During the Civil War, or for that matter in any war, the civilian population in a combat zone suffered beyond belief. Such was the case in the Indian Territory, Missouri and Arkansas between 1861 and 1865. Whenever possible, the civilian refugees tried to escape from the war zone to a "friendly" safe location and this is what Fort Scott became "a haven for refugees."...

In January of 1863, before being deployed into the northeast Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), the "Union" Indian Brigade" from Kansas comprised of the first, second and third regiments of Indian Home Guards was stationed at Camp Curtis in northeast Arkansas near the town of Maysville. ...

One-hundred-and-fifty years ago, Jan. 1, 1863, was a magic day and a day of jubilation in the camp of the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Fort Scott, Kan. On this day, there was a joyous celebration commemorating the issuance of the "Emancipation Proclamation."...

Normally during the winter in the Civil War, the opposing armies went into a sort of hibernation, or "winter quarters," because the roads were normally impassable because of snow, mud or rain. However, in the winter of 1862-1863, the "Union" Army of the Southwest, commanded by Maj. ...

The title of this column may seem a bit odd because a courier and a surgeon definitely were two different functions during the Civil War. However, during the first year of the war in the summer of 1861, things were very confusing and disorganized for both the "Blue and the Gray," especially here in Kansas and Missouri. ...

One of the most fascinating aspects in the study of the Civil War for the historians is the discovery of original letters, diaries or related documents. After the passing of 150 years, these historic documents are still being discovered and when this happens a "Treasure Trove" becomes reality for the finder. Where, you might ask, are these documents found?...

In the spring of 1923, the fate of "Fort Blair," the only remaining Civil War blockhouse was a perilous one because it had become dilapidated throughout the passage of time and the land upon which it was located had been sold to the Central Life Insurance Co. ...

The Civil War ended in April of 1865, and during the next year or so the United States War Department demobilized the "Union" forces and materials of war throughout the country. Reducing the manpower, or number of soldiers, was relatively easy in that they were discharged and sent home. ...

During the Civil War in the winter of 1862, it was decided that the southern approach to Fort Scott was the most vulnerable to attack and that it should be fortified to protect and defend the town and the vast amount of "Union" supplies located there. ...

The study of the Civil War can often be overwhelming even when one focuses on a specific subject or subjects. This and especially in this case, the study of the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment is often very difficult to find primary or original sources, so colleagues often share information as it is discovered. ...

Throughout the Civil War, "Union" officers in Kansas and Missouri consistently referred to Confederate guerrillas as "Thieves, Bandits and Bushwhackers. This is evident in the following report which also includes a follow up to and repercussion of a "Union" loss that was featured in Battlefield Dispatches No. 341 entitled "Killing and Wounded." This report is located on Pages 792-793 in Vol. 13 Series I of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion...

During the Civil War in Missouri and eastern Kansas, in addition to killing prisoners, both the Jayhawkers of Kansas and the Bushwhackers of Missouri murdered and robbed civilians as well as soldiers which was and is commonplace in any guerrilla war. The following correspondence describes a "Guerrilla" attack on Lamar, Mo., and the "Union" response from Fort Scott. Both documents are located on Pages 348 and 352-354 in Series I, Vol. 13 of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion...

Today when one hears the expression "hot pursuit," it is normally associated with law enforcement vehicles pursuing another vehicle at a high rate of speed. However, the first after-action report in this column describes the "hot pursuit" of a band of Missouri guerrillas on horseback during the Civil War. This and the following two reports are located in Series I, Vol. 13 of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Pages 321-323...

During the Civil War in the "Land of Misery," Union soldiers' nickname for Missouri. The pursuit of Confederate Guerrillas or Bushwhackers was often very frustrating because they appeared to be "phantoms of the day" as they disappeared into the brush only to reappear and fight once more...

During the Civil War, the effective use of artillery was often one the factors that determined victory in battle. The following after action report by Col. Edward Lynde of the Ninth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry gives credit where credit was due to the Yankee Artillery that was instrumental in the Union victory in the Battle of Newtonia, Mo., on Sept. 29, 1862. This report is found on Pages 291-293 in Series I, Vol. 13 of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion...

One of Mr. Webster's definitions of "Haunt" is "To visit often" and this is what the Confederate Guerrillas or Bushwhackers did in Missouri throughout the Civil War when they visited the farms and homes of their families, friends and allies. In doing so, the guerrillas received food, shelter and rest from attacking and killing "Yankees."...

To suggest that the longevity or life expectancy of a Missouri guerrilla, or leader of a detachment of guerrillas, during the Civil War could be very long would be a gross overstatement. The reality was that the longevity, or life span, of a guerrilla could be and was often very short, which in essence meant that a guerrilla, or "bushwhacker," who had a run of bad luck ended up dead. ...

By the summer of 1862 Fort Scott, in addition to becoming a huge "Union" military complex, was also becoming a "Haven for Refugees" who had escaped from the violence of the war. Many of these refugees were African Americans all of ages, from babies to senior adults who had escaped from the bonds of slavery...

During the Civil War the operation of a bias or prejudiced newspaper was a hazardous endeavor. This was especially true if the newspaper was considered to be of the enemy when the opposition forces occupied the town in which the newspaper was located. ...

By the summer of 1862, the Guerrilla War in "Missouri" had reached epic destructive proportions where "No quarter was asked none was given!" It was a cruel, brutal barbaric war in which there was no neutrality with civilian homes and farms being destroyed. ...

In August of 1862, the Civil War was a little more than a year old and Union officers in Kansas, Missouri and the neighboring states of Iowa and the Nebraska Territory became convinced that this was "a war of extermination" when referring to the Confederate guerrillas/bushwhackers of Missouri...

It has been said for ages that "an army marches on its stomach," meaning it should be well fed and when on campaign, the troops should be provided with ample rations of food. This was and still is easier said than done. During the Civil War and in particular any campaign into the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) from Fort Scott required a supply line of more than 125 miles or so to furnish the necessary rations and supplies to actively pursue the enemy...

During the summer of 1862, the guerrilla war in Missouri between the Confederate bushwhackers (guerrillas) and the loyal Union Missouri troops was vicious, brutal and barbaric. It was often a conflict of surprise, ambushes and disappearing into the shadows of the night only to attack again before or after the dawn of another day...

At the beginning of the Civil War, "Principal" Cherokee Chief John Ross was in a very difficult situation. He wanted his people of the Cherokee Nation to remain neutral and not participate in the "white man's war." In fact, he declared that the Cherokees would remain neutral, however, that did not last very long. ...

During the Civil War in Missouri and Eastern Kansas, any individual who was captured by the Union forces could be, depending on the circumstances, charged with "inciting the insurrection," and if convicted of the same, executed by firing squad or hanging...

One might think the very title of this column would refer to a battle in Missouri because the phrase "exterminating the rebels" was often used by Union officers as one of their goals. However, this column describes the Battle of Locust Grove, Indian Territory, which occurred on July 3, 1862, in which Union and Confederate "Indians" were among the troops fighting against each other. ...

During the Civil War accurate information was for the most part very difficult to acquire, as opposed to modern technology which facilitates the transmission of needed information with pinpoint accuracy. For the generals and soldiers of the blue and gray to obtain accurate information on the spot was almost impossible. Maps were usually inaccurate or non-existent and verbal and written reports were often hours, days and sometimes weeks old...

By its very nature, a guerrilla war is a most savage war. This has been indicative of guerrilla warfare throughout the ages and was particularly true of the guerrilla war in Missouri and eastern Kansas during the Civil War. Very often it was difficult to determine who the enemy was, be they Bushwhackers from Missouri or Red Legs from Kansas or the just plain civilian outlaws from both states...

At the beginning of June in 1862, the first contingent of the Indian or Southern Expedition departed from Fort Scott on its march to the "Indian Territory" or what is now northeastern Oklahoma. This contingent was the 2nd Brigade that was commanded by Col. ...

In May and June of 1862, Fort Scott was the initial rendezvous point for a large Union campaign into the Indian Territory, present Oklahoma, known as the "Indian or Southern Expedition." The purpose of this expedition was to drive the Confederates out of the Northeastern Indian Territory north of the Arkansas River, re-occupy Fort Gibson and allow the Indian refuges who had been driven from this area to return to their homes...

Mr. Webster defines a "wild goose chase" as the "hopeless pursuit of an unattainable or imaginary object." Therefore, the frustrating Yankee pursuit of the elusive phantom like Confederate guerrillas or bushwhackers fighting in Missouri must have very often seemed like a "wild goose chase."...

In the spring of 1862, the commanding officer of the Department of Kansas was planning to conduct two campaigns at the same time. One campaign was identified as the "Southern Expedition," the goal of which was to defend the southern border of Kansas by occupying the northeastern part of the Indian Territory or present-day Oklahoma. ...

In the spring of 1862, the town of Fort Scott was developing into a large "Union" military complex. With this endeavor, as with the creation of any large military logistics or supply center, there were a number of "growing pains." These "growing pains" were described by a correspondent for and published in the May 15, 1862, edition of the Leavenworth Conservative newspaper and are as follows:...

During an expedition or "scout" into Missouri in April of 1862, a battalion of the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was fighting more than just the Confederate guerrillas or "bushwhackers" (if you are of the northern persuasion.) The second and third enemies facing the "Blue Bellied Billy Yanks" were the torrential spring rains and the mud, mud and more mud they created. ...

Springtime in Kansas can be elusive, however, one thing is certain and that is sometime from the middle of March to the end of May there will be torrential flooding rains that produces "mud, mud and more mud." So it is today, and so it was during the Civil War. This of course is not unusual because this is a time when history has repeated itself...

Today, Friday the 13th, has a reputation for being an unlucky day on which ill fortune or bad things happen and one shouldn't walk under ladders or cross the path of a black cat, especially one named "Lucifer." However, what does this have to do with the subject of this column? Absolutely nothing except that 150 years ago plus one day, April 14, 1864, was the fatal and last living day of a notorious "wild Irishman" by the of name of Daniel Henly. ...

(Correspondence of the Conservative) This place being the temporary Headquarters of the Department of Kansas, assumes considerable importance on official documents. It has been recently rather difficult of access from the high water in the streams owing to the heavy rains. ...

During the Civil War, most of the Union Army was comprised of volunteer regiments from various states because the regular U.S. Army was very small and could not, because of its size suppress the rebellion. However, the regular army had and provided many professional officers who commanded some of the field armies and most of the higher general staff positions...

During the first year of the Civil War, from April of 1861 to April of 1862, there was in all of the states north and south a good bit of disorganized discontent and confusion. This was understandable, because the United States had never been in such a tumultuous internal conflict that was tearing the country apart. ...

In keeping with the sesquicentennial or 150 year commemoration of the Civil War, this column features two "artillery" after-action reports that describe the deadly use of artillery or cannons in the Battle of Pea Ridge in northeastern Arkansas March 7-8, 1862. ...

The following newspaper article was published in the Leavenworth Conservative on Feb. 27, 1862, and was written by a correspondent of that newspaper in Mound City, Kan., on February 21, 1862. The article describes many military happenings in and around Fort Scott and concludes with a description of the new "Military Express" which delivered mail to Fort Leavenworth to Fort Scott in 22 hours functioning like to the original "Pony Express."...

The title of this column suggests that something has been burned to the ground, and it is correct. However, one would be mistaken in thinking that the destruction occurred in Missouri. It did not; it occurred in Kansas in September and October of 1861 when Confederate "guerrillas" or "bushwackers," if one is of the Northern "persuasion," attacked and sacked Humboldt, Kan...

The title of this column suggests that something has been burned to the ground, and it is correct. However, one would be mistaken in thinking that the destruction occurred in Missouri. It did not; it occurred in Kansas in September and October of 1861 when Confederate "guerrillas" or "bushwackers," if one is of the Northern "persuasion," attacked and sacked Humboldt, Kan...

During the Civil War, normally when the armies of the Blue and the Gray were in "winter quarters," major campaigns did not occur. There were, however, scouts and patrols which often resulted in small skirmishes or engagements; but for the most part, the enemy was the winter weather and enduring the monotony of camp life, drill, work or fatigue details and guard duty...

During the Civil War, normally, "winter campaigns" did not occur. However, out here in the Trans-Mississippi Theatre of Operations one did occur in late January and February of 1862. It was during this winter campaign, in the Department of Missouri, that Brig. ...

One might think that the title of this column is a contradiction of words, but it is not. During the Civil War there was a certain civility in the correspondence that described the "barbarous warfare" that was conducted by both the Union and Confederate forces. This and the command of the English language were especially evident in the letters between the Union and Confederate "generals."...

We as a nation and people, for the most part, remember anniversaries, birthdays and other significant events in the history of our country and families, some of which are milestones. Mr. Webster, one of the author's best friends, defines a "milestone" as "a significant event in one's career or history." Therefore, as we, the United States, commemorate and remember the 150th anniversary our Civil War from 2011--2015, this was indeed a significant event and milestone in our nation's history...

Today, Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, is the 150th Anniversary of one of many first in the Civil War, and it is an important date in the history of the United States, African American history and the history of the United States Army. It was here, in Fort Scott, Kan., on Jan. ...

Dayton and Columbus, Mo. During the Civil War, the concept of waging "total war," which included the burning of homes, barns and towns, is believed by many to have originated in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. This type of warfare evolved very quickly when Kansans (seeking revenge, retribution and retaliation for the destruction done by Missourians in Kansas during the era of Bleeding Kansas from 1856 -- 1861) waged war in the "land of misery," the Union troops' nickname for the "show-me-state.". ...

During the Civil War, by December of 1861, things were getting organized in Missouri and eastern Kansas from the "Union" perspective. The disorganized discontent of the summer and fall of 1861 was in the past and even though Confederate Gen. Price and his army were now in southwestern Missouri, they were still on the mind and a major concern of Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck who commanded the "Union" Department of the Missouri from his headquarters in St. Louis...

During the Civil War, a few days before "Christmas" the soldiers of the blue and the gray often thought of hearth and home and of Christmases past. For the most part, on Christmas Eve and day combat stopped. There wasn't an official truce; however, the fighting just seemed to stop...

In the middle of December 1861, 1st Sgt. Luther Thrasher's Company C and the balance of the battalion from the Kansas Brigade were still on a march of devastation and destruction in Bates County, Mo. This time they were marching toward Butler which would be burned to ashes, and then they returned to Kansas and "winter quarters" in Linn County not far from the Kansas / Missouri line...

On Thursday, Dec. 12, 1864, 1st Sgt. Luther Thrashers's Company, Company C of Lane's Kansas Brigade, received orders late in the afternoon to prepare for a march into Missouri. It seems that on the previous night a Union man who lived in Missouri near the Kansas line was murdered by bushwhackers or "Missouri ruffians," so according to Thrasher's diary, "we are now off to avenge" this murder. ...

From the middle of November 1861 to the end of February 1862, the Kansas Brigade was in "winter quarters" and was stationed at various locations in eastern Kansas. Company C of the 3rd Kansas Vol. Infantry Regiment was stationed near Osawatomie and finally near Mound City for the balance of the winter...

From November 1861 to March of 1862, the "Kansas Brigade" was at home in "winter quarters." This does not mean that the brigade was inactive and in hibernation. Far from it! All of the regiments and respective companies of the brigade were stationed at different locations between Fort Scott and Fort Leavenworth protecting eastern Kansas from the Missouri "bushwhackers," partisan rangers or guerrillas, who were all one and the same...

The Kansas Brigade arrived in home on Nov. 14, 1861, after a march of five days from Springfield, Mo., and it was good to be in Kansas once more. However, trouble was on the horizon for the Kansas Brigade and its commanding officer Brig. Gen. James Henry Lane. ...

In the Civil War, "Going home" were two magic words and music to the ears of any soldier, sailor or marine and, for that matter, to anyone past and present who served in any branch of the armed forces of United States. Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and today is the 236th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, so it is most fitting and proper to say thank you to each and every veteran and their families for the sacrifices they have made to make sure that we as a nation enjoy the freedoms of today. ...

During the Civil War -- or for that matter, any war or conflict throughout the ages -- if you were an infantry soldier, during or at the end of a long days march you were "weary and worn" and very tired! Such was the case of the "Kansas Brigade" that was commanded by Brig. Gen. James Henry Lane as it marched south through western Missouri toward Springfield in pursuit of soldiers of the "Confederate" Missouri State Guard that was commanded by Maj. Gen. Sterling Price...

This past Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, was the 147th anniversary, to the day, of the Battle of Mine Creek that is the largest Civil War battle fought in Kansas and the second largest Cavalry battle of the entire Civil War. Therefore, it is only fitting and appropriate that this column be devoted to an aspect of this battle, the Battle of Mine Creek. ...

During the Civil War the same "armies" normally did not return and march over or through the same battlefields they fought on. However, there were occasionally exceptions to this, and such was the case in October of 1861 when the infamous, if one is from Missouri or of the "Southern Persuasion," and I repeat, infamous Kansas Brigade commanded by the "Grim Chieftain" himself, Brig. ...

While stationed in Kansas City in October of 1861 with his "Kansas Brigade," Brig. Gen. James Henry Lane (the "Grim Chieftain") did not hesitate to express his opinion to his commanding officer, Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont, or anyone who would listen about how the "Union" or "federals" should fight and destroy the Confederate forces...

After the destruction of Osceola, Mo., on Sept. 24, 1861, the Kansas Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. James Henry Lane was ordered to Kansas City to assist in the defense of that metropolis. Eventually, the "brigade" was to join a large combined Union force commanded by Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont to attack and destroy the Confederate forces that had recently won the "Battle of the Hemp Bales" at Lexington, Mo., and who now and occupied it. This never happened...

On Sept. 20, 1861, Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, commanding a large army comprised of the Missouri State Guard, accepted the surrender of the Union "Missourians" who had occupied the city and surrounding hills of Lexington, Mo. In addition to being called the Battle of Lexington, this engagement is called the Battle of the Hemp Bales because the attacking Confederates became very creative and used portable bales of hemp to form a movable breastwork, or fortification, that sheltered them from enemy fire as they advanced toward the "Union" lines.. ...

During the summer of 1861, southern Kansas was in a bit of a turmoil, especially after the Confederate victory at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on Aug. 10, 1861. The citizens of Fort Scott and southeast Kansas feared an attack by a Confederate force of the Missouri State Guard commanded by Gen. Sterling Price as it moved north from the Wilson's Creek Battlefield toward Lexington and the Missouri River...

Even before the infamous Kansas "Lane Brigade" invaded the "Land of Misery" ("Union" soldiers' nickname for Missouri), its reputation had already been established by small groups of marauding Jayhawkers who crossed the "line" in small groups killing Missourians and plundering their homes...

On Sept. 2, 1861, a small battle occurred near the present town of Deerfield, Mo., that was the conclusion of a two-day engagement that has two names. This engagement has been called the Battle of Drywood because of its proximity to the Big Drywood Creek and the Battle of the Mules because of the capture of 200 "Union" mules and horses...

During the Civil War, in the first summer of discontent, that being 1861, things were pretty chaotic and confusing in Fort Scott, Kan., as they were in all the states whether they were "Union" or "Confederate." After the Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Mo., on Aug. ...

The Battle of Wilson's Creek on Aug. 10, 1861, near Springfield, Mo., was one of the largest and most significant battles of the Civil War that occurred west of the Mississippi River. Kansas was well represented in that battle by the participation of the 1st and 2nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments that were in some of the most fiercest, horrific combat of the day...

This past Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, was the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Wilson's Creek, west of Springfield, Mo. This engagement was one of the largest and most significant battles of the Civil War that occurred west of the Mississippi River. Kansas was represented in this battle by the participation of the 1st and 2nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiments...

During the Civil War, women of the north and south often used their guile, wile and wits serving as scouts, spies and smugglers for both the north and south. The women of the Mayfield family from near Montevallo, Vernon County, Mo., were some of the most famous or infamous, depending on one's point of view, and brazen Southern spies and smugglers between 1861 and 1865. The following description of some of their exploits is located on Pages 337 -- 341 in the 1887 History of Vernon County...

Early in the spring of 1863, Wagon Boss and Mule Mechanic R.M. Peck hired on as a teamster in a large brigade supply train of 125 wagons going from Fort Scott, Kan., to Fort Gibson near present Muskogee, Okla., in what then was called in the Civil War the "Indian Nation" or the "Cherokee Nation."...

Without a doubt, the major "beast of burden" during the Civil War was the mule and not the horse, and this does not include the "pack mule" that was used prolifically by the U.S. Army after the Civil War until the 1950s. As has been mentioned in previous columns, the mule was the major draft animal that was used to pull supply wagons, ambulances and many other wheeled vehicles during the Civil War. ...

The Mayfield brothers, Brice and John (whose nickname was "Crack"), were two southern partisan rangers or "bushwhackers," if one is of the northern persuasion, from Vernon County during the Civil War. In fact, the entire Mayfield family, including their sisters, were famous or infamous southern sympathizers, depending on one's perspective...

During the Civil War and all conflicts before and after this war, almost all shots or a shot to the head were fatal. They were normally inflicted by a "sharpshooter" or, in the modern military, by a "sniper." This was usually accomplished at a great distance. Often when the chaos of rough and tumble "hand-to-hand" combat occurred, any type of wound inflicted on an enemy would suffice, and this could include a fatal head shot...

By definition, Mr. Webster defines notorious as "being known widely and unfavorably." Therefore, during the Civil War and presently, if one was or is of the northern persuasion, this is a perfect word to describe the bushwhackers. Perhaps the most famous Confederate guerrilla or partisan ranger west of the Mississippi River was William Clark Quantrill. ...

During the Civil War in Kansas and Missouri, Confederate guerrillas or "bushwhackers," if one is of the northern persuasion, were normally not captured or taken prisoner. They were usually killed on the spot. There were, however, exceptions to this, and such an exception occurred in southwest Missouri in McDonald County during the winter of 1862 and 1863...

During the Civil War, the excessive consumption of whiskey could and often did lead to fistfights between comrades of the Blue and comrades of the Gray. Occasionally, the result of a fistfight or quarrel could be fatal to one of the combatants, especially if he was drunk...

During the Civil War each Union regiment and company was required to keep a written record or diary that documented a brief history of their respective unit. This document was entitled the "Record of Events" and provides a brief but detailed history of the movements of a specific regiment and all of its companies throughout the war. This information is very important in the study of the Civil War because it is often summarized and many of the details are omitted from the "Official Reports."...

In keeping with the history of Memorial Day, or "Decoration Day" as it was originally called, which began as a direct result of the Civil War in 1867, this column is devoted to the "military honors" provided whenever possible to deceased Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War...

Very often during the Civil War and, for that matter in any branch of any military service today, an individual could find him or herself today doing things that they did not enlist to do or were not trained to do (some things never change)! Such was the case of some of the soldiers and officers of Company E of the 12th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment when they were stationed at Fort Scott from April to August in 1863...

At the beginning of the Civil War in April 1861, the nation's capital was in a state of disarray and confusion and there were several plots to kidnap President Abraham Lincoln from the White House. A newly elected Kansas senator by the name of James Henry Lane offered to protect President Lincoln with a group of armed Kansans until proper military protection could be secured, and the Kansas Frontier Guard was established...

During the Civil War, Fort Scott evolved into a huge military complex that extended well beyond the current boundary of Fort Scott National Historic Site. One of the largest parts of this complex was a huge Quartermaster Depot that facilitated the transportation of supplies to Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) and Fort Smith, Ark...

Before the Civil War, cotton was the king of all the agricultural products that were produced south of the Mason-Dixon Line. In addition to cotton, the south produced tobacco, indigo and rice, but Cotton was the King. The southern gross national product of all of these agricultural crops was many millions of dollars and then came the Civil War...

During the study of the Civil War, one often discovers that an individual's name was often spelled in two or three different ways, and this becomes difficult and confusing for the researcher. Is the individual being researched one person with a different spelling of his or her surname, or are there two or three different individuals?...

Some time ago, David Haimerl, who is a very good friend, fellow researcher and historian discovered the following 1862 description of the hospitals in Fort Scott at the end of the second year of the Civil War. One of the joys of studying the Civil War is that most folks who do this are happy to share the new "old" information they have discovered. ...

During the Civil War the Union soldiers called Missouri the "Land of Misery" because they believed that all Missourians and the entire state was the enemy. This of course was not true because there were hundreds of "Unionists" or "Missourians" who were loyal to the United States, but that made no difference to the Blue Bellied Yankees from Kansas and other northern states such as Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, etc. ...

In the April of 1862, a battalion of the 2nd Ohio (Buckeyes) Cavalry Regiment conducted an expedition into the enemy state of Missouri from Fort Scott. If there is an after -action report of this expedition, it has not been discovered yet. However, the following account of this mission was published in the April 26,1862 edition of the "Western Volunteer" newspaper in Fort Scott...

According to Mr. Webster, one of the definitions of an "Outlaw, is "a habitual or notorious criminal who is a fugitive from the law." During the Civil War, there were many "outlaws" who were former soldiers of the Blue or the Gray and there were also those who never wore a uniform and were civilian outlaws. ...

Carrying the military mail by "Express" or "Dispatch" riders or couriers during the Civil War was a very dangerous occupation that could result in a short life expectancy and on occasion a very brief longevity. However, even with death staring him in the face on his journey, a successful Dispatch was very well paid, often in the amount of $3-$5 per day plus rations. ...

During the Civil War, Supply Trains often encountered abandoned or occupied farms as they passed through a given area and it often did not matter what the loyalty of the farmers and their families was. Anything of use was normally taken by the passing "Union" or Confederate soldiers. ...

At the conclusion of last week's column Wagon Boss R.M. Peck and the wagon train he was in charge of arrived at Flat Rock, Indian Territory which was about 12 miles north of Fort Gibson. Here, Peck was put in charge of another empty supply train that was returning to Fort Scott, Kan. ...

After returning to Fort Scott from Humboldt, Kan., in the late spring of 1862, R.M. Peck, hired on as the Assistant Wagon Boss with a wagon train of Commissary Stores going to south to Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). The following is Peck's memoir of this trip that was published in the July 28, 1904 edition of the National Tribune newspaper in Washington, D.C...

Before returning to Fort Scott in the Spring of 1862, wagon boss R.M. Peck recorded his observations of Humboldt, Kan., and the organization of the "Union" 1st and 2nd Regiments of Indian Home Guards in his journal. Early in the last century, he published his memoir of the Civil War in a series of articles that were published in the National Tribune, which was a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. ...

In the early spring of 1862, Wagon Boss R.M. Peck was in charge of a wagon train that was transporting supplies from Fort Scott to Humboldt, Kan., that were to be used in the "Union" Army's summer campaign in the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). This is the conclusion of Peck's column that was published in the July 21, 1904 edition of the National Tribune newspaper that was published in Washington, D.C...

This column is the continuation of Wagon Boss Robert M. Peck's experiences in eastern Kansas and the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) from 1862-1865. During the Civil War, the "Union" Quartermaster Department hired civilians to be in charge of mule drawn wagon trains that transported almost all of the supplies that were necessary equip a field army to wage war and to furnish various forts and installations as necessary. ...

During the Civil War, most of the standard musket ammunition was the .58 Caliber Minnie Ball that was issued to the "infantry." In fact, the "Minnie Ball" was not a round ball, but rather it was a conical shaped bullet or projectile. There were, however, soldiers of the Blue and Gray who were issued standardized round "ball" ammunition in .58 or .69 calibers. "Standardization" was the key that enabled the ordnance departments to purchase and issue large amounts of identical ammunition...

During the Civil War, as in any war, combat operations of the Blue and Gray did not stop because it was a holiday and for the most part, unless you were part of a rear echelon, far away from a combat area, holiday celebrations did not occur. However, whenever possible, the soldiers of the Blue and Gray did remember "New Years" Eve and Day with a bit of levity whenever and wherever they could. ...

During the Civil War, or for that matter in any war, thoughts of soldiers far away were often of family, home and hearth. This was especially true during the holiday seasons of Christmas and New Year's and these thoughts were often expressed in the soldier's diaries and letters to their loved ones. ...

By choice, the "Beast of Burden" during the Civil War in the Quartermaster and Commissary Departments was the mule and not the draft or work horse. The following description of a good mule was published in Scott's 1861 Military Dictionary in 1861 on Page 334:...

According to Mr. Webster, one of the definitions of "guardian" is "A person who guards, protects or takes care of another person, property, etc." Therefore, one would expect a "guardian" to be a benevolent person who does good things and is kindly and charitable and is regarded as beautiful, good and innocent as an "angel." This is not what one would expect to be or of a combat soldier or Civil War general. ...

At approximately 3 a.m. in the morning on Oct. 26, 1864, the Confederate Army of Missouri, commanded by Mjr. Gen. Sterling Price, started to advance south (if you are of the Southern persuasion) or continued to retreat (if you are of the Northern persuasion) from the vicinity of Deerfield, Mo., towards Neosho and Newtonia in hopes of evading the pursuing Yankees and reaching a safe haven in southwest Missouri or northwest Arkansas...

During the Civil War the essence of victory often depended on the rapid movement of troops, ammunition and the other necessities of war. Conversely, if the "Curse of the slows" descended upon an army or campaign and everything including the movement of troops and ammunition slowed down or were forced to move at a "snail's pace" this could spell disaster and the agony of defeat often became a reality. ...

At sunset (approximately 6 p.m.) on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1864 the last battle of the day occurred northwest of Deerfleld, Mo. This battle, like many battles in the Civil War has a few names. It has been called the Battle of the Marmaton, Little Marmaton Creek, Shiloh Creek and Chariot's Farm which makes it very interesting and at times confusing to study. ...

During the Civil War, the third and last battle that occurred in Kansas on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1864; was the Battle of the Little Osage. This battle happened approximately 11 miles south of Mine Creek and 10 miles north of Fort Scott near the present town of Fulton. It, like the Battle of Trading Post and Mine Creek, was a Union victory and successful Confederate rear guard action...

During the Civil War or in any war, "fire" or the act of burning something of the enemy was and is common practice. Normally use of fire is part of the carnage and chaos of war that included the burning of buildings, barns, bridges, fences, homes, towns and anything that could and did provide aid and comfort to the enemy. ...

Monday, Oct. 25 is the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Mine Creek that was the largest Civil War battle in Kansas and the second largest "CAVALRY" battle in the entire Civil War. The largest cavalry battle of the war was at Brandy Station, Va., on June 8, 1863 in which approximately 20,500 horse soldiers of the Blue (9,500) and Gray (11,000) participated. At Mine Creek there were approximately 10,800 participants that included approximately 2,800 "Union Yankees" and 8,000 Confederates...

On Sunday, Oct. 23, 1864, the Battle of Westport occurred on and near the Missouri / Kansas state line in Kansas City. This was battle was the immediate predecessor of the Battle of Mine Creek and the other cavalry battles which occurred on Oct. 25, 1864. However, Westport was more than a cavalry battle because all three major branches of a 19th Century army, the artillery, infantry and cavalry, participated extensively in the battle...

One of the fascinating things about the English language, especially here in the United States is that there are many dialectal expressions that are indigenous to specific regions. In Missouri, the famous folklorist Vance Randolph documented many of these expressions and words in his numerous books. It is rare however, to find any of these expressions in the "official after action reports" of the Civil War...

Guerrilla Warfare in any war is violent, vicious and quick and this was especially true in Missouri and Kansas during the Civil War. Enemy soldiers were often "Killed on the Spot" and not taken prisoner and the attacks occurred night and day, whenever the opportunity presented itself. ...

"Surprise", be it spontaneous or planned, by it's very nature was a major element in the tactics and success of the "Union" and Confederate guerrillas in Missouri and Kansas during the Civil War. All of the following after action reports describe brief, violent engagements where "surprise" was complete and contributed to the success of the victor...

Traveling by the darkness of night during the Civil War was often fraught with danger and could be hazardous to one's health. This was especially true when traveling on rough roads or roads that passed through heavily wooded areas or swamps at night. ...

In the summer of 1863, the Quartermaster and the Assistant Adjutant General at Fort Scott were faced with a major logistical problem. The problem was, how to SAFELY transport supplies and the military mail across 180 miles of the unprotected Military Road from Fort Scott to Fort Blunt (formerly Fort Gibson) in the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). ...

Aug. 25, 1863 was a very busy day at the Headquarters of the Department of the Missouri in Saint Louis, Mo. On that day, the commanding officer of the latter Department Major General John M. Schofield (no relation of the author) approved a number of General Orders. ...

Aug. 25, 1863 was a very busy day at the Headquarters of the Department of the Missouri in Saint Louis, Mo. On that day, the commanding officer of the latter Department Major General John M. Schofield (no relation of the author) approved a number of General Orders. ...

A fox, by itsz very nature, is a sly, cunning, clever, crafty, stealthy and wily hunter. It has to possess all of these characteristics in order to survive and avoid pursuing foxhounds, which are very smart dogs. During the Civil War in Missouri and other areas, especially in Missouri, the Confederate guerrillas or partisan rangers were much like foxes who were pursued by the Blue Belly Billy Yanks who resembled the foxhounds. ...

In any war, and this was especially true in the Civil War, the women who were at home in the combat areas had to be brave, self reliant, feisty, witty, quick of mind and at times, arrogant and defiant to protect their families, homes, farms, etc. If they were faced with enemy soldiers they could be and were brave, but they could also be impudent, insolent and insulting. ...

During the Civil War the "Union" command in Missouri and Kansas was also faced with the dilemma of how to protect the mail routes on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails and how to combat the "Guerrillas of the Plains" or the American Indians. Eventually, the Yankees figured out the best way to do this was to increase the number of troops and outposts needed for the protection of the commerce and mail carriers along the trails. ...

The Civil War here in Kansas and Missouri is perceived by "Easterners", folks living east of the Mississippi River, as being the "Civil War" in the WEST! This is true from an eastern perspective because most of the land from western Kansas to the Rocky Mountains and from northern Texas to the Canadian border was still unsettled and organized into territories...

According to Mr. Webster, "scorn" can be defined as "to refuse or reject as wrong & disgraceful" and "contempt" is "something or someone considered to be low, worthless or beneath notice." The opposing forces in any war, especially the American Civil War, often used these words to describe their enemies and this opinion made it easier to fight and kill the enemy...

During the Civil War, the burning of homes, barns and towns in eastern Kansas and western Missouri was a common practice before it became part of the "total war" that was waged east of the Mississippi River. Very often, here on the "western frontier of civilization", the perpetrators of the "burnings" were not pursued, apprehended or killed because they could not be located in this a perpetual "Guerrilla War." However, there were exceptions to this and one of these exceptions is described in the following after action reports. ...

As has been mentioned in a recent column, language and word usage have transcended the passage of time. During the Civil War many soldiers of the "Blue" and "Gray" could read and write. This has resulted in the Civil War being the largest uncensored war in American History during which thousands of letters and reports were written. The words used in these letters and reports are very often colorful and clearly convey the opinions or bias of the writer...

During the Civil War, death riding a pale horse claimed the lives of soldiers and civilians in many ways. However, disease accounted for most of the deaths that were the result of infections or an illness in which the patient suffered and lingered while waiting for the pale horse to arrive. Others, the lucky ones in any war, died instantly in combat by receiving a mortal messenger in the form of a bullet or artillery fragment and were "SHOT DEAD!"...

On May 27, 1863; "Death", one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, galloped into Fort Scott for it's second visit to the largest "Union" military complex in southeast Kansas. On this visit in May of 1863, "Death" claimed the life of Sgt. Claudeus Columbus Frizell who served with a Missouri Militia Regiment...

Editor's Note: Due to the use of an expletive in one of the following historical letters, the word in question has been replaced with S.O.B., as part of Tribune policy. Some phrases of the English language have transcended the passage of time from before, during and after the Civil War and are still in use today, hence the title of this column...

Death rode into Fort Scott on Pale Horse on May 13, 1863 and absconded with the soul of a Union soldier. In this context, "Death" was one of the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Death was riding a pale colored horse because that was often the color of a corpse then and now. ...

One of Mr. Webster's definitions of DECEIT is "a dishonest action, trick, fraud or lie" and during the Civil War, as in all wars, occasionally soldiers of both the Blue and the Gray killed the enemy in a deceitful way. This type of killing was not accomplished by wearing a disguise, it was done by appearing to surrender in uniform and then firing a fatal shot into and killing the enemy soldier to which one was offering to surrender. ...

During the Civil War, it did not take long for Confederate Guerrillas / Bushwhackers in Missouri to learn that a successful way to deceive the "Blue Bellied Billy Yanks" was to wear the Yankee's trousers and jacket and appear to be "Yanks." This, of course, gave the guerrillas an added element of surprise when they attacked their enemy. ...

In the Spring of each year, during the Civil War, the Confederate and Union Guerrillas awoke from their partial winter hibernation to conduct their special type of warfare with a vengeance. Depending on the weather, guerrilla activity increased with the coming of the leaves in springtime. ...

By the spring of 1863, the western tier counties of Missouri were part of the District of Kansas in the Department of Missouri and there were strict instructions circulated concerning the fate of Confederate Guerrillas, Bushwhackers and the Union Red Legs. ...

According to Mr. Webster, one definition of "sanctuary" is "A place giving refuge, asylum or immunity from arrest." Normally the use of this word refers to a church, temple or mosque or a reserved area where animals are protected and hunting is prohibited. ...

In the study of the Civil War, one of the most common questions is how many soldiers died in the war? The answer is more than 600,000 Americans (soldiers, sailors and marines) in both the Blue and the Gray died in battle, of wounds received in combat or disease in the Civil War. ...

During the Civil War in Missouri, the "Yankee" pursuit of the Confederate guerrillas or "Bushwhackers" was both relentless & frustrating. The Yanks were relentless because the elimination of the Bushwhackers was one of their primary missions and they were frustrated because very often the guerrillas seemed to vanish and were know where to be found. ...

By 1864 the "Union" Command in the Departments of Missouri and Kansas realized that one of the most successful ways to wage war against the Confederate guerrillas in the "Show-Me-State" was to send out small expeditions or patrols of approximately 100 men. ...

War of any kind, time and place creates a "Broken, Barren and Destitute" landscape and civilian population on, near or in any battlefield or former battlefield. The havoc of war can also create a persistent and successful "civilian" guerrilla resistance which is what occurred throughout Missouri during the Civil War. ...

During the Civil War, no matter how hard the Blue Belly Billy Yanks from and in Missouri tried to eradicate the Confederate guerrillas or Bushwhackers, and they tried very hard, the Union troops never really accomplished their mission. Sometimes the "Union" scouts or patrols were successful, but there always seemed to be another group of guerrillas who were on the hunt to attack enemy supply trains, couriers, small Yankee outposts and civilians who supported the Union cause. ...

During the Civil War, "Congressional Inquires" occurred frequently, even as they do today and from a military perspective they could be a nuisance, but they had to be answered. This type of inquiry could come from the Federal or Confederate Congress or a state legislature. ...

During the Civil War in Missouri, delivery of the U.S. "Civilian" Mail and "Military" Mail were often successfully disrupted by the Confederate Guerrillas (Partisan Rangers and Bushwhackers). This was accomplished by stopping and stealing the mail from commercial carrier vehicles such as stage coaches or military couriers. ...

During the Civil War, "Robbing & Plundering" were common place and were committed by soldiers in both Blue and Gray, Guerrillas, Redlegs, Jayhawkers, Bushwhackers, Civilian Vigilantes and Outlaws in Kansas and Missouri. This of course complicated and frustrated the Union peace keeping forces in the Jayhawker state of Kansas and the Bushwhacker state of Missouri. ...

During the Civil War, Scouts, Spies, Bushwhackers, Partisan Rangers and Guerrillas became experts at "covering their tracks." According to one of my best literary friends, Mr. Webster's Dictionary (I would be lost without one); the 9th definition of "Cover" is to "hide or conceal from view." Therefore all of the previous mentioned soldiers did indeed cover their tracks which was conducive to their survival and longevity, because their occupation was hazardous, fraught with danger and one mistake or track left uncovered would often lead to their DEATH.. ...

By January 1863, the Civil War was almost two years old and the "Union" command in Missouri was still trying to figure out a way to neutralize the Confederate guerrillas and "Bushwhackers." In fact this was to be a never ending problem throughout the balance of the war that was never solved...

This column is devoted to a description of the "3" Indian Home Guard Regiments from Kansas during the Civil War. One might think that their regimental designation indicates that they were organized to protect their homes in Kansas, but this was not the case. ...

During the Civil War, the cold months of Winter, didn't stop the "Union" pursuit & killing of their worst enemy in Missouri, the "Confederate" Guerrillas / Bushwhackers! The following reports describe a successful "killing" patrol by a Union detachment in southwest Missouri that was conducted during very harsh winter weather. It is located on Pages 19 & 20 in Series I, vol. 48, Part I of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion...

Normally, during the severe winter months of January, February & early March, the large Union & Confederate Armies went into "Winter Quarters" & the major campaigns & fighting were not resumed until the spring. However, the "Guerrilla War" in Missouri often went on unabated and the following incident of "Winter Killings" is described on Pages 17 & 18 in Series L Vol. 48. Part I of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion...

Traditionally & this was true in the 19th Century as well. New Years Eve & Day are celebrated with remembering the past year & welcoming in the New Year. However, in today's military & that of the Civil War these days were just another day of combat or garrison duty. True, there is & was some levity whenever possible, but normally the main focus was to carry on with whatever the respective military operations or mission of the day happened to be...

Today is "Christmas Eve" and thousands of our men & women in the military service and their families from whom many are separated because we as a nation are at war, think of home & hearth & "Christmas Past". This has been true of every conflict we have been in, including our Civil War. ...

Now wait just a minute! How on earth could anyone be "WORSE than GUERRILLAS" in the Civil War? Now if one was from Missouri & of the "Southern Persuasion, this would make perfect sense when referring to the "Kansas Jayhawkers" or "Red legs" as many of these soldiers were 'Bad to the Bone" because that is the way they & YES, the "Guerrillas" of Missouri waged war! However, this statement was made by a loyal MISSOURIAN who was a "Union" officer who described the specific way soldiers from a Kansas regiment waged war in 1864! Now let's just think for a minute! Who was one of the most despised "Union" officers in Missouri, who was from Kansas & conducted periodic raids into "The-Show-Me State" in 1861 & whose name lived on in infamy when he did the same thing as a civilian after he resigned from the "Union Army" in the spring of 1862. ...

It is not surprising that "Union" Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis who commanded the Department of Kansas is 1864 would state that, "The idea of Price being anywhere in Missouri is monstrous! To those Missourians of the "northern persuasion" and there were a great many during the Civil War this was true! However, to those of the "southern persuasion" in the Show-Me-State this was heresy, because the second coming of Major General Sterling Price and his "Army of Missouri," hopefully, would liberate them from northern oppression and aggression! Alas, in retrospect Price's 1864 Campaign in Missouri and Kansas did not liberate Missouri from its' northern occupation and oppression. ...

September and October of 1864 were chaotic months in Missouri and Kansas because of Major General Sterling Price's campaign in the "Show-Me" (Mo.) and Jayhawker (Kan.) states. This column and those to follow through Nov. 7 will focus on different aspects of this campaign and the four battles that occurred on Oct. 25, 1864. These battles include Trading Post, Mine Creek and Little Osage, Kansas and Shiloh Creek/Charlot's Farm near Deerfield, Mo...

On Sept. 2, 1861, a small battle occurred near the present town of Deerfield, Mo., that was the conclusion of a two-day engagement that has two names. This engagement has been called the Battle of the Mules and the Battle of Drywood because of its proximity to the Big Drywood Creek and the Battle of the Mules because of the capture of 200 Union mules and horses...

Information gathering methods have changed over the years. During the Civil War, various ways of extracting information from un-willing prisoners, enemy soldiers or non-combatants (civilian men) were used. Times have changed and so have "information gathering methods". ...

"Keep your powder dry" is an old axiom that originated with the firing of flintlock weapons in the 17th, 18th and first half of the 19th century. A piece of flint would strike a spring operated iron frizzen causing sparks to ricochet into a shallow depression, igniting a small amount of gunpowder and that would, in turn, ignite the gunpowder in the barrel to fire or discharge the musket or rifle. ...

On July 17, 1863, the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Kansas Indian Home Guards and battalions of the 6th Kansas and 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry participated in the Battle of Honey Springs that occurred near the present town of Checotah, Okla. The Indian Home Guards functioned as mounted infantry and were armed with their own rifles, shotguns and revolvers...

Yesterday was the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs or Elk Creek that occurred near the present town of Checotah, Okla. This battle was a large Union victory that included both Union and Confederate infantry, artillery and cavalry forces. ...

An "International Incident" involving a former foreign consul in St Louis, Mo., during the Civil War! Now wait just a minute! One would think that situations such as this happened in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va.; and they did, but to have one west of the Mississippi River, that seems a bit far fetched. ...

Throughout history civilians killing civilians is and was, commonplace in war. This is especially true today in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel and Palestine and was quite prevalent throughout Missouri and eastern Kansas during "our" Civil War. Very often "war" is convenient for settling, by murder or assassination, offenses such as personal grudges, or revenge for acts of violence or outrages committed by civilians to other civilians...

The title of this column could have been the motto of Union Brigadier General Clinton B. Fisk because it certainly was his policy to, whenever and wherever possible, kill every Confederate guerrilla and "bushwhacker" and outlaw in northern Missouri from April 6, 1864, to the end of the Civil War in April, 1865...

To say that the Confederate guerrillas/ bushwhackers who operated in Missouri and eastern Kansas during the Civil War were "troublesome is a bit of an understatement. They were more than "troublesome." They were a deadly enemy who would strike swiftly, kill, destroy and disappear, if they survived, to attack again until they met the "Grim Reaper" of Death, as many of them eventually did. ...

"Ordered to be shot." uch was the fate of most Confederate guerrillas (if you are of the Southern persuasion) or bushwhackers (if you are of the opposing or Yankee point of view) in Missouri during the Civil War. If a Confederate guerrilla or bushwhacker was unfortunate enough to be captured by the Blue Bellied Billy Yanks the grim reaper would quickly claim another soul because "Union" justice for the guerrilla was usually swift and fatal. ...

It appears that during the Civil War in Missouri "Union" patrols or scouts often encountered a number of "Indignant Women" and Barking Dogs that became a volatile, but not violent combination. Such was the case of the "Union" patrol that is described in the following report that is located on Pages 93-95, Vol. 34, Part III Correspondence in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion...

It's the Kansas-Missouri border again! Previously it has been mentioned that after Quantrill's successful raid and destruction of Lawrence, Kan. on August 21, 1863, the Union Army in Kansas and Missouri established a line of posts or camps to defend their respective borders. ...

The title of this column is very appropriate in describing the frustrating "Union" search and pursuit of the Confederate Guerillas in Missouri during the Civil War. It is also part of the June 3, 1864 entry of Sgt. James P. Mallery's Civil War Diary that describes the good Sergeant's activities for the entire year of 1864 when he was stationed with Co. A. of the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry at Fort Curtis near Balltown, Vernon County, Mo...

This is a follow up and continuation of the column that appears above. However, in this set of entries in his diary Sgt. Mallery of Co. A., 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry records his patrol or scout does indeed find and attacks some Bushwhackers. Sgt. Mallery's entire diary was phonetically transcribed by Historian Pat Brophy and has been published by the Vernon County Historical Society. ...

Throughout his tenure as the commanding officer of the Department of Kansas, Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis, was constantly faced with waging a war in three basic directions. These directions consisted of defending eastern Kansas from raids by the Confederate guerrillas in Missouri, enemy attacks into Kansas from the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) and attacks on the commercial and military traffic along the Santa Fe, Oregon and Smokey River Trails by various Plains Indian Tribes and possibly Confederate guerrillas. ...

No, the subject of this column is not the very expensive 20th Century horseless carriage of the same name (viper) and it is not about the poisonous snake of the same name! According to Mr. Webster, a less used definition of a viper, today, is a "Malicious, spiteful or treacherous person." What a perfect word to describe Kansas "Redlegs" (maverick soldiers and civilian outlaws) and Missouri guerrillas/bushwhackers in the Civil War. ...

By early 1864, defending the Kansas/Missouri Border with Union forces was becoming more organized and efficient. The main reason for this was that, once again and for the duration of the war the Department of Kansas had been created from and was entirely separate from the Department of Missouri. ...

During the Civil War, military justice for committing capital crimes such as murder, rape and desertion in the face of the enemy was execution by hanging or by a firing squad. This of course was true for soldiers of both the Blue and the Gray. There was also another form of justice that preceded and occurred after the Civil War and that was "Vigilante Justice."...

By the winter of 1863, a popular refrain echoed in many Union and Confederate camps, posts, garrisons and armies on campaign wishing for what had become a long Civil War to end in peace throughout the land. The thoughts of the following verse are as meaningful today for any soldier, sailor, marine or air force personnel serving in "Harm's Way" and their families at home as they were for "Johnny Reb" and "Billy Yank"...

Here's that rogue regiment again! After the "Union" pursuit of Price's "Confederate Army of Missouri" to the Arkansas River in the fall of 1864, the companies of 15th Kansas Vol. Cavalry Regiment were stationed along the Missouri/Kansas Border to protect the "Jayhawk State." However, the regiment could not escape the memory of it's activities on the recent campaign which surfaced to haunt it well into 1865. ...

During the Civil War, one of the constant consistent concerns in Kansas was a major Confederate invasion of the Jayhawk State from Missouri or the Indian Territory. In retrospect, this in fact only happened twice between 1861 and 1865. The first was Quantrill's successful raid on and the destruction of Lawrence on Aug. ...

One of the biggest most complex and compound problems facing any commanding officer of Fort Scott during the Civil War was the lack of troops to protect the millions of dollars worth of supplies at Fort Scott, protecting the supply trains going south to Fort Gibson and Fort Smith and to protect the loyal civilians who were being murdered and robbed within 20 miles of Fort Scott...

During the week of Nov. 1-5, 1862; Colonel William C. Quantrill and his guerrillas were elusive foes of some Kansas and Missouri "Blue Belly Billy Yanks". This was not an official combined operation, nor was it a cooperative venture between the Union "Hounds" from Kansas and Missouri. ...

One constant factor of the Civil War in Missouri was that the Confederate guerrillas or foxes were always looking for a fight and they usually found one. The guerrillas or bushwhackers, if you are of the northern or Kansas persuasion, were almost always successful when they were on the offensive, either from an ambush or direct attack. ...

One might think that by its title, this column is going to be about weapons or soldiers in the Civil War. However, that conclusion would be wrong. One of the many military sayings, the origin of which has been lost in the pages of the past, that was valid in the Civil War and for any war, even today, is that "An army marches on its stomach!" In other words a key ingredient to the success of any army is the fact that it must be supplied with food or rations for the troops...

By early October 1864, there was no doubt in the mind of the Union commanders in Missouri and Kansas that Confederate Major General Sterling Price and his "Army of Missouri" were heading north into eastern Missouri. No one knew what Price's ultimate goals were. ...

Late in September, 1864, it was still not known when and where Confederate forces were going to invade Kansas. It was known, courtesy of the Talking Wire"(telegraph) that the Confederate Army of Missouri commanded by Major General Sterling Price had entered southeast Missouri and that there was a large enemy force commanded by Brigadier General Stand Watie threatening the southern border of Kansas from the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). ...

The "Union" pursuit of Confederate Guerrillas and Bushwhackers in Missouri was frustrating to the "Union Hounds" because the "Confederate Foxes" always seemed to mysteriously disappear into the bush, brush and timber. This was and is of course a key to the success of any guerrilla force or operation. ...

After the successful Confederate raid and destruction of Lawrence, Kansas on Aug. 21, 1863, the "Union" pursuit of Colonel William C. Quantrill and his band of guerrillas was disjointed and unorganized. However there were a few "Kansas" and Missouri regiments that were successful in tracking down some and killing a few of the raiders. ...

During the Civil War, the Union forces in Eastern Kansas stationed along the Missouri border and throughout the state of Missouri were constantly on missions identified as "patrols" or "scouts" in search of Confederate guerrillas or "bushwhackers." Very often these patrols were not successful because "no" bushwhackers were found. ...

Without a doubt, many of the Confederate Guerrillas in Missouri attended church on Sunday and on this particular Sabbath it was not a wise thing to do because the fighting did not stop on Sunday and for a few "bushwhackers" this was the last church service they attended. Both of the following after action reports are located on Pages 65-67 in Vol. 41, Part I of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion...

Much has been written in this column about "bush-whacking" and "bush-whackers," both of which were very common in Missouri during the Civil War. However, for the benefit of any new readers and a refresher for the faithful, I thought it would be best for Mr. Webster and the Union blue-bellied hounds to provide a definition, perception and reaction to the "bushwhackers" (partisan rangers, if you are of the Southern persuasion) and what "bushwhacking" was...

It has been said and is believed that good NCO's (Non-Commissioned Officers) are the backbone of any branch of the military service. Good NCO's lead by example and communicate and implement orders received from the officers to the enlisted personal. This was true in the Civil War and is true today in times of peace and war. The following after action reports describe the excellent combat leadership demonstrated by 1st Sergeant Robert W. Smith of Co. C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry...

As has been mentioned before, if the situation warranted it, some of the Union "Hounds" in Missouri would disguise themselves in civilian clothes to deceive, capture or kill any Confederate "Foxes" (bushwhackers) they could find. Occasionally in the middle of a mission or patrol it was determined that a civilian disguise would be the best course of action and this after action report describes such an incident...

In today's world, drugs and delusions are normally associated with each other in which delusions and hallucinations can be created by the ingestion of drugs. However, delusions can also be created without drugs by visual perceptions and deceptions of reality. ...

Humor was rare in the after action reports or letters of the Civil War or of any war for that matter because of the horrific nature of war itself. However, occasionally a little bit of humor work's it's way into a piece of correspondence and the title of this column is not a misstatement. ...

In the spring of 1863, Majored Charles W. Blair was the commanding officer at Fort Scott and he was vexed with a number of "Bushwhacker" problems. The bushwhackers and guerrillas from the "Land of Misery" (Union nickname for Missouri) were a constant and consistent deadly nuisance that was never eliminated along the entire Kansas / Missouri border throughout the entire Civil War. ...

The following two incidents occurred within a few days of each other at opposite sides of southern Missouri and illustrate that during the Civil War the "mayhem" that was Missouri occurred throughout the entire "Show-Me-State!" Both incidents maybe found on Pages 761-764 of Series I, Vol. 22 of the Official records of the War of the Rebellion...

Traditionally, the fourth Thursday of November is celebrated as a day of national Thanksgiving. For most folks, it is a holiday that centers around a large family gathering and dinner. It is also a day of remembering distant family members who cannot be at home or who are now remembered as part of one's family history...

Today is the 89th Anniversary of Armistice Day. This anniversary signifies the end of what was known as the War to End all Wars, the "Great World War" and became identified historically as World War I in the second half of the 20th Century. The end of this war occurred at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of November in 1918. This day has been renamed "Veteran's Day" to honor and remember all United States military veterans and their families and this is as it should be...

During the Civil War, most after action reports describe what happened in a battle or engagement. The author of the report (normally the commanding officer) was not normally required to explain or justify his or his men's conduct. However, there were then and are very often in today's war occasions when a commanding officer was and is required to explain why he and his men did what they did! The following is an excellent description of a "Yankee" mission or "scout" that was typical of the total war that was waged in Missouri and why the commanding officer had to explain why things happened the way they did.. ...

On Oct. 25, 1864. the thunder of artillery echoed down the Marais des Cygnes, Little Osage and Marmaton River Valleys and across the eastern Kansas prairie. The sounds of Union and Confederate cannons being fired and the explosion of their ammunition caused much consternation, worry and fear on every farm and in every town, including Fort Scott, where the sounds of the big guns were heard...

Early in October of 1864, along the Kansas-Missouri Border, there was worry and concern about the movements of Confederate Major General Sterling Price and his "Army of Missouri." Where was this Confederate force going? That was the big question! By Oct. ...

The last week of August in 1863 was pretty chaotic in the border counties of Eastern Kansas as a result of the very successful raid on and destruction of Lawrence, Kan., by one of the Chief Confederate Foxes, William Clarke Quantrill and his band of guerrillas...

In the Spring of 1862, the Union Forces in Missouri and Kansas were waging a frustrating war against the cunning Confederate foxes (guerrillas) and the murderous Kansas Jayhawkers (outlaws and redlegs). Violent incidents involving these culprits were especially common and more prevalent along or near the border of Kansas and Missouri. ...