davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

search made hy the gncrrilas HIS wife
hc god them not to fire the hnus... They
were deaf tp iscr cnr"aties. and Ein|cl the
flames They left temporarily. l'h" lady
axtingli~l4"d the fire. y raider returned
and rrli9it"'i il. and again went away. Th"
woman pu' TIA" fire out. The third time the
man i.nikin Skaggs came and set the h"ri,r
N fire and yet the third lime the noble wife
'Xtinpui>lird it,
BY that tim" Larliin SkagGS began Ia feel
til" effects Of TIN" Lawrence free whisky lie
had been inl,ibin9. and was too intoxicated
t"t try 10 burn the house any more. \ little
later he himself was killed and lchousn was
spared. Thus this :vit" too, saved her hus-
bands life. Larkin Skaggs WAS the only one
II the 800 guerrilla, who lost his lii. in Law
renee, and that happened from his int"xica
ton.
One man escaped in til" strangcst of wayS,
by n stumble. He tried To run across the
road and reach Il clump rf BUSHES. In this
attempt lie strlci. his foot and t"ll prone
upon his face in the gutter. a mounted
guerrilla was after him. fall tilt, pistol raised.
The doomed man felt >',i.icihMg beneath him
rs he lay 1t was n loaded carbinc cooked
ready for use. In that desperate monemt lie
seized it and aimed it at his liur,u"r. The
guerrilla seeing the weapon, calnr no nearer,
but wheeled instantly and gallopc'l of.
Men took r.fug. i'll wells, cl,tclus, cellars
and anywhere else under ground. that IN
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
ASSOCIATION WITH JOHN BROWN.

Of this there is II" doubt. Quantrill was
still free state man. and looked with horror
on the attempt to plant slavery in Kansas.
Month after month these two and a few
chosen Others made midnight raids across
the border into Missouri, stealing slaves away
from their masters and sending them into
freedom The raids were made likewise ON
Kansas neighborS who held slaves. 1t is said
too that 10y and 10y the negroes brought away
with them masters mules and horses, and
that tho value of these was divided among
those who freed the slave, share and share
alike.
In June, 1850, Quantrill'S mother, in Canal
Dover. received the last letter from her wa,-
dering boy. In 1t he declares that he is
weary of life i'll the west, and that he is com
ing home in September to settle down. -
The next she heard of him was from the
newspaper stories that turned their readers
pale I" the lips with horror Mt the deeds done
by will Quantril.'
At this time there comes II great break III
the life of the youth. Some tcrribl. event
must have happened that changed him
through and through and made him hence
forth the exact opposite of all he had been.
That idea strikes one forcibly on hearing his
story. 1t Salso the opinion of Mr. Scott, his
old scho"lmate, who has tried v;linly to as
certain what it WAS that changed him
In his raidins days, at The head of his
guerrilla land. Quantrill used to narrate a
story of how he happened to join the south
and form his band. He said that once in the
woods hunting with his brother he left the
brother alone in the camp and went out To
look for game. Hearing shots he returned
quickly and found that the !ayhawkers had
killed his brothcr and he then vowed ven
geancc. etc.
The story is false. y companion of Guam
trill's wa. killed i'll that way by Indians in
some of his wandcrings. That is the only
foundation for the pretty romance. He
nr,cr had a brother with him during his
raids. His brothers were both in Canal
Dnyur
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
THE CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN

Al one point in the flight, hall dozen of
Qnanirlll's men, worn out. had lam down in
rorntield to rest. They were discovered.
With them was II regular Confederate cap
tain in uniform, Il man Of fine presence and
manners. He knew the stern rule Of warfare
i'll that rcgion--dnath on sight. He said to
tn" officer of the capturing party:
II suppose nothing ] can say for myself
viii do any good. The truth is, though, l
came along with this band in the interests of
humanity. | am II regular Confederate
sol'ler Oh furloush. | tearcl for the afro
ci'ir' these guerrilas might commit !
j ined them in the hope | might prevent
thes" somewhat. But l suppose that won't
help iac any now
No. replied the Union soldier; II cant
do"nvtilins for you
Il didn't think you could" said the Con
fc'l'rate captain; but have this last request
to make. Here is my watch and my card
Promise me that if you ever can You will
sad these 70 my wife
II PROMISE answered the Union captain.
y iew minutes later the Federal soldiers
passed. on. leaving SIX dead men in tlIe corn
tini.i
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

HOUSE WHERE QtANTRlLL WAS BORN.
Old neighbors are still in Canal Dover who
remember him from his infancy to the day
ne left for Kansas in 1857, when he was 90
years old His old schoolmates are there
men who became Union soldiers, and fought
for tho cause to which the other Canal Dover
boy opposed himself.
Among these old schoolmates still in Canal
Dover is Mr.. W. W. Scott, editor of The Iron
Valley Reporter. In their bovhood Mr..
Scott was much attached to Quantrll. For
he past twenty years lie has been collecting
all the historical evidence in regard to the
guerrilla that was obtainable from any
source. He expects to write the true life of
his old school mate, To the rare courtesy of
Mr.. Scott our readers ara indebted for much
of the information IN this page.
Canal Dover is US beautiful country town
rs earth affords. For agriculture the soil
,hereabouts is rich with nexhaustible fertil-
itv. | never saw So many fat people and
handsome horses at one place as there are ut
Canal Dover.
Through the town flows the picturesque
little Tnscarawas river. BY its side, mile for
mile along with it. is the Ohio canal, on
"h"sa towpath tradition says that clarified
lrove mules in his boyhood Up and down
his very bnnk the blonde haired boy thread
FL his way. dreaming of future greatness.
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

,putherncr. II native of Maryland 1t will
oe readily seen why.
His father and mother We're really from
Hagerstown aud pame as newly wedled
bride and groom from that place to Canal
Dover
Thomas H. Quantrill opened humble tin
shop in Canal Dover. He was an energetic
man. and ambitious
In course If time he became n teacher.
Ihe at length he was put at the head Of the
public schools in Canal Dover 1t is a re-
,ponsihl" and honorable place in towns of
that size.
Mrs. Quantrill's maiden name was Clark.
md the last day of July, 1881, her oldest
'oa William Clark, was born. As soon as
he was old enough he was pnt to school.
From his own father Il mild. gentlemanlv.
highly respected cil izeB. h.. received most of
his education.
They call him "Wili Quantri.: to this ,lay
Mt Canal Dover. He was II dif1i,icnt, re-
served youth. He would fight if drawn into
n brawl ana obliged To defend himself, but
it was not his choice. AS lie grew to man
hood he b"can" remarkable as IA nlarksman.
'Watch me make that pig s'I,Ieal. he said
once to Mr. Scott. He drew w his gun and
put :, clean round hole through the ear of a
pig many wards away. The shot was a per
feet one. and Quantrill laughed rs though
greatly amused.
But thar was the onl tim. he ever was
known to lie guilty IF anything approaching
cruelty He was ALWAYS fold Of the woods
and of hunting. He used to rather enjoy
carrying live snakes in his pockets. In
lonely. rocky spots. out Of sight OF the busy.
throbbins world beyond, sometimes lie re-
marked to his companions: boys, wouldn't
this be grand place to bald a cave and
hide Il rohber band ini But when the boy
was actually at the head of band of out
laws and murtlcrcr>, none were so horror
STRICKEN thereat us his old nei shbors III Canal
Dover.
He was little below medium height. with
blue eyes and Il slender frame but 1.-the and
active as a cat He was uncommoilv pre-
cocious intellectually y. L; wears of are
he got teachers certificate and taught d
school at Canal Dover He saved little
money.
Kansas was ut that time the scene of the
terrible conflict which was to determine
whether she should be slave or free. and
thither Went William Clark Qnantriil.
The neighbors with whom he Went man
aged to enter homestead osten>ibly for
him. He was not Yet of age, and could not
enter it for himself The story is not quite
clear. but Quantril never got the home
stead. and one or the other Of the neighbors
did obtain possession Of it. This embitterei
the young man.
To revenge himself he took yoke of oxen
belonging to one of them and hid the ami
mals i'll the woods. He WAS arrested for
stealing them From that time dates the
beginning Of his irregular. outlawed life.
In the "nsuiIg lawsni-. without f,ienls ~
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

Beside, the forces already mentioned, Lieut..
Col Clark, of the Ninth Kansas, was after
Quantrll with another troop of several COM
lanirS, hastily gathered. He was in COM
Elan of the Union border stations south of
the Little Santa Fc He received news from
Capt. Coleman of the raid ats O'clock IN the
morning of Aug. 81. Gathering whn, men
he could, lie tolnl Quantril's trail and fol-
lowed it for Il time. Theu he suddenly left
il and turned soulhwards to Paola, Kan. He
h"pr'l tn intercept Quantrill ut Bull Greek
ford, near raoa, on his return to Missouri,
and force him To give battle. Col. Clark
reached the ford ahead of Qnanlrill. Thu,
tie guerrilla had behind him. rpsr ut his
heels, over 200 pursucrs under Plumb, Pike,
Coleman and Senator Lane, while ahead Of
him, waiting for him at Bull Creek ford, was
Lieut.. Col. Clark, with over hundred more
solii"rs and ri'.zcns 1t seemed mpossibl,
to him I" cscnlu.
ret such was tho coilsllmnlatc skill of th,
g,.ri'lia that he cxtricaic,i himself from tli.
trap with til" loss of less than 10 men, all
told His puis'lrrs, too, numbered nearly
900 men, while he had only 500
The weary chase over the prairie lasted till
s o'clock and dark Then Quantrill was
within four miles of Bull Creek ford. But
h" did liu' come on to the ford. just after
'ihtk he formed IL lima of hallic, us before,
and waited till his prrsucrs came near. Then
suddenly his troop broke rank and turned
about slllarly To the north. Sratteringth
way and that in the darkness, knowing the
country as they did, they easily broke trail
and do'l@cl the whole Union force both be-
fore and behind them. There was Il skirmish
at the ford, lut 10 damage was done Az
this point the Union soldiers gave up the
chase for the time, AMI stopped for rrst and
darkness.
Pursuit was not renewed till day break Aug.
-! Detached companies of Union soldiers
from the various stations, besides those al
ready mentioned, We're hunting the raiders
in all directions.
Lieut.. Col, Clark started upon the rebound
trail at daybrenk. a detachment of $50
men under Maj. Phillips and 10 under Maj.
Thatcher found the trail carly, Aug -! and
followed it Immediately behind Coleman and
Clark.
What nF Quantrill: After Guiding the
troops at Paoln he went five miles further,
and then, within almost hearing distance of
the Union pickets, lie stopped to rest, forced
to it by exhaustion.
After briefly stopping he pushed on to the
border. At noon, Aug. -, lie reached the
middle fork of Grand river in Missouri, u
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
PURSUIT..

Maj. Plumb's party reached Lawrence only
i'll time to src Quantrill'S rear guard diSar-
pearing southward. The guerrillaS were rc-
turning to Missouri, to their inpcnctrublc
Businesses i'll the chaparral. Quantrill had
provided himself with fresh horses ut Law
renee. Those of Plumb's men We're exhausted
by the hard riding since midnight. There
WAS little hope of overtaking the bantl
Maj. Plumb pushed on, nevertheless. Dur
ing the forenoon lie overlook the forces of
CaptS Coleman and Pike, who had started
IN pursuit of Quantrill from the station
along the border
Capt. Coleman, from Little Santa Ft sta
tion. received the warl, and without II mo
mcm'S delay gathered his slender forces and
went to Aubrey. The two captains there,
with POO men altogether, set III for the chase
of Quantrill at midnight Aug. u. Cen
Jim" Lane" then United States senator
from Kansas, hastily gathered loO citizen
volunteers and joined the pursuit
Blu, Quantrill showed the qualifications of
IL general on his retreat. The rear of his
command was his hest guarded point. lIo
kept here l0O of his most thoroughly trained
and reliable men. They We're mounted upon
the freshest, strongest horses When tho
Union forces came near this 100 men would
halt and form i'll line of battle. as if about to
engage in fight. The Union troops would
then hasten forward and form. Then Guam
trilrs rear guard would discharge Il vollcy
into their forces, wheel, and ride swiftly
away So they managed To drtain and
worry the pursucrs, while the band itself
was drawing nearer and nearer to the
border.
These tactics of Quantrill gavc"pportunity
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

destroy property. Grain and hay in III,
fields and in barns We're 81, tire To. and ,ll
that would provide food for nlai, or beast
was destroyed. When ilcar rno,lal. to the
military stations the live stock. grain and
hay We're removed thither; when moi tI,v
were destroyed.
So thoroughly was the order carried on,
that III the autumn of lS';; one could ride
down through the Missouri border couu,in.
fifty miles without meeting Il living creature.
even house cat Blacksmith tools Law rust
ing i'll the shop, the childs cradle stood cmpty
beside the house door, where the mother Ind
left it in her flight
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

He started southward, only la,,Sing in his
way To burn the farm houses along the route.
1t has been said i'll cXtenuaton of Guam
trll'S raid on Lawrence that it was in retalia-
tion for what Col Jennison, the iayhawker,
had done i'll western Missouri. The Kansas
free state men We're called "jayhawkcrs" :"
The MiSSourans who sought to impant
slavery i'll Kansas by blood and violence
were named border ruttians," and it was be-
tween these two parties that the war Of OK
termination was waged
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

Then let me take my carpet ont of it
first" begged the lady.
"Yon may do that, said the raiders, "but
bc quick about it,"
She wen, into the house, rolled Lcr carpet
up and tagged it ont to Il place of safety
She watched lcsi,!c that precious carpe; iii
the raiders were ont OF sight. Her home,
meanwhile, melted int. ashes Lcl"rc her eyes.
BAT s.,- ..;ri her c.. pet s.!ll When the
lurrrllas were well ont of hrnring she u,l-
.olrd the carpet. IT WAS precious indeed
.or it had concealed her husband He, tn
w" or three others who had managed tn hir
themselves in time and those Quantrlil
'lacrd in Stones hotel, were all
he men VIII" surl iv,d that murder.
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
GIVE ALL DID IL"

Quantrill md his men We're product of
the times. So was John Brown. And for
the matter of it one side was nearly as bad as
the other.
You in the east have no idea of the war
as waged cn the Kansas and Missouri bor-
der" II free state man told me- "You never
will have. America cannot afford to let the
true story of it he written. For three wears
there the war was fought under the black
flag. Its true; for We all did it.
missouri Union men on the border wcre
obliged to flee for their lives into Kansas
Southern symwthizers in Kansas Joined tho
Confederate army or some of the numerou:
guerrilla bands"
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

theil' Wild panic
was suggested to
t hem. \ h ov 9
ground there was
10 safety. After
tho RAIDERS had
don" t!!cn' work
and passed ON, a
few laggard nncn
crcpt ou' ul their
hiding plnc"~, In
u Wall. some tine
after. iour carpSr-
We're found. the
botli., of four
prominent citizens
of La wr"iic".
In their despair
MAJ; ,,.,,.,. ,l,.
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
THE RAID ON LAWRENCE.

Among such scenes us those described th:
mild, soft spoken schoolmaster developed
into Quantrill, the guerrilla. Once he toos
from II train sixty unarmcd men, stood thclo
along the track and shot them dead
Why Lawrence was chosen for the vista
ton is not known. On that point Quantril
maintained his usual reserve. 1t il, con.
iectured. however, that lie had grudga
against Lawrence because lie had been ar.
rested there, and because the sheriff h;.ti
chased lin out Of the town There Wer,
many regular Confederate soldiers with
Quantrill OH that raid.
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
edge of the country the pursuing force.
KATE CLARKE

In the first part of his career Quantrill was
frequently accompanied by IL female COM
panion. She claimed to be married to him,
and called herself Kate Clark She was
splendidly mounted, and was daring rider.
Sensational stories, most of which are false
are told of her gorgeous attire. skillful
shooting and various exploits. The amount
of truth seems to I've this: There was such a
girl, no more than lG or IL years old, who
was Quantrill's companion for some time i,
the early years of the war She seems to
have been the only woman of any age, ex-
cept his mother, that the guerrilla ever had
any liking for. After Quantrilrs death
Kate Clark went to Texas, where she still is
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

y ounS. and adj
mirably mounted.
The first growth If
timber in Missouri
along the Kansas
border had been
cut way. The
second grow t Ii
formed ali inn
penetrable tllicket.
called the chapar-
raj. In the midst
/ of this Quantril)
and his mel con-
cealed themselves.
They had paths
which none but
-
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

iinnhrrr,l re & ion
wllcr" he was COM
paInliycly safe.
There he scattered
hi, land, and they
took to the brush.
Lieut.. Col. La
zrnr was II t t Ii G
head Of an other
II y ing party % f
Qamntrill's pursu-
rr,. He had 200
Ia" II. Aug. :! 3,
Col. l.nzcar really
ii ii encounter Il
portion of / h g
band, and had scv-
o.I.ul Il ~ .ul.D,.,.
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

had pla IL med to
make II midnight
raid on Morgan L..
w a lker, Il rich
farmer in j &c X
son county, Mo.
They meant to steal
slaves and other
property.
Quantrill went
nllcad of the band
to i.econnoitnr. He
entered Walkers
house, was hospita
b y entertained
and ate supper.
w neither this
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

lcld Il rcunion at
Blue Springs, Mo.
The mother of the
guerrilla chief
ionrncyei from
Canal Dover to
ucnt them. She
iiulsal to hear from
their lips that her
son was not as
black rs lie is
painted, Many of
IN" Old band are
respectable, we'll
to do citizens now.
Some, however,
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

i'I' h'i' Ii'h
enough Of them
eft to bury the
lead VIII" lay all
about them. 1t
"ns the most pitt
tul sight ever s"rn
III this continent
nItsitl" %: an In
lihn mas snrr".
which il rcscinbled.
\ gentleman WHO
is now Il leading
merchant in Law
rene" hid in the up
stairs of hi, house.
He rst.:I,ri the
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
VIC, QUANTRILL.
The Name Recalls a Bloody
History.
RAID on LAWRENCE. KANSAS.
One Hundred and Forty Citizens
Slain. Aug. 21. 1863.
RAID on LAWRENCE. KANSAS.

The History of Sunrise Massacre, Twenty
five Years !Ago-Jrssc and Frank jaime.
and Cole Younger-Portraits of Ouan.
trilrs Father and Mother-The Dreaded
Guerrilla Chief u Mild NIannercd school.
n,aster-O Originally an Anti-Slavery Man
and Chosen Comrade of Old John
Drown-His Death at Louisville.
Twenty-Five years ago this list uf August
occurred thc.plurderns and massacre at Law
renee, Kan, by the guerrilla band of Will
lam Clark Quantrill.
The name is commonly spelled "Quan.
trell' 10y the historians. That is wrong.
have seen it written i'll the guerrilla chief
tains own hand. Nv. C. Quantrll" He
wrote very fair hand. too, plain. even,
without shading, and delicate as woman's.
He ought to have written well. for the fa.
nous border leader was n school teacher by
profession. as was his father before him,
Thomas H. Quantrill, principal of the public
schools of Canal Dover, o. Moreover, the
alder Quantrill was Jealous Republican in
politics, and brought up his son in the same
faith.
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
GEN. EWlNG's FAMOUS ORDER.

Tie Guantrill raid took place Aug. Il.
le';3 On the alth Of August Gen. Thomas
Ewing issued an order depopulating all that
part of Missouri that bordered on Kansas.
Those who proved their loyalty We're allowed
To so into Kansas or to any of the military
stations, tie others were to so any place. nc
matter where so they only moved ont of the
district L" force the execution of this order
Can T." '' ou' y ''.'"'- d,.act ~, ~, .r
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

They knew the country like wild Indians,
every cross path and hill and stream in it,
For three Years Quantrill and his band defied
the whole power of the government in that
quarter. United States soldiers were in pur.
suit of them constantly, but never found
them. Now here. now there. they always
:luael T. " ~ '''li,e II ~ NOR knowl
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
These tactics of Quantril gavc"pportunity
tn tile tired out members of his pnrtv to take

turns in resting.
Their physical en-
,lurnncc had been
taxed To mans ut
most. They had
ridden not less than
seventy miles the
night before topper
form their bloody
work. Aft"r its
close there was no
pause M rest, but
they must ride
withalltllcir might
to escape to tho
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

had climbed down into the svrli 10 ,'a.,r. ,e
surrrilas. and had been >ttru"att.i
Til" stories of atrocities committed u.. wp-
men and children iy the band ar, n-i tru.
according To the best infolinniIra. t.ntan-
triil finished hi i'lo"iy wot; l",eil, and
10 L. &r'av
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01

ssAN WV ~ y
ready to eat their
own heads off if
he was not born at
Hagerstown, NJ d.
Til, ! know it. they
say, because Guam
trill himself said it.
1t is true. he
said it. After he
had embraced the
cause of the south
so zealously, and
become leader of II
guerrilla band for
t he Confccleracy,
Qnantrill passc Il
The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-09-01
ONLY A ROSE.

bulvn 1859. with bl,,sng cheek
And lrrfume straight from heaven!
Only r"s''. but it made the morl;
Seem brightest of all the seven.
Only IL ros": hi, tin, girl that gave
Was the sweetest r,,s,. uf ALL
With her buShiils check and the light in her eyes
Fallen irom heavens WALL