The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-26
WITH THE ROMANCE OFF.
U%nvarnished Truth About the James
Rows md Their Deeds.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: The
death of Frank James, the last or the
notorious James gang. has given occa-
sion for many utterances about MS
career. generally lnudatory OF the bra
very of himself and companions. Of. q.
H." refers to James's association with
the notorious Fill ANDERSON and the
strenuous fighting for the South which
' they did.
The plain fact IL that neither Ander-
son, the James boys nor any Of the
gang ever did any fighting whatever Tor
the South. None OF them were soldiers or
belonged y, any recognized southern or
Confederate Tnmand. They were sim
PLY outlaws and desperadoes of the
worst class. who took advantage of the
general suspension OF law and order to
rob. plunder and murder for their W
benefit and pleasure.
Bill and Jim Anderson. desperadoes
from the western border, organized the
gang from deserters from both armies,
outlaws. Indians and escaped convicts.
They raided small towns and villages IN
Missouri. robbing banks and stores re-
gardless of the political bias of the own
crs. The only difference they made was
to XIII those who were known to be
Union men. Fighting Union troops was
the last thing the wanted, neither dlh
they waste time or effort in tearing up
railroads and burning bridges robbery
and murder WAS all that Interested them.
and there was nothing whatever heroic
or patriotic in their career.
TIE raid of General Price into VI g.
souri, In the summer OF 1864 gave oc-
ctsiou for numerous recruiting parties
for mis- army and several companies
were got together and later joined MS
command. Among these were Todd s,
Thrailkilrs and BrisOn's companies n
north Missouri. who got together IN
Howard and Randolph counties the third
week In september. They were Joineu
hy anderson. whose gang then mum
bered about a hundred, well mounted
and armed with navy revolvers and
bowie knives.
The accession OF this band OF desper-
ADDE'S was not hailed with any pleasure
by the recruits, who would have httle
to do with them. Neither did Colonel
Todd. who was In undertake
To exercise any authority over Ander
son. although their march was continued
| together. They reached Monroe county
on September 90. camping at night on
| Long Branch on The Audrain county line.
Paris. the county seat OF Monroe, was
then occupied by several companies OF
the Thirty-ninth Missouri Infantry under
Major Johnson.
These were raw ecrults, Just en-
listed at Hannibal. and had been sent
to Monroe county to obtain horses and
serve as mounted infantry IN Kidding the
! state Of guerrillas Their only arms
were Springfield muskets. which few OF
/ them had ever fired. Major Johnson
heard OF TIE movement of the rebels In
the afternoon OF September &c, and get
ting together what mounte men he had,
about $50 In number. he started in pur-
suit. Leaving Paris at midn ght. he
struck the trail before daylight and was
only about four hours behind them.
The rebels turned south and reached
! Certraia, "a small town on the north
Missouri railroad. about noon. They
burned the railroad depot and some
other buildings. pluudering all the stores
While thus engaged "A passenger train
came in from -. Louis, which was
seized and burned.
Anderson took every man OF the train
who had any clothing which indicated
that he was or had been a Union sol
der and drew hem up In line. There
were twenty-five OF them: nearly all
were %furloughed or discharged from hos
p.tal and or their way home. Every
ore WAS shot Through the head as they
stood by B.ll and Jim Anderson. Very
soon atterward Information was hrough,
tina Johnson was n close pursuit OF
them and they hurriedly left the town
and sought the nearest woods, about A
mile or more away. whore they drew
up In line OF battle awaiting the attack
OF johnson.
When johnson entered Ccutralia and
found tho stl. warm bodies " tho
slaughteros men h- lost all control OF
himself. all judgment and discretion
notwithstanding he had been told over
ard over on his pursuit that his enemy
outnumbercd him more than two 10 one
he declared { at his men could whip any
number OF WisCrcau's who could do such
q deed. He cast aside all prudence, d.
vided his small force, leaving Captain
The's with his company. about one
third Of the command. A. Centrilia as
reserve, and marched with his devoted
band Of raw recruits, not POO IN mum
hor. armed with long muskcts and
mounted on green plough horses, TO at
tack over 900. nisWuuut ug t!s mer
as they drew near the woods and leav'
ing every hfth man to hold horses, hC
advanced and ordered his men TO fire.
With the Nollcy the horses stampeded
and Anderson with his dcsporadoe,
charged upon them with hrillc rein II
teeth and a navy" IN each hand. \ very
f,w who wlutg.d 20 get 10 their horse
and had good horses got away. the
others, To u "a were rut' lcSslv and
morp!losslv ~sltughtcred Johnson and
nearly al. his officers were not oulS
killed but scalpei Captain Thc.s, who
had been left tt the "a lroud, seeing the
rout. undertook 20 cut his way through
20 Sturgeon. which hc rctcr.l with the
loss OF more than half ot his men.
Il is cred table TO the survivors OF IN.
war ON both sides that the thurman ex.
,cs~rs which the frt'ricidtl conflict en-.
Lrrdored Ngve been So generally allowed
TO lapse into forgotfulurss as dlsCrac.nr