The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-06-14
GUERRILLA WARFARE.
Massacre Al Centralla. No.


Massacre al Cemtralia, No.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: guerrilla
force numbering about 250 men, headed by
Bib Anderson, 81 Gordon and other noted lead
ers, went into camp on The Goth of September,
1854, IN some timber Gu a creek a couple OF
miles from Centralia, q small town on the
North Missouri Railroad. On the morning Of
the 9th Bib Anderson, with about - men,
went into Centralia. intending 60 capture the
passenger train due from St. Louis in the morn
ing. The guerrillas. after taking possession OF
the town, plundered the stores and shops and
filed themselves with whisky, and they were
then in a 1T condition TO carry out their devil
ish work. They halted the train when 1t
came up 20 the station aad took possession Of
it. On board the train we're % Federal SOL
diers, the most Of them being furlOughed men
from SherInans army. Among the number
were three wounded officers, two of whom were
accompanied by their wives. There were also
on the train seven men OF the LIST iowa Cav.
and one OF them, Charles O. Carpenter, belonged
TO my company. Bill Anderson told the Union
soldiers if they would surrender they should
be released on their parole. As they were
mostly uuarmed they agreed TO this gave up
their arms and got out of the ears, and were
formed in line, surrounded by the guerrlllas.
Bill Anderson gave the command, Right
dress! E." saying IN send you to hell IN q
straight line" and fired the first shot, which
was followed by the guerrlias, who then
opened FIRE on the helpless prisoners, the most
of whom fell where they stood; but a few of
them made a struggle and rushed at the guer-
Tiilas and one poor fellow broke through their
ranks and ran into house and under a bed,
where he was killed and his body dragged out
into the street. The gueTrilas, after they had
finished their work of slaughter, robbed the
dead and stripped the bodies and threw them
. 81 4 fra
They then rode out of the town, after notify
ing the people OF the place not to send any
news of the massacre OF TO move the bod les.
few hours after the guerrillas had left, Maj.
Johnson, with I47 men of the 18th Mo. mount
ed militia, who bad been following the trail OF
tine guerriilas for several days, rode into Cen
tTalia. The sight of our poor murdered iel-
lows filed them with rage, and they imme-
diately made preparations TO go.out and attack
the guerrilIas. The people OF the town tried
10 induce Maj. Johnson not TO attempt to fol-
low the guerriilas with his small force, bat the
Major was determined to attack them. lie
left - OF his men at the station and with 120
men went after this guerrilla force, which
numbered az least $50 men, and as reckless
fighters as the world ever saw.
The guerrillas were found in the timber,
ready 10 charge when the militia came up
Maj. johnson formed his men IN line on the
prairie IN front of the timber, and as he did SC
the guerriilas charged. They came Ike the
| rush of a cyclone, and with yell they dashed
onto our line of miitiamen, who broke IN all
directions, and the men were slaughtered with
out any attempt at defense. The result was
| that Mai. johnson and all his command were
killed, with the exception of three, who were
/ lett for dead, but finally recovered. Thirty
two of the militia broke away and attempted
70 20 back to Centralia, but they We're followed
4 by six gueTTillas, who overlook and Killed
/ them all Frank James was SAID 10 be one o.
/ these six. Mai. Johnson was a school teacher
aud the most OF his command were mere boys
/ and large number OF them recruited from the
/ city Of Hannibal. The dead were taken back
/ 10 their homes for burial. Sixty-two of these
poor boys bodies lay awaiting burial III q
church at Hannibal at one time. detach
ment Of the lst Iowa Cav. were eucamped
! at Mexico, no, at the time, and when the news
( Of the massacre was received there, the avail
/ able force Of the Ist Iowa boarded train aud
/ hurried down TO Centralia. Lieut.. w. w. Car
penter, brother 10 Charles g. Carpenter, who
was among The slain, went with them. HC
found has brothers body among the dead, with
the clothes burned of and with ii buie
/ holes in the body and one OF the little finger
cut of by the guerrllas, SO as to enable then
i TO get q gold ring from the finger that had beef
given him by young lady when be lett home
/ for the war. The gHeTiiilas were hard pressed
! By the pursuing forces after the Centralis
affair, and, Is usual, tEty broke up into small
e, lads aud scattered out through The country
4 Bili Anderson. with a few men, was surprised
/ By two companies of the 9Th Mo. militia a.
! they were about to cross the Missouri River
1 a few miles above Jefferson City, aud six o
4 them, including Bill Anderson, were killed
/ The whole two companies then dIsmounted ant
marched past Bill Audersous body as it IL,
/ on the ground, aud each man fired shot int
/ the body, which was buried on the spot. Th,
next day party Of men went up from Jeher
sou City VITA & camera, dug up the body 0
Bill Anderson, set IL up against a tree, took
negative Of it, and hundreds Of copies wer
distributed among the troops. Bill Anderson
the notorious guerrilla aud cold bIooded muir
dereT, had met his just deserts at last, aud thi
picture Of liiele5s fOTm, as it lay against til
stump, with the long tangled hair hanging t
his shoulders with the face thickly pitte
with bullet holes, presented q CHASTITY sight,
J. d. RUSSELL, Co. k, lst Iowa Cav.