Adjutant General's report, Kansas Colored Volunteers correspondence
Creator: United States. Adjutant General's Office
Date: 1863-1864
This bound letter book contains copies of letters sent and received by the Adjutant General's Office in Fort Scott, Kansas. They were assigned to recruit a regiment of colored soldiers. Letters were received from the War Department in Washington, D.C. and from the Office of the Governor in Kansas. The letters focus on the recruitment and commissioning of troops and officers for the Kansas Colored Volunteer's regiments. Many of the letters were written by or sent to General James G. Blunt. It appears the book was kept by Major T. J. Anderson, Assistant Adjutant General. Names of many individuals appear in the volume.

Art Work on Eastern Kansas
Creator: Western Photogravure Company
Date: 1900
This pictorial book gives a brief overview of eastern Kansas. This is part nine of twelve. Views of Manhattan from Mount Prospect, the Jane C. Stormont Hospital and Christ's Hospital in Topeka, and Fort Scott National Cemetery are some of the featured photographs.

Beer Bottle from Fort Scott, 14BO302
Date: 1880-1910
This beer bottle was recovered from the Fort Scott National Historic Site during excavations conducted there between 1968 through 1972 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. When Fort Scott was built it was on the western military frontier, but is now located within the city limits of Fort Scott. The aqua bottle has an applied crown neck finish and was made on a two-piece mold. The letters "AB" appear on the base in addition to the mold number. This indicates the bottle was manufactured by Adolphus Busch, who founded two glass companies, the Adolphus Busch Glass Company at St. Louis, Missouri, and the American Glass Company at Streator, Illinois.

Book signing at Fort Scott, Kansas
Creator: Dean, Virgil W
Date: 1996
Here are four photographs showing Leo Oliva, author, (on the left) and Jerry Thomas, artist, (on the right) at book signing in Fort Scott, Kansas. Leo Oliva was the author of "Fort Scott, Courage and Conflict on the Border" and Jerry Thomas painted the artwork for the book's cover. The book was published by the Kansas State Historical Society in cooperation with the Kansas Forts Network.

Butter Paddle from Fort Scott, 14BO302
Date: 1842-1853
Butter paddles, also known as butter hands or Scotch hands, were used to press butter against the side of the butter tub, forcing excess buttermilk out and stiffening the butter. This curved wooden butter paddle was recovered from the Fort Scott National Historic Site during excavations conducted there between 1968 through 1972 by Kansas Historical Society Archeologists. When Fort Scott was built it was on the western military frontier, but is now located within the city limits of Fort Scott.

Cigar Cutter Scissors from Fort Scott, 14BO302
Date: 1842-1853
This cigar cutter scissor was recovered from the Fort Scott National Historic Site during excavations conducted there between 1968 through 1972 by Kansas Historical Society Archeologists. It was found in the Quartermaster and Subsistence Storerooms (H-12). When Fort Scott was built it was on the western military frontier, but is now located within the city limits of Fort Scott. The brass scissors were meant to rest on three "feet," one of which is now missing. The cigar cutter still opens and closes on its hinge.

Daniel L. Chandler to James H. Buxton
Creator: Chandler, Daniel L.
Date: May 5, 1862
This letter, written by Daniel L. Chandler "on the prairie five miles west of Ft. Scott," was addressed to James H. Buxton, a young soldier who had been under Chandler's care as army hospital steward. Chandler expressed joy that Buxton's health continued to improve in Lawrence and that he was being educated. Chandler also related news of Buxton's fellow soldiers and discharge from the Union army.

Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown
Creator: Chandler, Daniel L.
Date: April 26, 1862
A letter written by Daniel L. Chandler from Mound City, Kansas, to John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Chandler described promotions and staff changes in the regiments at Mound City, as well as a petition to prevent his removal as hospital steward. Chandler also wrote of the deaths of soldiers and a new order that would discharge soldiers who spent two months in the hospital.

Daniel L. Chandler to John Stillman Brown
Creator: Chandler, Daniel L.
Date: September 11, 1861
A letter written by Daniel L. Chandler from Fort Scott, Kansas, addressed to John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Chandler describes conditions at the fort, including supplies and food rations. He also discusses his role in caring for sick soldiers.

Drive Hook from Fort Scott, 14BO302
Date: 1842-1853
This metal drive hook was recovered from the Fort Scott National Historic Site during excavations conducted there between 1968 through 1972 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. Drive hooks can have many purposes, but generally when they terminate in a point, as this one does, they are considered meat hooks. When Fort Scott was built it was on the western military frontier, but is now located within the city limits of Fort Scott.

Eagle Wreath Military Button from Fort Scott, 14BO302
Date: 1842-1853
This brass military button was recovered from the Fort Scott National Historic Site during excavations conducted there between 1968 through 1972 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. The brass two piece button has a wire loop shank. The button front depicts an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows above with a wreath below and a large "U. S." in the middle. The button back has the wording "United States." The button is ligne 30 in size and likely represents a coat or jacket button. When Fort Scott was built it was on the western military frontier, but is now located within the city limits of Fort Scott.

Flask from Fort Scott, 14BO302
Date: 1855-1873
This flask was recovered from the Fort Scott National Historic Site during excavations conducted there between 1968 through 1972 by Kansas Historical Society Archeologists. The flask was recovered from the area of the Post Headquarters and Ordinance Stores. When Fort Scott was built it was on the western military frontier, but is now located within the city limits of Fort Scott. The fort saw limited military use into the 1870s, and thereafter for non-military uses. This aqua colored flask was manufactured by the Louisville Glass Works, who were in operation from c. 1855 to 1873.

Fort Scott
Date: Between 1860 and 1869
Photo of the old government hospital at Fort Scott, Kansas.

Fort Scott soldiers
Date: 1863-1865
This photograph of two men on horses at Fort Scott was probably taken between 1863 and 1865. The man in the foreground is Corporal George Henry McCoon, company saddler in the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry. The photograph shows the Fort Scott stables in the background. Corporal McCoon married in Fort Scott shortly after the Civil War, then relocated to Oregon and later to California. Patron supplied information suggests Ina Riley Wilson, a McCoon descendent, donated the original tintype to the Fort Scott Historical Society prior to 1979 from which KSHS obtained a copy.

G. Stockmyer, Starving Kansas
Creator: Stockmyer, G
Date: December, 1860
This broadside was prepared by G. Stockmyer, agent for Kansas Relief. It included descriptions of the conditions in most parts of Kansas Territory from individuals such as Thaddeus Hyatt, Allen Hodgson, and W. F. M. Arny and excerpts from various newspapers. Relief efforts were being coordinated by Samuel C. Pomeroy from Atchison, Kansas Territory. Freight and railroad companies provided free shipping for relief goods sent to K. T.

Harry Percival Adams Smith to Hugh
Date: June 22, 1858
This is a letter written by Harry Percival Adams Smith, Lecompton, Kansas Territory, to Hugh _______. Smith tells about the difficulties and unrest at Fort Scott, Kansas Territory. He describes Kansas as a "beautiful country in the summer and a great agricultural country" and "it will compare favorable with any land in the world." He writes about settlers and their reliance on money from aid societies rather than by working. Smith was born in Franconia, New Hampshire in 1820. He was an attorney and was admitted to the bar in Maine. After being admitted to the bar, he migrated to the west coast to practice law. In the early 1850s, Smith won election to California's state assembly. In 1855, he traveled to Kansas where he served as U. S. Marshall at Fort Scott, Kansas Territory. The territorial governor appointed Smith and three others to organize Arapahoe County. In November, 1858 the four men proceeded to lay out a town site on both banks of Cherry Creek. The frontier settlement proposed by Smith and others was called Denver, and it became part of Colorado Territory. Not long after Denver was founded, Smith and fellow attorney Samuel McClean went to the northern mines. In 1870, Smith died in Helena, Montana.

Kansas Adjutant General general correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Adjutant General's Office
Date: 1864
This is correspondence sent and received by the Kansas Adjutant General's Office. Cyrus K. Holliday succeeded Guilford Dudley as Adjutant General in May 1864. Topics of this correspondence include hospital reports from Fort Scott, requests for more appointments of medical officers, transmittal of muster rolls, a list of volunteers from Wisconsin who enlisted in Kansas, and letters from Elizabeth Pearsons Clouse inquiring about her son, Benjamin Franklin Pearsons. Correspondence was frequently exchanged with Lieutenant J.R. Kemble, General John B. Gray, Assistant Provost Marshal Sidney Clarke, Provost Marshal James McCahon, and Provost Marshal A.J. Shannon. Also included are letters from newspaper publishers requesting payment for printing General and Special Orders, including a young Marshall M. Murdock from the Burlingame Chronicle. A letter dated January 31, 1864 from President Abraham Lincoln orders the draft of 500,000 men. A searchable, full-text version of this correspondence is available by clicking "Text Version" below.

Kansas : early routes, old trails, historic sites, landmarks, etc.
Creator: Root, George A. (George Allen), 1867-1949
Date: 1939 December
This map, created by George Allen Root and later reproduced by the Kansas Turnpike Authority, depicts trails, landmarks, and historic sites in the state of Kansas. The original map was compiled by George Allen Root and delineated by W. M. Hutchinson from information obtained from the Kansas State Historical Society.

Kansas Film Commission site photographs, subject feedlots - grain elevators
Creator: Kansas Film Commission
Date: 1980s-2000s
These are panoramic photographs of locations in Kansas created by the Kansas Film Commission to promote scenes to film companies. The panoramics were created by taking individual photos and taping them together. The photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject and then location. The subjects included in this part of the collection are feedlots, festivals, fire stations, forts, geological formations, golf courses, and grain elevators.

Leigh R. Webber to Charles Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: March 23, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Fort Scott, Kansas, addressed to Charles Brown. Webber expresses frustration at his bad health, the poor weather, and fort life. He wished for the troops to move to territory where they could engage in battle and gain "military glory." Webber describes the unruly behavior of the troops, including violence and drunkenness.

Leigh R. Webber to John Stillman Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: January 23, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Kansas City, Missouri, addressed to John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence, Kansas. Webber begins by recounting other letters he had recently sent to members of the Brown family. He describes the march from Lexington to Kansas City and future plans to continue on to Fort Scott. Webber also discusses his father's recent death.

Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: February 1, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Kansas City, Missouri, addressed to Miss Brown, a daughter of John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Webber mainly discusses camp life in Kansas City and the unruly behavior of his fellow soldiers, particularly regarding thievery and drunkenness.

Leigh R. Webber to Miss Brown
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: March 8, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas, to Miss Brown, a daughter of John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence, Kansas. Webber describes the march from Kansas City, Missouri, to Fort Scott, Kansas, describing landmarks along the way and discussing the soldiers' state of exhaustion. He continues a discussion from a previous letter regarding his father's death. Webber also describes camp life and future plans to march on to Fort Smith.

Leigh R. Webber to Senorita Morena (Miss Brown)
Creator: Webber, L. R.
Date: April 30, 1862
A letter written by Leigh R. Webber from Fort Riley, Kansas, addressed to "Senorita Morena," or Miss Brown, a daughter of John Stillman Brown, a Unitarian minister who lived west of Lawrence. Webber first praises Fort Riley and describes the surrounding landscape. He goes on to describe fort life, including equipment and food. He also discusses his thoughts on the troops' future plans to march to New Mexico and his efforts to learn Spanish.

Louisville, Kentucky Glass Works Bottle from Fort Scott, 14BT402
Date: 1842-1853
This flask was recovered from the Fort Scott National Historic Site during excavations conducted there between 1968 through 1972 by Kansas Historical Society Archeologists. The flask was recovered from the area of House 11. When Fort Scott was built it was on the western military frontier, but is now located within the city limits of Fort Scott. The fort saw limited military use into the 1870s, and thereafter for non-military uses. This aqua colored flask was manufactured by the Louisville Glass Works, who were in operation from c. 1855 to 1873.