Banjo Heritage https://patreon.com/CliftonHicksI learned the words to "Bloody Bill Anderson" from a recording of Alvin Youngblood Hart. [106] Although he was alerted to the congressman's presence in the town, he opted not to search for him. Although Union supporters viewed him as incorrigibly evil, Confederate supporters in Missouri saw his actions as justifiable. The .500 Bushwhacker: Do You Feel Lucky? - The Mag Life Bloody Bill Anderson - movieneon.com [97], On the morning of September 27, 1864, Anderson left his camp with about 75 men to scout for Union forces. Plot [ edit] Cocaine dealer, Darrell, leads a cop on a chase through the desert. Anderson was fatally shot twice in the back of the head. Some bands of guerrillas, like William Quantrill's, had 400 or more members, but most were much smaller. [148] Union soldiers buried Anderson's body in a field near Richmond in a fairly well-built coffin. Confederate States Army. The defeat resulted in the deaths of five guerrillas but only two Union soldiers, further maddening Anderson. [37] Castel and Goodrich maintain that by then killing had become more than a means to an end for Anderson: it became an end in itself. If they were caught, Federals considered them criminals not prisoners of war. Around the same time, William T. Anderson fatally shot a member of the Kaw tribe outside Council Grove; he claimed that the man had tried to rob him. [10], After the Civil War began in 1861, the demand for horses increased and Anderson transitioned from trading horses to stealing them, reselling them as far away as New Mexico. Again, everyone can have an opinion about that statement. 3916.725N, 9358.603W. Marker is in Richmond, Missouri, in Ray County. 150 YEARS AGO: Sisters of 'Bloody Bill' Anderson caught in fatal [20], William and Jim Anderson soon formed a gang with a man named Bill Reed; in February 1863, the Lexington Weekly Union recorded that Reed was the leader of the gang. . [Map inset] Nearby Civil War attractions include Pioneer Cemetery and Ray County Museum in Richmond, Mo. On October 2, a group of 450 guerrillas under Quantrill's leadership met at Blackwater River in Jackson County and left for Texas. Anderson's horse, saddle & 2 pistols were presented later to a general. It is said that "Bloody Bill" Anderson carried six to eight revolvers with him at any point. 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. Gen. Henry Halleck. [31] By late July, Anderson led groups of guerrillas on raids and was often pursued by Union volunteer cavalry. Your choice of white or . [5] The Anderson family supported slavery, though they did not own slaves. [150][h] Flowers were placed at his grave, to the chagrin of Union soldiers. All such organizations will be reported to their headquarters as soon as practicable. Born in Kentucky in 1839 before moving to Missouri and eventually living in Kansas when the Civil War started, Bill Anderson soon earned the nom de plume "Bloody Bill." An unusual event made a guerrilla out of William Anderson. 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. [58], A short time later, one of Anderson's men was accused of stealing from one of Quantrill's men. As soon as the company attains the strength required by law it will proceed to elect the other officers to which it is entitled. [133] The group then traveled west, disregarding the mission assigned by General Price[134] in favor of looting. Anderson was upset by the critical tone of the coverage and sent letters to the publications. Fueling this conflict was a dispute over whether Kansas should be a slave-holding state or not. Home - William C. "Bloody Bill" Anderson Its frame and grip initially matched the Navy in size, but Colt later lengthened the grip to absorb. Anderson led a band of volunteer partisan raiders who targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in the states of Missouri and Kansas. [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. They relied on knowledge of the local terrain for survival. 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. [79] General Clinton B. Fisk ordered his men to find and kill Anderson, but they were thwarted by Anderson's support network and his forces' superior training and arms. Quantrill's Guerillas and William Anderson "Bloody Bill" 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. [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. William "Bloody Bill" Anderson | American Experience | PBS Relatives of William T. Anderson , known as "Bloody Bill". The True Account of William "Bloody Bill" Anderson [50], They departed earlier in the year than they had planned, owing to increased Union pressure. The Union troops took his body to Richmond, Mo. [113] One Union officer reached Centralia and gave word of the ambush, allowing a few Union soldiers who had remained there to escape. He worked with his brother Jim, their friend Lee Griffith and several accomplices strung along the Santa Fe Trail. The Death of William Anderson , 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. The guerrillas, however, quickly learned the signals, and local citizens became wary of Union troops, fearing that they were disguised guerrillas. The two were prominent Unionists and hid their identities from the guerrillas. 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. [12] In late 1861, Anderson traveled south with Jim and Judge Baker in an apparent attempt to join the Confederate Army. [119], Anderson left the Centralia area on September 27, pursued for the first time by Union forces equipped with artillery. After a building collapse in the makeshift jail in Kansas City, Missouri, left one of them dead in custody and the other permanently maimed, Anderson devoted himself to revenge. These "guerrilla shirts" were pullovers with a deep v-neckline and four large pockets. [103], Anderson ordered his men not to harass the women on the train, but the guerrillas robbed all of the men, finding over $9,000 (equivalent to $156,000 in 2021) and taking the soldiers' uniforms. [9][d] On June 28, 1860, William's mother, Martha Anderson, died after being struck by lightning. 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. declared martial law in August 1861, giving Union forces broad powers to suppress those who resisted Union control. Please note that we are about 6-7 months in backorder and the wait is worth it. Bloody Bill - True West Magazine If they were caught, Federals considered them criminals not prisoners of war. Again, as I posted earlier, only those that carried the Model 1861 Remington could possibly have availed themselves to this convenience as all the other sidearms took some time to change out the cylinder. They relied on knowledge of the local terrain for survival. 4. One of the leading authorities on the Civil War in the western theater, Albert Edward Castel earned his B.A. 11, an evacuation order that evicted almost 20,000 people from four counties in rural western Missouri and burned many of their homes. Relatives of William T. Ander - Genealogy.com 100, in April 1863, set a national policy, outlining guerrillas and their treatment. Bloody Bill Anderson: Missouri's bushwhacking devil - HubPages Rains, son of rebel Gen. He was buried in a nearby fieldafter a soldier cut off one of his fingers to steal a ring. Historic Huntsville Missouri - "Bloody Bill" Anderson - Google The tension between the two groups markedly increasedsome feared open warfare would resultbut by the time of the wedding, relations had improved. The trip was not successful and he returned to Missouri without the shipment, saying his horses had disappeared with the cargo. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 West Main Street, Richmond MO 64085, United States of America. Violence dropped in the area affected by Order No. After hearing of the engagement, General Fisk commanded a colonel to lead a party with the sole aim of killing Anderson. [13], Upon his return to Kansas, Anderson continued horse trafficking, but ranchers in the area soon became aware of his operations. He angered Anderson by ordering his forces to withdraw. Cole Younger, 1913, The Federal command in St. Louis, Mo. 2. Bloody Bill Anderson Missouri Civil War Frank Jesse James [64] The next day, in southeast Jackson County, Anderson's group ambushed a wagon train carrying members of the Union 1st Northeast Missouri Cavalry, killing nine. 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. He commanded 3040 men, one of whom was Archie Clement, an 18-year-old with a predilection for torture and mutilation who was loyal only to Anderson. [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. Location. [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. [60][61][62] They told General Cooper that Quantrill was responsible for the death of a Confederate officer; the general had Quantrill arrested. An unusual event made a guerrilla out of William Anderson. "Bloody" Bill Anderson (1840-1864), the most prolific mass murderer on the American frontier. On August 30, Anderson and his men attacked a steamboat on the Missouri River, killing the captain and gaining control of the boat. [124] Anderson watched the fire from nearby bluffs. In late 1863, while Quantrill's Raiders spent the winter in Sherman, Texas, animosity developed between Anderson and Quantrill. The .500 Bushwhacker is the biggest, baddest handgun cartridge in the world right now. 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. Gen. Thomas Ewing issued General Orders No. Bloody Bill Anderson - Prisoners Of Eternity These regiments were composed of troops from out of state, who sometimes mistreated local residents, further motivating the guerrillas and their supporters. Anderson was fatally shot twice in the back of the head. They used any weapon available to them. William Quantrill and William "Bloody Bill" Anderson are well-known bushwhacker leaders in Missouri. Dec 28, 2022. General Orders No. Todd rested his men in July to allow them to prepare for a Confederate invasion of Missouri. Anderson and his men camped with at least 300 men, including Todd. "Bloody Bill" redirects here. He retained 84 men and reunited with Anderson. [41], Arriving in Lawrence on August 21, the guerrillas immediately killed a number of Union Army recruits and one of Anderson's men took their flag. In 1857, the family moved to Kansas and William worked for a time . He was, however, impressed by the effectiveness of Anderson's attacks. [99][100] As the guerrillas robbed the stagecoach passengers, a train arrived. NPS Ozark Historic Research Study (Submitted on October 1, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Nov 26, 2015 - PLEASE READ THE HOME PAGE PRIOR TO ORDERING TO UNDERSTAND PROCEDURES, HOW TO MEASURE, WAYS OF PAYMENT, BACK ORDERS, ETC. He addressed the prisoners, castigating them for the treatment of guerrillas by Union troops. John Nichols, a bushwacker who operated in Johnson and Pettis Counties in 1862-1863, prior to his execution in Jefferson City, Missouri, October 30, 1863 Doing some quick math on the number of men who rode with Quantrill, numbers around 700 ( those who can be named), maybe more. [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. . Other nearby markers. William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson was a southern sympathizing bushwhacker born in Missouri and raised in Kansas. 100, in April 1863, set a national policy, outlining guerrillas and their treatment. [77][78] His fearsome reputation gave a fillip to his recruiting efforts. Union leaders branded bushwhackers as outlaws, issuing multiple orders to suppress guerilla activities. 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. Unraveling Myth of 'Bloody Bill' - RealClearHistory 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. 2, in March 1862, allowed Union troops in Missouri to hang guerillas as robbers and murder[er]s. Future orders followed the same tone. . And that is the terrible truth of the story of Bloody Bill Anderson. [25] Quantrill was at the time the most prominent guerrilla leader in the KansasMissouri area. A Note on Sources While on public display, a local photographer documented his death. [Photo captions, clockwise from top left, read] , . My 1888 Luscomb #b. Anderson, William "Bloody Bill" | Civil War on the Western Border: The Answer: Coffeyville. The Death of William Anderson
), Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History, Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 17, 2020. [6] Kansas was at the time embroiled in an ideological conflict regarding its admission to the Union as slave or free, and both pro-slavery activists and abolitionists had moved there in attempts to influence its ultimate status. [105] Anderson gave the civilian hostages permission to leave but warned them not to put out fires or move bodies. They claimed to be fighting for the Confederacy, but in fact, their murdering and looting benefited only their pocketbooks. [85], In early August, Anderson and his men traveled to Clay County. [1] There he robbed travelers and killed several Union soldiers. II. En route, they entered Baxter Springs, Kansas, the site of Fort Blair. Bloody Bill Anderson t-shirt | Tightrope Records Then I noticed Bloody Bill Anderson and he has a very small existence in Josey Wales. The Outlaw J.W. - Pale Rider connection. - Clint Eastwood 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. The life of a guerrilla was difficult and violent. Touch for directions. Bloody Bill Anderson - Lies and Sensationalism. 11, but guerrilla activity continued throughout the war in other regions of the state. So . [18], On July 2, 1862, William and Jim Anderson returned to Council Grove and sent an accomplice to Baker's house claiming to be a traveler seeking supplies. Many bushwhackers wore a distinctive shirt, such as this one on T.F. En route, some guerrillas robbed a Union supporter, but Anderson knew the man and reimbursed him. 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. It is in Richmond in Ray County Missouri, "The war brought on hate and strife and killing around here. William T. Anderson was one of the most notorious Confederate guerrillas of the Civil War. Bloody Bill Anderson Name bad men in history, Caligula - Hitler - Charles Manson, more? [54] During the winter, Anderson married Bush Smith, a woman from Sherman, Texas. Bloody Bill Anderson "Bill Anderson!" William Clarke Quantrill commands. [109], Anderson arrived at the guerrilla camp and described the day's events, the brutality of which unsettled Todd. William Anderson was initially given a chilly reception from other raiders, who perceived him to be brash and overconfident. 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. . Anderson's bushwhacking marked him as a dangerous man and eventually led the Union to imprison his sisters. From famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James to lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok to trailblazing pioneers and frontiersmen, this podcast tells the true stories of the real-life characters who shaped this iconic period in American history. After a brief gunfight, Baker and his brother-in-law fled into the store's basement. Handsome, rugged American leading man John Russell (whose credits are often confused with those of child actor Johnny Russell) attended the University of California, where he was a student athlete. Bloody Bill was born in either 1838 or 1839 and moved to Kansas in the late 1850s. [56] In March 1864, at the behest of General Sterling Price, Quantrill reassembled his men, sending most of them into active duty with the regular Confederate Army. After hearing their accusations against his sons, he was incensedhe found Baker's involvement particularly infuriating. 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. 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. [47] The raiding party was pursued by Union forces but eventually managed to break contact with the soldiers and scatter into the Missouri woods. [162] He also appears as a character in several films about Jesse James. On June 12, 1864, Anderson and 50 of his men engaged 15 members of the Missouri State Militia, killing and robbing 12. Anderson is loosely portrayed by Jim Caviezel as Black John Ambrose in the 1999 Ang Lee film Ride With The Devil. [102] This was the first capture of a Union passenger train in the war. At least 40 members of the 17th Illinois Cavalry and the Missouri State Militia were in town and took shelter in a fort. On July 17, 1862, Confederate Gen. Thomas Hindman issued the Missouri Partisan Ranger Act. Now that statement is a little murky. 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. [43] Anderson personally killed 14 people. In addition, it is included in the Missouri - A State Divided: The Civil War in Missouri series list. [152] In 1967, a memorial stone was placed at the grave. 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 Civil War was a brutal and savage conflict, but try as I might, I can't think of anyone as bloodthirsty as William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson. [63], Anderson and his men rested in Texas for several months before returning to Missouri. William Thomas Anderson was born in Randolph County, Missouri in 1837, the exact date and location of his birth, remain uncertain. Upon returning to the Confederate leadership, Anderson was commissioned as a captain by General Price. A wide-brimmed slouch hat was the headgear of choice. Bloody Bill's Guns Bill Langley had used a number of different guns during his career as a killer. [158] He was later discussed in biographies of Quantrill, which typically cast Anderson as an inveterate murderer. Gen. Henry Halleck. Anyway, as Baker had achieved his mission & as Anderson & his troops entered the ambush. from Wichita State University and his Ph.D. in History and Political Science from the University of Chicago. They often used unorthodox tactics to fight Union troops, such as using a small party of horsemen to lure them into an ambush. Community & Conflict website entry (Submitted on October 1, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.) 100% heavyweight Gildan brand cotton t-shirt. [141] On October 26, 1864, he pursued Anderson's group with 150 men and engaged them in a battle called the Skirmish at Albany, Missouri. [57] Quantrill appointed him a first lieutenant, subordinate only to himself and to Todd. Although he learned that Union General Egbert B. [89] In mid-September, Union soldiers ambushed two of Anderson's parties traveling through Howard County, killing five men in one day. Union troops used horses to drag Anderson's body through the streets around the Ray County Courthouse. [135] After Confederate forces under General Joseph O. Shelby conquered Glasgow, Anderson traveled to the city to loot. [2] During his childhood, Anderson's family moved to Huntsville, Missouri, where his father found employment on a farm and the family became well-respected. I do not claim to be an expert on guerrilla warfare in Missouri but am a student of the war in general. Answer: He mistook the cashier for Samuel P Cox, the killer of 'Bloody Bill' Anderson. [157], After the war, information about Anderson initially spread through memoirs of Civil War combatants and works by amateur historians. Anderson's horse, saddle & 2 pistols were presented later to a general. [144] Four other guerrillas were killed in the attack. 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. . [143] The victory made a hero of Cox and led to his promotion. [136][137] Anderson indicated that he was particularly angry that the man had freed his slaves, then trampled him with a specially trained horse. Marker is on Thornton Street north of Main Street (State Highway 10), on the left when traveling north. However, he was quickly released owing to a problem with the warrant, and fled to Agnes City, fearing he would be lynched. 11. Anderson was fatally shot twice in the back of the head. [147] Union soldiers claimed that Anderson was found with a string that had 53 knots, symbolizing each person he had killed. [75] As Anderson's profile increased, he was able to recruit more guerrillas. "An unusual event made a guerrilla out of William Anderson. Gen. John McNeil, the "Butcher of Palmyra." Cox's bugler gathered up 6 pistols around the body. Anderson himself was killed a month later in battle. Anderson participated in Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas on August 21, 1863. ; and Confederate Memorial State Historic Site in Higginsville, Mo. [122] In the aftermath of the massacre, Union soldiers committed several revenge killings of Confederate-sympathizing civilians. Around that time, he received further media coverage: the St. Joseph Morning Herald deemed him a "heartless scoundrel", publishing an account of his torture of a captured Union soldier. [145], Union soldiers identified Anderson by a letter found in his pocket and paraded his body through the streets of Richmond, Missouri. [81], On July 23, 1864, Anderson led 65 men to Renick, Missouri, robbing stores and tearing down telegraph wires on the way. "Bring Lieutenant Coleman to me." Local citizens demanded possession of the corpse. Bloody Bill Anderson - Lies and Sensationalism - QUANTRILLSGUERRILLAS.COM "The war brought on hate and strife and killing around here. Anderson's men mutilated the bodies, earning the guerrillas the description of "incarnate fiends" from the Columbia Missouri Statesman. [93] However, a guerrilla fired his weapon before they reached the town, and the cavalry garrisoned in the town quickly withdrew into their fort while civilians hid. A lot of the federal troops in Missouri were Infantry & only the officer's would have pistols. While on public display, a local photographer documented his death. Willaim "Bloody Bill" Anderson's Grave - Richmond, MO - Roadside [40] On August 19, the group, which proved to be the most guerrillas under one commander in the war, began the trip to Lawrence. Brown had devoted significant attention to the border area, Anderson led raids in Cooper County and Johnson County, Missouri, robbing local residents. William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson (circa 1838 - October 26, 1864) was a pro-Confederate guerrilla leader in the American Civil War. Bushwhacker activities in Missouri increased as a response to Federal occupation and increasingly brutal attacks and raids by Kansas soldiers, or jayhawkers. William T. Anderson - Wikipedia 3. The Guerrilla Lifestyle
Their move to Kansas was likely for economic rather than political reasons. [139], Union military leaders assigned Lieutenant Colonel Samuel P. Cox to kill Anderson, providing him with a group of experienced soldiers. Bloody Bill Anderson was a character played by John Russell in the 1976 film 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' directed by Clint Eastwood. Add to your list and mine, Bloody Bill Anderson for he was a ruthless, vicious killer. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Etsy Search for items or shops Close search Skip to Content Sign in 0 Cart Gifts for Every Valentine Jewelry & Accessories The order was intended to undermine the guerrillas' support network in Missouri. 1. 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. Erected by Missouri State Parks. [163], Historians have been mixed in their appraisal of Anderson. Although some men begged him to spare them, he persisted, only relenting when a woman pleaded with him not to torch her house. Bushwhacker - Wikipedia Partisan Warfare in the American Civil War. They later fought under "Bloody Bill" Anderson . Anderson ordered them outside the car and lined up in two files. [83] On August 1, while searching for militia members, Anderson and some of his men stopped at a house full of women and requested food. The film follows a group of people trying to survive while stranded in Sunset Valley, a desert ghost town inhabited by the murderous spirit of Confederate war criminal, William T. Anderson and his horde of zombies.