The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-09-28
Annual Gathering Held at Little Blue Church in Jackson
County this Week.
SOMETHING OF THE NOTED ORGANIZATION.
Frank James was Present-Monument to Brave Women.
Those in Attendance ETC.

order. The steel-eyed guerrilla read
the order which meant certain death to
MN or any of his men if captured, and
without word of comment finished his
breakfast. AS soon as the meal was
e7'ed the men assembled on their
h' IS IN the grove where the picnic
S4s held this week.
"Comrades,N said the chief calmly.
"Listen to this order.'s
After 1t was read the guerrilla chief
looked about him and SAID:
eli there is man in this command
who does not want to follow me let
him ride away. propose to give an
eye for an eye and tooth for tooth.
We will kill the federals, just as they
intend to extermnate u.s."
OF the sixty-two men who surrounded
the leader twenty rode away. They
were men from Johnson county, who
had joined the band the day be-
fore. A few weeks later they re-
turned and pleaded with Quantrell to
allow them to join his command. They
were received without question and
every one of the twenty proved as true
as steel to the chief.
1t was on that March morning in
1862 that the Quantrell band started
out on its career of recklessness and
slaughter that will live as one of the
most terrible chapters in the history of
warfare.
< ORIGINAL ORGANIZATION.
"Quantrell was resident of OhIo,"
said John Vaughn, one OF the veterans
who was in attendance. "He was on his
way across the plains to California and
was attacked by Kansas Jawhawkers.
During the engagement his brother was
killed and his property was taken from
him. At the moment his brother was
killed Quantrell determined to have
revenge. He pleaded for his life and in
duced the Jayhawers to allow him to
join the band. The party rode across
the Missouri line and invaded this
county. The plunderers, accompanied
by .Quantrell, decided to attack the
Walker farm house, just two miles
from this picnic ground, for the pur-
pose of freeing the negroes there
While the plans were being made
Quantrell notified the neIghbors
When the attack was made Quantrel
got his revenge. He turned on the
Kansans, and with the assistance o.
Walker and several neighbors killeC
the men who wanted to free negroes
From that day Quantrell was the leader
of the Quantrell guerrlllas. There were
but eight in the original band. Their,
are but two survivors, William Jone
of Blue Springs and myself"
The company was formally organized
August Il, 1862, at the Widow In
graham's farm in the southern part o
Jackson county. After the organiza
ton the band moved toward Inde
pendence and engaged in severa
skirmishes. Cole and Jim Younge
were IN all the battles. The first elec
ton of officers was held at Davi,
Georges farm. The officers electe
were: First lieutenant, William Hal
lar; second lieutenant, George Todd
orderly sergeant, William Gregg. Hal
lar was killed while asleep in cam
near Grand river. George Todd, th
best shot IN the command, was killed i
1864 while lighting on the old Lexing
ton road.
At the second election of officer
Hallar quarreled with Quautrell an
l., left the command. Todd refused to b
: promoted and William Gregg wa
o elected first lieutenant. Ferd Scot
$ elected third lieutenant, was killed {
4 the battle of Westport at the sam
: time William Scholl fell
a "Bill Anderson and Todd were yer
g much alike" sald e. G. Parr of Blu
a Springs. "They were mild and qui,
/, when not engaged in battle, but fougl
IS like crazy men, Anderson would cl