The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-29

What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE ANDERSONS.
Comrade O'Bcu Tells What re Knows About tb
WurdcrOus Guprr-illaS.

TRIBUNE in regard 10 QuauIreti. biL ADGcT-
son and other guerrilIas I thought il might
not be amiss 20 give your readers truthful
account of some Of the notorious Bib Ander-
son deviltTy.
Some time in the Spring Of 1862 company
OF bush whackers formed on Bluff and Rock
Greeks Lyons Co. KAN, consisting of Ingram
Baker, leader Of the expedition; William An
darsOn aud James. bis brother Leauder Griffin
generally called Lee. and William Read, both
cousins 10 the Anderson boys and some others
whose names are unknown TO the writer.
BlaG Greek is $50 miles west OF lndepend-
eucc. Mo. and Rock Creek five mics farther,
on the old Santa Fe stage and freight road in
Lyons Co, Kan.
At this time there were no railroads in Kan
Fas. and all freight had 20 60 overland 10
the Government posts on the frontier, and all
merchandise was transported by either mule
OF OK teams TO New Mexico.
The parties above mentioned went on raid
somewhere down on the border Counties and
near the Missouri line, aud made successful
haul from tile farmers. They came hack highly
elatcd with their success and soon tried IL
again bot this time they TeCkonec without
their host. They happened To run into a squad
Of home guards and Baker was captured and
taken to Fort Scott and put into the guard
house. Through the influence of friends, how
ever, be was soon released. The balance Of
the party escaped. having tEc best horses they
could get either in Western Missouri or East
err Kansas. Wei does the writer remember
the horse BID Anderson. rcde-a large chestnut
sarrel with two white hind feet. called Silver
Heels and believe the fastest horse at that time
iu the Western States. Wei, the boys returned
home without tl.oir leader. and were seemingly
quiet for some time. About the lst Of May
Baker also returned. but settled down or his
ranch q quiet. peaceful citizen 10 all outward
appearances; but the boys soon became restless.
There lived I'D the immediate neiEhberhood
an old German, by the name of Sc.gaFs who
was the father Of q blooming daughter about
is years Of age. 10 whom Baker was paying his
particular respects. Now, Mr. Scigars had
q large pair Of iron gray horses, Of which i
am not sure but he thought more than be
did Of his beautiful daughter. Be that IS Do
may, however Mr. Griffin thought best 10 ap-
pTODriate the horses and not the gIE 70 his own
use.
Accordingly one night Baker saw Griffin
going past his place with the Germans fine
fat horses, and when he saw him he called 10
him, saying lee, is that y0U?" but the rider
made no answer but rode straight ahead
Well. early the next morning our old Dutch
neighbor made his way over 10 Bakers. and his
FIRST exclamation was, Mine GOT I'm HImme
ID ine gray iron horses been stole. Mr.. Baker.
Baker, knowing that Griffin had stolen the
horses, with SeIgars went 10 Council Grove
Countvseat Of Morris County. kan and pro-
cured a warrant for Griffin. and sent al officer
EfteT him. The news was soon carried 10 the
Anders0ns Of the warrant being Issued for the
arrest Of Griffin Mr. Anderson the father Of
Bill and jim had in the early Spring borrowed
8 C0ublE-barrcled shotgun Of the writer for the
purpose Of killing ducks, and when they heard
the news o. the warrant being issued, Ar. An
ders6u and Bill saddled their horses, rode Up 10
Bakers and told him if he did not have the
warrant withdrawn by 10 a. 20. next day
THEY Would SURELY KILL HIN.
and rode away. Baker. knowing the disposi-
ton Of She AHdersous, sTCTe out warrant for
the arrest OF B.l Anderson, and Bill, having
friends. soon gothic word and skipped out: but
the old man. true 70 his threat. al or about 10
q. ID the next Gay went to Bakers house and
inquired the whereabouts Of Baker Some Of
the family about the kitchen told him that
Baker was up stairs over the sitting room. An
Cersgu passed through the kitchen into the sit
ting-roCm. where there were cutie number Of
men collected for the purpose OF trying TO arrest
Bill Anderson.
Old man Anderson made straight through
the room - the foot Of the stairway with the
doU5lC-bs rrclsd gun before mentioned, both
locks at full cock. Baker hearing the rumpus
below and being on bis guard, ran 90 the head
Of the stairs, and seeing Anderson coming M
with the gun fred downward on bim with
oou1-e-5arreled shotgun and killed him ia his
tracks The charge entering the left breast and
ranging downward.
This was tragedy 30. l.
The Anderson family, when the writer first
got acquainted with them, consisted Of Er.
Anderson and VIlC. four sons and three dGugh-
ters The mother % those seven children was
killed By lightning while standing IN the door
Of their house during a thunder storm some
time before war disturbed our peaceful land
The Oldest son dropped dead 10 the road from
EuDs-r0Ee and the second son soon followed,
dropping down IN fit and expiring immeat-
Etelv.
After tie death Of the father Il left BIZ the
Oldest q the family Of five children. He vas
then = years Of age and as fne looking young
fellow a5 one would wish TO see about FIVE feet
ak inches tall black eyes. dark. curly hair.
and bcttef l1rsemau the writer never saw.
The news Of the killing # Anderson spread
Ike W.ldEre. The corpse was brought 10 40
Greek, where the writer then lived This
cree being - miles from Independence was
hike some other small streams. numbered and
called Us Cts distance from that town Bill
bearing o. The death u his father, came in. and
after the burial stood his examination before
Squire Ieuar6r, a. Js2 Greek He emulgved
81 attorney 5y the name Of Eugles, Of Eupo-
ma Kan. The complaint or warrant being
detective Bill was set AZ liberty, mounted his
horse Silver Heels aud rode away before other
papers UOu.d Dc issued.
q Circumstance happened pending the exam
inat-On, which ! had nearly overlooked: an
Old man- quite gray made the remark while
talking about the case, that there had been q
time lu Kansas when there would have been
10 chance for lawyers 10 pick flaws 10 papers
that such CRIMES IS AudCGsou's would have
been punished on the spot Bib. 0verAaaring
tie remark, grabbed an az-Laudle and dealt
the old man z fearful blow,
KNOCKING HIH down,
then mounted bis horse aud fed. About three
weeks thereafter q stranger with z team came
alter and moved the Anderson family away
from the ueighb0rhCod. This was some time
~ TIE iorepaIt n June, 1862 About the same
time Baker married the daughter OF our old
Dutch friend. Gr Seigars; but the old man
moumca bis irCn2ray horses lost: FOR be
neither recovered them nor caught Griffin.
wei things ran smoothly until the night Of
the % o. July. l-52 which the writer viii be
quite sure 20 remember while memory lasts
was a. this time keeping a grocery store and
saloon together at ls2 Creek. There had been
during tie evening quite q number Of fovial
fellows playing cards. drinking beer, telling
stories, and talking Of the mOrrow-the sth Of
July-as there was 10 bc a large celebration al
Council Grove on shat day.
About j O'Clock at night the writer heard
some persons ride up to the house. butthat being
no unusual occurrence thought but little Of IN
a. there was great deal Of freight going over
this read az TINS time, and wagon and train
bosses generally rode ahead 20 find wood and
water tor camping PURPOSES Going IN The 90,