[29], In early summer 1863, Anderson was made a lieutenant, serving in a unit led by George M. Todd. Your choice of white or . If they were caught, Federals considered them criminals not prisoners of war. The U.S. Government provided a veteran's tombstone for Anderson's grave in 1967. . [162] He also appears as a character in several films about Jesse James. 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. [28] Castel and Goodrich speculated that this raid may have given Quantrill the idea of launching an attack deep in Kansas, as it demonstrated that the state's border was poorly defended and that guerrillas could travel deep into the state's interior before Union forces were alerted. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. In September 1864, Anderson led a raid on the town of Centralia, Missouri. It was Anderson's greatest victory, surpassing Lawrence and Baxter Springs in brutality and the number of casualties. Bloody Bill Anderson & the Missouri Bushwhackers - YouTube 0:00 / 1:05:58 Bloody Bill Anderson & the Missouri Bushwhackers Wild West Extravaganza 14.8K subscribers 132K views 1 year ago. Guerrilla Tactics , William Quantrill and William "Bloody Bill" Anderson are well-known bushwhacker leaders in Missouri. Other nearby markers. [13], Upon his return to Kansas, Anderson continued horse trafficking, but ranchers in the area soon became aware of his operations. Upon returning to the Confederate leadership, Anderson was commissioned as a captain by General Price. 1. A Note on Sources [82] In late July, the Union military sent a force of 100 well-equipped soldiers and 650 other men after Anderson. And that is the terrible truth of the story of Bloody Bill Anderson. Topics and series. Actor: Rio Bravo. . Nov 26, 2015 - PLEASE READ THE HOME PAGE PRIOR TO ORDERING TO UNDERSTAND PROCEDURES, HOW TO MEASURE, WAYS OF PAYMENT, BACK ORDERS, ETC. 2, in March 1862, allowed Union troops in Missouri to hang guerillas as robbers and murder[er]s. Future orders followed the same tone. Raised by a family of Southerners in Kansas, Anderson began to support himself by stealing and selling horses in 1862. If you're a fan of games like Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption or Gameloft's Six-Guns: Gang Showdown, The Wild West is definitely worth checking out. Gen. Henry Halleck's General Orders No. The Federal command in St. Louis, Mo. I. Details on John (b. [111] Anderson then led a charge up the hill. Reid draws a parallel between the bashi-bazouks of the Ottoman Army and Anderson's guerrillas, arguing that they behaved similarly.[168]. 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. William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson (circa 1838 - October 26, 1864) was a pro-Confederate guerrilla leader in the American Civil War. Rains, charged fearlessly through our lines and were both unhorsed close in our rear. Their familiarity with the landscape enabled them to appear and disappear into the woods like ghosts. He retained 84 men and reunited with Anderson. Their move to Kansas was likely for economic rather than political reasons. [38], Although Quantrill had considered the idea of a raid on the pro-Union stronghold that was the town of Lawrence, Kansas before the building collapsed in Kansas City, the deaths convinced the guerrillas to make a bold strike. (. 11. 11. [130] Price was disgusted that Anderson used scalps to decorate his horse, and would not speak with him until he removed them. However, most were hunted down and killed. The act sanctioned guerrilla activities against the Union army while attempting to gain some measure of control over the guerrillas. [74] By August, the St. Joseph Herald, a Missouri newspaper, was describing him as "the Devil". . The tortures included jumping on him, shooting at his legs and firing guns from his knee to burn his legs with powder. William T. Anderson was one of the most notorious Confederate guerrillas of the Civil War. As Quantrill and Todd became less active, "Bloody Bill" Anderson emerged as the best-known, and most feared, Confederate guerrilla in Missouri. However, his gun of choice was said to be the Dance .44 caliber cap and ball revolver. They acquired arms where they could, including taking what was left behind on the battlefield. "The war brought on hate and strife and killing around here. As you said, they could have obtained pistols from the local population but remember, the average farmer probably wouldn't have shelled out the $15.00 to buy a sidearm as he was more dependent on a long arm & $15.00 was a fortune. [113] One Union officer reached Centralia and gave word of the ambush, allowing a few Union soldiers who had remained there to escape. Born in Kentucky in 1839 before moving to Missouri and eventually living in Kansas when the Civil War started, Bill Anderson soon earned the non de plume "Bloody Bill.". ; Battle of Albany Civil War Marker near Orrick, Mo. [105] Anderson gave the civilian hostages permission to leave but warned them not to put out fires or move bodies. [107] The guerrillas set the passenger train on fire and derailed an approaching freight train. Union troops used horses to drag Anderson's body through the streets around the Ray County Courthouse. They will receive pay and allowance for subsistence and forage for the time actually in the field, as established by the affadavits of their captains. William T. Anderson (1840 - Oct. 26, 1864) known as "Bloody Bill" Anderson was one of the deadliest and most brutal pro-Confederate guerrilla leaders in the American Civil War. While on public display, a local photographer documented his death. [145], Union soldiers identified Anderson by a letter found in his pocket and paraded his body through the streets of Richmond, Missouri. Location: Missouri, United States. 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. Anderson led a band of volunteer partisan raiders who targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in the states of Missouri and Kansas. [131] Price instructed Anderson to travel to the Missouri railroad and disrupt rail traffic,[129] making Anderson a de facto Confederate captain. Also see . Please note that we are about 6-7 months in backorder and the wait is worth it. [114] Anderson's men mutilated the bodies of the dead soldiers and tortured some survivors. Marshal, but spoke amicably with an acquaintance he found there. You certainly wouldn't do that aboard a horse. Anderson and his men camped with at least 300 men, including Todd. Missouri's southern sympathizers hated Union Brig. Cox stated that he went out & took one of Anderson's pistols along with money & a gold watch. Assuming, of course, that you're brave enough to get within handgun range of those animals. [Map inset] Nearby Civil War attractions include Pioneer Cemetery and Ray County Museum in Richmond, Mo. ), Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History, Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 17, 2020. [Photo captions, clockwise from top left, read] , . The order was intended to undermine the guerrillas' support network in Missouri. An unusual event made a guerrilla out of William Anderson. Cox's bugler gathered up 6 pistols around the body. [108] Anderson's band then rode back to their camp, taking a large amount of looted goods. They buried him in an unmarked grave in Richmond's Pioneer Cemetery. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman was the head of the Confederate Army's Trans Mississippi Department in Little Rock, Ark. 100% heavyweight Gildan brand cotton t-shirt. William Quantrill and William "Bloody Bill" Anderson are well-known bushwhacker leaders in Missouri. Local citizens demanded possession of the corpse. While they rested at the house, a group of local men attacked. Gen. Thomas Ewing issued General Orders No. Wood speculates that it was "Thomas", his grandfather's name. Anderson was under Quantrill's command, but independently organized some attacks. [31] By late July, Anderson led groups of guerrillas on raids and was often pursued by Union volunteer cavalry. Violence dropped in the area affected by Order No. [Map inset] Nearby Civil War attractions include Pioneer Cemetery and Ray County Museum in Richmond, Mo. 1840-1864. [81], On July 23, 1864, Anderson led 65 men to Renick, Missouri, robbing stores and tearing down telegraph wires on the way. . The Guerrilla Lifestyle II. After Bill Anderson's death in Richmond, Missouri on October 27, 1864 his brother Jim Anderson gathered together their surviving sisters, Mollie and Mattie and took them to Sherman, Texas. It's either the flesh eating . He thought the cashier was an informant. Date Posted: 8/12/2009 1:51:23 PM. Rains, son of rebel Gen. They relied on knowledge of the local terrain for survival. Notorious Confederate bushwhacker Bloody Bill Anderson Three bushwackers; Arch Clements, Dave Pool, and Bill Hendricks. Often bushwhackers wore stolen Union uniforms as a disguise. Todd rested his men in July to allow them to prepare for a Confederate invasion of Missouri. Anderson himself was killed a month later in battle. And a lot of the Cavalry didn't have sidearms early in the war. 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. These "guerrilla shirts" were pullovers with a deep v-neckline and four large pockets. Burial. [132], Anderson traveled 70 miles (110km) east with 80 men to New Florence, Missouri. Anderson remained in Agnes City until he learned that Baker would not be charged, as the judge's claim of self-defense had been accepted by legal authorities. several of Anderson's men were cut down immediately & Anderson & 2 more continued but just a short distance when they were cut down. [23] They also attacked Union soldiers, killing seven by early 1863. [102] This was the first capture of a Union passenger train in the war. Anderson was fatally shot twice in the back of the head. Bloody Bill's Guns Bill Langley had used a number of different guns during his career as a killer. Desperate to put a stop to Anderson's bloodshed, the Union Army eventually raised a small militia to hunt him down. While on public display, a local photographer documented his death. Although Union supporters viewed him as incorrigibly evil, Confederate supporters in Missouri saw his actions as justifiable. [35] In the aftermath, rumors that the building had been intentionally sabotaged by Union soldiers spread quickly;[36] Anderson was convinced it had been a deliberate act. [146] The corpse was photographed and displayed at a local courthouse for public viewing, along with Anderson's possessions. [16] In May 1862, Judge Baker issued an arrest warrant for Griffith, whom Anderson helped hide. Anderson retreated into the lobby of the town hotel to drink and rest. After the war, several guerrillas, such as Frank and Jesse James, continued their violent behaviors, becoming infamous outlaws. USA. They relied on knowledge of the local terrain for survival. [101] Anderson's men quickly took control of the train, which included 23 off-duty, unarmed Union soldiers as passengers. [50] Shortly after the initial assault, a larger group of Union troops approached Fort Blair, unaware the fort had been attacked and that the men they saw outside the fort dressed in Union uniforms were actually disguised guerrillas. The next day, the 4th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry pursued them, but Anderson launched an ambush that killed seven Union soldiers. My 1888 Luscomb #b. General Orders No. [68] The letters were given to Union generals and were not published for 20 years. This action angered his men, who saw themselves as the protectors of women, but Anderson dismissed their concerns, saying such things were inevitable. [27], In May 1863, Anderson joined members of Quantrill's Raiders on a foray near Council Grove, Kansas,[27] in which they robbed a store 15 miles (24km) west of the town. Others, like William Anderson, had already entered a dark abyss from which there was no return and no escape except death. Maupin, pictured above. The Gun manufacturers did not provide extra cylinders for each firearm sold. His family had been living in Council Grove, Territory of Kansas, at the start of the war. [65], On July 6, a Confederate sympathizer brought Anderson newspapers containing articles about him. Soon after Anderson left Glasgow, a local woman saw him and told Cox of his presence. "Bring Lieutenant Coleman to me." Similarly, Jesse James' brother Frank became . Posted on 19th March 2021. Below is one of the articles written by Brownwood Banner - Bulletin staff writer Henry C. Fuller after Interviewing William C. "Bloody Bill" Anderson of Quantrill's Guerrillas of the Civil War at his home at Salt Creek, Brown County, Texas in 1924. [124] Anderson watched the fire from nearby bluffs. En route, they entered Baxter Springs, Kansas, the site of Fort Blair. arms army asked attack August Baker band began better Bill Anderson Bloody Bill body brother bushwhackers called camp Castel Centralia City Clark close commander Company Confederate. . Doing some quick math on the number of men who rode with Quantrill, numbers around 700 ( those who can be named), maybe more. This historical marker was erected by Missouri State Parks. 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. [135] After Confederate forces under General Joseph O. Shelby conquered Glasgow, Anderson traveled to the city to loot. Anderson ordered them outside the car and lined up in two files. Anderson was described as "nearly six feet tall, of rather swarthy complexion and had long, black hair, inclined to curl. [122] In the aftermath of the massacre, Union soldiers committed several revenge killings of Confederate-sympathizing civilians. [139][140] Anderson killed several other Union loyalists and some of his men returned to the wealthy resident's house to rape more of his female servants. 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. Gen. Henry Halleck. The Missouri Partisan Ranger Act As armies march across America from 1861 to 1865, other combatants shot soldiers from ambush and terrorized civilians of opposing loyalties in a fierce guerrilla war. The Wild West Extravaganza is a history podcast that delves into the fascinating and often tumultuous world of the American Old West. (, Although Wood states that Baker's group sought to join the Confederate army, Castel and Goodrich write that the group planned to conduct ", In his 2003 history of Civil War Missouri, Bruce Nichols stated that Reed led the gang until mid-July 1863. I have also read it was several Cavalry troopers, but that is another story. The most infamous order came in response to a brutal guerilla attack on Lawrence, Kan. Browning James A. 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. When as many as 10 men come together for this purpose they may organize by electing a captain, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and will at once commence operation against the enemy without waiting for special instructions. so there couldn't have been that many to obtain from citizens. [32], Quantrill's Raiders had an extensive support network in Missouri that provided them with numerous hiding places. 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. The reason for the bloody raid that left nearly two hundred men dead and caused between $1 million and $1.5 million in damage (in 1863 dollars) is still the subject of speculation. After camping near New Hope Church in Fort Henry about. One of the leading authorities on the Civil War in the western theater, Albert Edward Castel earned his B.A. (, 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. [148] Union soldiers buried Anderson's body in a field near Richmond in a fairly well-built coffin. Henry Fuller's interview articles appeared in newspapers and magazines all across the United States. [160] Asa Earl Carter's novel The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales (1972) features Anderson as a main character. [97], On the morning of September 27, 1864, Anderson left his camp with about 75 men to scout for Union forces. Touch for directions. At the end of P.R. from Wichita State University and his Ph.D. in History and Political Science from the University of Chicago. The residents of Lawrence, Kansas, would never forget what happened on August 21, 1863, if indeed they were lucky enough to survive. The Guerrilla Lifestyle , The life of a guerrilla was difficult and violent. ; Battle of Albany Civil War Marker near Orrick, Mo. ; and Confederate Memorial State Historic Site in Higginsville, Mo. Bushwhackers were involved in Price's 1864 Raid, the last official Confederate campaign in Missouri. In 1908, the ex-guerrillas and former outlaws Jim Cummins and Cole Younger arranged for a funeral service at Anderson's gravesite. Bloody Bill and some five or six of his associates in crime came dashing considerably in the advance of their line and their chieftain Anderson, with one other supposed to be Lieut. William "Bloody Bill" Anderson A sociopath who lived for spilling blood, William Anderson was one of the most fearsome leaders of Confederate guerrillas in Civil War Missouri. There he met Baker, who temporarily placated him by providing a lawyer. The partisans would have had to encounter only the Cavalry to obtain anywhere near that amount. Unexpectedly, his men were able to capture a passenger train, the first time Confederate guerrillas had done so. A wide-brimmed slouch hat was the headgear of choice. One one hand, they were useful, serving to tie down Union forces. [126] The Union soldier held captive at Centralia was impressed with the control Anderson exercised over his men. [86], On August 13, Anderson and his men traveled through Ray County, Missouri, to the Missouri River, where they engaged Union militia. Anderson was hit by a bullet behind an ear, likely killing him instantly. Bloody Bill pulled his revolver, shot and killed both. Anderson's horse, saddle & 2 pistols were presented later to a general. Official Records of the American Civil War, "Sideshow no longer: A historiographical review of the guerrilla war", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_T._Anderson&oldid=1137633714, People of Missouri in the American Civil War, People with sadistic personality disorder, Confederate States of America military personnel killed in the American Civil War, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Use shortened footnotes from November 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 17:50.