The New York herald., 1878-11-24
ANNIE M'KEENE
Story of a Sister Of Mercy Who Had
Been a Rebel Guerilla.
ONE OF QUANTRELL'S BAND.
Her Death in New Orleans from Nursing
the Victims of the Scourge
Sr. LOUIS. Nov. 81, 1873

Sr. LOUIS, Nov 81, 1873.
remarkable romance has recently come to light
by the death OF young woman by yellow fever III
New Orleans. Annie McKaene the wife OF 4 noted
Missouri guerilla, herself for long time veri.abe
rough rider OF the border, and finally Sister OF
Mercy. in which capacity she met her death during
the scourge in the Crescent City, The story OF her
singular career authenticated and told to the
HERALD correspondent is follows:-During the
month of September in the year 1862 there rode up
to the farmhouse OF Andrew Harris. near Indepen-
dence Mo-. band of seventy men, armed to the teeth
with shotguns and revolvers. They all sat
well on their horses. strong and young and
had an unconcerned air of determined bravery.
few but boys. while others had boards and long
hair. They were dressed in diverse styles some in
red, blue checked flannel shirts others coats
All had boots coming up the pantaloons above
the knee and most with big spurs 1T the heels Their
horses were magnificent and well decked of with fine
saddles and snowy brides. At the head Of the COM
pany rode small man. with pale face, light, short
hair blue eyes and slight mustache. II was Quantrcl
and his men. Who needs be told what they were !?
Not such robbers frightful looking people
would imagine. but bad enough indeed. They opened
the gate of the barnyard went in and dismounted
having left guard on the hill half a
mile back. They pulled down the hay, opened
the corn crlD ana maze themselves at nome
without saying word to Andrew Harris. the
good old farmer they had come to despoil. But he
was not disturbed-he ready to give them all he
had. for be of that numerous class who lived
in that section who but too ready any
body whose mission it was to fight the Kansas Jay
hawkers. The guerillas then found Mr.. Harris a
friend warm and ready to aid them, at the risk
of his life Quantrell invited to take dinner at
the house with the family and his officers were in
vted to come with him.
JOHN M'KEENE.
One who went was John McKeene. in courage or
stature the peer of any man in the command and one
Of the guerilla cheftain's most trusty counseors.
He had become famous for daring deeds well
handsome appearance. He had come from
Cass county, and, in the breaking out of the war.
his father and two brothers had been killed
by Jennsens men from Kansas Mckeene took an
oath that grass should grow under his feet in his
pursuit the murerers OF his father and brothers.
and he kept his oath with rightful vengeance. He,
like most Of his companions in arms, became n
desperate with revenge As the impelling motive He
had killed both old and young. He had learned
to shoot them down with much deliberatcness il
he were engaged in simple pratice Of marksrnall-
ship. But he handsome for all that. He stepped
like athlete and had rude that grace
ful in its way. He wore wide brimmed, light
colored hat, on which was pinned black feather; q
the cavalry boots of federal colonel 10 his belt
there always swung a pair of ivory handled navy
rcvovers These were all the arms that he used and
all that he carried With these he master. ready
always. quick panther and deadly in his aim.
FRIENDS.
There was .hen instead of fear, enthusiasm at the
house of Andrew Harris on the September day that
Quantrcll came to forage on him. Never corn,
hay and oats well food for the men, given away
with better good will. But Andrew Harris was not
alone his hospitality. His wife had with Price
and another buried on the field of Wilson's Creek
She was doing labor of love. And there another
the only child left at home. girl seventeen years old
who, like many of her sex in that time and country
had wished hundred times that she were man that
she might go into the She rather pretty Her
eyes were blacker than an Indian maidcn's and as
piercing. and her hair long and straight-a
| type OF women well known to those who lived
in Western Missouri i'll those troublesome days. She
had made flags large and small. which she gave to
those OF her neghborhood who went out to fight.
She had made herself dress of red and white Any
sort a rebel soldier to her dcm-eod. The Wild
insanity of the times found in her splendid repre-
sentative. Her name. young ~ sho was was familiar
through half a hundred counties. She known ut
every federal pos. in the state aud the authorities had
often threatened to Danish imprson her. Az
man she notorious AS John Mckcene
man. They had heard of each other many time and
had ongel to each other. He had said she tho
bravest in Missouri; she had said he the
bravest Of all the rough riders of the border.
Consequently when they met at her fathers table II
was cordial meeting and each more than pleased.
As the sun went down Quantrell and his men rodo
away and they passed along in front OF the house
Annie stood AT the gate amt received salute from
each one Then it was that she wished more fer
vcnty than that she was man, that she might
go along.
PENALTY.
On the following morning, before the sun had
up the advance guard Of the pursuing fcdcrals
came up to tho house of Andrew Harris in hot pur-
suit They had been told by dozen friendly citizens
the hospitality extended to Quantrell ana his
by the old farmer and this was offence enough. They
called him out and, after few unmportant q,ics-
tions shot him down, then burned the house. In
less than hour they had made scene Of blsck
desoation, and the girl and the mother had uglt
refuge with kind hearted ncghbor. II was the way
of the mcsa chara terstic OF guerilla warfare and
something that needs no apology now since time has
fires. The pursuit of Quantrcll continued until he
was oyertakcn. There was close sharp fight. which
resulted in the defeat and disbandnent of the
MAN AND WIFE IN THE SADDLE.
John Mckecno returned to the ruins of the Harris
hompstcad and learned the whole story. He met
Annie Harris. and the two pledged their OF
eternal vengeance. There was more than that She
said she would go with him and deal the blows Of
death ~ he did. On horseback they went to an
humble preachers house and without alighling, had
him make them man and wife She threw away her
woman dress and donncd male attire. She put
a belt besides and two rcvolycrs, and her long hair
she tucked up under her hat. She looked much
like soldier many young boy that went out with
Quantrcll. The whole land full Of federal sol
dicrs, and John McKeene and his guerilla wife lad To-
share the dangers aud priyaons OF all OF their kind
Their home tho saddle, their shelter tho woods
They together In more than one ambush at
tack. and together saw more than one OF the hated
enemy bite tho dust. Whom the winter came and the
leaves left tile they away to the south, and
waited there until the leaves again as big the
OF the squirrels. when they returned " their
constant battle ground.
DIVORCE OF DEATH.
On June morning. In 1865 they, with half
dozen Others riding along over the prairie
where stands the little town OF Lee y summit
they met by detachment of the Seventh
Missouri State militia. There desperate
counter, in which John Mckcene shot dead and
Annie Mckoene shot through the shoulder. The
others of the guciilias escaped When the fcderals
came up to where Mckeenc and his wife were lying
ol the soldiers lcvclcd his revolver ut the
head Of the woman IN disguise, but before tho
trigger pulled she threw of her hat snatched her
long hair down aud sat up before him with the face
OF woman The revolver was put mp and the
mystery solved she told them all she had lived for
was gone but that she not ready a. die herself
She begged them to give her companion the best
burial they could and said she wanted to 70 TO
Kansas city. There was q tone Of voice and style
Of carnostcss about what she said that touched tho
hearts OF tho rough soldiers. and they buried John
Mckecnc out ON the broad prairie; but there not
stone piece of Wood within a hali-dozun miles
the place and nothing left TO mark the place