I grew up in Central Missouri (Boonslick area). A friend's family still lives and farms on property their family has owned since before the Civil War. The farm is located some miles south of Centralia. During an excavation on their property in the late '60's, University of Missouri archeologists/researchers discovered a buried leather satchel containing numerous gold coins and a 'boot pistol' buried in the corner of an old stone foundation that once supported a barn. Some of the coins had mint dates of 1860. They theorized that the loot had been buried either before or after the massacre at Centralia by one of Anderson's men who never made it back to claim it. It was common for Confederate raiders to rob banks in Missouri during the War to finance their operations. Most banks were owned by Union sympathizers and were considered fair game. The artifacts are on display at the University of Missouri - Columbia campus.

My great Grandfather was kidnapped by Bushwackers in Pope County Arkansas in 1862 or 63, he was 12 years old. He was used to help drive the Bushwackers ill gotten horses and cattle toward Missouri. After several weeks travel north the Bushwackers told him he could go back home. When he got back home he had been gone 3 months. My Grandfather told me this story and several more about the Bushwackers.

" Dying ain't hard for men like you and me. Livin is hard ". Thank you for telling this story.

This is the most thorough and comprehensive treatment of this man that I've seen. Thank you very much for posting it.

Not a hard man to track, he leaves dead men wherever he goes.

"Ride With The Devil" comes as close to this chapter in American history as any movie ever made . Thanks for the telling of different sides on the story as I would have bailed on the Yankee version .

In Missouri, old stone fireplaces standing alone are called "Jennison's Monuments", after Charles Jennison, another of the Jayhawkers who burned countless homes in Missouri throughout the war.

I grew up in Liberty,Mo. in the 70's and 80's, and over 100 years later you could still see results of this activity in peoples behavior. Outside of town people were mega suspicious of any newcomers and having guns pulled on you was a common occurrence, there was even still whole families of outlaws that lived all down one road out in the boonies. My folks still live there but there has been a huge influx of new people and it's very different now. I moved to Florida in '95 and peoples friendliness to strangers struck me instantly, totally different receptions than you would receive in Missouri.

AS someone who lives within all of this history, your portrayal is just about perfect. Ride with the Devil is a top 10 favorite movie of mine. Heck, my field is about 1 mile North of the Raiders retreat to the Marais de Cygne. My last home was actually on Bill Hickocks land! Its hard to pass a fart and not hit frontier history around here.

"I ask that you show no quarter because you'll receive none." Goosebumps

Gotta say, terrific show. Great cadence and candor. Not many people can crack a line while talking history. Well done.

My ancestors were bushwackers. When researching my family I discovered an author that did the entire Burgess line and even published a book on it called "The House of Burgesses." A couple road with Quantrill' raiders, housed them, and fed them. Henrietta Burgess (born Henrietta McCown) was even imprisoned with Bloody Bill's sisters. Reverend Garland Burgess was even one of the founders of Johnson County and the family was involved in the Johnson County fued (or at least supported McCown). History is rich.

My great-grandfather was from Missouri but moved to Dennison Texas during the civil war. Bloody bill and Quantrel came to Denision. That is where my greatgrandfater met Jessie and Frank James. They became life long friends. And he hid them a couple of times and brought them food to a cave before it was flooded to become part of lake Texoma.

These stories about Kansas Missouri from 1855-1865 are off the chain ! Bandits everywhere !

This was a great episode. If you have time, you should totally do one on Quantrill.

Man this is the most engaging delivery of history I've heard. While still factual, there's enough speculation and opinion to keep it interesting! Love it!

I'm from southwest Missouri. I love your respectful and tasteful video and hearing someone tell a story with an accent that feels like home is very cathartic and centering. I listen to audiobooks to fall asleep. It's just comforting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. This was the 1st video of yours I watched. I've had a growing interest in the Wild West and Civil War. I learned so much from this episode and laughed a little too. Great presentation! I'm a subscriber now!

He is in my family tree. My maternal grandmother was an Anderson. My cousin did 2 DNA tests and a family tree through one of those sites. I wonder what he would think of Me...a half breed Navajo.

As a " son of the Confederacy" that lives in the shadow of Kennesaw Mtn. .... Your mention of Mr Raines reminds. A great subject for a future episode of your show would be the story of the Raines Brothers - armorers of the Confederacy. They did a lot of incredible stunts from moving huge rolling mills over land to Augusta, Ga. ( where the confederate arsenal would produce powder of such a high quality that it was still being used in WW I..... To the incredible booby traps they designed - E.G. Small bombs that were cast to look like lumps of coal that could be tossed into union train coal supplies to blow up their boilers. The ruins of the Augusta powder mill are still there today.

Very good job on this CSA Warfighter Bloody Bill Anderson, he is one of my heroes, my grandfather Jesse Jocoy, was named after Jesse James, he was born in Missouri as well. He retired in the West Texas oil fields as a well respected tool pusher. I didn't learn this about him until after he passed away unfortunately. What amazes me is how these men that fought under Bill Anderson ever numbered more than 80 and we go up against thousands of Union troops using three 6 and 9 shot revolvers each. They knew the importance of Firepower and getting in and out of a battle fighting from the back of their horses! Bushwackers they were called, guerilla warfighters they were...

A journalist, Marshall Murdock, was in Lawerence during the raid. He and a friend saved their lives by hiding in the pit of an outhouse. Later, after the war, Murdock started the Wichita Eagle newspaper.

Bloody bill just wanted to be sure the people of Kansas knew that the chiefs are a missouri football team.

I'm a civil war buff but not as well versed in these smaller operations that leaders like RE Lee, Longstreet, Jackson etc, did NOT faver and in fact, held in contempt. Even raider John Hunt Morgan did not have a favorable opinion of the Quantrill/Anderson types. But the info I learned from you was FANTASTIC, and your delivery and voice inflection made it great to listen to. You spoke several times of bloody Kansas and general Thomas Ewing Jr and orders #11 putting the most people out of their homes up until the Japanese in WW2. He's my great great blood uncle. One of his 3 brothers (also several sisters) is my great great grandfather, Brigadier and later Major General....General Hugh Boyle Ewing, one of the 2 other brothers, also my great great blood uncle was General Charles Ewing...who was general William Tecumseh Sherman's right hand man during the 'March to the Sea' and up into the Carolinas. All 3 Ewing generals had one sister named Ellen Ewing who became Ellen Ewing Sherman when she married her FOSTER brother William Tecumseh Sherman....so "The TORCH"... of Atlanta and Columbia SC is my great great uncle through marriage to my great great blood aunt Ellen Ewing-Sherman. Little 'Cumpy' Sherman was adopted as a foster child by my 3XXX great grandfather US senator from Ohio, Thomas Ewing Sr. The Sherman's lived 2 houses down the hill in Lancaster Ohio from the wealthy Ewings. At 9 yrs old, little Cumpy's dad died out on the circuit as a judge. Cumpy was one of 10 children and Mrs Sherman had to adopt several kids out. My 3XXX great grandfather Thomas Ewing Sr, told Mrs Sherman, "Give me your most intelligent male child, and I will raise him".. Mrs Sherman said, "This little red-head here is the smartest". Senator Ewing (also the FIRST EVER 'Secretary of the Interior' in president Zachary Taylor's admin, when he created that cabinet position) adopted Cumpy Sherman and at 16 years of age the senator got Sherman an appointment to West Point where he graduated 6th in his class.....and the rest is "history". In a round about way, General Sherman coined the phrase, ...."WAR IS HELL"....(actually saying "war is ALL hell".

The Outlaw Josie Wales is a must see for anyone who enjoys westerns. Rose of Alabama pops into occasionally to this day the 3 sons comment pulled it out of the long term memory

This is mighty fine. I watch a lot of historical videos and yours has been the best. It flows like an easy river easy on the ears, packed with sooo much.

Just came over here from the Casual Criminalist. I've been loving this channel so far and it's gotten me though a brutal shift. Bloody Bill Anderson is one of those figures that embodies a phrase my history professor said all the time. "If you find yourself wondering if someone is a victim or villian, remember that the answer is often both."

Dude you are a great story teller! Thanks for what you do

“Dyin ain’t much of a livin boy”

I love Civil war history. If you ever do any more episodes in that direction… I’d love to see one on John S Mosby

I respect your brutal honesty about not having the time to put up more pics. You now have my full support as an OG. That’s how we used to speak. No BS. Straight up answers. For what it’s worth. I’ll be listening 👂 😎

Thank you! That was a fantastic doc! I grew up a few miles from Centralia and I knew some stuff happened around there but I had no idea.. It’s a privilege to call you Colonel Josh! 🇺🇸

I visited the Centralia battle site recently. Just shocking how that went down. The Union got baited into that ambush as they were wanting revenge for some recent losses and they were way out gunned. Most of the Blue Soldiers had single shot rifles while the Gray had multiple 6 shooters. The battlefield marker said the battle was over in 3 minutes!!! After the battle and while the men lay dying scalps were taken. That had to be a horrific scene.

So glad I stumbled upon your podcast on the way home this morning. I have listened to a few in a row now and just love your show. I’m from Missouri and I can tell you this there is still a deep dislike between Missouri and Kansas. War is indeed hell as you mentioned and what happened in these states during the Civil War was an example of how unregulated war can become even more sinister.

Josh my man. North Wales here....I said I'd be back didn't I?? So_ watched all 5(?) Jim Bridger vids. This Anderson one. "The Searchers" fella. BUT BY FAR THE BEST,so far, is "The Last Of The Dogmen" vid. The Apache holdouts!! Oh man what a totally brilliant story that was/is!? I agree with you,wouldn't it be great to think that some of these renegades are still holding out NOW? Great,great story m8. You're REALLY good at this malarkey bro!! You tell a good yarn,& you tell them extremely well at that! Keep it up!! I'm gonna continue to work my way through your backlog. So from the Druid Isle of Ynys Môn/Anglesey.... NOS DA I CHI, & God bless you all

Ride with the devil is another awesome movie that gives an accurate account of the period Lawrence raid

I love history. "We have something around here Mr carpet bagger, called Missouri river boat ride....." "God almighty." Lol

North and South were both bloody at times as is the nature of war.

I remember being blown away when I found out that bloody Bill Anderson from the movie "The Outlaw Josey Wales" was a real person.

I am amazed you brought it up .I was Born 8 miles from the site of the Centralia Missouri Massacre. As was dad and his dad . Still here . Bill Anderson's sister was killed in the collapse of the Kansas Federal Pen. She and her friend were of 3 who died . That is why Mr Anderson hated Red Leggs .

The Red legs were a light Infantry French Regiment known as Zouaves which were operational between 1830 and 1962 mostly in North Africa. Some of the Union soldiers wore the red pant legs as a tribute to an elite French light infantry unit.

I'm totally addicted to your savage yet funny tales of real life bad assery!!!

Great video and very enjoyable. I’m 5th generation Texan and I can see the war between the states from different points of view. However, this guy was a sociopathic killer. Without arguing the points you mentioned early on, there were a multitude of horrors inflicted on civilians and private property in a lot of places besides Missouri, all over the Confederacy. Read the history of the Tabasco plant on Avery Island, La. It’s really a salt dome elevated higher than the surrounding land and thus surrounded by water. The original McIlhenny family that started making Tabasco sauce fled there during the war because of the Union soldiers coming into Baton Rouge and New Orleans. They looted, ransacked and burned homes, fields and businesses all over the South. What happened to Zerelda Cole was typical tactics and the type of terrorism that fueled killers like Jesse James. The war was not over for them and for a lot of other people. Slavery is bad. So is an all-powerful, central federal government like we now suffer under. Exactly what our founding fathers did not want, thats why most of the power was held by the states and why statehood was not easily obtained. I believe that slavery would have ended in another 20-40 years anyway. The north would have been financially crippled by the loss of southern cotton at a cheap price to supply their textile mills. It was going to be sold to Great Britain and France. The loss of control of the. Mississippi river would also have been devastating to westward expansion and trade for states and territories North of Tennessee or possibly Kentucky.

You tell a hulluva fine story! I think I've gone through them all at least twice! Love them!!

I think it was my great-great-grandmother and her family that was attacked by the Missouri Raiders, Quantrill and his men from what I'm told. They rode into the farm, looted and stole everything they could, killed her husband and all but one son. He was a baby and so was dressed in frills. She made the men believe he was a baby girl so they let him live. They raped her and her daughters (not under 10 years old), set fire to the farm and left her and the children to starve to death. After burying her husband and sons, my grandmother cobbled together what she'd hidden and what was left and took her remaining children south to settle in north Texas.

Great show ! I'm only eleven minutes in and I am riveted ! Your cadence is impeccable and you lead the story so well. I tip my hat .

One thing is incorrect. He was killed in Albany which at the time was an unincorporated community of Ray County, Missouri that is about 10 miles away from Richmond, Missouri where he is buried. It is oven confused with the city of Albany in Gentry county that is about 90 miles away. I thoroughly enjoyed the video. Very well done.

I live in Missouri. My dad’s side of the family was on both sides of the fence in regards to slavery and the civil war. On one hand we’re descended from slave owning farmers. On the other hand, we’re descended from a man who fought for the union and escaped Andersonville POW camp. (To be clear, I’m much happier about the second of the two)

My family lived at an Iowa farm on the Missouri border and Great-Great Grandfather, as a farmer living next to a rebel state was a member of the Iowa Southern Border Brigade. He periodically inspected the state line around his property looking for Bush wackers or rebel activity. There was actually a lot of cross-border violence between Iowa and Missouri, consisting of; farm murders, chasing escaping slaves, kidnapping and stealing livestock. There were numerous unofficial organizations on both sides; The Union League and Wide Awakes in the loyal states and The Golden Knights and others in slave states.

That was excellent. When I first started listening I was thinking over an hour long would just drag by. But that was the fastest hour I've ever listened to.

My name is Degge James, my great-grandfather rode with bushwhackers during the civil war, in Missouri. We move to Dallas county Texas in 1865.

My Great Grandfather helped raise and train The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment. He was a lieutenant and fought with them in several of the border battles.

General Sterling Price was the name of John Wayne 's cat in the movie "True Grit". Just saying.

I am a proud Missourian. I love that my state activity defends my right to keep and bear arms.

Human egos are his downfall, no matter how bloated your ego, no matter how much you see yourself as legend, we're all fallible

Great podcast/KZfaq channel... Colonel Josh does a great job digging up historical tid bits to tie the well documented stories together...keep up the good work (full bird) Colonel Josh

This is the first video of yours I've encountered, and both for the many movie references and the expansive history lesson, you've got yourself yet another subscriber. WOLVERINES!!!

I spent 15 years living 9 miles north of Osceola, MO, completely unaware of any of their history until I started working at the Osceola Public Library. I can't remember a day at work that went by without hearing something about the War of Northern Aggression and the Burning of Osceola. There's a self published book called that and we finally bought a bunch of them but only ever had two on the shelf at a time. It was a paperback and it checked out and read so often, they were held together by tape instead of glue and binding. I was born in Ohio but spent half my childhood in Florida, the rest in Ohio. I spent a year in Kentucky for college, followed by nearly 4 years in very south Georgia for college. I eventually moved to Missouri for, you guessed it, college but only because I couldn't afford to get to Fairbanks, AK. I've been more or less stuck in Missouri since 1995 but I might finally move back to Yankee land later this year. This is the first time visiting your channel - I wanted something to listen to while cleaning. 🤷🏼‍♀️ But I'm subscribed now and looking forward to doing marathons of your videos. I'm disabled and spend my days either in bed or in my chair bored to death. I'd much rather watch/listen to history/educational stuff than most other channels. 👍👍👍

Most people today have no idea how life was back then. A lot of the important things in your life was predetermined at birth. It was extremely difficult. If you grew up poor, you'd likely die poor. Most people were patriotic but had immense pride in their state. If you were from Kentucky and came from the southern part of the state, then joining the Kentucky CSA regiment would be a given. If your going to go to war, then the least you can do is make it a total war. Bill was great at that. Look at the men he trained; the James boys. They continually used the same tactics Bill was known for.

Some good listening to while I work on my car. Thanks for all the hard work you put into this channel.

My father Eugene Wesley Dolan told me about Jim Anderson and Tom Dolan ran with Quauntrill and later with Frank and Jessey. When the Pinkertons blew up Frank and Jessey’s mom’s house, Jim and Tom took what they had and lit out for the California gold country. Tom and Jim pooled their money together and started a store. Tom was shy so they named it Anderson’s. The town of Anderson south of Redding on I 5 has some history. Thanks, Clark James Dolan

My family is from central Missouri, and have been hunting the same farm in Benton county for many generations. I have relatives that ran with Cole Younger and the James gang back in the day.

Good vid on William T Anderson a true hero Confederate and Rebel! May he RIP!

Josh , you are the best story teller I have ever listen to and i listen to so many , keep up the excellent work and you will have thousands of fans !!!

The artwork and narration on display here are unprecedented and unheralded ....museum quality americana😊

Bushwhackers ! My home town! Nevada Missouri ! Celebrate it every year!

I live a few miles from where he was killed. There are stone markers where he and companions were shot.

Man this is great love this kind of history and you're pretty awesome at narrating it

How’d I miss this guys channel. Good job bru 👍🏾 I like your content commentary.Great voice 💪🏾

"I notice when you get to dislikin someone they ain't around long either"

Great episode. When you said 53 knots, my first thought was I would think it was higher than that too. And you were right at the very beginning you said there'd be some bad jokes. Haha keep up the good work

Wilson's Creek is a few mile S.W. of Springfield Missouri. We call it the battle of Oak Hills.

Well done, Colonel Josh! Great assembly of information!

One might say, Bloody Bill was the reason Blackbeard stopped poking fun of "landlubbers" 😂😂😂🧐

So glad I found this channel. So well done 👍

In other words the man was psychotic, sadist, and it seems a man who used the war to enjoy his sadism and get away with it. This is a man not to be proud of, but to condemn and show what happens in war, when war attracts pyscopaths

Great story telling Colonel Josh!

Gotta admit, you had me laughing A LOT MORE than I was anticipating when I started this! Love this episode! Definitely subscribed. On a side note, one thing I’ve heard a fair bit regarding the raid on Lawrence was that one of the the primary overseers of the collapsed women’s prison was originally from Lawrence/had family there. Can’t confirm it myself though. Again, LOVE YOUR CHANNEL 😎🍻

The Battle of Lexington was fought in MO.

I agree with you 100%, I think he was a ruthless killer. I also think that the circumstances of the time was a huge influence. I love the stories, keep up the good work!

It was fought over the Morrall Tarriff Act and taxation as much as slavery. Lincoln himself said he would free or enslave all black people to save the union. Great show!

Ride with the devil actually went into much more detail on this western war than Josey Wales. Though JW is one of my all time favs it only briefly shows the fighting in Kansas/ Missouri. The rest is a survival flight .

I love Mr. bloody William T. Anderson .....hes one of my Missouri/Kantucky heroes

Great video, I'm new here and will be back. I live in Rio Rico Arizona, it's just north of the Mexican border and have a very big and long time history of this kind, like the ghost town of Ruby Arizona, just east of me, and don't forget Tombstone, Tucson where I lived for 45 years , retired from Freeport mine and moved to Rio Rico, from the Mexican bandits to cowboy shootouts , I love the old west... Im glad I found you... 💯👍

Live in Lee's Summit where the Youngers are buried, about 4 miles east of my home. My family owned slaves in Lewis Country and all the extend family was in the thick of the Bushwhacking going on in NE Missouri. Yup, one uncle Aquilla Standiford was court marshalled and executed for killing a Federal in 1863 or 64. In the early 90's when in college I did primary source research at MU in Columbia and wrote a paper about the atrocities to the civilian population during the Civil War. There are some amazing documents there with untold stories from civilians of how they suffered. Great podcast!

The civil war didn't start because of slaves. That was an afterthought. The southern states wanted out of the union. Lincoln didn't want to break up the united States because the north needed the southern money.

You’re a great history story teller! I thoroughly enjoyed this, I think Bloody Bill in the end was crazy 😜.

I am from Missouri and learned much about Bloody Bell. Your video was awesome 👍! The feud between the states still continue in one way or another...😢 strange how feelings can carry on for so long 😢

Bloody Bill’s fancy death shirt is like his generation’s version of a modern day boogaloo Hawaiian shirt 😂

Having lived in Centralia Missouri for several years, it's very strange to live in a town that a massacre is it's claim to fame.

Thank you for standing up for this great man. As most tell it as it was "Made up" to paint him out as a bad, evil man.... Pfft!.... Hats off 🍻, great video 💯❤️

The bushwhacker who was left behind in Lawrence was a former preacher who was, unsurprisingly, was blinded drunk. He rode up and down the main street until killed, and his body was allowed to lay in and be dragged in the mud. Interesting thing about General Order No. 11, I recently wrote a blogpost about Jo Shelby's Expedition into Mexico after the War. Shelby warned Maximillian that "The Black Decree" would have the same effect upon the Mexican populace as No. 11 had upon the Missourians. Shelby sought out a local Mexican guerrilla chieftain and signed a "separate peace" with him...kind of like The Outlaw Josey Wales and Ten Bears. Quantrill's men spent time in Louisiana. In fall of 1863 they were in the Shreveport area. One of them rode into a black church and swore at the white pastor's wife. The pastor pulled out a pistol from beneath his Bible and shot the raider right there. There are claims that were in northeast Louisiana, including Jesse and Frank James, fighting the Union and chasing cotton thieves there, and, boy, do people today over around Carroll parishes and Winnsboro live up the James part. There is a Union POW escape narrative during the Red River Campaign claiming he was captured by Quantrill's men but escaped.

He and the James Gang have frequented our local caves in Hopkins County. They are highly regarded by most.

This is a terrific channel. I love old Western tales and you never fail to satisfy. The narration is awesome and really adds to the stories. Cheers. 🇨🇦

Bloody bill Anderson is my Favorite outlaw

Ah yes, History lessons are from Hollywood...thanks Clint Eastwood, we couldn't have known without you!

One of your best videos. I like how you see both sides of your subject. Keep up the good work.

As far as hero or villain I would say it lies somewhere in the middle

Just found your channel. I love the way you tell the story and stick to historic facts. When you do interject what could be construed as an opinion, I tend to agree with you. Can't wait to listen to more.

This is crazy finding more stuff about my grandmas Anderson family lineage and looking up more on the England Family in missouri.