Letter signed J.B. Henderson, Louisiana, Missouri, to Governor Gamble. On reaching home I find that on the approach of our men into Callaway the secessions broke up their camp and hurriedly scattered. We have arrested a large number of them, and now what do we do with the prisoners? Suggestions for you to act upon in the convention before you leave for Washington, including arrangements for support of families of the soldiers; purchase of sugar, coffee, leather, etc., to be made from the money you already have from the Government. I hope you may succeed in impressing on the President, the importance of giving you adequate arms. I think you will raise 15,000 men under your call, 2 or 3000 of them cavalry. From the appearance of things, I am satisfied that, in North Missouri, a large force will be needed as soon as General Fremont shall reach our southern boundary. Thousands of the rebels who participated in the Lexington fight have scattered over north Missouri, and the purpose of these men is again to organize, when the pressure of the Federal army has been removed. I am certain that, should General Fremont be forced to retreat from southwest Missouri, or should he meet with considerable reverse of fortune, the secessionists of north Missouri will fill the country like a cloud of locusts, driving families of Union men and of the state. This might develop into guerilla war. I am no alarmist but I am satisfied that Missourians must reclaim Missouri and they can and will do it, if arms shall be placed in their hands for that purpose. The President has no fears regarding length of the service under your proclamation. The men now in the service will reenlist when their time is out, if the war has not ended, and many more will join them. Individuals mentioned include President Lincoln, General John C. Fremont and Missourians. Places mentioned include Callaway, Missouri, Washington and Lexington. (5 pages), 1861 Oct 21

Item — Box: 9, Folder: 11

Staff Only

Letter signed J.B. Henderson, Louisiana, Mo., to His Excellency Gov. Gamble [Hamilton R. Gamble], October 21, 1861

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Hamilton Rowan Gamble Papers consist of deeds, early land grants, surveys, a St. Louis court docket book (1816-1833), bills of sale, legal papers regarding land ownership and business agreements, letters pertaining to causes of the Civil War, letters regarding the raising of a state militia, correspondence with political and military leaders, account books and receipts. Papers pertaining to land cases include deeds from French and Spanish ownership of this area, such as a deed between Pierre Chouteau and his wife who sold land for $248 to Meriwether Lewis (box 1/folder 2); a land grant to Andrew Bowen from President James Monroe with the presidential seal (box 1/folder 5); notes on Doit Delany’s land between Creve Coeur Lake and the Missouri River, part of a land grant to Antoine Reynal by the Spanish government (box 6/folder 1); a copy of the land paper from May 23, 1772, signed by Laclede Liguest, et al., designating land granted in the name of the king (box 5/folder 3). Papers regarding slave cases in the courts of Missouri include an 1805 freedom suit by Celeste, an Indian woman, versus Madame Chevalier (box 1/folder 2). An 1827 case of Margrite versus Pierre Chouteau, Sr., explains that the plaintiff’s grandmother, an Indian, was taken in war by the French and possibly sold as a slave in 1769 (box 2/folder 5). Subsequent papers in the collection show that the case was dismissed in 1838 for want of jurisdiction (box 6/folder 6). Letters to and from Gamble from the years before and during the Civil War illuminate the issue of slavery and emancipation in a border state. A copy of a letter from Gamble in 1861 states his view of abolitionists (box 9/folder 13). A copy of an address at an 1862 meeting of loyal states in support of President Lincoln and emancipation bears a notation that Governor Gamble refused to sign it as governor of Missouri (box 10/folder 3). The original draft and copy of Gamble’s 1863 message before a party convention concerns emancipation for the state of Missouri (box 10/folder 7). Critical papers and letters between Gamble and President Abraham Lincoln cover such issues as: raising and paying for a state militia (box 9/folder 3); the situation in Missouri at the beginning of the Civil War (box 9/folder 8); and disagreements between Gamble and Union generals over who should be in control of the state militia (box 10). Collection includes several letters signed by President Lincoln (box 9/folder 12, box 10/folder 9). The collection includes official papers with government seals from 1824 when Gamble was appointed secretary of state of Missouri (box 2/folder 2), and from 1849 on a certificate admitting Gamble as an attorney and counselor of the U.S. Supreme Court (box 8/folder 5). Miscellaneous letters consist of one against gambling and playing roulette from “The Friends of Morality” (box 4/folder 6); plans for a 2nd Presbyterian Church on 5th Street, including drawings of the church interior (box 7/folder 1); and a letter soliciting donations to establish Linden Wood Female College (box 8/folder 9). Other letters and journal entries discuss treatments of diseases, e.g., cholera and neuralgia (box 8/folder 5). Receipts and account books show costs of clothing, household items, food, building materials and bills of sale for slaves to and from Gamble (box 2/folder 6; box 3/folder 7; box 5/folder 1, 5; box 7/folder 5; box 8/folders 4, 6, 11; box 9/folder 2). Letters written near the end of the Civil War, shortly before Gamble’s death, discuss the status of the provisional government (box 10/folder 7).