The Big blue union. [volume] (Marysville, Kan.) 1862-1866, 1864-10-08

Ost1Ze0D Oh inc NOft0 QtSS0ufi
Railroad! Maj. JOhnsOns, Com.
mand Of Militia Ambuscaded
and Almost Annlh11ated Full
Details Ofthe Horrible Murders
From the St. Louis Democrat of the 18th. I
Information derived, last night, from
the North Missouri Railroad. is moro than
con6rmatory of the terrible news published
yesterday morning in the Democrat, in
regard to the capture Of train and the
murder of between thirty and forty soldiers
by guerrilla band under the notorious
Bill Anderson.
| We have from Mr.. Jefries, Postmaster
at Mexico. who came down last night,
The following narrowing details of the
Centralia afsr, and the additional news
Of terrible disaster to Major Johnson
command of the State Militia.
Bill Anderson's band of guerrilIas,
numbering about 175 men, it seems, were
being pursued by Major johnson, in com
mand Of about one hundred and City men
detached from Colonel Kutzner's regimen.
Of North Missourians, Included ia which
were also few mili,iamen from Paris,
Monroe county. The guerrillas had been
chased on, of Monroe county, and we're
on their way to the South, when they came
upon the town of Centrslia, on the line of
the railroad. They entered the town about
IL o'clock. They were dressed in Fed.
eral uniform. and were we'll armed, noun.
ted and equipped. The citizens at frs,
took them for The State Militia. Shortly
after their arrival, a gravel construction
train came along. which was seized and
stopped. A few minutes later the pass.
enger train arrived from St Louis, which
they also Immediately seized. Three civ.
iliaDs, who made some resistance, were
shot in the cars, and either killed OF woun.
dsd, and were left on board. The other
passengers, including thirty and forty
soldiers, were all ordered out of the cars,
and plundered Of all their money and val.
tables. As soou as the stripping was
completed, the vile miscrean,s CONNIE NJ ed
firing upon their captives, the unarmed
soldiers, some of WHOM attempted to ss-
cape by running into the houses and out
into the fields, but were pursuec and sho,
down like wild game. Twenty-four of
these soldiers were thus butchered, seven
of whom were Of the 1st Iowa cavalry,
stationed at Mexico, and ten Of them were
discharged soldiers, veterans returning 10
their homes from Atlanta, after faithful
three years aud four months service in the
cause Of their country, the four months be.
ing extra service generously given, by
them to the Government. After these
men were thus hunted and shot down,
their bodies we're beaten, their heads cut |
off or hacked with swords, and every pos
sible iudignity inflicted upon them. Mr..
Rand, express agent at Centraiia, was also !
among the killed. The nufderous work |
having been accomplished, the torch was
applied to the depot, and the train con-
tanning The. three wounded civilians was
fred and started on lis way up the road.
1t ran about six miles, when it stopped
and was slowl y consumed.
The band then passed on, and in about
one hour was followed by Maj. johnson
and his command. Two OF. three miles
beyond CentraIia, in Boone county. on
the farm of a MIR. FrlIenweider, of this
city Anderson hid his men in The bushes
and awaited his pursuers. Major John.
son approaching the ambush, was fired
upon. He Immediately withdrew his
command, dismoun,ed them, and formed
ia line of battle. At this moment the
guerrillas burst from their hiding place
with fierce yelIs aud rapid firing. Major
J ohnson's horses took fright and left him
and his men to wage the unequal contest
on foot. They had delivered but one volley
when the g1errillas we're upon them,
shooting, hacking and staying to the right
aud left. The militia made no stand, scat
Tered and fled III oil directions. Eighty.
six Of their number, including Maj. John-
son, were killed in the very field whero
they dismounted. Ten other. were found
dead in the prairie toward Centralia. Out
of the whole command of about $50 men,
twenty live were all that, up 10 our lates,
advifes, bad escaped. A number of the
dead bodies we're brought down yesterday
to Mexico by train. Others will be
brought down TO- day.
This com Petss our account of the most
horrible butchery our State has yet been
afflicted with. The shocking details bear
'Otne:resemblancs to The Lawrence massa.
ere OF last year. In brutality and fisnd.
lshness these horrible deeds were never
surpassed. The people of the surrounding
country are terribly excited. They say
these guerrillas have their homes and their