The following letters were written by Thomas Eli Allison Daniels (1830-1918), a native of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, who came to Leavenworth county, Kansas in 1852—even before it was a territory—making him one of the first white settlers in the area. He arrived on 10 May 1852 at Kickapoo Island and set himself up as a ferry operator on the Missouri river between Kickapoo Island and Weston, Missouri. He later established a small brick plant with sufficient production to supply settlers with enough bricks to build a chimney. His principal livelihood was his farm of 700 acres in Kickapoo Township where he raised wheat and various subsistence crops. Thomas was married to Catherine Esther Swarts [or Schwartz] (1839-1931) in 1856.

From these letters we learn that Thomas enrolled himself in Co. B of the 19th Kansas Militia which was called into service on 9 October 1864 to defend Kansas against Price’s Raid. The regiment saw action at Byram’s Ford, Big Blue on 22 October and again at Westport on 23 October 1864. They were disbanded on 29 October 1864.

Note: Though he appears to have signed his surname “Daniel,” civil records and his headstone spell his name as “Daniels” so that is how I’ve recorded it here.

These letters are from the private collection of Rob Morgan and were made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.

Letter 1

[On Big Blue River]
October 21, [1864]

Dear Catherine,

I am well. A bad cold. The rest of the boys are tolerably well. I have been to Independence, Missouri. We are lying on the Blue River, 8 miles this side of Independence. I cannot tell when I can get home. We have not seen nary rebel, but we can hear flying reports every hour in the day.

I heard that Braley and others was taking all of the horses off. I want grandpa to see to this and get a receipt for everything that is taken off the place.

It snowed yesterday here. We are fortifying on the Blue River. We heard that Price was at Lexington yesterday. You can see by these letters that we will all need some soap and water when we get home.

Our company is company B, 19th regiment Kansas Militia. Send me one undershirt, one pair of drawers, one pair of gloves by Mrs. Bishop, one pair of yarn socks. Tell grandpa to keep the account of the wood that Em hauls to Washburn. I could write to you all day but I must close.

I remain your affectionate, — Thomas E. A. Daniel

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Letter 2

Wyandotte, Kansas
Sunday 24th [23 October 1864]

Dear Catherine,

I and a few of our company are left in camp to cook while the rest of the men has gone out to fight Price. Bishop had not been gone more than one hour till we was ordered to the mouth of the Blue River to keep the rebels from crossing. We laid there one night. Then we was ordered to Kansas City.

We are now encamped at the Wyandotte Bridge. I heard the cannons roar yesterday below Independence. Our regiment has not received a fire from Price yet unless the boys find him today. I bought myself a woolen shirt. We received a great many reinforcements from Leavenworth this morning.

Jo. Buchanan stayed with our boys last night. We have a great number of men here at the present time. I lent Mulford $2 and John $1 and Ellie Smith 25 cts.

We hear flying reports all day. I heard that our men were fighting Price and our regiment was supporting a battery in fight yesterday. Price went around below and pitched on Jennison and drove him back and Price encamped [with]in two miles of Westport and that is where they are fighting today. It don’t look like Sunday here today.

Good news! Price is whipped and retreating. 4 o’clock in the evening. –Thomas E.A. Daniel.

We are ordered packing and follow the command.