William Anderson was born the child of a Kentucky hatmaker who had moved his family to Missouri when young William was still a baby. He began his involvement in the Civil War as a horse thief, with no particular allegiance to one side.
Only after his father was killed by a Union-sympathizing judge in a disagreement did Anderson pick a side. He began with his father's killer, hunting him down, shooting him, and burning him alive inside his store. By spring of 1863, Anderson had joined up with notorious Condederate "bushwacker" William Clarke Quantrill, becoming a trusted lieutenant under direct command of George Todd. The death of Anderson's sister, Josephine, and the crippling of another in a Kansas City prison (where they were detained by the Union as Confederate spies) only further cemented Anderson's fury. He was known to scream the name of his dead sister upon entering battle, and collected scalps and other trophies. He and his outfit of nearly 50 men were known for their brutal treatment and torture of prisoners.
Missouri bushwackers under Anderson were distinctive for their long hair and elaborately-embroidered shirts. Armed with several revolvers to a man, they would lure away and ambush detachments of Union troops, who were largely armed with single-shot muskets. Once the Union soldiers had spent their bullets, the bushwackers would close in with a hail of revolver rounds.
Anderson died in a Union ambush on his men on October 24, 1864-- a month after his disaster in Fayette.
William Anderson was born the child of a Kentucky hatmaker who had moved his family to Missouri when young William was still a baby. He began his involvement in the Civil War as a horse thief, with no particular allegiance to one side.
Only after his father was killed by a Union-sympathizing judge in a disagreement did Anderson pick a side. He began with his father's killer, hunting him down, shooting him, and burning him alive inside his store. By spring of 1863, Anderson had joined up with notorious Condederate "bushwacker" William Clarke Quantrill, becoming a trusted lieutenant under direct command of George Todd. The death of Anderson's sister, Josephine, and the crippling of another in a Kansas City prison (where they were detained by the Union as Confederate spies) only further cemented Anderson's fury. He was known to scream the name of his dead sister upon entering battle, and collected scalps and other trophies. He and his outfit of nearly 50 men were known for their brutal treatment and torture of prisoners.
Missouri bushwackers under Anderson were distinctive for their long hair and elaborately-embroidered shirts. Armed with several revolvers to a man, they would lure away and ambush detachments of Union troops, who were largely armed with single-shot muskets. Once the Union soldiers had spent their bullets, the bushwackers would close in with a hail of revolver rounds.
Anderson died in a Union ambush on his men on October 24, 1864-- a month after his disaster in Fayette.