The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-26
Rennick fell to the ground

o..
dead.
Quantrell then retreated. and on the
next day was fatally wounded at the
| Wakefield barn, in Spencer County.
Lieutenant Rennick and the holland
! brothers were buried in the churchyard
at Oakland Church. a few hundred
yards from the spot where they met
! their death. Rennick's white horse
wandered about the neighborhood and
fed in the fence corners for weeks,
every one fearing to take him up.
Frank James came here four years
4 ago to visit the graves of his comrades
| at Oakland. and The Enquirer CORE
| spondent accompanied him to the lit
tie country churchyard. James stood
upon the spot where Rennick was kill
| ed, and told the story of Quantren's
death. He said that after the farmer
was. killed in Lincoln County Guam
! trel1 feared pursuit. and detailed him
and another soldier to ride a mile in
! the rear to prevent surprise,
When he came up with the men at
| Mrs VanarsdalI's he reprimanded
them for their carelessness, and told
them that If they did not watch out
| they would wake UP dead" He rode
on to the Adams house.. where Quanr
trell was at the time. and within an
hour heard the shooting. That day
Quantrell reached Spencer County, and
the following day his squad sought
shelter in the Wakefield barn. Here
they We're attacked by TerrilPs men,
and aQuantrell was shot through the
spine. The Federals did not know
who the wounded man was, and all
pursued the fleeing guerrillas. Guam,
treu was carried into the Wakefield
house. That night Frank and Jesse
James rode 20 miles and talked with
Quantrell. His lower limbs were para
lyzed from the shot. and the James
boys offered to stay with him till
DEATH but he replied that they
could do nothing for him, and ad-
vised them to save themselves. They
bade him farewell and left him just
before daylight.
That day it became known that the
wounded man was Quantrell, and he
was taken to a Catholic hospital in
Louisville. where he died. Frank James
says that he did not see Quantrell after
that. but that at the time he died he
was in Louisville to learn of his needs
and to aid him if possible. He saw
the coffin containing QuantrelPs re-
mains lowered into the grave.
Frank James, in his talk, said that
at the time they left Missouri that
state had become too warm for them,
and that the purpose OF Quantrell .lna
leaving there was to go. to Washington
and capture President Lincoln land
then join Lee in Virginia.. When the
party reached the Missouri River
QuantrelI unfoldedt his plans to his
men, He told them that the star OF
the Confedreacy was on the WAnes
and that his undertaking was one fronls
which there was a, possibility that none
would return; that.-.if any OF Them
wanted to return hoIl he would give
them an opportunity and all such
could step out in line. Ns~ =
Four who had families stepped out.
The others crossed the river. dressed as
Federals, and reached Ohio County,
this state. without adventure. Here
they met a company of Federal troops.
Quantrerl satisfied them that hes was
a loyal Union man, and asked that %
of the. men to assist him to run down
Sam Berry, the one-arnled guerrilla.
These men were detailed to go with
him, and the next day not one of them
was left to tell the story but a.. big
German The night before Quantrell
had given the order that each one OF
his men should ride. beside a guerrilla
and at the signal shoot him through
the head This order was carried out
to the letter, all falling dead into the
road except the big German. who put
spurs to his horse. but was soon
ca blurred. He was hanged from a wall
nut tree by the roadside. According
TO Frank James. just before the horse |
was driven from under him. the |
German asked what 1t all meant. He |
was told that he was not a good Yam |
lee. but as the horse passed from |
under him his last words were:
"Gentlemen. you are mistaken. I |
voted for Abe Lincoln Cincinnati |
Enquirer.