The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-09-28

The scattered remnants of Quantrell's |
command during the civil war held
reunion at Little Blue church up in |
jackson county this wv0k, lhs point of
their mobilization WtN .hay siIat CO
tered INTO the selvlae. u 'ag 500 int
the original comman,I Only sgeet HfYi
are now alive. Of those who .olisa
Quantrell into Kentucky only three T.
main, Frank James, John Graham,
a prosperous Jackson county farmer,
and John Barnhill, clerk in a mercan-
tile establishment at Kansas City.
FRANK JAMES THERE.
The central figure at the reunion
was Frank James the ex-bandit who
prior to the time he was bounded by
officers was member of Quantrell's
band. "The old veterans crowded
around the ex.bandit from the time he
ahghted from the Chicago & Alton
train until he left in the evening for
the Bedford, Ind, race track where he
is employed temporarily. Frank James
never missed confederate reunion or
Il meeting of Quantrell's men. He
was on hand early Monday morning
and exchanged stories with the griz-
zled old warriors.
The youngest looking man at the
gathering was James. He Is IS years
old but looks much younger. He was
dressed in natty business suit and his
high collar and dressy fedora hat were
10 striking contrast to the garb of
other survivors. That F.ank James
was near TO the hearts of the old
guerrillas was shown when the date of
the reunion was changed solely to ac-
commodate the ex-baudit who was un-
der contract to start horses in Indiana.
The date was changed to day earlier
than was originally intended.
al followed Qusntrell all during the
war;" said Frank, reminiscently gaz.
ing across the cultivated fields of pros
porous farmers. 81 was but boy
when | joined his command. | had
been IN the confederate army. While
at my old home near Keainey heard
4 that Quautrell was in Jackson county,
: so | decided to enlist under his flag.
C met Bill GREGG, Quantrelrs first lieu
, tenant, in Clay county, and with hin
e royed across the Missouri Ilver 10 thi:
/ county and joined Quantrell at tht
n webb place on Blackwater ford of The
Y Sni lust few miles from here. Thi!
n was in May, 1868, | will never forge
:. the first time | ever saw Quantrell. HI
u was nearly six feet in height, rathe
d thin, his hair and mustache was sandy
d and he was full OF life and a Joll!
j. fellow. He had none of the air of th,
/, brayado or the desperate about him
t We all loved him at first sight ant
a every man under his command wa
= tried and true. He was demon il
IS battle and did not know what it was Il
It be afraid" "
l. "Who was the bravest man in tn
o guerrilla band?" some one asked.
IS "That would be difficult to answer
/, For time a traitor could have earne'
Is $50, 900 by betraylng Quantrell. Ever
l. man was brave and had absolute conf
d deuce in the gallant leader. | wa
is with him in Kentucky when he met hI
death in the fight just south of LOUIS
N vile. The fight occurred after Lee
,r surrender and after the defeat of on
ID leader the guerrilla band broke up an
er the few survivors returned to Missoul
id soil.n
S. EYE FOR EYE-TOOTH FOR TOOTH.
" 1t was on the morning of March y
10 1862, that Quantrelfs men met at LII
" tie Blue church. Without waiting
v discuss any plans for future movement
'e against the federals, the guerrilla chit
u ordered his men to forage for breal
~ fast. During the progress of meal
" farmer living in the neighborhood roc
III NO to Quantrell and handed HIM
m or copy of the Missouri Republican
which contained General Halleck