The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-01-02
OUR STORY TELLER.
ANNIE McKEENE.

|
peared in one Of the New Orleans pa
pers during the month of September
SISTER CELEsTE.-1n this city, at the |
Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister
Celeste, on Wednesday, September Is,
1878.
Solemn High Mass of Requiem at the
Church of the Immaculate Conception,
next Friday, at nine o'clock a. m"
One September day, in the fall of 1862,
there rode up to the old but comfortable
looking farm-h of Andrew Harris,
near Independence, Missouri, band of
seventy men, armed to the teeth with
shot-guns and revolvers. They were
all strsng and young, and had an uncon-
cerned air of determined bravery. They
all sat up we'll ON their horses, were
young and hardy looking. A few were
but boys, while others had beard and
long hair. They were dressed in divers
styles-some in red, blue, or checked
flannel shirts, others wore coats. All
had boots coming up over the panta-
looms above the knee, and most with big
spurs at the heels. Their horses were
magnificent, and well decked off with
snowy brides. At the head of the COM
light, short hair, blue eyes, slight mus
tache. 1t was Quantrell and his men.
Who needs be told who they were or
what they were. Not such robbers or
frightful-looking people as some would
imagine, but bad enough indeed. They
opened the gate of the barn yard and
went in and dismounted, having left
guard for the hill half mile back.
They pulled down the hay, opened the
corn. crib, and made themselves at home
without saying word to Andrew Har
ris, the good old farmer they had come
to despoil. But he was not disturbed
he was ready to give them all he had,
for he was one of that class who lived
in that section that was but too ready to
succor any body whose mission it was
to fight the Kansas Jayhawkers. The
guerrillas then found Mr.. Harris a
warm friend, and ready to aid them
even at the risk of his life. Quantrell
was invited-to take dinner at the house
with the family, and his officers were
invited to come with him. One who
went was John McKeene, in courage or
stature the peer of any man in the COM
mand, and one of the great guerrilla
chieftain's most trusted c6unselors. He
had become famous for daring deeds as
we'll as handsome appearance. He
had come from Cass COUNTY, and on the
breaking out of the rebellion his father
and two brothers had been killed by
Jenhison's men from Kansas. McKeene
took an oath that no grass should grow
under his feet in the pursuit of the
murderers of his father and brothers,
and he kept his oath with a frightful
vengeance. He, like most Of his COM
panions in arms, became d desperate
with revenge as the impelling motive.
He had killed men, both young and old.
He had learned to shoot them down
with as much deliberateness as if he
were engaged in simple practice of
Workmanship. But he was handsome
for all that He stepped like an athlete,
and hade rude manner that was grace
full in its way. He wore wide-brimmed,
lght-colored hat, on which was pinned
black feather, wide belt of red mo
rocco, with gold embroidery, and the
cavalry boots of Federal colonel To
his belt there always swung pair oi
ivory-handled navy revolvers. These
were all the arms that he used and all
that he carried. With these he was q
master, ready always, quick as a pan
ther, and deadly in his aim. Sitting or
his horse, or standing on foot, he NIGH
be the envy of the noblestformed anc
most ambitious knight that ever be
longed to the Round Table.
There was then, instead of fear, en-
thusiasm at the house of Andrew Har
ris on the September day that Quantrel
m IN
corn, hay, and oats, as well as food fol
the men, given away with better goot
will. But Andrew Harris was not alon,
in his hospitality. His wife had sol
with Price, and another buried on tn
field Of Wilson's Creek. She was doin,
n labor of love- And there was an
other-the only child left at home
girl seventeen years old, who, like man,
Of her sex in that time and country, hac
wished hundred times that she were
man that she might go into the war.
She was rather pretty. Her eye
were blacker than an Indian maiden's
and as piercing, and her hair was as lon
and as straight---a type of women wei
known to those who lived in Westerl
Missouri in those troublous days. Sh
had made flags, large and small, whicl
she gave to those of her neighborhoo
who went out to fight. She had mad
herself dress of red and white. An
sort Of rebel soldier to her was a demi
god. The wild insanity Of the time
found in her splendid representative
Her name, young as she was, had bee
spoken throughout half a hundre
counties. She was known at every Fec
eral post in the State, and the author
ties had often threatened to Danish G
imprison her.
As a woman, she was as notorious 6
John McKeene was man. They ha
heard OF each other many time, an
longed to see each other. He had sal
she was the bravest woman in Missouri
she had said he was the bravest man
all the rough riders of the border. Coz
sequently, when they met at her fat
er's table, it was cordial meeting, ar
each was more than pleased.
As the sun went down Quantrell an
his men rode away, and, as they passe
along in front of the house, Annie stoC
at the gate and received salute fro
each one. Thensit was that she wisht
more feryently than ever that she was
man that she might go along.
Dh VIZ AcAhO"hh6 DCAoAC VI
sun had come up, the advance guard
the pursuing Federals came up to Il
house Of Andrew Harris in hot pursu
They had been told by dozen friend
citizens OF the hospitality extended
Quantrell and his men by the old farme
and this was offense enough. Th
called him out, and, after a few, unil
portant questions, shot him down, tn
burned the house. In less than an no
they had made scene of black desol
ton, and the girl and the mother b.
sought refuge with kind-heart
neighbor. 1t was the way of t
times-a characteristic of guerrilla W,
fare, and something that needs no ap
ogy now, since time has dried up t
tears, buried the dead, and put out I
fires. ..f.'I.. .'.iyEg
The pursuit of Quantrell continu