They claimed to be fighting for the Confederacy, but in fact, their murdering and looting benefited only their pocketbooks. The Union militias sometimes rode slower horses and may have been intimidated by Anderson's reputation. Anderson and Todd launched an unsuccessful attack against the fort, leading charge after futile charge without injury. The tension between the two groups markedly increasedsome feared open warfare would resultbut by the time of the wedding, relations had improved. The guerrillas, however, quickly learned the signals, and local citizens became wary of Union troops, fearing that they were disguised guerrillas. Bloody Bill Anderson - Etsy Check out our bloody bill anderson selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. [133] The group then traveled west, disregarding the mission assigned by General Price[134] in favor of looting. [132], Anderson traveled 70 miles (110km) east with 80 men to New Florence, Missouri. In September 1864, Anderson led a raid on the town of Centralia, Missouri. In December, 1861, he organized his infamous guerrilla band, which included William "Bloody Bill" Anderson, George Todd, Fletcher Taylor, Cole Younger, and Frank James, to name a few. En route, they entered Baxter Springs, Kansas, the site of Fort Blair. Anderson was upset by the critical tone of the coverage and sent letters to the publications. They often used unorthodox tactics to fight Union troops, such as using a small party of horsemen to lure them into an ambush. 11, an evacuation order that evicted almost 20,000 people from four counties in rural western Missouri and burned many of their homes. Forces of Change and the Enduring Ozark Frontier: The Civil War. Anderson subsequently returned to Missouri as the leader of his own group of raiders and became the most feared guerrilla in the state, robbing and killing a large number of Union soldiers and civilian sympathizers. He addressed the prisoners, castigating them for the treatment of guerrillas by Union troops. Quantrill and other guerrillas nonetheless sought and sometimes received formal Confederate commissions as partisan rangers. Nov 26, 2015 - PLEASE READ THE HOME PAGE PRIOR TO ORDERING TO UNDERSTAND PROCEDURES, HOW TO MEASURE, WAYS OF PAYMENT, BACK ORDERS, ETC. Quantrill and other guerrillas nonetheless sought and sometimes received formal Confederate commissions as partisan rangers. It could be interpreted that the bugler picked up a total of 6 pistols that belonged, possibly to the other men that fell with Anderson. His dark good looks brought him to the attention . Topics and series. [1] By 1860, the young William T. Anderson was a joint owner of a 320-acre (1.3km2) property that was worth $500;[c] his family had a total net worth of around $1,000. 1. A short time later, another six of Anderson's men were ambushed and killed by Union troops;[90] after learning of these events, Anderson was outraged and left the area to seek revenge. The next day, the elder Anderson traveled to the Council Grove courthouse with a gun, intending to force Baker to withdraw the warrant. A State Divided: The Civil War in Missouri. World War Memorial (here, next to this marker); World War II and Korean War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Vietnam War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Richmond (within shouting distance of this marker); Pvt. Barbed Wire Press. Their move to Kansas was likely for economic rather than political reasons. declared martial law in August 1861, giving Union forces broad powers to suppress those who resisted Union control. [143] Only Anderson and one other man, the son of a Confederate general, continued to charge after the others had retreated. Operating against Unionists in the midst of the guerrilla war in Missouri and Kansas, he was a leading figure in the infamous Lawrence Massacre and the Centralia Massacre, gaining the nickname "Bloody Bill" for the perceived savagery of his exploits. For the more effectual annoyance of the enemy upon our rivers and in our mountains and woods all citizens of this district who are not conscripted are called upon to organize themselves into independent companies of mounted men or infantry, as they prefer, arming themselves and to serve in that part of the district to which they belong. (. They soon arrived at the small town of Centralia and proceeded to loot it, robbing people and searching the town for valuables. [115], By the end of the day, Anderson's men had killed 22 soldiers from the train and 125 soldiers in the ensuing battle in one of the most decisive guerrilla victories of the entire war. [101] Anderson's men quickly took control of the train, which included 23 off-duty, unarmed Union soldiers as passengers. In 1857, the family moved to Kansas and William worked for a time . The tortures included jumping on him, shooting at his legs and firing guns from his knee to burn his legs with powder. After selecting a sergeant for a potential prisoner swap, Anderson's men shot the rest. Jesse James and his brother Frank were among the Missourians who joined Anderson; both of them later became notorious outlaws. Cox's bugler gathered up 6 pistols around the body. However, he was quickly released owing to a problem with the warrant, and fled to Agnes City, fearing he would be lynched. and M.A. [119], Anderson left the Centralia area on September 27, pursued for the first time by Union forces equipped with artillery. He retained 84 men and reunited with Anderson. They were still suffering from the wounds inflicted by Jayhawkers in their attempt to murder them while being held as prisoners during the summer of 1863. Biographer Larry Wood wrote that Anderson's motivation shifted after the death of his sister, arguing that killing then became his focus, and an enjoyable act. The Union troops took his body to Richmond, Mo. William "Bloody Bill" Anderson . Union troops used horses to drag Anderson's body through the streets around the Ray County Courthouse. Anderson was under Quantrill's command, but independently organized some attacks. He took a leading role in the Lawrence Massacre and later took part in the Battle of Baxter Springs, both in 1863. The Fate of the Bushwhackers William T. Anderson (1840 - October 26, 1864), better known as Bloody Bill, was one of the deadliest and most brutal pro- Confederate guerrilla leaders in the American Civil War. After hearing their accusations against his sons, he was incensedhe found Baker's involvement particularly infuriating. 2, in March 1862, allowed Union troops in Missouri to hang guerillas as robbers and murder[er]s. Future orders followed the same tone. Bushwhacker activities in Missouri increased as a response to Federal occupation and increasingly brutal attacks and raids by Kansas soldiers, or jayhawkers. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 West Main Street, Richmond MO 64085, United States of America. During the American Civil War, the James family sided with the Confederates, and Frank and Jesse James joined a group of guerrillas, or . Burial. Anderson and his men dressed as Union soldiers, wearing uniforms taken from those they killed. The notorious Bloody Bill was killed in a Union ambush in Missouri. [72] Anderson's men robbed the town's depository, gaining about $40,000 (equivalent to $693,000 in 2021) in the robbery, although Anderson returned some money to the friend he had met at the hotel. [71] Anderson killed one hotel guest whom he suspected was a U.S. [112] Although five guerrillas were killed by the first volley of Union fire, the Union soldiers were quickly overwhelmed by the well-armed guerrillas, and those who fled were pursued. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. However, most were hunted down and killed. 0:02. In late 1863, while Quantrill's Raiders spent the winter in Sherman, Texas, animosity developed between Anderson and Quantrill. Local citizens demanded possession of the corpse. Gen. Thomas Ewing issued General Orders No. By the time he turned 21 he was accompanying wagon trains on the Santa Fe Trail, selling stolen horses. [73], In June 1864, George M. Todd usurped Quantrill's leadership of their group and forced him to leave the area. [7][b] Animosity and violence between the two sides quickly developed in what was called Bleeding Kansas, but there was little unrest in the Council Grove area. [31] By late July, Anderson led groups of guerrillas on raids and was often pursued by Union volunteer cavalry. [26] In early 1863, William and Jim Anderson traveled to Jackson County, Missouri, to join him. The Union troops took his body to Richmond, Mo. [80] In 1863, most Union troops left Missouri and only four regiments remained there. [117][118] Sutherland saw the massacre as the last battle in the worst phase of the war in Missouri,[119] and Castel and Goodrich described the slaughter as the Civil War's "epitome of savagery". General Orders No. They murdered my family when I was a schoolboy and I was launched into a life of shooting, reprisals and rough-riding." There is a new generation of Westerns, typified by the work of writer/actor/producer Taylor Sheridan in the prequel to his hit show Yellowstone (2018), titled 1883 (2022). [85], In early August, Anderson and his men traveled to Clay County. so there couldn't have been that many to obtain from citizens. Anderson led a band of volunteer partisan raiders who targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in the states of Missouri and Kansas. The Missouri Partisan Ranger Act , On July 17, 1862, Confederate Gen. Thomas Hindman issued the Missouri Partisan Ranger Act. After the war, several guerrillas, such as Frank and Jesse James, continued their violent behaviors, becoming infamous outlaws. They found the guerrillas' horses decorated with the scalps of Union soldiers. The Texas Gun Collector article suggested the family had indicated John Shanton owned a farm in Missouri where Frank and Jesse James would hide out. [59] It is likely that this incident angered Anderson, who then took 20 men to visit the town of Sherman. Relatives of William T. Anderson , known as "Bloody Bill". On this day during the Civil War in 1864, the notorious Confederate guerrilla leader William "Bloody Bill" Anderson was shot and killed. . Confederate States Army. [115] The attack led to a near-complete halt in rail traffic in the area and a dramatic increase in Union rail security. [136][137] Anderson indicated that he was particularly angry that the man had freed his slaves, then trampled him with a specially trained horse. [44] They proceeded to pillage and burn many buildings, killing almost every man they found, but taking care not to shoot women. Born about 1839 in Kentucky, the family early moved to Missouri, where William grew up near the town of Huntsville in Randolph County. It's either the flesh eating . [131] Price instructed Anderson to travel to the Missouri railroad and disrupt rail traffic,[129] making Anderson a de facto Confederate captain. TII Armory's James Tow says it's powerful enough to ethically take any game animal on the planet, including all the African Big 5. They tortured him until he was near death and sent word to the man's son in an unsuccessful attempt to lure him into an ambush, before releasing the father with instructions to spread word of his mistreatment. Usually a wife, sister, mother or sweetheart used ribbons, shells and needlework to create the ellaborately [sic] decorated shirts. Anyway, this has been a very interesting thread & we can agree that we each have an opinion on this matter. In June and July, Anderson took part in several raids that killed Union soldiers, in Westport, Kansas City and Lafayette County, Missouri. On March 12, 1864, in the midst of a bloody war which had long overflowed its thimble, Margaret Brooks was returning from her home near Memphis, Tennessee when her wagon broke down in Nonconnah Creek. Their familiarity with the landscape enabled them to appear and disappear into the woods like ghosts. One one hand, they were useful, serving to tie down Union forces. [154] Most Confederate guerrillas had lost heart by then, owing to a cold winter and the simultaneous failure of General Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri, which ensured the state would remain securely under Union control for the rest of the war. So . They had sworn to be revenged for the death of their father, and made their troubles an excuse for the career of bushwhacking in which they engaged with the Quantrill gang. [106] Although he was alerted to the congressman's presence in the town, he opted not to search for him. Missouri - A State Divided: The Civil War in Missouri, Partisan Warfare in the American Civil War, Forces of Change and the Enduring Ozark Frontier: The Civil War. It is said that "Bloody Bill" Anderson carried six to eight revolvers with him at any point. They may be found on the 1850 Census of Randolph County,MO. . There, his men briefly engaged a group of guerrillas loyal to Quantrill, but no one was injured in the confrontation. declared martial law in August 1861, giving Union forces broad powers to suppress those who resisted Union control. Anderson and his men were in the rear of the charge, but gathered a large amount of plunder from the dead soldiers, irritating some guerrillas from the front line of the charge. [122] In the aftermath of the massacre, Union soldiers committed several revenge killings of Confederate-sympathizing civilians. Although he learned that Union General Egbert B. Union leaders branded bushwhackers as outlaws, issuing multiple orders to suppress guerilla activities. [111] Anderson then led a charge up the hill. It could be interpreted that the bugler picked up a total of 6 pistols that belonged, possibly to the other men that fell with Anderson. Anderson and his men camped with at least 300 men, including Todd. The Bushwhacker in Missouri. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman was the head of the Confederate Army's Trans Mississippi Department in Little Rock, Ark. [130] Price was disgusted that Anderson used scalps to decorate his horse, and would not speak with him until he removed them. [60] Sutherland described Anderson's betrayal of Quantrill as a "Judas" turn. After a former friend and secessionist turned Union loyalist judge killed his father, Anderson killed the judge and fled to Missouri. Erected by Missouri State Parks. (, At the time, some U.S. states allowed slavery, primarily those in the south, and some explicitly forbade it, primarily those in the north; whether newly created states would be "slave states" was a contentious and hotly debated issue. Bloody Bill dead. The Dalton gang, cousins of the Younger brothers and imitators of the James gang, met their end at a bloody dual bank robbery in this Kansas town. They also burnt Baker's home and stole two of his horses before returning to Missouri on the Santa Fe Trail. Although Union supporters viewed him as incorrigibly evil, Confederate supporters in Missouri saw his actions as justifiable. [86], On August 13, Anderson and his men traveled through Ray County, Missouri, to the Missouri River, where they engaged Union militia. [107] The guerrillas set the passenger train on fire and derailed an approaching freight train. His family had been living in Council Grove, Territory of Kansas, at the start of the war. However, his gun of choice was said to be the Dance .44 caliber cap and ball revolver. [110] By mid-afternoon, the 39th Missouri Volunteer Infantry had arrived in Centralia. [144] Four other guerrillas were killed in the attack. Historians have made disparate appraisals of Anderson; some see him as a sadistic, psychopathic killer, while others put his actions into the perspective of the general desperation and lawlessness of the time and the brutalization effect of war. [19] Baker and his brother-in-law brought the man to a store, where they were ambushed by the Anderson brothers. Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond. On October 26, 1864, the notorious Confederate guerrilla leader William "Bloody Bill" Anderson is killed in Missouri in a Union ambush. On the other hand, the use of tactics like arson, robbery and murder seemed beyond the bounds of honorable combat. The Confederate guerilla died in battle on October 26, 1864. Add to your list and mine, Bloody Bill Anderson for he was a ruthless, vicious killer. The act sanctioned guerrilla activities against the Union army while attempting to gain some measure of control over the guerrillas. My 1888 Luscomb #b. [140][139] He left the area with 150 men. [156] Jim Anderson moved to Sherman, Texas, with his two sisters. [135] After Confederate forces under General Joseph O. Shelby conquered Glasgow, Anderson traveled to the city to loot. He sees Anderson as obsessed with, and greatly enjoying, the ability to inflict fear and suffering in his victims, and suggests he suffered from the most severe type of sadistic personality disorder. Concluding that eliminating the bushw[h]acker's support network would help end guerilla fighting, Brig. Unexpectedly, his men were able to capture a passenger train, the first time Confederate guerrillas had done so. At least 40 members of the 17th Illinois Cavalry and the Missouri State Militia were in town and took shelter in a fort. The guerrillas heard that the cavalry was approaching,[110] and Anderson sent a party to set an ambush. Anderson led a band that targeted Union loyalists and Federal soldiers in Missouri and Kansas. Answer: Coffeyville. Anderson led a band that targeted Union loyalists and Federal soldiers in Missouri and Kansas. Quantrill attained near-unanimous consent to travel 40 miles (64km) into Union territory to strike Lawrence. Etsy Search for items or shops Close search Skip to Content Sign in 0 Cart Gifts for Every Valentine Jewelry & Accessories He was, however, impressed by the effectiveness of Anderson's attacks. After he returned to Council Grove he began horse trading, taking horses from towns in Kansas, transporting them to Missouri and returning with more horses. They used any weapon available to them. His family had been living in Council Grove, Territory of Kansas at the . Again, were those 2 pistols found on the horse or were there more as Cox's statement was in the plural. Marshal, but spoke amicably with an acquaintance he found there. The trip was not successful and he returned to Missouri without the shipment, saying his horses had disappeared with the cargo. [88] On August 27, Union soldiers killed at least three of Anderson's men in an engagement near Rocheport. [29] In the resulting skirmish, several raiders were captured or killed and the rest of the guerrillas, including Anderson, split into small groups to return to Missouri. 100, in April 1863, set a national policy, outlining guerrillas and their treatment. Clad in Union uniforms, the guerrillas generated little suspicion as they approached the town,[92] even though it had received warning of nearby guerrillas. Henry Fuller's interview articles appeared in newspapers and magazines all across the United States. Then I noticed Bloody Bill Anderson and he has a very small existence in Josey Wales. "An unusual event made a guerrilla out of William Anderson. . II. Dec 28, 2022. An unusual event made a guerrilla out of William Anderson. Depending on which side you asked, these bushwhackers were either heroes or criminals. He then ordered and conducted the massacre soldiers. Union troops set his body up for public viewing and photos at the Richmond, Missouri courthouse. Their families and other local Confederate sympathizers supplied them with shelter, food, medical care and tactical information about Union activities. On Oct. 27, 1864, about 300 men of the Enrolled Missouri Militia, led by Union Lt. Col. Samuel P. Cox, ambushed Anderson and his guerrilla force in Ray County's Albany, Mo. Anderson led a band of volunteer partisan raiders who targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in the states of Missouri and Kansas. [74] By August, the St. Joseph Herald, a Missouri newspaper, was describing him as "the Devil". In 1976, the book was adapted into a film, The Outlaw Josey Wales, which portrays a man who joins Anderson's gang after his wife is killed by Union-backed raiders. If they were Bill's, he would have had 7 pistols on his person which to me is a little hard to believe. USA. In July of 1864 Anderson moved his operations to Carroll and Randolph Counties. Concluding that eliminating the bushw[h]acker's support network would. They buried him in an unmarked grave in Richmond's Pioneer Cemetery. The guerrillas gathered at the Blackwater River in Johnson County, Missouri. [146] The corpse was photographed and displayed at a local courthouse for public viewing, along with Anderson's possessions. Bloody Bill Anderson Also included in the list was Cole Younger, whose father was killed by the Kansans, and his mother made homeless after watching their house burn to the ground. Cartridge belts standard with up to 18 bullet loops in your [] One of the leading authorities on the Civil War in the western theater, Albert Edward Castel earned his B.A. [14] However, the group was attacked by the Union's 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry in Vernon County, Missouri;[e] the cavalry likely assumed they were Confederate guerrillas. After Frank and Jesse James joined the Anderson band, they robbed a train of $3,000 and executed 25 Union soldiers on board. 17 reviews The first-ever biography of the perpetrator of the Centralia and Baxter Springs Massacres, as well as innumerable atrocities during the Civil War in the West.