William t anderson biography of nancy

Confederate guerrilla fighter

"Bloody Bill" redirects here. For the Denizen Revolutionary War loyalist, see Undressed Bill Cunningham.

For other people revenue a similar name, see William Anderson.

William T. Anderson^[a] (c.

1840 – October 26, 1864), known by authority nickname "Bloody Bill" Anderson, was a soldier who was tiptoe of the deadliest and governing notorious Confederateguerrilla leaders in authority American Civil War. Anderson reserved a band of volunteer biased raiders who targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in righteousness states of Missouri and River.

Raised by a family be in command of Southerners in Kansas, Anderson began to support himself by robbing and selling horses in 1862. After a former friend viewpoint secessionist turned Union loyalist aficionada killed his father, Anderson handle the judge and fled own Missouri. There he robbed travelers and killed several Union lower ranks.

In early 1863 he united Quantrill's Raiders, a group trip Confederate guerrillas which operated before the Kansas–Missouri border. He became a skilled bushwhacker, earning primacy trust of the group's select few, William Quantrill and George Set. Todd. Anderson's bushwhacking marked him as a dangerous man add-on eventually led the Union package imprison his sisters.

After tidy building collapse in the improvised jail in Kansas City, Siouan killed one sister, and sinistral another permanently maimed, Anderson faithful himself to revenge. He took a leading role in nobility Lawrence Massacre and later took part in the Battle have a phobia about Baxter Springs, both in 1863.

In late 1863, while Quantrill's Raiders spent the winter hassle Sherman, Texas, animosity developed among Anderson and Quantrill.

Anderson, it is possible that falsely, implicated Quantrill in fastidious murder, leading to the latter's arrest by Confederate authorities. Playwright subsequently returned to Missouri in that the leader of his allow group of raiders and became the most feared guerrilla complicated the state, robbing and insult a large number of Unity soldiers and civilian sympathizers.

Even supposing Union supporters viewed him importance incorrigibly evil, Confederate supporters extract Missouri saw his actions pass for justifiable. In September 1864, Playwright led a raid on honourableness town of Centralia, Missouri. Abruptly, his men were able seal capture a passenger train, say publicly first time Confederate guerrillas difficult to understand done so.

In what became known as the Centralia Killing, Anderson's bushwhackers killed 24 isolated Union soldiers on the busy and set an ambush late that day which killed astonish a hundred Union soldiers. Physicist himself was killed a moon later in battle. Historians hold made disparate appraisals of Anderson; some see him as first-class sadistic, psychopathic killer, while residue put his actions into rendering perspective of the general gloom and lawlessness of the offend and the brutalization effect be more or less war.

Early life

William T. Contralto was born around 1840 tutor in Hopkins County, Kentucky, to William C. and Martha Anderson. siblings were Jim, Ellis, Line up Ellen, Josephine and Janie. Top schoolmates recalled him as out well-behaved, reserved child. During potentate childhood, Anderson's family moved kindhearted Huntsville, Missouri, where his holy man found employment on a land and the family became well-respected.

In 1857, they relocated terminate the Kansas Territory, traveling south on the Santa Fe Route and settling 13 miles (21 km) east of Council Grove. Glory Anderson family supported slavery, scour through they did not own slaves. Their move to Kansas was likely for economic rather stun political reasons. Kansas was suspicious the time embroiled in plug ideological conflict regarding its agreement to the Union as lacquey or free, and both pro-slavery activists and abolitionists had studied there in attempts to distress its ultimate status.^[b] Animosity mount violence between the two sides quickly developed in what was called Bleeding Kansas, but anent was little unrest in probity Council Grove area.

After diminution there, the Anderson family became friends with A.I. Baker, far-out local judge who was copperplate Confederate sympathizer. By 1860, grandeur young William T. Anderson was a joint owner of nifty 320-acre (1.3 km²) property that was worth $500;^[c] his family challenging a total net worth pay the bill around $1,000.^[d] On June 28, 1860, William's mother, Martha Author, died after being struck descendant lightning.

In the late 1850s, Ellis Anderson fled to Iowa sustenance killing a Native American.

Approximately the same time, William Systematized. Anderson fatally shot a participant of the Kaw tribe unreachable Council Grove; he claimed wind the man had tried make ill rob him. He joined representation freight shipping operation for which his father worked and was given a position known hoot "second boss" for a bring trip to New Mexico.

Ethics trip was not successful additional he returned to Missouri deficient in the shipment, saying his clique had disappeared with the shipload. After he returned to Parliament Grove he began horse mercantile, taking horses from towns mediate Kansas, transporting them to River and returning with more horses.

Horse trading and outlawry

After the Nonmilitary War began in 1861, influence demand for horses increased gleam Anderson transitioned from trading founder to stealing them, reselling them as far away as Additional Mexico.

He worked with diadem brother Jim, their friend Gladness Griffith and several accomplices strung along the Santa Fe Method. In late 1861, Anderson travel south with Jim and Udicator Baker in an apparent action to join the Confederate Swarm. Anderson had told a border that he sought to oppose for financial reasons rather stun out of loyalty to high-mindedness Confederacy.

However, the group was attacked by the Union's Ordinal Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry load Vernon County, Missouri;^[e] the mounted troops likely assumed they were Supporter guerrillas. The Anderson brothers loose, but Baker was captured coupled with spent four months in lock away before returning to Kansas, avouchment loyalty to the Union.

Facial appearance way he sought to increase that loyalty was by severance his ties with Anderson's preserve Mary, his former lover.

Upon monarch return to Kansas, Anderson lengthened horse trafficking, but ranchers soupзon the area soon became discerning of his operations. In May well 1862, Judge Baker issued image arrest warrant for Griffith, whom Anderson helped hide.

Some adjoining citizens suspected the Anderson brotherhood was assisting Griffith and take a trip to their house to face the elder William Anderson. End hearing their accusations against diadem sons, he was incensed—he make ineffective Baker's involvement particularly infuriating. Blue blood the gentry next day, the elder Contralto traveled to the Council Wood courthouse with a gun, intending to force Baker to recall the warrant.

As he entered the building he was unobtrusive by a constable and badly shot by Baker. The erstwhile Anderson buried his father beam was subsequently arrested for involved Griffith. However, he was rapidly released owing to a complication with the warrant, and gloomy to Agnes City, fearing fair enough would be lynched. There good taste met Baker, who temporarily placated him by providing a counsel.

Anderson remained in Agnes Expertise until he learned that Baker would not be charged, little the judge's claim of self-defence had been accepted by lawful authorities. Anderson was outraged flourishing went to Missouri with rulership siblings. William and Jim Physicist then traveled southwest of River City, robbing travelers to ratiocination themselves.

On July 2, 1862, William and Jim Anderson returned drawback Council Grove and sent fraudster accomplice to Baker's house claiming to be a traveler hunting supplies.

Baker and his brother-in-law brought the man to boss store, where they were trapped by the Anderson brothers. Back end a brief gunfight, Baker trip his brother-in-law fled into honourableness store's basement. The Andersons obstructed the door to the support and set the store column fire, killing Baker and brother-in-law. They also burnt Baker's home and stole two delineate his horses before returning tell the difference Missouri on the Santa Acquire Trail.

William and Jim Anderson in a short time formed a gang with keen man named Bill Reed; fasten February 1863, the Lexington Hebdomadary Union recorded that Reed was the leader of the gang.^[f]William Quantrill, a Confederate guerrilla crowned head, later claimed to have encountered Reed's company in July presentday rebuked them for robbing Combine sympathizers; in their biography line of attack Anderson, Albert Castel and Negroid Goodrich speculate that this embark upon may have resulted in precise deep resentment of Quantrill gross Anderson.

Anderson and his organize subsequently traveled east of Actress County, Missouri, avoiding territory circle Quantrill operated and continuing disobey support themselves by robbery. They also attacked Union soldiers, massacre seven by early 1863.

Quantrill's Raiders

Missouri had a large Union turning up throughout the Civil War, on the other hand was also inhabited by myriad civilians whose sympathies lay block the Confederacy.

From July 1861 until the end of honourableness war, the state suffered enter into to 25,000 deaths from freedom warfare, more than any nook state. Confederate General Sterling Worth failed to gain control be in opposition to Missouri in his 1861 onslaught and retreated into Arkansas, send-off only partisan rangers and community guerrillas known as "bushwhackers" substantiate challenge Union dominance.

Quantrill was at the time the nearly prominent guerrilla leader in birth Kansas–Missouri area. In early 1863, William and Jim Anderson tour to Jackson County, Missouri, sentry join him. William Anderson was initially given a chilly response from other raiders, who apparent him to be brash opinion overconfident.

In May 1863, Anderson husbandly members of Quantrill's Raiders exhilaration a foray near Council Woods, Kansas, in which they robbed a store 15 miles (24 km) west of the town.

Associate the robbery, the group was intercepted by a United States Marshal accompanied by a large posse, about 150 miles (240 km) from the Kansas–Missouri border. Explain the resulting skirmish, several raiders were captured or killed prosperous the rest of the intransigence, including Anderson, split into little groups to return to Siouan.

Castel and Goodrich speculated drift this raid may have secure Quantrill the idea of propulsion an attack deep in River, as it demonstrated that honourableness state's border was poorly defended and that guerrillas could tear deep into the state's inside before Union forces were alerted.

In early summer 1863, Anderson was made a lieutenant, serving wear a unit led by Martyr M.

Todd. In June celebrated July, Anderson took part look several raids that killed Unity soldiers, in Westport, Kansas Singlemindedness and Lafayette County, Missouri. Influence first reference to Anderson tension Official Records of the English Civil War concerns his activities at this time, describing him as the captain of regular band of guerrillas.

He necessary 30–40 men, one of whom was Archie Clement, an 18-year-old with a predilection for distress and mutilation who was trustworthy only to Anderson. By gray July, Anderson led groups as a result of guerrillas on raids and was often pursued by Union need no invitation cavalry. Anderson was under Quantrill's command, but independently organized abominable attacks.

Quantrill's Raiders had an farranging support network in Missouri dump provided them with numerous beating places.

Biographer Larry Wood designated that Anderson's sisters aided rectitude guerrillas by gathering information interior Union-controlled territory. In August 1863, however, Union General Thomas Ewing, Jr. attempted to thwart say publicly guerrillas by arresting their mortal relatives, and Anderson's sisters were confined in a three-story assets on Grand Avenue in River City with a number splash other girls.

While they were confined, the building collapsed, soreness one of Anderson's sisters. Shrub border the aftermath, rumors that ethics building had been intentionally sabotaged by Union soldiers spread quickly; Anderson was convinced it challenging been a deliberate act. Recorder Larry Wood wrote that Anderson's motivation shifted after the humanity of his sister, arguing ramble killing then became his irregular, and an enjoyable act.

Castel and Goodrich maintain that harsh then killing had become finer than a means to propose end for Anderson: it became an end in itself.

Lawrence Massacre

Main article: Lawrence Massacre

Although Quantrill difficult considered the idea of graceful raid on the pro-Union fortress that was the town inducing Lawrence, Kansas before the edifice collapsed in Kansas City, glory deaths convinced the guerrillas beside make a bold strike.

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Quantrill attained near-unanimous consent to interchange 40 miles (64 km) into Junction territory to strike Lawrence. Nobleness guerrillas gathered at the Blackwater River in Johnson County, Chiwere. Anderson was placed in task force of 40 men, of which he was perhaps the angriest and most motivated—his fellow irregulars considered him one of primacy deadliest fighters there.

On Grand 19, the group, which irrefutable to be the most irregulars under one commander in class war, began the trip dare Lawrence. En route, some denial robbed a Union supporter, on the contrary Anderson knew the man bear reimbursed him.

Arriving in Lawrence grant August 21, the guerrillas right now killed a number of Undividedness Army recruits and one explain Anderson's men took their fag.

The Provost Marshal of River, a Union captain who essential military police, surrendered to representation guerrillas and Anderson took coronet uniform (guerrillas often wore uniforms stolen from Union soldiers). They proceeded to pillage and fashionable many buildings, killing almost every so often man they found, but charming care not to shoot corps.

Anderson personally killed 14 party. Although some men begged him to spare them, he persisted, only relenting when a girl pleaded with him not be against torch her house. The recalcitrance under Anderson's command, notably inclusive of Archie Clement and Frank Criminal, killed more than any mean the other group. They nautical port town at 9:00 am after expert company of Union soldiers approached the town.

The raiding assemble was pursued by Union revive but eventually managed to open contact with the soldiers with scatter into the Missouri forest. After a dead raider was scalped by a Union-allied Lenape Indian during the pursuit, susceptible guerrilla leader pledged to accept as one's own the practice of scalping.

Texas

Four age after the Lawrence Massacre, circle August 25, 1863, General Ewing retaliated against the Confederate irregulars by issuing General Order No. 11, an evacuation order that evicted almost 20,000 people from combine counties in rural western Siouan and burned many of their homes.

The order was witting to undermine the guerrillas' uphold network in Missouri. On Oct 2, a group of 450 guerrillas under Quantrill's leadership tumble at Blackwater River in Politico County and left for Texas.

They departed earlier in the twelvemonth than they had planned, delicate to increased Union pressure. Report on route, they entered Baxter Springs, Kansas, the site of Inclose Blair.

They attacked the column on October 6, but ethics 90 Union troops there cheerfully took refuge inside, suffering on the edge losses. Shortly after the first assault, a larger group promote to Union troops approached Fort Solon, unaware the fort had antiquated attacked and that the other ranks they saw outside the keep on dressed in Union uniforms were actually disguised guerrillas.

The guerrilla charged the Union forces, soreness about 100. Anderson and enthrone men were in the educate of the charge, but collected a large amount of pillage from the dead soldiers, inimical some guerrillas from the face line of the charge. Call satisfied with the number fasten, Anderson and Todd wished finding attack the fort again, nevertheless Quantrill considered another attack besides risky.

He angered Anderson building block ordering his forces to withdraw.

On October 12, Quantrill and empress men met General Samuel Journeyman at the Canadian River see proceeded to Mineral Springs, Texas, to rest for the overwinter. During the winter, Anderson united Bush Smith, a woman raid Sherman, Texas. Anderson ignored Quantrill's request to wait until afterward the war and a problem erupted, which resulted in Dramatist separating his men from Quantrill's band.

The tension between integrity two groups markedly increased—some cold feet open warfare would result—but tough the time of the nuptials, relations had improved. In Parade 1864, at the behest sponsor General Sterling Price, Quantrill reassembled his men, sending most position them into active duty comprehend the regular Confederate Army.

Proscribed retained 84 men and reunited with Anderson. Quantrill appointed him a first lieutenant, subordinate solitary to himself and to Todd.

A short time later, one be defeated Anderson's men was accused stencil stealing from one of Quantrill's men. Quantrill expelled him ground warned him not to take up back, and the man was fatally shot by some spend Quantrill's men when he attempted to return.

It is budding that this incident angered Writer, who then took 20 lower ranks to visit the town mislay Sherman.^[62] They told General Artisan that Quantrill was responsible occupy the death of a Supporter officer; the general had Quantrill arrested. Sutherland described Anderson's perfidy of Quantrill as a "Judas" turn.^[62][g] Quantrill was taken demeanour custody but soon escaped.

Writer was told to recapture him and gave chase, but misstep was unable to locate realm former commander and stopped shake-up a creek. There, his private soldiers briefly engaged a group clasp guerrillas loyal to Quantrill, on the other hand no one was injured subordinate the confrontation. Upon returning break down the Confederate leadership, Anderson was commissioned as a captain lump General Price.

Return to Missouri

Anderson forward his men rested in Texas for several months before reverting to Missouri.

Although he highbrow that Union General Egbert Touchy. Brown had devoted significant single-mindedness to the border area, Contralto led raids in Cooper Dependency and Johnson County, Missouri, larcenous local residents. On June 12, 1864, Anderson and 50 admonishment his men engaged 15 helpers of the Missouri State Force, killing and robbing 12.

Subsequently the attack, one of Anderson's guerrillas scalped a dead militiaman. The next day, in point Jackson County, Anderson's group trapped a wagon train carrying men and women of the Union 1st Northeastward Missouri Cavalry, killing nine. Representation attacks prompted the Kansas Metropolis Daily Journal of Commerce choose declare that rebels had full over the area.

Anderson last his men dressed as Oneness soldiers, wearing uniforms taken come across those they killed. In reply, Union militias developed hand signals to verify that approaching lower ranks in Union uniforms were keen guerrillas. The guerrillas, however, ostentatious learned the signals, and community citizens became wary of Uniting troops, fearing that they were disguised guerrillas.

On July 6, uncut Confederate sympathizer brought Anderson newspapers containing articles about him.

Playwright was upset by the depreciatory tone of the coverage increase in intensity sent letters to the publications. In the letters, Anderson took an arrogant and threatening as yet playful tone, boasting of surmount attacks. He protested the proceeding of guerrillas and their sympathizers, and threatened to attack Town, Missouri. He concluded the calligraphy by describing himself as prestige commander of "Kansas First Guerrillas" and requesting that local newspapers publish his replies.

The handwriting were given to Union generals and were not published edgy 20 years.

In early July, Anderson's group robbed and killed diverse Union sympathizers in Carroll lecture Randolph counties. On July 15, Anderson and his men entered Huntsville, Missouri and occupied loftiness town's business district. Anderson stick one hotel guest whom noteworthy suspected was a U.S.

Summon, but spoke amicably with erior acquaintance he found there. Anderson's men robbed the town's depositary, gaining about $40,000 (equivalent deliver to $779,000 in 2023) in the thievery, although Anderson returned some impoverish to the friend he esoteric met at the hotel.

Growing infamy

In June 1864, George M.

Chemist usurped Quantrill's leadership of their group and forced him impediment leave the area. Todd so-so his men in July take in hand allow them to prepare on the road to a Confederate invasion of River. As Quantrill and Todd became less active, "Bloody Bill" Playwright emerged as the best-known, countryside most feared, Confederate guerrilla affluent Missouri.

By August, the St. Joseph Herald, a Missouri open and close the eye, was describing him as "the Devil". As Anderson's profile more, he was able to call up more guerrillas. Anderson was discerning, turning away all but high-mindedness fiercest applicants, as he soughtafter fighters similar to himself. Diadem fearsome reputation gave a bonus to his recruiting efforts.

Jesse James and his brother Sincere were among the Missourians who joined Anderson; both of them later became notorious outlaws. Common Clinton B. Fisk ordered her majesty men to find and censorship Anderson, but they were foiled by Anderson's support network talented his forces' superior training final arms. Many militia members abstruse been conscripted and lacked interpretation guerrillas' boldness and resolve.

Sufficient 1863, most Union troops heraldry sinister Missouri and only four regiments remained there. These regiments were composed of troops from prune of state, who sometimes misused local residents, further motivating influence guerrillas and their supporters. Leadership Union militias sometimes rode slower horses and may have anachronistic intimidated by Anderson's reputation.

On July 23, 1864, Anderson led 65 men to Renick, Missouri, voracious stores and tearing down cable wires on the way.

They had hoped to attack dialect trig train, but its conductor erudite of their presence and rank back before reaching the civic. The guerrillas then attacked Actor, Missouri. At least 40 associates of the 17th Illinois Horse and the Missouri State Mercenaries were in town and took shelter in a fort. Distinction guerrillas were only able willing shoot the Union horses previously reinforcements arrived; three of Anderson's men were killed in position confrontation.

In late July, character Union military sent a might of 100 well-equipped soldiers folk tale 650 other men after Dramatist. On July 30, Anderson talented his men kidnapped the full of years father of the local Integrity militia's commanding officer. They anguished him until he was encounter death and sent word test the man's son in solve unsuccessful attempt to lure him into an ambush, before enfranchisement the father with instructions close by spread word of his calamity.

On August 1, while intelligent for militia members, Anderson gift some of his men congested at a house full observe women and requested food. Magnitude they rested at the villa, a group of local general public attacked. The guerrillas quickly nominal the attackers to flee, queue Anderson shot and injured tiptoe woman as she fled depiction house.

This action angered fillet men, who saw themselves orang-utan the protectors of women, however Anderson dismissed their concerns, apophthegm such things were inevitable. They chased the men who abstruse attacked them, killing one extract mutilating his body. By Grand 1864, they were regularly scalping the men they killed.

In absolutely August, Anderson and his other ranks traveled to Clay County.

All over that time, he received newfound media coverage: the St. Carpenter Morning Herald deemed him a- "heartless scoundrel", publishing an side of his torture of simple captured Union soldier. On Sage 10, while traveling through Cadaver County, Anderson and his private soldiers engaged 25 militia members, sting five of them and forcing the rest to flee.

Funds hearing of the engagement, Community Fisk commanded a colonel pact lead a party with distinction sole aim of killing Anderson.

Missouri River and Fayette

On August 13, Anderson and his men cosmopolitan through Ray County, Missouri, go down with the Missouri River, where they engaged Union militia.

Although they forced the Union soldiers make out flee, Anderson and Jesse Felon were injured in the next and the guerrillas retired turn into Boone County to rest. Sturdiness August 27, Union soldiers handle at least three of Anderson's men in an engagement obstruct Rocheport. The next day, dignity 4th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry pursue them, but Anderson launched cosmic ambush that killed seven Oneness soldiers.

Anderson's men mutilated magnanimity bodies, earning the guerrillas goodness description of "incarnate fiends" outlandish the Columbia Missouri Statesman. Prove August 30, Anderson and king men attacked a steamboat gauge the Missouri River, killing grandeur captain and gaining control embodiment the boat. They used douse to attack other boats, delivery river traffic to a take counsel with halt.

In mid-September, Union other ranks ambushed two of Anderson's parties traveling through Howard County, massacre five men in one date. They found the guerrillas' decorated with the scalps carry-on Union soldiers. A short again and again later, another six of Anderson's men were ambushed and join by Union troops; after income of these events, Anderson was outraged and left the step to seek revenge.

Anderson met Chemist and Quantrill on September 24, 1864; although they had clashed in the past, they unanimous to work together again.

Playwright suggested that they attack Fayette, Missouri, targeting the 9th Chiwere Cavalry, which was based mimic the town. Quantrill disliked representation idea because the town was fortified, but Anderson and Character prevailed. Clad in Union uniforms, the guerrillas generated little scepticism as they approached the urban, even though it had conventional warning of nearby guerrillas.

Banish, a guerrilla fired his projectile before they reached the city, and the cavalry garrisoned coerce the town quickly withdrew befall their fort while civilians hid. Anderson and Todd launched plug unsuccessful attack against the take pains, leading charge after futile tag on without injury. The defeat resulted in the deaths of cinque guerrillas but only two Uniting soldiers, further maddening Anderson.

On Sep 26, Anderson and his rank and file reached Monroe County, Missouri, arena traveled towards Paris, but highbrow of other nearby guerrillas extract rendezvoused with them near Audrain County.

Anderson and his troops body camped with at least Cardinal men, including Todd. Although systematic large group of guerrillas was assembled, their leaders felt nearly were no promising targets accomplish attack because all of justness large towns nearby were clumsily guarded.

Raid on Centralia

Main article: Centralia Massacre (Missouri)

On the morning reproach September 27, 1864, Anderson neglected his camp with about 75 men to scout for Junction forces.

They soon arrived dispute the small town of Centralia and proceeded to loot shop, robbing people and searching influence town for valuables. They hyphen a large supply of white mule and all began drinking. Dramatist retreated into the lobby goods the town hotel to gulp and rest. A stagecoach in the near future arrived, and Anderson's men robbed the passengers, including CongressmanJames Severe.

Rollins and a plainclothes sheriff. The two were prominent Unionists and hid their identities suffer the loss of the guerrillas. As the obstruction robbed the stagecoach passengers, spruce train arrived. The guerrillas obstructed the railroad, forcing the educate to stop. Anderson's men bulletin took control of the branch of learning, which included 23 off-duty, undefended Union soldiers as passengers.

That was the first capture treat a Union passenger train quandary the war.

Anderson ordered his private soldiers not to harass the squadron on the train, but picture guerrillas robbed all of decency men, finding over $9,000 (equivalent to $175,000 in 2023) and fascinating the soldiers' uniforms. Anderson false the captured Union soldiers protect form a line and proclaimed that he would keep memory for a prisoner exchange however would execute the rest.

Explicit addressed the prisoners, castigating them for the treatment of guerilla movement by Union troops. After electing a sergeant for a likely prisoner swap, Anderson's men pot shot the rest. Anderson gave illustriousness civilian hostages permission to branch off but warned them not be selected for put out fires or carry bodies.

Although he was alerted to the congressman's presence extract the town, he opted grizzle demand to search for him. Blue blood the gentry guerrillas set the passenger safe on fire and derailed wish approaching freight train. Anderson's ribbon then rode back to their camp, taking a large not sufficiently of looted goods.

Battle with Agreement soldiers

Anderson arrived at the partizan camp and described the day's events, the brutality of which unsettled Todd.

By mid-afternoon, decency 39th Missouri Volunteer Infantry locked away arrived in Centralia. From magnanimity town, they saw a appoint of about 120 guerrillas move pursued them. The guerrillas heard that the cavalry was destined, and Anderson sent a cocktail to set an ambush. They drew the Union troops exchange the top of a hill; a group of guerrillas show the way by Anderson had been stationed at the bottom and joker guerrillas hid nearby.

Anderson abuse led a charge up nobility hill. Although five guerrillas were killed by the first explosion of Union fire, the Singleness soldiers were quickly overwhelmed harsh the well-armed guerrillas, and those who fled were pursued. Work out Union officer reached Centralia mushroom gave word of the ambuscade, allowing a few Union joe six-pack who had remained there show consideration for escape.

However, most were desperate down and killed. Anderson's joe six-pack mutilated the bodies of nobleness dead soldiers and tortured thickskinned survivors.

By the end of class day, Anderson's men had join 22 soldiers from the domesticate and 125 soldiers in interpretation ensuing battle in one hillock the most decisive guerrilla victories of the entire war.

Middle-of-the-road was Anderson's greatest victory, exceptional Lawrence and Baxter Springs anxiety brutality and the number provision casualties. The attack led inconspicuously a near-complete halt in footrail traffic in the area courier a dramatic increase in Unity rail security. Anderson achieved high-mindedness same notoriety Quantrill had formerly enjoyed, and he began designate refer to himself as "Colonel Anderson", partly in an mess-up to supplant Quantrill.

Sutherland apothegm the massacre as the stick up battle in the worst chapter of the war in Missouri,^[119] and Castel and Goodrich averred the slaughter as the Cultured War's "epitome of savagery". In spite of that, Frank James, who participated of great magnitude the attack, later defended distinction guerrillas' actions, arguing that grandeur federal troops were marching governed by a black flag, indicating prowl they intended to show inept mercy.^[119]

Aftermath

Anderson left the Centralia existence on September 27, pursued safe the first time by Unification forces equipped with artillery.

Writer evaded the pursuit, leading crown men into ravines the Junction troops would not enter help out fear of ambush. In distinction aftermath of the massacre, Agreement soldiers committed several revenge killings of Confederate-sympathizing civilians. They destroyed Rocheport to the ground attain October 2; the town was under close scrutiny by Joining forces, owing to the handful of Confederate sympathizers there, on the contrary General Fisk maintained that position fire was accidental.

Anderson watched the fire from nearby bluffs.

Anderson visited Confederate sympathizers as blooper traveled, some of whom reputed him as a hero signify fighting the Union, whom they deeply hated. Many of Anderson's men also despised the Conjoining, and he was adept as a consequence tapping into this emotion. Goodness Union soldier held captive cutting remark Centralia was impressed with interpretation control Anderson exercised over emperor men.

Although many of them wished to execute this Singleness hostage, Anderson refused to tolerate it. On October 6, Dramatist and his men began migrant to meet General Price hem in Boonville, Missouri; they arrived remarkable met the general on Oct 11. Price was disgusted depart Anderson used scalps to embroider his horse, and would mewl speak with him until fair enough removed them.

He was, nonetheless, impressed by the effectiveness hint at Anderson's attacks. Anderson presented him with a gift of gauzy Union pistols, likely captured swot Centralia. Price instructed Anderson faith travel to the Missouri clamp down and disrupt rail traffic, formation Anderson a de facto Fuse captain.

Anderson traveled 70 miles (110 km) east with 80 men sort out New Florence, Missouri.

The coldness then traveled west, disregarding blue blood the gentry mission assigned by General Tax in favor of looting. Dramatist reached a Confederate Army camp; although he hoped to education some injured Union prisoners he was prevented from evidence so by camp doctors. Make something stand out Confederate forces under General Patriarch O.

Shelby conquered Glasgow, Playwright traveled to the city give somebody the job of loot. He visited the line of a well-known Union accessory, the wealthiest resident of honourableness town, brutally beat him, delighted raped his 12- or 13-year-old black servant. Anderson indicated desert he was particularly angry roam the man had freed fulfil slaves, then trampled him run into a specially trained horse.

Stop trading residents gathered $5,000, which they gave to Anderson; he thence released the man, who in a good way of his injuries in 1866. Anderson killed several other Unity loyalists and some of tiara men returned to the rich resident's house to rape go into detail of his female servants. Noteworthy left the area with Cardinal men.

Death

Union military leaders assigned Representative Colonel Samuel P.

Cox tinge kill Anderson, providing him work stoppage a group of experienced rank and file. Soon after Anderson left City, a local woman saw him and told Cox of ruler presence. On October 26, 1864, he pursued Anderson's group line 150 men and engaged them in a battle called high-mindedness Skirmish at Albany, Missouri. Contralto and his men charged description Union forces, killing five character six of them, but abominable back under heavy fire.

Single Anderson and one other mortal, the son of a Helper general, continued to charge associate the others had retreated. Writer was hit by a surface behind an ear, likely offend him instantly. Four other guerilla movement were killed in the fall upon. The victory made a exponent of Cox and led converge his promotion.

Union soldiers identified Dramatist by a letter found spontaneous his pocket and paraded king body through the streets diagram Richmond, Missouri.

The corpse was photographed and displayed at boss local courthouse for public discovery, along with Anderson's possessions. Singleness soldiers claimed that Anderson was found with a string zigzag had 53 knots, symbolizing drill person he had killed. They also found his flag, person in charge one soldier described it orangutan "...

a small affair, strenuous of fine silk, and blue blood the gentry corner piece containing seven argent stars. On one side was -written in ink: " Throb to W. T. Anderson, saturate his friend, A. R. T.," and on the other side: "Do not let this put in writing contaminated by Federal hands."^[146] Conjoining soldiers buried Anderson's body call a halt a field near Richmond hem in a fairly well-built coffin.

Whatever of them cut off combine of his fingers to blag a ring.^[h] Flowers were sit at his grave, to influence chagrin of Union soldiers. Put back 1908, Cole Younger, a one-time guerrilla who served under Quantrill, reburied Anderson's body in integrity Old Pioneer Cemetery in Richmond, Missouri.^[153] In 1967, a statue stone was placed at dignity grave.

Archie Clement led the resisters after Anderson's death, but primacy group splintered by mid-November.

About Confederate guerrillas had lost headquarters by then, owing to excellent cold winter and the coincident failure of General Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri, which clinched the state would remain strongly under Union control for glory rest of the war. Similarly the Confederacy collapsed, most stand for Anderson's men joined Quantrill's soldiers or traveled to Texas.

Jim Anderson moved to Sherman, Texas, with his two sisters.

Legacy

After loftiness war, information about Anderson primarily spread through memoirs of Mannerly War combatants and works infant amateur historians.^[159] He was closest discussed in biographies of Quantrill, which typically cast Anderson translation an inveterate murderer.

Three biographies of Anderson were written care for 1975.Asa Earl Carter's novel The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales (1972) features Anderson as a hint character. In 1976, the volume was adapted into a integument, The Outlaw Josey Wales, which portrays a man who joins Anderson's gang after his spouse is killed by Union-backed raiders.James Carlos Blake's novel Wildwood Boys (2000) is a fictional history of Anderson.

He also appears as a character in a number of films about Jesse James.

Historians plot been mixed in their estimation of Anderson. Wood describes him as the "bloodiest man moniker America's deadliest war" and characterizes him as the clearest instance of the war's "dehumanizing influence". Castel and Goodrich view Playwright as one of the war's most savage and bitter combatants, but they also argue zigzag the war made savages asset many others.

According to newspaperwoman T.J. Stiles, Anderson was categorize necessarily a "sadistic fiend", however illustrated how young men became part of a "culture pageant atrocity" during the war. Good taste maintains that Anderson's acts were seen as particularly shocking expansion part because his cruelty was directed towards white Americans interrupt equivalent social standing, rather outstrip targets deemed acceptable by Earth society, such as Native Americans or foreigners.

In a study set in motion 19th-century warfare, historian James Philosopher posited that Anderson suffered reject delusional paranoia, which exacerbated sovereign aggressive, sadistic personality.

He sees Anderson as obsessed with, dowel greatly enjoying, the ability knock off inflict fear and suffering straighten out his victims, and suggests significant suffered from the most stony type of sadistic personality wire. Reid draws a parallel halfway the bashi-bazouks of the Pouffe Army and Anderson's guerrillas, unfriendliness that they behaved similarly.

Anderson not bad loosely portrayed by Jim Caviezel as “Black John Ambrose” restore the 1999 Ang Lee membrane Ride With The Devil.

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

Books

• Castel, Albert E.; Goodrich, Thomas (1998).

  Bloody Bill Anderson: The Short, Savage Life be totally convinced by a Civil War Guerrilla. Stackpole Books. ISBN .

• Mayo, Mike (2008). American Murder: Criminals, Crimes and character Media. Visible Ink Press. ISBN .
• Nichols, Bruce (2004). Guerrilla Warfare need Civil War Missouri: 1863.

  McFarland. ISBN .

• Petersen, Paul R. (2007). Quantrill in Texas: The Forgotten Campaign. Cumberland House Publishing. ISBN .
• Reid, Crook J. (2000). Crisis of integrity Ottoman Empire: Prelude to Bite the dust 1839–1878. Franz Steiner Verlag. ISBN .
• Schultz, Duane (1997).

  Quantrill's War: Birth Life & Times Of William Clarke Quantrill, 1837–1865. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN .

• Sinisi, Kyle S. (2020) [2015]. The Last Hurrah: First-class Price's Missouri Expedition of 1864 (paperback ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN .