Samuel Ayres [Ayers?] served as a chaplain for the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, which was led by Colonel Charles R. Jennison. He was mustered in October 14, 1861. Several of the Civil War letters in this collection have been digitized. They are written to Lyman Langdon of Defiance, Ohio, where Ayres lived before settling in Moneka, Linn County, Kansas. The letter dated December 29, 1861, describes the capture and killing of a Confederate officer home on leave; the destruction caused by the 7th Kansas Cavalry near West Point, MO; various other activities; and his thoughts about the war. A letter written from Lawrence on April 5, 1962, tells of the various units stationed in the area. The regiment eventually spent some time in Tennessee and, in a letter "in camp near Union City, Ten" dated June 12, 1862, Ayres describes how the secessionist supporters interacted with the Union troops and the activities of units in that region. Writing from his home in Moneka on June 1, 1863, he describes visits by bushwhackers and guerrillas. He also shares news about various areas of Union activity, including Vicksburg, MS.