The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-09-17
A Story Of the Missouri Border In the
Sixties.

The name of Clark Quantrell in the
years from 1861 to 1865 on the Mis-
souri, aud Kansas border struck terror
into all who heard it. Quantrell was
O native Of Ohio who went to Kansas
at the time Of the war there between
the Free State men and the slave
holders. Quantrcll took no part in
those troubles, but when the Civil
War broke out. and reign of blood
shed existed on the Missouri and
Kansas border, and in which the law
less Kansas Jayhawkers took the OBJ
portunitics offered by great war to
wrcak revenge on the Shareholders,
against whom they held grudgcs from
the old Kansas troubles, they mur-
dcred Quantrcll's younger brother.
lie then raised band Of gucrrillas
and worked bloody vengeance upon
the murdercrs. In the course of his
operations he attacked at midnight,
Aug. %, 1863, the town of Lawrence,
Kan, held by the Jayhawkers, who
were organized guerilas fighting on the
side of the United States. With 300
men he stormed the place, with loss
OF 80 of his followers. He killed 1911
and wounded 58l Of the occupants of
the place, and burned it to the ground.
This was only one, but the most de-
structlve of his raids. Recently, at
Independence, Mo-, the survivors CT
Quantrells band held a reunion, at
which some scores Of them were pre-
sent. They are all old men and are
respectable citizens. Interviewed by
members of the press, they one and all
declared that he was a man of mild
and gentle disposition, and was al
ways.
One of the survivors, James III.
Campbell, who lives in Kansas CITY.
Mo-, was interviewed by the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch. He said "Quantrell
was the smartest man I ever knew.
he had the qualifications of leader
ship born in him. He knew just what
to do in every emergency. In camp,
he was gentle and sometimes Jolly.
lie was kind to his men and to prison
ers whenever be lad any. Quantrell
never got excited, not even in a fight.
he was cool as cucumber. They
called him reckless, but he never un-
necessarily endangered the lives Of his
men. And he could shoot-ah, how
that man could shoot I was with
him regularly for nine months, and of
and on for year and half longer.
His men did not fear him, and there
was only one otfense for which he said
he would have one of his followers
taken out and shot. Quantrell gave
orders tha: any member of his troop
who insuited woman should be shot.
He said to US: NO matter how much
woman may abuse you, take he's
abuse. Let her talk and scold. but
say nothing to her in resentment.
We are fighting men, not women. No
provooation will excuse an insult or
back talk to q woman. And you will
find," concluded Campbell, "that no
member of Quantrell's command was
ever accused Of insulting woman.
There were men on the other side who
were different"
History, as it is written by the men
on the other side. calls him blood
thirsty demon, q meroiless marauder,
vandal, desperate at the head of q
band Of savages, plundering aud
alaussh tering under the cover Of state
of war. There has never been more
ferocious and fendish warfare than
that waged by the Kansas Jayhawkers
on tho Missouri border, and Quantrell
and his band we're its products. They
were Missourians organized to defend
their own frontier. and to retaliate
upon their murderous foes. "That
the people Of Jackson County, the
starting point of the Quantrell men
and one of the centres Of their opera
tions, regard these survivors as heroes
OF war is not to be doubted" says the
correspondent of the Post.Dispatch.