William Clarke Quantril - Annotated Bibliography Example

William Clarke Quantrill Introduction William Clarke Quantrill was the leader of one of the worst massacres in the United s Civil War. He led a surprise attack on Lawrence, Kansas and his motley crew murdered an estimated 125 people. At the time, the issue of slavery caused a major rift between Missourians and Kansans, but Quantrill was debatably not interested in this political issue, as he was arguably more interested in personal gain and glory. He failed at many things and from the onset made a poor criminal. Warrants for his arrest in Kansas forced him to move east into Missouri. Later in his life, Quantrill would be jilted by Confederate leadership; some argue this is why Lawrence, Kansas was picked for the great raid, while others believe he was trying to bring frontier justice to a lawless area. In investigating Quantrill’s motivations it’s necessary to examine his milieu and its corresponding affect on his behavior, to consider those he associated with, and to look at what various authors have written about him. Finally, his role in the Lawrence Raid must be reviewed. Does Quantrill deserve to be labeled an outlaw, or a great guerilla leader who fought for justice? This paper examines the life of ‘the father of the outlaws’ throughout his time in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas and Missouri in the 1860’s To comprehend Quantrill’s meteoric rise to fame, one must understand the perilous relations between the two states during the 1860’s. Hatred ran deep between Jayhawkers and Border Ruffians, and gunfire and torches were the law. It was a strange time in the history of the United States. Etcheson, Nicole. Bleeding Kansas: Contested Liberty in the Civil War Era. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Lawrence, 2004. The political and social occurrences on the Kansas and Missouri border are some of the most important items to consider when making an opinion of William Clark Quantrill. Etcheson brings to light the impact of the Nebraska-Kansas Act on Missouri and Kansas (Nebraska remained densely populated). She examines the politics of the Free-Soilers Movement and how Indiana emigrant James H. Lane set up opposition to slavery in Kansas, leading many violent raids into Missouri that drew the ire of Missourians. Quantrill hated Lane, and the Democrat Senator was the intended target on the famous Lawrence raid. Castel, Albert. Civil War Kansas: Reaping the Whirlwind. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press, 1997. James Lane and his accession into the political spectrum and military command are explained by Castel. The Kansas Senator profited from military contracts and used his government leverage to get rich at the expense of Missouri farmers. Castel gives the Bushwhackers credit for aiding the regular Confederate forces in places like Independence, Missouri and Arkansas. Quantrill attacked Shawnee Indians on the Kansas border and employed guerilla tactics against Kansas farmers for past aggression by Senator Lane. Castel estimates that Quantrill had 450 men at his disposal for the raid on Lawrence and describes the raid as the “most atrocious act of the Civil War.” Quantrill and his men are represented as murderers and outlaws; it’s clear their side is not adequately represented. Connelley, William Esley. Quantrill and the border wars. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: The Torch Press, 1910. Connelley, former secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, is perhaps the most quoted source when dealing with Quantrill. His perspective is that the problems Missouri suffered at the hands of Union were brought on by the state’s own actions. His work is scholarly and includes several quotes from newspapers and eyewitnesses. He criticizes Quantrill and states that his crew had no “sufficient” reason to attack Lawrence. Connelley characterizes Quantrill’s gang as murderous, unjustified killing machines, and pays no tribute to the savagery that was extolled on innocent Missouri farmers and their families at the hands of Lane, Jennisen and the Jayhawkers. Gilmore Donald L. Civil War on the Missouri-Kansas Border. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Company, 2006. Gilmore closely investigates border violence, picking up with Quantrill in Stanton, Kansas in 1860. Gilmore’s explanation of how William Quantrill double-crossed four Quakers who wanted to rescue slaves is excellent. This act of trickery launched Quantrill’s legend status among Missourians. There are various pictures in the book that put a face to various characters. Gilmore refreshingly takes issue with authors Castel and Connelly for negatively portraying the guerilla movement, instead arguing that during the turbulent times it was a means of survival for Missouri farmers. He considers Bushwhackers a negative term and shows ample evidence that the majority of Quantrill’s gang were sons of wealthy families who did not want violence in the area. The author contends that Quantrill believed in the cause and did not gain very much in terms of monetary compensation, like Senator Lane did. Goodrich, Thomas. Black Flag: Guerilla Warfare on the Western Border, 1861-1865. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 1995. This narrative gives the framework for the Lawrence Raid and the infamous Order No. 11. Goodrich records Quantrill’s first Kansas raid in Aubrey, and his miraculous escape at Little Santa Fe. The lessons he learned in those two early encounters paved the way for the later bolder and savvier outlaw. The first hand accounts of Union troops, guerillas, and survivors lets the reader gain better understanding of the conflict between the two states. The slave stealing by Kansans is significant for understanding why Lawrence was such an attractive target. Adler, Dennis. Guns of the American West, New York: Chartwell Books, 2009. Missouri was not considered a crucial state for winning the war, and the Union put less emphasis on supplying their troops with the best equipment. Adler is America’s most published historian and shows why the Missouri Partisans held an advantage. He illustrates the differences in the Union’s single shot carbines and the superiority of the guerillas’ repeating revolvers. Quantrill had the ability to suppress fire with multi-shot revolvers while Union soldiers reloaded. Adler paints a short but unflattering picture of the leader of the Border Ruffians, and dedicates multiple pages to the rise of Quantrill’s protégés: Jesse James and the Younger gang. Those Who Knew Quantrill Quantrill was a successful leader and understood total warfare. Jesse James, Cole Younger, and “Bloody” Bill Anderson were among his gang, and they left an indelible mark on Unites States history. Quantrill’s wife provides details that the men could not. Bartels, Caroline M. Bitter Tears Missouri Women and Civil War: Their Stories. Independence, Missouri: Two Trails Press, 2002. Missouri historian Bartels writes about women who survived the Union atrocities and includes a number of their stories. Bartels gives an account of Kate King, also known as Kate Clark -- Quantrill’s wife. King was married to the Bushwhacker at the age of thirteen, despite her parent’s objections. She illustrates life in the guerilla camp, and describes the gentle side of William. Kate recalls riding out to meet Quantrill the day of the Lawrence raid only to find him in full retreat from the Federal Army and Lawrence posse. Quantrill later shared the plunder with her. Some authors advocate she was the reason he stayed ‘loyal’ to the Missouri Bushwhackers for as long as he did. Bartels additionally shares firsthand accounts of women who were affected or influenced by Quantrill or his gang. The Union Army and Jayhawkers made some of these women pay a horrible price for their association or supposed knowledge of Quantrill’s whereabouts. O’Brien, Cormac. Secret Lives of the Civil War: What Your Teachers Never Told You About the War Between the States. Quantrill’s life is broken down by the major highlights of his life, and O’Brien does a superior job of being historically accurate in this chapter dedicated to the outlaw. It is well know that Quantrill was with many different women during his Border Ruffian days; Kate would be shocked to know that he spent time with Sue Mundy. This lady was actually a man, and his real name was Marcellus Jerome Clarke. The couple rode out of Missouri and into Kentucky where they would both be killed. Some authors have said this was just a hoax to anger Union officials. Dary, David. More True Tales of Old Time Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas, University Press of Kansas, 1987. Dary dedicates a few pages to “Bloody” Bill Anderson and how he became associated with Quantrill. The outlaw’s encounter with the Lawrence Band is briefly mentioned. Anderson killed more in the Lawrence Raid than any other guerilla and proudly kept score of his accomplishments. He was one of Quantrill’s officers in the Missouri Partisans and known for being ruthless. Barton, O. S. Three Years with Quantrill: A True Story Told by His Scout John McCorkle. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1992. McCorkle fought for the Confederate Army before being captured, and he declared an oath of allegiance to the Federal government. He tried to live peacefully as a farmer in the Kansas City area, but he was harassed by Union military personnel. His sister was killed in the prison collapse in Kansas City, and McCorkle implies that he and the rest of Quantrill’s guerillas were incited to fight. Barton gives a first hand account of the former farmer’s involvement with the Border Ruffians. The text brings out Quantrill’s day to day activities and some of the lesser known incidents. Detractors challenge McCorkle’s account as being embellished and inaccurate. Drago, Harry Sinclair. Outlaws on Horseback: The History of the Organized Bands of Bank and Train Robbers Who Terrorized the Prairie Towns of Missouri, Kansas, Indian Territory, and Oklahoma for Half a Century. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 1998. Drago depicts Quantrill as the godfather of the Midwest outlaws. Quantrill’s involvement in the battles of Wilsons Creek and Lexington, Missouri are mentioned. Drago, an award winning author, notes that Quantrill wanted to be a confederate officer so if caught he could gracefully surrender and his men would be protected under the rules of war. The author provides interesting insight into the outlaws’ thought process and how Quantrill recruited his Border Ruffians. The James and Younger brothers’ lives are explored in great detail. Their tactics were a direct result of the Quantrill’s fearless mindset, and they are arguably his greatest legacy. Who Was Quantrill? Quantrill, William C. Quantrill Letters, trans. Joanne C. Eakin. (no other information is given) This booklet contains a collection of Quantrill’s personal letters that were gathered from different sources. His education is very prominently displayed, as well as the economically challenging times in 1860. His letters often mention money and how tired he is. Most of the letters are addressed to his mother and were written before he was known as a serious renegade. Wellman, Paul I. Dynasty of Western Outlaws. Lincoln, Nebraska. University of Nebraska Press, 1986. Historian Wellman’s book is in line with Gilmore as it seeks a middle ground for the leader of the Missouri Partisans. Quantrill’s ability to think under pressure and his bravery in clutch situations is marvelously illustrated. His life in 1860 is surveyed, along with the way he played both Kansas and Missouri residents against each other. Of course his mischievous actions were left out of his letters to his mother. Wellman notes that during his raids the bandit treated women better than Lane did; this account coincides with McCorkle’s earlier testimony. Quantrill is presented as evil -- a killer for profit. However, he is portrayed as more docile than George Todd or “Bloody” Bill Anderson, simply escalating the violence when Union forces did not act nobly. Monaghan, Jay. Civil War on the Western Border: 1854-1865. Nebraska Press: Lincoln, Nebraska, 1984. Noted Civil War author Monaghan observes Quantrill in Kansas and his early life as a crook. The book unravels to show how he grew into being one of the most feared gang leaders of the 1860s. Quantrill’s inability to attain a commission in Richmond, Virginia is examined and this might have made him more determined to destroy Lawrence. He proposed a total war scenario which was rejected. Quantrill is negatively presented as a glory hound. Breihan, Carl William. Quantrill and His Civil War Guerillas. New York City, Promontory Press, 1959. The author very clearly points out Quantrill’s faults, describing him as the West’s “all time champion of murder.” Breihan records that Quantrill changed his name to Charley Hart and escaped death on more than one occasion. He records his life with the Delaware Indians in Kansas and his imaginary life as an Indian Agent. The book implies that the outlaw was not interested in the slavery issue. The author delves into the life of Quantrill’s gang before they were Border Ruffians, and the injustices that they suffered from the Union Army and Jayhawks. Since Quantrill was run out of Lawrence for illegal activities, he vowed to get back at Senator (General) James Lane. Schultz, Duane. Quantrill’s War: The Life and Times of William Clarke Quantrill. New York: Saint Martin Press, 1996. The text provides an interesting look at Quantrill’s life, and Shultz, who authored ten books, provides insight into the struggles Quantrill had growing up and taking direction from elders. These struggles followed him throughout his short military career. Major General Sterling Price told Quantrill to quit leading guerilla raids and become a part of the Confederate Army, but the discipline and sacrifice was not to his liking. Schultz implies that Quantrill would have quit fighting to settle down with Kate. Two events changed this: General Ewing being appointed to deal with the guerillas, and the collapse of the jail in Kansas City. Steele, Phillip W. and Cottrell, Steve. Civil War in the Ozarks. Gretna, Louisana, Pelican Publishing Company Quantrill’s actions with the Confederate Army bring enlightenment readers to the true grit and character of the leader. Steele and Cottell have written several books on the Civil War and some of their family members participated in the Union and Confederate border bloodbath. There are many details of Quantrill’s successful and aggressive attack on General Blunt at Baxster Springs, Kansas. The book illustrates the passion that Quantrill had for destroying Union forces and notes his last major engagement against the Union. Jesse James’ and Bloody Bill Anderson’s exploits are written about in great length and pay homage to how well Quantrill trained his men. The Lawrence Raid The crimes against Missourians are well documented. Quantrill played off the turbulent times, and his guerillas ungovernable hatred toward Kansans. Mountcastle, Clay. Punitive War: Confederate Guerillas and Union Reprisals. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 2009. The Guerillas’ and the Union’s reactions during the early 1860s are described with a great deal of erudite thought. The collapse of the prison that killed some women with ties to Quantrill’s gang, and the dreaded Order No. 11 is scrutinized. The death of the ladies was so shocking and severe it ignited a unified raid on Lawrence. Mountcastle keeps the material objective. Goodrich, Thomas. Bloody Dawn: The Story of the Lawrence Massacre. Kent Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1991. Quantrill’s actions with his gang are brought into light and he is portrayed as being an outstanding leader. When the fighting began, many Missouri guerillas did not act as criminally as others. There are accounts of some sparing lives and others who assisted women that were trying to save their possessions. Many of the Missouri Partisans looted and killed at will. Goodrich fairly writes of the Border Ruffians, and the national media’s coverage of the massacre that brought East coast sympathy in the coming days. Quantrill gained sufficient notoriety from the event. His disappearance in 1864 is also explained. Goodrich asserts that the outlaw had accomplished everything he set out to do in life. Cordley, Richard. A History of Lawrence, Kansas: From the First Settlement to the Close of the Rebellion. Lexington, Kentucky, (No Known Publisher), 1895. Cordley, a survivor of the Lawrence raid, establishes an insightful, firsthand account of Lawrence’s worst day. He declares hate was the reason for the raid and remembers many of the good men who lost their life in Quantrill’s attack. He asserts that the town should never have been attacked and implies most men killed were innocent of transgressions against Missouri. After the raid, the Border Ruffians rode ten miles and ate a hearty breakfast at the expense of an old preacher. He was shot for his good deed. Sutherland, Daniel. A Savage Conflict: The Decisive Role of Guerillas in the American Civil War. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 2009. The aftermath of the Lawrence Raid is explored with impeccable organization. The attack caused great fear throughout Kansas as rumors began to spread about other possible violence in the surrounding towns. Missourians knew reprisals were soon to come, and anxiety spread. Southerland allows the readers to get a feel for those who were fighting but also for those farmers who would later be forcibly removed by Order No. 11. The tit for tat violence that ensued is recorded, as well as how the name Quantrill commanded attention from army generals and newspapers. Despite graphic descriptions of the violence, Southerland, a history professor at the University of Arkansas, presents the material in an unbiased manner. Conclusion William Clarke Quantrill’s life lacked discipline and as a young man he became a criminal. While he was a drifter looking to fit in during a troublesome time, he was also educated and understood how to relate to people. Perhaps due to his teaching days in Lawrence he became a gifted motivator and adapted to whatever situation he encountered -- a Jayhawk one minute and a Rebel the next. It was a lawless era and he took advantage of every opportunity. Quantrill was not a hero. He killed men for plunder and sacrificed the weak for gain. However, his actions were no more violent than Senator Lane’s in Missouri, and it is unfair to hold the guerilla leader to a higher standard. The author of this essay believes that Kate Clark had a life changing effect on him; this is speculation, but his life seemingly shifted from that of a drifter to an individual with purpose. Kate is an interesting lynchpin in understanding why he stayed in the area. Because of Kate he chose a side and began to understand the Kansas injustices. Quantrill preyed on her naiveté and could rely on her faithful appreciation of him. In addition, his guerillas were generally younger and looked up to him. He simply fed off their energy for revenge and helped them gain a form of justice. Quantrill is accused of not being a true strategist. Indeed, many authors conveniently accuse him of being a coward for not using frontal assaults into a hail of gunfire, but the thinking mind understands Quantrill’s strategy as wisdom. He was correct in his meeting in Richmond in stating that guerilla warfare could possibly win the war for the South. Would the outcome of the Civil War been different if every Southerner used his tactics? What if those with Southern sympathies attacked the Union’s railroads and their ability to make ammunition? Perhaps the war would have ended differently. Quantrill understood, like Sherman, that you have to break the will of the enemy to fight, and in total war, there are no rules. The Lawrence Raid was aimed directly at Senator Lane. If he was an out of control maniac as some imply, he would have been on the streets killing, raping, and maiming innocent people. Quantrill stepped aside and let those who had experienced Union injustice get a piece of revenge. It is bogus to believe the Missourians gained financially during and directly after the massacre. The guerillas were being chased by the Federal Army and did not bring wagons to carry off their loot. Border Ruffians took what they could carry and enjoyed seeing Lawrence in a pillar of smoke. While Quantrill will never be mentioned with the great Confederate leaders like Jackson or Stuart, he understood how to defeat the Union better than Jefferson Davis. He should be viewed as a figure who understood his moment in history and grasped the concept that “war is Hell” long before Sherman did. Read More