1. At 10:30am, on September 24, 1864, nearly 200 bushwackers (four times the usual number of 50 or so) converged upon Fayette, Missouri, under Anderson and George Todd's command. Wearing stolen or scavenged Union uniforms, they entered the town from the south end, marching up what today is South Main Street.
2. The bushwackers were under orders from Anderson to hold their fire, but at the corner of Main and Walnut, one unknown bushwacker was so incensed by the sight of an African American soldier in Union blue, that he opened fire, presumably killing the man and alerting Union troops and town to their presence.
3. At this point, about twenty Union soldiers barricaded themselves inside the courthouse, taking potshots at the oncoming bushwackers. Anderson's men had split into two groups: the larger headed up Main Street, past what is present-day Howard-Payne Hall, and the smaller turned west on Morrison Street. A smaller group broke off from the Morrison Street group and continued up Second Main (now Church Street).
4. Skirting the town square and courthouse, the bushwackers’ company split again at Morrison and South Main (today Church Street), with part of their detachment riding further west before turning north to what is now Highway 5.
5. The remaining bushwackers charge up Church Street.
6. At the time of the battle, Central College (now Central Methodist University) was comprised solely of what is now Brannock Hall. For a time during the Civil War, Union troops were garrisoned here, and their horses stabled on the lower levels.
Henry S. Pritchett, son of Central faculty member Carr Waller Pritchett, recalled as a child seeing a bushwacker ride up the steps of Brannock. Unable to enter, the bushwacker fired several shots from his revolver into the building. However, it is unclear if this happened during the battle of Fayette, or at some other time.
7. The remaining bushwackers have their first casualty, Thad Jackman, who was shot near the old tobacco factory.
8. All three branches regrouped at a ravine near present-day College Street and the juncture of Mabee Athletic Center and Puckett Field House, and charged at the Union troops, who were stationed in well-fortified blockhouses. Anderson had hoped to catch his foes unawares; however, the cheering and gunfire from the courthouse had alerted Union Captain S.S. Eaton to danger, and he ordered his 50 troops from their tents into the blockhouses. When Anderson's men were less than 75 yards away, Eaton ordered his troops to open fire.
Three unsuccessful charges by bushwackers on the blockhouses left anywhere from 6 to 8 of their number dead, most of whom could not have their bodies retrieved. Frank James, older brother to Jesse and member of the James-Younger gang, recalled that 'It was like charging a stone wall, only this stone wall belched forth lead.'
9. Demoralized, the bushwackers retreated north, towards Glasgow on what today would be Highway 5.
1. At 10:30am, on September 24, 1864, nearly 200 bushwackers (four times the usual number of 50 or so) converged upon Fayette, Missouri, under Anderson and George Todd's command. Wearing stolen or scavenged Union uniforms, they entered the town from the south end, marching up what today is South Main Street.
2. The bushwackers were under orders from Anderson to hold their fire, but at the corner of Main and Walnut, one unknown bushwacker was so incensed by the sight of an African American soldier in Union blue, that he opened fire, presumably killing the man and alerting Union troops and town to their presence.
3. At this point, about twenty Union soldiers barricaded themselves inside the courthouse, taking potshots at the oncoming bushwackers. Anderson's men had split into two groups: the larger headed up Main Street, past what is present-day Howard-Payne Hall, and the smaller turned west on Morrison Street. A smaller group broke off from the Morrison Street group and continued up Second Main (now Church Street).
4. Skirting the town square and courthouse, the bushwackers’ company split again at Morrison and South Main (today Church Street), with part of their detachment riding further west before turning north to what is now Highway 5.
5. The remaining bushwackers charge up Church Street.
6. At the time of the battle, Central College (now Central Methodist University) was comprised solely of what is now Brannock Hall. For a time during the Civil War, Union troops were garrisoned here, and their horses stabled on the lower levels.
Henry S. Pritchett, son of Central faculty member Carr Waller Pritchett, recalled as a child seeing a bushwacker ride up the steps of Brannock. Unable to enter, the bushwacker fired several shots from his revolver into the building. However, it is unclear if this happened during the battle of Fayette, or at some other time.
7. The remaining bushwackers have their first casualty, Thad Jackman, who was shot near the old tobacco factory.
8. All three branches regrouped at a ravine near present-day College Street and the juncture of Mabee Athletic Center and Puckett Field House, and charged at the Union troops, who were stationed in well-fortified blockhouses. Anderson had hoped to catch his foes unawares; however, the cheering and gunfire from the courthouse had alerted Union Captain S.S. Eaton to danger, and he ordered his 50 troops from their tents into the blockhouses. When Anderson's men were less than 75 yards away, Eaton ordered his troops to open fire.
Three unsuccessful charges by bushwackers on the blockhouses left anywhere from 6 to 8 of their number dead, most of whom could not have their bodies retrieved. Frank James, older brother to Jesse and member of the James-Younger gang, recalled that 'It was like charging a stone wall, only this stone wall belched forth lead.'
9. Demoralized, the bushwackers retreated north, towards Glasgow on what today would be Highway 5.