University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-11-17


rillas and Anderson himself had
sampled the liquor. Then the ques-
tion arose as to how the rest could be |
conveyed to the camp. The new boots
filled the occasion by serving as dem
Johns.
The guerrillas were not to be sat
isfied with plundering the town, how
ever. and the later acts of Anderson
and his men form one of the darkest
pages in the history of the Civil War
in Missouri. When the train arrived
from st. Louis they robbed the pas
sengers of their money and jewelry.
Twenty-three Federal soldiers on
the train. These surrendered, but
were taken to the edge of town and
shot, while begging for their lives.
This was the historical "Centralia
Massacre"
A Fight with AndersOn's Men.
Later in the same day the guerril-
las were attacked by Major Johnson
who was in the neighborhood with
$50 militia. Anderson's followers
dashed with tremendous ferocity upon
Johnson's force, sixty-eight members
of which were killed at the first fire,
so accurate was the craftsmanship Of
the guerrillas. Johnsons men fled in
every direction, but were overtaken
and twenty-three of them killed.
Deeds of violence were now of fire.
quent occurrence throughout the
county. By the middle of the year
1864 the county was overrun by
bodies of bushwhackers and horse
thieves wandering in bands and rob-
bing and killing anyone who came in
their way. No mans life was safe
beyond his own doorstep. One day
the news came to Columbia that
farmer named Cave had been taken
out of his house and shot; little
farther on the same gang had shot
down a sixteen-year old boy. One
hlShl thC SChtA ana Slo6S was oeoPPSN
lear Hallsville and James Palmer, a
'oung man of Sedar township, was
removed. He was dressed as civil
ian. but acknowledged that he had
been in the service. He was marched
off the road leading west from Halls
willie and hanged Many Columbia
citizens had narrow escapes from
these marauders.
Rollins Close Call.
A Columbia citizen who went
through some exciting experiences
during this period was James S. Rol-
lins. Mr.. Rollins was Union man
and member of Congress from this
district. Perhaps the closest call he
had was on the fateful day of the
Centralia massacre. Mr.. Rollins was
in the Centralia stage that day on his
way to Mexico. AS soon as the stage
came within sight of Centralia eight
or ten guerrillas dashed up on their
horseh and proceeded to interview the
passe4h 4hgers. ANY Federal soldiers
in he lie ?" they demanded. None"
was The reply. "Well. get out, all
of ycn."
TIE stage had for passengers be-
sides Mr.. Rollins, James H. Waugh,
sheeiff of Boone County, and five 9TH
er men. Nearly all Of them were on
thar way to the Democratic congress
s;onal convention at Mexico before
-shich Major Rollins and General
i)don Guitar were understood to be
candidates.
The passengers were questioned,
inspected and robbed in less time than
it takes to write it. "What is your
name?' was asked of each passenger.
"My name is Smith," said Sheriff
Waugh. My name is Johnson, l am
a minister of the Methodist church."
said Rollins, and l live few miles
south of Columbia" That's all
right hand out your pocketbooks all
of you," demanded the robbers. Two
or three had Major Rollins in custo-
dy plying him with questions which
he skillfully answered. There were
Union and Southern men in the stage
that day but all were insulted and
robbed alike at the point of the pis-
tol
After plundering the stage, prepar-
ations we're made for searching the
passengers thoroughly. Had Sheriff
Waugh and Major Rollins been iden-
titled, they probably would have been
murdered unless held as hostages or
for ransom. But just at this time the
passenger train from St. Louis came
in sight and the guerrillas hurried
over to the depot to loot the train.
Before Anderson departed, how