William T. Anderson(1839-1864)
William T. Anderson--aka "Bloody Bill Anderson"--was born in Hopkins County, KY, in 1840. His family moved to Kansas when he was a youngster. As a young man he made money by rustling horses and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. His father, a diehard Southerner, got into an argument with a judge who was a Union loyalist, resulting in his father being shot dead. Bill, fearing for his own life, took off for Missouri, where he made a living robbing travelers. Union soldiers pursued him, and he killed several of them. Shortly after the Civil War broke out Anderson joined up with a gang of Confederate guerrillas led by former schoolteacher William Quantrill. Anderson developed a useful skill as a guerrilla--setting up ambushes of Union soldiers and their civilian allies, which earned him the admiration and trust of the gang's leaders. It wasn't long before the authorities found out who Anderson was, and they arrested and imprisoned his sisters, one of whom died in custody, leading Anderson to vow bloody revenge. He played a vital part in what became known as the "Lawrence Massacre"--on August 21, 1863, Quantrill's gang attacked the small Kansas town of Lawrence, which had a reputation of being a center of abolitionists and pro-Union militias, known as Jayhawkers, and a particularly violent group of anti-slavery vigilantes known as Redlegs, who themselves were responsible for the killings of many pro-Confederate and/or pro-slavery civilians. Approximately 450 guerrillas attacked Lawrence shortly after 5:00 am, taking over a hotel for their headquarters and fanning out across town with lists of men to be killed. Many of those killed were unarmed, including approximately 20 young men who had just been recruited into the Union army, although they had not yet been sworn in. Altogether approximately 150 men and boys--some as young as 12--were executed, some of them shot or knifed, and others tied up and thrown into burning buildings. The guerrillas set fire to as many buildings as they could, and approximately one-quarter of the town eventually burned to the ground. Anderson himself was implicated in some of the most brutal murders committed during the incident, and it was estimated that he personally killed more than a dozen unarmed prisoners.
After the raid Quantrill and his band went to Texas to spend the winter, and it was here that Quantrill and Anderson had a falling out. Anderson accused Quantrill of the murder of one of the guerrillas, resulting in Quantrill's arrest by Confederate authorities. Anderson then formed his own band of guerrillas and returned to Kansas, becoming one of the most feared of the guerrilla bands infesting the area. On Sept. 27, 1864, Anderson led his band in an attack on the Kansas town of Centralia. He captured 24 Union soldiers, and after assuring them of good treatment, proceeded to execute them all. He then laid a trap for Union forces coming to relieve the town, which resulted in more than 100 militiamen being killed.
Approximately a month after that incident, Anderson was himself the victim of an ambush by Union troops. Caught by surprise, many of his men were killed, wounded or fled. Anderson was recognized by a pursuing Union officer, who fired several shots at him. He was hit behind the ear with at least one bullet and, apparently, died instantly.
After the raid Quantrill and his band went to Texas to spend the winter, and it was here that Quantrill and Anderson had a falling out. Anderson accused Quantrill of the murder of one of the guerrillas, resulting in Quantrill's arrest by Confederate authorities. Anderson then formed his own band of guerrillas and returned to Kansas, becoming one of the most feared of the guerrilla bands infesting the area. On Sept. 27, 1864, Anderson led his band in an attack on the Kansas town of Centralia. He captured 24 Union soldiers, and after assuring them of good treatment, proceeded to execute them all. He then laid a trap for Union forces coming to relieve the town, which resulted in more than 100 militiamen being killed.
Approximately a month after that incident, Anderson was himself the victim of an ambush by Union troops. Caught by surprise, many of his men were killed, wounded or fled. Anderson was recognized by a pursuing Union officer, who fired several shots at him. He was hit behind the ear with at least one bullet and, apparently, died instantly.