The National tribune., 1900-07-26
ON THE BORDER.
Episodes Of the Bitterness Between Men in
Kansas and Missouri.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In re-
cent article, Humanity as a War Ele-
ment," by Ii. III. Moore. ID. D., noticed
some inaccuracies which l would kindly
correct.
The gentleman says: "The Fifth Kan)
was commanded by Col. Jennison."
l don't think Jennison ever commanded
the 5th. When / first saw him and his
regiment, in Leavenworth, during the
Winter of 'G1 and go, he commanded the
9TH Kan. Cav, and they were frequently
spoken of as .Iennison's "Jayhawkers," or
'Redlegs." The term "Jayhawkers," as
used on the border in those days, was an
epithet first applied by the Missourians
to Kansas men, and afterwards generally
adopted by the Kansans, and meant one
who forcibly appropriated other peoples
property. The title "Redlegs" was de-
rived from a fashion many of them had
Of wearing red morocco leggings.
/ don't know what Jennison's griev-
ances against the Missourians were, but
he exhibited a yindictive hatred for all
who dwelt ON the Missouri side of the
line. AS an example of his bitter hostil-
ity to Missourians, | will relate the fol-
lowing incident, which was told me by one
of his old 7th Kan.
While the command Of Gen. Jas. G.
Blunt, to which Jennison's regiment be-
longed, was camped in one of the border
Counties of Missouri, q native in butter
nuts was arrested on suspicion by some
of the men and brought TO Blunt's head
quarters, where Iennison happened to be.
On investigation no crime could be
charged to the man except that he was a
Missourian. Jennson thought that was
crime enough, and wanted to hang him on
general principles. But Gen. Blunt de-
cided that as there was no evidence to
justify holding him he should be turned
loose. With an oath Jennison declared
his intention to mark him, SO that he
would know the fellow the next time he
caught him; and before anyone could rea-
lie what he intended to do, he whipped
out his bowie knife. grabbed the man by
the ear and whacked it off.
He and his men did so much deyilment
against citizens of Missouri that the
War Department took cognizance of the
complaints filed against him, and as a
consequence Jennison and several of his
officers We're cashiered Gn the Spring of
60 / think, new officers appointed in
their places, and the 7th was then sent
off down into Tennessee, to remove them
from contact with their old enemies, the
Missouri Border Ruffians." In the South
they did good service till the close of the
war.
The men of the 7th Kan. were probably
as good as the average of soldiers, but tne
old adage, Like master, like man." is pc
Jennison's leadership they were fast be-
coming as cruel and vindictive as their
Colonel.
Subsequently, through political infu-
ence, Jennison succeeded in getting his
disabilities removed, and was permitted
to raise another regiment, the 10th Kan.
Cav, which he commanded till the close
of the war, by which time 1t was making
record very nearly equal to that Of the
old 7th.
He was a man who knew no fear, and
after the war he fairly bearded the lion
in his den" by establishing gambling
house in the mining-town Of Joplin, in
southwest Missouri, where there We're
scores of his old enemies; but none of
them ever wanted to die bad enough to
call on him to square accounts, for they
all knew he was lightning on the cut and
shoot, and he was permitted to die a nat
ural death in Joplin a few years ago.
Further on. Mr.. Moore makes this
strange statement concerning some occur
rences Of the early part of the war: AT
ter this event no more military murders
were committed on the border"
I think if the gentleman will inquire
of the old soldiers and citizens along the
Kansas and Missouri border he will find
that those military murders" were con-
tinued right along till the close of the war,
on both Sides 1 knew of several such
affairs, and heard of many more, clear on
till the war ended. r. NJ. PECK, Whit
tior Col