Title The diaries of Reuben Smith, Kansas settler and Civil War soldier / edited by Lana Wirt Myers

Published Lawrence : University Press of Kansas, 2018

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Description 1 online resource Contents Machine generated contents note: -- Preface -- Introduction -- On the Quiet Waters of the Marais des Cygnes -- Across the Ocean -- Toward a New Life -- The Territory of Kansas -- The Border War -- War between the States -- The Neutral State of Missouri -- Realities of War -- The Battle of Lone Jack -- Determine the Enemy -- "God Help Poor Old Missouri" -- A War of Devastation -- The Battle of Westport -- Freedom Wins -- Postwar Politics -- The State's First Psychiatric Hospital -- Reflections of a Pioneer and Patriot -- Back to England -- An American's Perspective -- Take Me Home -- We Must Part Summary "In 1854, after recently arriving from England, twenty-two-year-old Reuben Smith traveled west, eventually making his way to Kansas Territory. There he found himself in the midst of a bloody prelude to the Civil War, as Free Staters and defenders of slavery battled to stake their claim. The young Englishman wrote down what he witnessed in a diary where he had already begun documenting his days in a clear and candid fashion. As beautifully written as they are keenly observant, these diaries afford an unusual view of America in its most tumultuous times, of Kansas in its critical historical moments, and of one man's life in the middle of it all for fifty years. From his moving account of traveling from England by ship to his reflections on settling in the newly opened Kansas Territory to his observations of war and politics, Smith provides a picture that is at once panoramic and highly personal. His diaries depict the escalation of the Civil War along the Kansas-Missouri border as well as the evolution of a volunteer soldier from an inexperienced private to a seasoned officer and government spy. They take us inside military camps and generals' quarters, to the front lines of battle and in pursuit of bushwhackers William Quantrill and Cole Younger. Later, they show us Smith as a state representative and steward of the Kansas State Insane Asylum in its early years. In historic scenes and poignant personal stories, these diaries offer a unique perspective on life in the Midwest in the last half of the nineteenth century. Editor Lana Wirt Myers's commentary and extensive notes provide the context and information needed for a full understanding of Reuben Smith's remarkable stories"-- Provided by publisher "Reuben Smith (1832-1904), Kansas settler, justice of the peace, Union soldier, and state representative, left a significant paper trail in the form of 50 years of diaries. The full diaries span his immigration from England in 1854 to his last years in Osawatomie. While Smith was a prolific diarist, he was not consistently prolific, with some years having only one or two entries while others had nearly daily entries. Lana Myers has chosen the best parts and woven them together into a manageable book - about 300 manuscript pages, with a significant portion of that devoted to Smith's Civil War service. Post-war events include Smith's involvement in politics as a state representative and his stewardship of the Kansas State Insane Asylum in its early years. Smith is an engaging writer and Myers supplements his entries with historical and biographical context"-- Provided by publisher Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record Subject Smith, Reuben, 1832-1904 -- Diaries Kansas State Insane Asylum (Topeka, Kan.) SUBJECT Kansas State Insane Asylum (Topeka, Kan.) fast Subject Pioneers -- Kansas -- Diaries Soldiers -- United States -- Diaries Legislators -- Kansas -- Diaries Frontier and pioneer life -- Kansas HISTORY -- United States -- Civil War Period (1850-1877) HISTORY -- United States -- State & Local -- Midwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI) HISTORY -- United States -- 19th Century. Frontier and pioneer life Legislators Pioneers Politics and government Soldiers SUBJECT United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140261 Kansas -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85071521 Kansas -- Biography Subject Kansas United States Genre/Form Biographies Diaries History Personal narratives Form Electronic book Author Myers, Lana Wirt, editor ISBN 9780700626243 0700626247

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