PITTSBURG, Kan. —
The son of abolitionist John Brown had something to hide.
But it wasn’t secret plans related to the movement of the Civil War-era 7th Kansas Cavalry or the abolitionist movement for which he fought.
John Brown Jr. had a deep, romantic love for his wife that he expressed in a secret code in letters he wrote from camps near Cass County, Mo., and Allen County, Kan.
Nearly 150 years later, Bill Hoyt, a Pittsburg State University alumnus seeking his graduate degree in history, came across the coded letters while doing research for his master’s thesis in the online digital archives of the Kansas Historical Society.
John Brown Jr. wrote the letters to his wife, Wealthy Brown, during the early years of the Civil War, when he served as a captain with Company K, 1st Kansas Cavalry, which later would become the 7th Kansas Cavalry.
“These codes show he was a dedicated family man, but he had this cause,” Hoyt said. “He was here to free slaves, which was a great responsibility, but he had to balance that with his great desire to go home.”
According to the Kansas Historical Society, the younger Brown’s wife and their son, John, were living in Ohio. Brown wrote her letters that were descriptive of camp life and mentioned the names of many of the men in his company, as well as associates of his father.
In letters written Jan. 21 and Jan. 26, 1862, Brown also described the problems of determining local residents’ loyalty in the war on the Kansas-Missouri border. He wrote that he had sent 10 black soldiers to save a slave mother and children whose owner was planning to take them farther south.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Tuesday’s Joplin Globe or register for our E-Edition at joplinglobe.com.
Local News
Civil War captain used secret code to express his love
- Local News
-
-
Pittsburg commission to consider agreements on intersections
The Pittsburg City Commission on Tuesday will consider agreements to proceed with improvements to intersections at Broadway and 20th Street and Broadway and Centennial Avenue.
- VIDEO: St. John's releases security camera footage from May 22
-
Groundbreakings at three schools to mark tornado anniversary
The Joplin School District will mark the one-year anniversary of the May 22 tornado with groundbreakings Tuesday at sites for three schools to replace those destroyed in the storm.
-
Faiths share common denominator in service focusing on Joplin’s spirit
Members of Joplin’s Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations gathered together Sunday in Landreth Park to share the spirit of unity that emerged in the wake of the May 22 tornado.
-
Actors bring Book of Job to life for Joplin audiences
The audience of several hundred people sat in silence, listening intently to the words of Job being brought to life in a no-frills, powerful performance.
-
Weather service implements storm warning changes after 2011 tornadoes
The May 22 tornado changed more than just Joplin. It also changed the way people get information about severe weather and the way the National Weather Service informs people about the severity of storms.
-
Young cousins still healing from tornado injuries
Looking at Mason Lillard and Lage Grigsby today, it’s hard to conceive how close to death they were a year ago. Both suffered serious injuries when they and Sharon Lillard, inside the grandparents’ truck, were thrown across the Joplin Home Depot parking lot in the May 22 tornado.
-
Jo Ellis: Art educator opens Carthage collaborative
Another artist has moved to Carthage, where she is hoping to realize a dream she says she has had for years.
-
Andra Bryan Stefanoni: Backyard science experiment provides changing views
Eight years ago, my husband and I decided that the best use of our second acre was to take it out of our mowing routine and turn it into something that could benefit the environment.
-
Susan Redden: Missouri Legislature session ends, along with some bills’ prospects
There’s always next year. That must be what Missouri legislators — including those from the Joplin area — are saying after this year’s session of the General Assembly ended Friday with so many proposed bills left on the House and Senate floors.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Pittsburg commission to consider agreements on intersections
