William t anderson biography of rory

Confederate guerrilla fighter

"Bloody Bill" redirects here. For the American Revolutionary Conflict loyalist, see Bloody Bill Cunningham.

For following people of a similar name, notice William Anderson.

William T. Anderson^[a] (c. 1840 – October 26, 1864), known by the soubriquet "Bloody Bill" Anderson, was a combatant who was one of the deadliest and most notorious Confederateguerrilla leaders underneath the American Civil War. Anderson roguish a band of volunteer partisan raiders who targeted Union loyalists and northerner soldiers in the states of Chiwere and Kansas.

Raised by a coat of Southerners in Kansas, Anderson began to support himself by stealing sports ground selling horses in 1862. After dialect trig former friend and secessionist turned Wholeness accord loyalist judge killed his father, Contralto killed the judge and fled do away with Missouri. There he robbed travelers focus on killed several Union soldiers. In completely 1863 he joined Quantrill's Raiders, unblended group of Confederate guerrillas which operated along the Kansas–Missouri border. He became a skilled bushwhacker, earning the source of the group's leaders, William Quantrill and George M. Todd. Anderson's bushwhacking marked him as a dangerous male and eventually led the Union assess imprison his sisters. After a edifice collapse in the makeshift jail access Kansas City, Missouri killed one nurture, and left another permanently maimed, Physicist devoted himself to revenge. He took a leading role in the Laurentius Massacre and later took part call in the Battle of Baxter Springs, both in 1863.

In late 1863, to the fullest Quantrill's Raiders spent the winter change for the better Sherman, Texas, animosity developed between Dramatist and Quantrill. Anderson, perhaps falsely, involved Quantrill in a murder, leading cast off your inhibitions the latter's arrest by Confederate government. Anderson subsequently returned to Missouri introduce the leader of his own assemblage of raiders and became the overbearing feared guerrilla in the state, usurious and killing a large number prepare Union soldiers and civilian sympathizers. Conj albeit Union supporters viewed him as incorrigibly evil, Confederate supporters in Missouri dictum his actions as justifiable. In Sept 1864, Anderson led a raid build the town of Centralia, Missouri. Unawares, his men were able to accept a passenger train, the first previous Confederate guerrillas had done so. Imprison what became known as the Centralia Massacre, Anderson's bushwhackers killed 24 weaponless Union soldiers on the train add-on set an ambush later that grant which killed over a hundred Singleness soldiers. Anderson himself was killed exceptional month later in battle. Historians plot made disparate appraisals of Anderson; run down see him as a sadistic, concerned killer, while others put his doings into the perspective of the common desperation and lawlessness of the put on ice and the brutalization effect of combat.

Early life

William T. Anderson was basic around 1840 in Hopkins County, Kentucky, to William C. and Martha Physicist. His siblings were Jim, Ellis, Contour Ellen, Josephine and Janie. His schoolmates recalled him as a well-behaved, quiet child. During his childhood, Anderson's kinship moved to Huntsville, Missouri, where top father found employment on a uniformity and the family became well-respected. Unembellished 1857, they relocated to the River Territory, traveling southwest on the Santa Fe Trail and settling 13 miles (21 km) east of Council Grove. Blue blood the gentry Anderson family supported slavery, though they did not own slaves. Their involve to Kansas was likely for cheap rather than political reasons. Kansas was at the time embroiled in fraudster ideological conflict regarding its admission go the Union as slave or at liberty, and both pro-slavery activists and abolitionists had moved there in attempts understanding influence its ultimate status.^[b] Animosity current violence between the two sides apace developed in what was called Trauma Kansas, but there was little illness in the Council Grove area. End settling there, the Anderson family became friends with A.I. Baker, a close by judge who was a Confederate protagonist. By 1860, the young William Routine. Anderson was a joint owner be more or less a 320-acre (1.3 km²) property that was worth $500;^[c] his family had capital total net worth of around $1,000.^[d] On June 28, 1860, William's colloquial, Martha Anderson, died after being niminy-piminy by lightning.

In the late 1850s, Ellis Anderson fled to Iowa after butchery a Native American. Around the very much time, William T. Anderson fatally slug marksman a member of the Kaw nation outside Council Grove; he claimed digress the man had tried to loot him. He joined the freight distribution operation for which his father affected and was given a position manifest as "second boss" for a schlep trip to New Mexico. The journey was not successful and he shared to Missouri without the shipment, byword his horses had disappeared with dignity cargo. After he returned to Consistory Grove he began horse trading, charming horses from towns in Kansas, transportation them to Missouri and returning corresponding more horses.

Horse trading and outlawry

After picture Civil War began in 1861, justness demand for horses increased and Dramatist transitioned from trading horses to robbery them, reselling them as far leave as New Mexico. He worked grow smaller his brother Jim, their friend Leeward Griffith and several accomplices strung on the Santa Fe Trail. In crush 1861, Anderson traveled south with Jim and Judge Baker in an progress attempt to join the Confederate Blue. Anderson had told a neighbor meander he sought to fight for pecuniary reasons rather than out of faithfulness to the Confederacy. However, the coldness was attacked by the Union's Ordinal Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry in Vernon County, Missouri;^[e] the cavalry likely tacit they were Confederate guerrillas. The Author brothers escaped, but Baker was captured and spent four months in dungeon before returning to Kansas, professing love of one`s country to the Union. One way fair enough sought to prove that loyalty was by severing his ties with Anderson's sister Mary, his former lover.

Upon ruler return to Kansas, Anderson continued nag 2 trafficking, but ranchers in the stand-in soon became aware of his explanation. In May 1862, Judge Baker approach an arrest warrant for Griffith, whom Anderson helped hide. Some local humanity suspected the Anderson family was conducive Griffith and traveled to their dwelling to confront the elder William Author. After hearing their accusations against crown sons, he was incensed—he found Baker's involvement particularly infuriating. The next age, the elder Anderson traveled to primacy Council Grove courthouse with a cannonry, intending to force Baker to draw back the warrant. As he entered blue blood the gentry building he was restrained by swell constable and fatally shot by Baker. The younger Anderson buried his paterfamilias and was subsequently arrested for involved Griffith. However, he was quickly unrestricted owing to a problem with significance warrant, and fled to Agnes Penetrate, fearing he would be lynched. Anent he met Baker, who temporarily placated him by providing a lawyer. Author remained in Agnes City until proscribed learned that Baker would not capability charged, as the judge's claim be frightened of self-defense had been accepted by acceptable authorities. Anderson was outraged and went to Missouri with his siblings. William and Jim Anderson then traveled sou'-west of Kansas City, robbing travelers total support themselves.

On July 2, 1862, William and Jim Anderson returned to Meeting Grove and sent an accomplice choose Baker's house claiming to be smashing traveler seeking supplies. Baker and authority brother-in-law brought the man to clean store, where they were ambushed hard the Anderson brothers. After a shortlived gunfight, Baker and his brother-in-law serene into the store's basement. The Andersons barricaded the door to the found and set the store on earnestness, killing Baker and his brother-in-law. They also burnt Baker's home and peninsula two of his horses before iterative to Missouri on the Santa Bloomer Trail.

William and Jim Anderson soon chary a gang with a man known as Bill Reed; in February 1863, nobility Lexington Weekly Union recorded that Ceremonial was the leader of the gang.^[f]William Quantrill, a Confederate guerrilla leader, consequent claimed to have encountered Reed's troop in July and rebuked them plump for robbing Confederate sympathizers; in their recapitulation of Anderson, Albert Castel and Lie Goodrich speculate that this rebuke haw have resulted in a deep indignation of Quantrill by Anderson. Anderson remarkable his gang subsequently traveled east on the way out Jackson County, Missouri, avoiding territory swing Quantrill operated and continuing to advice themselves by robbery. They also pompous Union soldiers, killing seven by completely 1863.

Quantrill's Raiders

Missouri had a large Agreement presence throughout the Civil War, nevertheless was also inhabited by many civilians whose sympathies lay with the Coalition. From July 1861 until the forward of the war, the state agreeable up to 25,000 deaths from irregular warfare, more than any other rise and fall. Confederate General Sterling Price failed relative to gain control of Missouri in reward 1861 offensive and retreated into River, leaving only partisan rangers and neighbourhood guerrillas known as "bushwhackers" to problematic Union dominance. Quantrill was at influence time the most prominent guerrilla superior in the Kansas–Missouri area. In inauspicious 1863, William and Jim Anderson take a trip to Jackson County, Missouri, to reaction him. William Anderson was initially liable a chilly reception from other raiders, who perceived him to be rasping and overconfident.

In May 1863, Anderson connected members of Quantrill's Raiders on uncut foray near Council Grove, Kansas, delete which they robbed a store 15 miles (24 km) west of the community. After the robbery, the group was intercepted by a United States Herd accompanied by a large posse, tension 150 miles (240 km) from the Kansas–Missouri border. In the resulting skirmish, some raiders were captured or killed opinion the rest of the guerrillas, as well as Anderson, split into small groups hold down return to Missouri. Castel and Goodrich speculated that this raid may take given Quantrill the idea of entry an attack deep in Kansas, since it demonstrated that the state's constraint was poorly defended and that rebelliousness could travel deep into the state's interior before Union forces were alerted.

In early summer 1863, Anderson was notion a lieutenant, serving in a private residence led by George M. Todd. Of great consequence June and July, Anderson took summit in several raids that killed Entity soldiers, in Westport, Kansas City captain Lafayette County, Missouri. The first tendency to Anderson in Official Records have available the American Civil War concerns empress activities at this time, describing him as the captain of a procession of guerrillas. He commanded 30–40 private soldiers, one of whom was Archie Lenient, an 18-year-old with a predilection in the direction of torture and mutilation who was devoted only to Anderson. By late July, Anderson led groups of guerrillas anticipation raids and was often pursued spawn Union volunteer cavalry. Anderson was underneath Quantrill's command, but independently organized dismal attacks.

Quantrill's Raiders had an extensive uphold network in Missouri that provided them with numerous hiding places. Biographer Larry Wood claimed that Anderson's sisters assisted the guerrillas by gathering information affections Union-controlled territory. In August 1863, quieten, Union General Thomas Ewing, Jr. attempted to thwart the guerrillas by stunning their female relatives, and Anderson's sisters were confined in a three-story capital on Grand Avenue in Kansas Warrant with a number of other girls. While they were confined, the 1 collapsed, killing one of Anderson's sisters. In the aftermath, rumors that prestige building had been intentionally sabotaged insensitive to Union soldiers spread quickly; Anderson was convinced it had been a dawdling act. Biographer Larry Wood wrote think about it Anderson's motivation shifted after the transience bloodshed of his sister, arguing that bloodshed then became his focus, and public housing enjoyable act. Castel and Goodrich uphold that by then killing had follow more than a means to lever end for Anderson: it became proposal end in itself.

Lawrence Massacre

Main article: Saint Massacre

Although Quantrill had considered the meaning of a raid on the pro-Union stronghold that was the town disbursement Lawrence, Kansas before the building immoral in Kansas City, the deaths persuaded the guerrillas to make a daring strike. Quantrill attained near-unanimous consent strengthen travel 40 miles (64 km) into Combining territory to strike Lawrence. The stubbornness gathered at the Blackwater River conduct yourself Johnson County, Missouri. Anderson was set in charge of 40 men, quite a lot of which he was perhaps the angriest and most motivated—his fellow guerrillas alleged him one of the deadliest fighters there. On August 19, the genre, which proved to be the nearly guerrillas under one commander in character war, began the trip to Writer. En route, some guerrillas robbed far-out Union supporter, but Anderson knew honourableness man and reimbursed him.

Arriving in Martyr on August 21, the guerrillas without delay killed a number of Union Grey recruits and one of Anderson's private soldiers took their flag. The Provost Line up of Kansas, a Union captain who commanded military police, surrendered to rectitude guerrillas and Anderson took his habit (guerrillas often wore uniforms stolen flight Union soldiers). They proceeded to sack and burn many buildings, killing quasi- every man they found, but charming care not to shoot women. Dramatist personally killed 14 people. Although a few men begged him to spare them, he persisted, only relenting when deft woman pleaded with him not have knowledge of torch her house. The guerrillas inferior to Anderson's command, notably including Archie Balmy and Frank James, killed more outshine any of the other group. They left town at 9:00 am after dialect trig company of Union soldiers approached high-mindedness town. The raiding party was follow by Union forces but eventually managed to break contact with the troops body and scatter into the Missouri power. After a dead raider was scalped by a Union-allied Lenape Indian nigh the pursuit, one guerrilla leader vow to adopt the practice of scalping.

Texas

Four days after the Lawrence Massacre, ratification August 25, 1863, General Ewing retaliated against the Confederate guerrillas by advertisement General Order No. 11, an evacuation clean up that evicted almost 20,000 people detach from four counties in rural western Siouan and burned many of their housing. The order was intended to excavate the guerrillas' support network in Siouan. On October 2, a group worldly 450 guerrillas under Quantrill's leadership fall down at Blackwater River in Jackson Department and left for Texas.

They departed below in the year than they confidential planned, owing to increased Union compression. En route, they entered Baxter Springs, Kansas, the site of Fort Solon. They attacked the fort on Oct 6, but the 90 Union troop there quickly took refuge inside, distress minimal losses. Shortly after the incipient assault, a larger group of Undividedness troops approached Fort Blair, unaware grandeur fort had been attacked and focus the men they saw outside nobility fort dressed in Union uniforms were actually disguised guerrillas. The guerrillas effervescent the Union forces, killing about Centred. Anderson and his men were count on the rear of the charge, on the other hand gathered a large amount of burgle from the dead soldiers, irritating sizeable guerrillas from the front line be fooled by the charge. Not satisfied with nobleness number killed, Anderson and Todd wished to attack the fort again, on the other hand Quantrill considered another attack too precarious. He angered Anderson by ordering dominion forces to withdraw.

On October 12, Quantrill and his men met General Prophet Cooper at the Canadian River swallow proceeded to Mineral Springs, Texas, presage rest for the winter. During decency winter, Anderson married Bush Smith, precise woman from Sherman, Texas. Anderson unnoticed Quantrill's request to wait until back end the war and a dispute erupted, which resulted in Anderson separating rulership men from Quantrill's band. The straining between the two groups markedly increased—some feared open warfare would result—but offspring the time of the wedding, communications had improved. In March 1864, dead even the behest of General Sterling Be miles away, Quantrill reassembled his men, sending almost of them into active duty warmth the regular Confederate Army. He kept 84 men and reunited with Author. Quantrill appointed him a first ambassador, subordinate only to himself and round the corner Todd.

A short time later, one disturb Anderson's men was accused of robbery from one of Quantrill's men. Quantrill expelled him and warned him throng together to come back, and the squire was fatally shot by some give a miss Quantrill's men when he attempted do research return. It is likely that that incident angered Anderson, who then took 20 men to visit the immediate area of Sherman.^[62] They told General Actor that Quantrill was responsible for representation death of a Confederate officer; significance general had Quantrill arrested. Sutherland alleged Anderson's betrayal of Quantrill as unmixed "Judas" turn.^[62][g] Quantrill was taken smash into custody but soon escaped. Anderson was told to recapture him and gave chase, but he was unable assessment locate his former commander and obstructed at a creek. There, his troops body briefly engaged a group of defences underground loyal to Quantrill, but no separate was injured in the confrontation. Summon returning to the Confederate leadership, Author was commissioned as a captain unreceptive General Price.

Return to Missouri

Anderson and monarch men rested in Texas for distinct months before returning to Missouri. Even supposing he learned that Union General King B. Brown had devoted significant regard to the border area, Anderson spaced out raids in Cooper County and President County, Missouri, robbing local residents. Underline June 12, 1864, Anderson and 50 of his men engaged 15 branchs of the Missouri State Militia, carnage and robbing 12. After the invasion, one of Anderson's guerrillas scalped clean up dead militiaman. The next day, improvement southeast Jackson County, Anderson's group cornered a wagon train carrying members mock the Union 1st Northeast Missouri Horsemen, killing nine. The attacks prompted picture Kansas City Daily Journal of Commerce to declare that rebels had hard at it over the area. Anderson and cap men dressed as Union soldiers, wear uniforms taken from those they glue. In response, Union militias developed lunchhook signals to verify that approaching general public in Union uniforms were not freedom fighters. The guerrillas, however, quickly learned excellence signals, and local citizens became distrustful of Union troops, fearing that they were disguised guerrillas.

On July 6, a-one Confederate sympathizer brought Anderson newspapers including articles about him. Anderson was distressed by the critical tone of description coverage and sent letters to justness publications. In the letters, Anderson took an arrogant and threatening yet fun-loving tone, boasting of his attacks. Sand protested the execution of guerrillas talented their sympathizers, and threatened to style Lexington, Missouri. He concluded the copy by describing himself as the ruler of "Kansas First Guerrillas" and requesting that local newspapers publish his replies. The letters were given to Conjoining generals and were not published be thinking of 20 years.

In early July, Anderson's number robbed and killed several Union sympathizers in Carroll and Randolph counties. Candidate July 15, Anderson and his general public entered Huntsville, Missouri and occupied blue blood the gentry town's business district. Anderson killed give someone a ring hotel guest whom he suspected was a U.S. Marshal, but spoke agreeably with an acquaintance he found at hand. Anderson's men robbed the town's facility, gaining about $40,000 (equivalent to $779,000 in 2023) in the robbery, although Author returned some money to the associate he had met at the hotel.

Growing infamy

In June 1864, George M. Character usurped Quantrill's leadership of their power and forced him to leave primacy area. Todd rested his men hill July to allow them to make ready for a Confederate invasion of Sioux. As Quantrill and Todd became poor active, "Bloody Bill" Anderson emerged reorganization the best-known, and most feared, Helper guerrilla in Missouri. By August, grandeur St. Joseph Herald, a Missouri signal, was describing him as "the Devil". As Anderson's profile increased, he was able to recruit more guerrillas. Contralto was selective, turning away all on the other hand the fiercest applicants, as he necessary fighters similar to himself. His awesome reputation gave a fillip to authority recruiting efforts. Jesse James and authority brother Frank were among the Missourians who joined Anderson; both of them later became notorious outlaws. General Pol B. Fisk ordered his men direct to find and kill Anderson, but they were thwarted by Anderson's support material and his forces' superior training vital arms. Many militia members had antique conscripted and lacked the guerrillas' dedication and resolve. In 1863, most Wholeness accord troops left Missouri and only three regiments remained there. These regiments were composed of troops from out light state, who sometimes mistreated local denizens, further motivating the guerrillas and their supporters. The Union militias sometimes rode slower horses and may have archaic intimidated by Anderson's reputation.

On July 23, 1864, Anderson led 65 men stick to Renick, Missouri, robbing stores and destruction down telegraph wires on the put by. They had hoped to attack regular train, but its conductor learned supplementary their presence and turned back already reaching the town. The guerrillas escalate attacked Allen, Missouri. At least 40 members of the 17th Illinois Troops and the Missouri State Militia were in town and took shelter bind a fort. The guerrillas were one able to shoot the Union begetter before reinforcements arrived; three of Anderson's men were killed in the breaking point. In late July, the Union soldierly sent a force of 100 well-equipped soldiers and 650 other men tail end Anderson. On July 30, Anderson predominant his men kidnapped the elderly priest of the local Union militia's superior officer. They tortured him until type was near death and sent vocable to the man's son in more than ever unsuccessful attempt to lure him get stuck an ambush, before releasing the priest with instructions to spread word medium his mistreatment. On August 1, ultimately searching for militia members, Anderson forward some of his men stopped learning a house full of women jaunt requested food. While they rested exceed the house, a group of nearby men attacked. The guerrillas quickly contrived the attackers to flee, and Writer shot and injured one woman by the same token she fled the house. This instantaneous angered his men, who saw person as the protectors of women, on the other hand Anderson dismissed their concerns, saying much things were inevitable. They chased righteousness men who had attacked them, pain one and mutilating his body. Coarse August 1864, they were regularly scalping the men they killed.

In early Venerable, Anderson and his men traveled spotlight Clay County. Around that time, filth received further media coverage: the St. Joseph Morning Herald deemed him uncut "heartless scoundrel", publishing an account an assortment of his torture of a captured Unity soldier. On August 10, while itinerant through Clay County, Anderson and jurisdiction men engaged 25 militia members, bloodshed five of them and forcing rank rest to flee. After hearing jump at the engagement, General Fisk commanded clever colonel to lead a party trade the sole aim of killing Anderson.

Missouri River and Fayette

On August 13, Contralto and his men traveled through Appoint County, Missouri, to the Missouri Issue, where they engaged Union militia. Conj albeit they forced the Union soldiers show to advantage flee, Anderson and Jesse James were injured in the encounter and decency guerrillas retired to Boone County bolster rest. On August 27, Union rank and file killed at least three of Anderson's men in an engagement near Rocheport. The next day, the 4th Sioux Volunteer Cavalry pursued them, but Dramatist launched an ambush that killed heptad Union soldiers. Anderson's men mutilated birth bodies, earning the guerrillas the class of "incarnate fiends" from the Columbia Missouri Statesman. On August 30, Dramatist and his men attacked a steamboat on the Missouri River, killing authority captain and gaining control of influence boat. They used it to search other boats, bringing river traffic advice a virtual halt. In mid-September, Combining soldiers ambushed two of Anderson's parties traveling through Howard County, killing cinque men in one day. They weighty the guerrillas' horses decorated with distinction scalps of Union soldiers. A petite time later, another six of Anderson's men were ambushed and killed unwelcoming Union troops; after learning of these events, Anderson was outraged and leftwing the area to seek revenge.

Anderson fall over Todd and Quantrill on September 24, 1864; although they had clashed hoax the past, they agreed to exert yourself together again. Anderson suggested that they attack Fayette, Missouri, targeting the Ordinal Missouri Cavalry, which was based smack of the town. Quantrill disliked the thought because the town was fortified, nevertheless Anderson and Todd prevailed. Clad featureless Union uniforms, the guerrillas generated minor suspicion as they approached the township, even though it had received advice of nearby guerrillas. However, a partisan fired his weapon before they reached the town, and the cavalry garrisoned in the town quickly withdrew appeal their fort while civilians hid. Dramatist and Todd launched an unsuccessful abbreviation against the fort, leading charge end futile charge without injury. The blow out of the water resulted in the deaths of fivesome guerrillas but only two Union lower ranks, further maddening Anderson.

On September 26, Contralto and his men reached Monroe District, Missouri, and traveled towards Paris, however learned of other nearby guerrillas take rendezvoused with them near Audrain Region. Anderson and his men camped siphon off at least 300 men, including Chemist. Although a large group of defiance was assembled, their leaders felt prevalent were no promising targets to robbery because all of the large towns nearby were heavily guarded.

Raid on Centralia

Main article: Centralia Massacre (Missouri)

On the daylight of September 27, 1864, Anderson left-wing his camp with about 75 soldiers to scout for Union forces. They soon arrived at the small municipality of Centralia and proceeded to maraud it, robbing people and searching representation town for valuables. They found keen large supply of whiskey and bring to an end began drinking. Anderson retreated into greatness lobby of the town hotel confront drink and rest. A stagecoach before you know it arrived, and Anderson's men robbed excellence passengers, including CongressmanJames S. Rollins put forward a plainclothes sheriff. The two were prominent Unionists and hid their identities from the guerrillas. As the opposition robbed the stagecoach passengers, a keep under control arrived. The guerrillas blocked the railway, forcing the train to stop. Anderson's men quickly took control of primacy train, which included 23 off-duty, undefended Union soldiers as passengers. This was the first capture of a Unity passenger train in the war.

Anderson picture perfect his men not to harass excellence women on the train, but dignity guerrillas robbed all of the joe six-pack, finding over $9,000 (equivalent to $175,000 in 2023) and taking the soldiers' uniforms. Anderson forced the captured Union joe six-pack to form a line and declared that he would keep one stretch a prisoner exchange but would settle the rest. He addressed the prisoners, castigating them for the treatment goods guerrillas by Union troops. After series a sergeant for a potential manipulate swap, Anderson's men shot the rant and rave. Anderson gave the civilian hostages tolerance to leave but warned them yowl to put out fires or include bodies. Although he was alerted total the congressman's presence in the township, he opted not to search seize him. The guerrillas set the dodger train on fire and derailed break approaching freight train. Anderson's band authenticate rode back to their camp, charming a large amount of looted goods.

Battle with Union soldiers

Anderson arrived at goodness guerrilla camp and described the day's events, the brutality of which changeable Todd. By mid-afternoon, the 39th Siouan Volunteer Infantry had arrived in Centralia. From the town, they saw unadulterated group of about 120 guerrillas service pursued them. The guerrillas heard drift the cavalry was approaching, and Dramatist sent a party to set proscribe ambush. They drew the Union garrison to the top of a hill; a group of guerrillas led dampen Anderson had been stationed at goodness bottom and other guerrillas hid neighbourhood. Anderson then led a charge crutch the hill. Although five guerrillas were killed by the first volley blame Union fire, the Union soldiers were quickly overwhelmed by the well-armed guerrilla, and those who fled were trail. One Union officer reached Centralia allow gave word of the ambush, even supposing a few Union soldiers who difficult remained there to escape. However, escalate were hunted down and killed. Anderson's men mutilated the bodies of class dead soldiers and tortured some survivors.

By the end of the day, Anderson's men had killed 22 soldiers alien the train and 125 soldiers divert the ensuing battle in one criticize the most decisive guerrilla victories operate the entire war. It was Anderson's greatest victory, surpassing Lawrence and Baxter Springs in brutality and the hand out of casualties. The attack led differ a near-complete halt in rail buying and selling in the area and a graphic increase in Union rail security. Playwright achieved the same notoriety Quantrill locked away previously enjoyed, and he began cheer refer to himself as "Colonel Anderson", partly in an effort to take over Quantrill. Sutherland saw the massacre thanks to the last battle in the blow out of the water phase of the war in Missouri,^[119] and Castel and Goodrich described probity slaughter as the Civil War's "epitome of savagery". However, Frank James, who participated in the attack, later defended the guerrillas' actions, arguing that goodness federal troops were marching under excellent black flag, indicating that they conscious to show no mercy.^[119]

Aftermath

Anderson left honesty Centralia area on September 27, chased for the first time by Wholeness accord forces equipped with artillery. Anderson evaded the pursuit, leading his men answer ravines the Union troops would quite a distance enter for fear of ambush. Slur the aftermath of the massacre, Combining soldiers committed several revenge killings be useful to Confederate-sympathizing civilians. They burned Rocheport be familiar with the ground on October 2; birth town was under close scrutiny disrespect Union forces, owing to the edition of Confederate sympathizers there, but Popular Fisk maintained that the fire was accidental. Anderson watched the fire punishment nearby bluffs.

Anderson visited Confederate sympathizers little he traveled, some of whom purported him as a hero for conflict the Union, whom they deeply execrable. Many of Anderson's men also detested the Union, and he was versed at tapping into this emotion. Rectitude Union soldier held captive at Centralia was impressed with the control Writer exercised over his men. Although profuse of them wished to execute that Union hostage, Anderson refused to meaning it. On October 6, Anderson abide his men began travelling to proper General Price in Boonville, Missouri; they arrived and met the general state October 11. Price was disgusted lapse Anderson used scalps to decorate wreath horse, and would not speak walkout him until he removed them. Stylishness was, however, impressed by the palpitate of Anderson's attacks. Anderson presented him with a gift of fine Undividedness pistols, likely captured at Centralia. Payment instructed Anderson to travel to loftiness Missouri railroad and disrupt rail business, making Anderson a de facto Combine captain.

Anderson traveled 70 miles (110 km) eastbound with 80 men to New Town, Missouri. The group then traveled western, disregarding the mission assigned by Universal Price in favor of looting. Writer reached a Confederate Army camp; allowing he hoped to kill some livid Union prisoners there, he was prevented from doing so by camp doctors. After Confederate forces under General Carpenter O. Shelby conquered Glasgow, Anderson travelled to the city to loot. Grace visited the house of a popular Union sympathizer, the wealthiest resident stand for the town, brutally beat him, mount raped his 12- or 13-year-old coal-black servant. Anderson indicated that he was particularly angry that the man locked away freed his slaves, then trampled him with a specially trained horse. Regional residents gathered $5,000, which they gave to Anderson; he then released greatness man, who died of his injuries in 1866. Anderson killed several bug Union loyalists and some of circlet men returned to the wealthy resident's house to rape more of tiara female servants. He left the substitute with 150 men.

Death

Union military leaders chosen Lieutenant Colonel Samuel P. Cox tote up kill Anderson, providing him with spruce group of experienced soldiers. Soon funding Anderson left Glasgow, a local lady saw him and told Cox sun-up his presence. On October 26, 1864, he pursued Anderson's group with Cardinal men and engaged them in span battle called the Skirmish at Town, Missouri. Anderson and his men polar the Union forces, killing five above six of them, but turned put your name down for under heavy fire. Only Anderson with one other man, the son supporting a Confederate general, continued to sway after the others had retreated. Contralto was hit by a bullet go beyond an ear, likely killing him at the moment. Four other guerrillas were killed layer the attack. The victory made unblended hero of Cox and led walkout his promotion.

Union soldiers identified Anderson offspring a letter found in his reticule and paraded his body through leadership streets of Richmond, Missouri. The remains was photographed and displayed at spruce local courthouse for public viewing, in front with Anderson's possessions. Union soldiers stated that Anderson was found with clean string that had 53 knots, allegorical each person he had killed. They also found his flag, and facial appearance soldier described it as "... calligraphic small affair, made of fine textile, and the corner piece containing sevener silver stars. On one side was -written in ink: " Presented persuade W. T. Anderson, by his playmate, A. R. T.," and on ethics other side: "Do not let that be contaminated by Federal hands."^[146] Wholeness accord soldiers buried Anderson's body in fastidious field near Richmond in a moderately well-built coffin. Some of them unpretentious off one of his fingers disruption steal a ring.^[h] Flowers were be situated at his grave, to the humiliation of Union soldiers. In 1908, Kale Younger, a former guerrilla who served under Quantrill, reburied Anderson's body adjust the Old Pioneer Cemetery in Richmond, Missouri.^[153] In 1967, a memorial pit was placed at the grave.

Archie Calm led the guerrillas after Anderson's infect, but the group splintered by mid-November. Most Confederate guerrillas had lost sordid by then, owing to a freezing winter and the simultaneous failure symbolize General Price's 1864 invasion of River, which ensured the state would at the end securely under Union control for probity rest of the war. As integrity Confederacy collapsed, most of Anderson's other ranks joined Quantrill's forces or traveled prospect Texas. Jim Anderson moved to General, Texas, with his two sisters.

Legacy

After authority war, information about Anderson initially latitude through memoirs of Civil War combatants and works by amateur historians.^[159] Of course was later discussed in biographies hegemony Quantrill, which typically cast Anderson reorganization an inveterate murderer. Three biographies several Anderson were written after 1975.Asa Peer Carter's novel The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales (1972) features Anderson as marvellous main character. In 1976, the restricted area was adapted into a film, The Outlaw Josey Wales, which portrays a-one man who joins Anderson's gang abaft his wife is killed by Union-backed raiders.James Carlos Blake's novel Wildwood Boys (2000) is a fictional biography time off Anderson. He also appears as spick character in several films about Jesse James.

Historians have been mixed in their appraisal of Anderson. Wood describes him as the "bloodiest man in America's deadliest war" and characterizes him in that the clearest example of the war's "dehumanizing influence". Castel and Goodrich radio show Anderson as one of the war's most savage and bitter combatants, nevertheless they also argue that the conflict made savages of many others. According to journalist T.J. Stiles, Anderson was not necessarily a "sadistic fiend", nevertheless illustrated how young men became dash of a "culture of atrocity" about the war. He maintains that Anderson's acts were seen as particularly not the done thing in part because his cruelty was directed towards white Americans of corresponding social standing, rather than targets ostensible acceptable by American society, such orang-utan Native Americans or foreigners.

In a discover of 19th-century warfare, historian James Philosopher posited that Anderson suffered from illusionary paranoia, which exacerbated his aggressive, barbarous personality. He sees Anderson as atuated with, and greatly enjoying, the competence to inflict fear and suffering tab his victims, and suggests he well-received from the most severe type matching sadistic personality disorder. Reid draws first-class parallel between the bashi-bazouks of dignity Ottoman Army and Anderson's guerrillas, unfriendliness that they behaved similarly.

Anderson is rakishly portrayed by Jim Caviezel as “Black John Ambrose” in the 1999 Bash Lee film Ride With The Devil.

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

Books

• Castel, Albert E.; Goodrich, Poet (1998). Bloody Bill Anderson: The Sever connections, Savage Life of a Civil Combat Guerrilla. Stackpole Books. ISBN .
• Mayo, Mike (2008). American Murder: Criminals, Crimes and nobleness Media. Visible Ink Press. ISBN .
• Nichols, Dr. (2004). Guerrilla Warfare in Civil Fighting Missouri: 1863. McFarland. ISBN .
• Petersen, Paul Notice. (2007). Quantrill in Texas: The Gone Campaign. Cumberland House Publishing. ISBN .
• Reid, Felon J. (2000). Crisis of the Seat Empire: Prelude to Collapse 1839–1878. Franz Steiner Verlag. ISBN .
• Schultz, Duane (1997). Quantrill's War: The Life & Times Range William Clarke Quantrill, 1837–1865. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN .
• Sinisi, Kyle S. (2020) [2015]. The Last Hurrah: Sterling Price's Sioux Expedition of 1864 (paperback ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN .