It is no secret most of the fighting in Missouri has been on the western side of the state, primarily between bushwhackers and jayhawkers--neither of which necessarily works as Union or Confederate Army. The people of Western Missouri have lived their lives in virtual fear since long before that first shot was fired at Fort Sumter last April. Homes have been burned; farms have been destroyed; animals have been confiscated or butchered on sight in order to feed the marauding invadors no matter what 'banner' they claim to march beneath.
The pre-war activities of 'Border Ruffians' (those who crossed the Missouri border into Kansas to raid innocent citizens' homes) caused Kansas natives to band beneath the guise of the Union Army under the likes of Charles Jennison (Jennison's Jayhawkers) and the 'Grim Chieftan' Jim Lane (Lane's Bridade) who have been responsible for the burning of whole towns, businesses, even churches, plundering farms to steal livestock as well as slaves all over southwestern Missouri and along the entire Kansas border. 'Union Jayhawker' attacks have been repeatedly met with the likes of Silas M. Gordon a true guerilla bushwhacker and the Swamp Fox, Confederate Jeff Thompson. Gordon burned over 100 miles of bridges and railroads across Missouri while Thompson's activities centered more in south eastern sections of the state. Finally, expressing his total exasperation on Dec. 22 (1861) Major General Henry W. Halleck, Union Commander of the West declared, "All guerillas are outlaws and are to be immediately shot whenever captured."
Yet, 10,000 Union troops have not been able to quell the guerilla attacks. Soldiers repeatedly report 'guerillas attack often at night or the break of dawn and then quickly retreat to hideouts the Army cannot find'. Many reports allude to the fact that the Army of pursuing soldiers only finds 'men quietly working their fields or sitting in their offices or places of business'.
Guerilla warfare is not a new tactic. It has been practiced for centuries. However, since the Kansas-Missouri Act guerilla warfare has become 'the fighting norm'. It does not matter if one supports slavery or not, jayhawker or bushwhacker, Union or Confederate, all are guilty of guerilla tactics. Sterling Price and his Confederate Army have terrorized no less than Lane's Brigade and Jennison's Jayhawkers. What has become apparent, however, is that a growing number of those who once joined General Price's Confederate Army have defected to follow a man named William Clarke Quantrill. In fact, the name 'Quantrill' declares a nemesis to the Union Army, synonymous with the word 'outlaw'.
William Clarke Quantrill was born in Ohio in 1837 and as a young man served as a school teacher. He was raised by strong Unionist parents but as he grew older, deciding that teaching wasn't going to make very much money, he signed on as a teamster from Fort Leavenworth on a mission to resupply the Federal Army during the fighting in Utah with the Mormons. During this mission he became acquainted with a number of pro-slavery individuals and changed his personal beliefs to become a strong supportor of the Southern Cause. He also discovered thievery would bring him more money. Quantrill lived in Utah under the alias of Charles Hart, a gambler. When this name became associated with a number of murders and thefts around Fort Bridger, Quantrill fled the territory to return to Kansas. In December of 1860 he joined a group of Kansas Free-State believers who intended to free the slaves of a man name Morgan Walker. Quantrill befriended Walker and helped to kill four of the Kansas Free-State men.
Quantrill joined Price's Army shortly after the Battle of Wilson's Creek but he defected by the end of September to form his own 'army'. It is reported that in the beginning he was followed by approximately fifteen men. He accepts none into his band unless they seek revenge against the Union Army or jayhawkers. Throughout last fall, Quantrill and his men 'assisted the Confederate Army' by distracting Union troops from Confederate activities. They continually ambushed homes and businesses owned by Unionists as well as the Union troops.
Quantrill appears to be a man impervious to playing both the role of bushwhacker or jayhawker so long as his mission serves financial gain. He has been known to 'rescue' slaves only to return them to their owners in order to collect financial reward. He's proven to be a gambler, a common thief, a burglar, cattle rustler, horse thief and a bit psychopathic if not an opportunist seeking his own personal gain--all with no evidence whatsoever of having a conscience or compassion for that which does not meet his personal needs. In response to General Hallack's order he has declared all Union supporters will be given the same treatment if they are captured by Quantrill and his men. In fact, he may not capture Union supporters before he kills them.
Because of their thieving outlaw ways Quantril's men ride horses superior to those of the Union soldiers and carry better firearms. They appear far more daring in their adventures, unafraid to the point of outright cunning in their maneuvers of escape. As example, on February 22 Quantrill and his men, having been informed there were no Union troops in town, boldly rode into Independance, Missouri where a full column of Union Calvary met them head on. Quantrill was nearly captured twice during the ensuing pursuit; yet, he and his men escaped displaying extraordinary tactics and skill. Two of the guerillas were wounded; one was killed. The following day Quantrill had the audacity to attend his dead comrade's funeral. He walked quietly into the service, drawing little attention to himself or the cane he depended upon.
Quantrill's band of renegades is growing by the day. Some estimate its number to be reaching near one-hundred since December. While he continues to head the list of the Union's most wanted, his name is quickly becoming a household word in eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
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