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N0KFQ > TODAY 27.09.15 16:03l 58 Lines 2542 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 68381_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Sep 27
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<VE3UIL<VA7TSA<AC4ZR<ECBBS<N0KFQ
Sent: 150927/1355Z 68381@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.64
1864
Confederate guerillas sack Centralia, Missouri
A guerilla band led by William "Bloody Bill" Anderson sacks the
town of Centralia, Missouri, killing 22 unarmed Union soldiers
before slaughtering more than 100 pursuing Yankee troops.
The Civil War in Missouri and Kansas was rarely fought between
regular armies in the field. It was carried out primarily by
partisan bands of guerilla fighters, and the atrocities were
nearly unmatched. In 1863, Confederate marauders sacked Lawrence,
Kansas, and killed 250 residents.
In 1864, partisan activity increased in anticipation of
Confederate General Sterling Price's invasion of the state. On
the evening of September 26, a band of 200 Confederate marauders
gathered near the town of Centralia, Missouri. The next morning,
Anderson led 30 guerillas into Centralia and began looting the
tiny community and terrorizing the residents. Unionist
congressmen William Rollins escaped execution only by giving a
false name and hiding in a nearby hotel.
Meanwhile, a train from St. Louis was just pulling into the
station. The engineer, who spotted Anderson's men destroying the
town, tried to apply steam to keep the train moving. However, the
brakeman, unaware of the raid, applied the brakes and brought the
train to a halt. The guerillas took 150 prisoners from the train,
which included 23 Union soldiers, and then set it on fire and
opened its throttle; the flaming train sped away from the town.
The soldiers were stripped and Anderson's men began firing on
them, killing all but one within a few minutes. The surviving
Yankee soldier was spared in exchange for a member of Anderson's
company who had recently been captured.
That afternoon, a Union detachment commanded by Major A. V. E.
Johnston arrived in Centralia to find the bushwhackers had
already vacated the town. Johnston left some troops to hold the
tiny burgh, and then headed in the direction of Anderson's band.
Little did he know he was riding right into a perfect trap:
Johnston's men followed Rebel pickets into an open field, and the
Southern partisans attacked from three sides. Johnston and his
entire command were quickly annihilated. Anderson's men scalped
and mutilated many of the bodies before moving back into
Centralia and killing the remaining Federal soldiers. In all, the
bushwhackers killed some 140 Yankee troops.
A month later, Anderson was killed attempting a similar attack
near Albany, Missouri.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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