stationed at Helen, Miller resigned from the 36th Iowa Infantry, and accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Arkansas Infantry (African Descent). He wrote his mother about the condition and development of the African American soldiers. Miller participated in the Battle of Helena on July 4, 1863, but spent the remainder of the war in a support capacity.

The Lizzie Gilmore collection is a series of letters written by Elizabeth C. Gilmore, primarily to her cousins in Crittenden County, Kentucky. Through her letters, “Lizzie” notes political differences among her family, guerrilla warfare in Missouri and Kentucky, and the hardships she faced in Laclede County. She commented on the fears of living among the war split community of Lebanon and the nature of co-existence. Lizzie declared her loyalty to the Union, but she specifically states, “but that is as far as I go.” It is unknown if she was opposed northern aggression, advocated for states rights, or supported slavery. This collection provides a glimpse of life for a Laclede County citizen facing the struggles of war and reconstruction in the Ozarks.

The Moses J. Bradford collection consists of forty letters written to his wife, Malissa Jane, and family. Bradford joined the Missouri State Guard under General James H. McBride, and later served in the 10th Missouri Infantry (CSA). In July of 1863, Bradford was captured in Helen, Arkansas. Bradford was incarcerated with other Confederate officers at five different Union prisons: Johnson’s Island in Ohio, Camp Hammond in Maryland, Fort Delaware in Delaware, Morris Island in South Carolina, and Fort Pulaski in Georgia. Bradford wrote ten letters while in the Missouri State Guard and 10th Missouri Infantry. The remainder of the collection was written from the prison. These letters tell of the worsening conditions Bradford faced as a prisoner of war, and the resolve of his dedication to the Confederate States of America.

O. A. Williams, a surgeon for the Missouri State Guard, wrote to John Willsen about finalizing his accounts. The letter is undated but its context places it shortly after the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, August 10, 1861. Williams comments on the number of amputations he completed, and how nearly every building in Springfield was converted into a hospital. While only one letter from Williams is present, it provides insight to this thoughts after the exhausting day of August 10, 1861.

The 1871 Benton County tax record book lists claims of liberated civilian property during the Civil War. These claims provide descriptions of goods taken, property value, accused soldier and regiment, oaths of loyalty and eyewitness testimonies supporting the claim. This collection provides valuable information about living conditions and market values in the Ozarks, and insight to the relationship between soldiers and civilians during the War.

Lyman Gibson Bennett enlisted in the 36th Illinois Infantry in 1861. Prior to the War he trained as a surveyor and civil engineer, working for the railroad. The military utilized Bennett’s skills as a cartographer, and assigned him to survey battlefields, road systems, and fortifications. Bennett’s diaries document his daily duties as both a soldier and an engineer for the military. His regiment participated in the Battle of Pea Ridge, which he describes in vivid detail. Bennett was discharged from the military in August 1864.

In 1865, Bennett joined the engineering department of General Samuel R. Curtis as a civilian. He mapped the 1864 battlefields of Sterling Price’s Missouri Expedition. Bennett was then assigned to survey fortifications in Nebraska and Colorado, and eventually served as an engineering officer on the Powder River Expedition of 1865. Bennett’s diaries provide colorful insight to his perception of the Ozarks and its inhabitants.

John W. Fisher’s diary documents his duties in the Missouri State Guard from mid October, 1861, through the first week of January, 1862. Fisher was born in Virginia, and lived in Westport, Missouri prior to the War. Fisher served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Missouri State Guard. The diary cites Fisher’s movement through Missouri and Indian Territory. Fisher survived the war, ending his days in a Confederate Veterans home in Harrisonburg, Missouri, in 1910.

The Chadwell Leavenworth Collection comprises a series of letters between family members. Gideon and Lucinda Chadwell’s son, Alexander, served in the Missouri State Guard and later in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (CS). His letters home tell of his service in the military. Alexander had three sisters, Nancy Amanda, Martha and Mary Emma. The family resided in the Ste. Genevieve area. Although Alexander fought for the Confederacy, the family remained in correspondence with their extended Union sympathetic family in Illinois.

The Bowers Mill Collections include two court cases brought by George, John and William Bowers after the burning of their grist mill in October 1863. Bowers Mill was located on the Spring River in the Oregon settlement of Lawrence County. The Bowers operated the grist mill and wool carding machinery, and maintained a storage facility for flour, wheat, corn, wool and assorted dry goods.

The civil suits stemmed from the destruction of the mill, machinery, stored goods, and the three homes owned by the Bowers. The importance of regional grist mills to rural Ozarks communities cannot be overstated. Mills served myriad functions to the regional economy, and their preservation and continued operation was important to maintain a sense of hopefulness and security in the Ozarks during the War.

The Stirman Davidson Collection is a spirited group of letters written to Rebecca Stirman Davidson, of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The bulk of the letters are from her brother Erasmus “Ras” Stirman, while serving in the Civil War. The letters tell the story of Erasmus service in the Confederate Army, his fears and doubts about winning the War, and leading his company of sharpshooters into certain death. Erasmus loved meeting new women, and his letters to Rebecca are full of candor and humor, often telling a larger tale of the social and cultural customs of the era to which he opportunistically flaunted. Erasmus’ successes in the military, coupled with his family’s access to political and societal privilege, combine to tell a wonderful story of upper class life in the Civil War of the Ozarks.

In the summer of 1865, Davis K. Tutt, a former Confederate soldier, and William Butler Hickok, a former Union Scout and Spy, were friends and noted gamblers. On July 20, 1865, the pair fell out over a game of cards, which left Hickok in debt to Tutt who took his prized Waltham watch as security for payment. According to stories circulated later, Tutt taunted Hickok with the notion of flaunting his watch on the Springfield Public Square the following afternoon. Hickok warned that if he did it would become a shooting matter.

At 6 p.m. on the 21st, Tutt appeared with the watch and Hickok advised him not to cross the square. Dave’s response was to draw his pistol and open fire. Wild Bill drew and shot Tutt through the heart. Arrested and charged with manslaughter, Hickok was put on trial and found not guilty on his plea of self-defense.

On August 17, 1861 Missouri Governor Hamilton R. Gamble ordered a proclamation establishing the Missouri State Militia for defense of the State against guerrilla activity. Gamble soon realized the need for additional troops, and on July 22, 1862 he issued General Order Number 29 organizing the Enrolled Missouri Militia (EMM). General Colley B. Holland assumed command of the 4th Military district, consisting of the counties in southwest Missouri, on October 30, 1862. Based in Springfield, Missouri, roughly 2,500 men reported for duty, operating under the jurisdiction of the State of Missouri. Holland’s documented all activities related to his command in the enrolled Missouri Militia order book for the 4th Military District in Southwest Missouri, from November 1862 through May 1863. His reports cover the Battles of Springfield and Hartville and also include details about depredation in Southwest Missouri and the extensive guerrilla activity that took place in the region.

Ephraim Fauquier enrolled as a Private in Company “C”, 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry Volunteers on September 2, 1861 at Keokuk, Iowa, for three years service. His letters to his wife Margaret and their children – Charles, Lizzie and Thomas – span his service in the Union Army, across the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks.

John Harvey Doran, a carpenter in Springfield, Missouri kept a journal of his daily activities from August 13, 1864 through September 24, 1865. Doran had steady business building shelves, coffins, framing houses, and other general construction jobs. The journal entries include business notes, news from family and friends, and information about Doran’s brief service in the Enrolled Missouri Militia.

The Mack Collection offers valuable insight into the lives of Union sympathizers in the Ozarks. In many ways, their experiences are typical of Southern Unionists, though their home in Missouri placed them squarely in a border region. The war was bitter and personal for the Mack family. Their experiences as refugees and those who fighting guerrillas in the 1st Arkansas Cavalry (U.S.) hardened their feelings towards Confederate sympathizers. As Radical Republicans, the Macks entered the political arena only to find themselves at odds with fellow Unionists.

Regrettably, the Mack collection contains only half of the correspondence between the family members. The surviving letters were written to those serving in the army. While the soldier’s responses are missing, the existing letters provide researchers with a unique perspective on the civilian experience in southwest Missouri.