William Clarke Quantrill (July 31st 1837 - June 6th 1865), an American outlaw, was the chief of the bloodiest unit of combat of the American Civil War. It is responsible for the Massacre of Lawrence, with the Kansas, one of most appalling slaughters of this war concerning the civilian victims.

Origins

Born with Dover, in the Ohio, in 1837, William Quantrill is the son of Thomas Henry Quantrill and Caroline Clark. His/her father being schoolmaster, that enables him to obtain a certain culture which gives him the chance to become professor in his turn at the end of its adolescence. He teaches initially in Dover, then in Illinois and Indiana, before settling in Utah in 1858. It is there that he learns the trade from professional player, much more lucrative for him than that of teacher.

In 1859, it moves with Lawrence (Kansas), where it exerts in turn the trades of schoolmaster, professional player then cook for a railroad company. Its skill in the weapons and its rebellious character make a delinquent quickly of it. At spring 1861, it must take refuge with the Missouri because one continues it for murder and flight of horses.

The guerilla

In April 1861, it is the war. Quantrill joint initially with the confederated army and takes part in some engagements, but its aversion for the military discipline and its spirit of independence quickly makes him give up this career.

It joint with a band of slave partisans without scruples, is essential on them as chief and takes them along towards north, towards the county of Jackson, Missouri. They are the beginnings of the misdeeds of the Quantrill gang, which will sow terror in the area during all the remainder of the civil war. Their ground of predilection is the Kansas close free trade State where the frictions at the border are frequent since the law Kansas-Nebraska of 1854.

During months which follow, the Quantrill gang becomes a true small army of killers psychopathes. One of its officers, Bill Anderson, known as Bloody Bill , adores to attach the scalps of its victims on its saddle. Quantrill also engages of other farmers of Missouri called to become famous after the guerre : Frank James, Jesse James, Adhesive Younger, etc

In April 1862, the fame of the Quantrill gang became so famous that the general James Totten, commander northerner of Missouri, promulgates the Order n° 47, declaring them officially outlaw.

The massacre of Lawrence

Thomas Ewing, ordering forces of the Union to the Kansas, is decided to put an end to the raids of the Quantrill gang in the State. With Kansas City, it makes stop the wives and the sisters of several men of the band. Unfortunately, the August 14th 1863, the building where they are held breaks down, making five dead.

Quantrill, decided to be avenged, gathers 450 men whom it directs towards Lawrence, the city which it hates because one wanted to take in 1861 there. Among these outlaws, are Frank James, Cole and Jim Younger. In the night from August 20th to 21st, they penetrate in the city, killing out of coolness 142 men and burning 185 buildings, before turning over triumphantly towards Missouri. While coming to Lawrence, Quantrill had drawn up a list of people to be cut down. All were it except for the senator Jim Lane who, with the head of a band of unionistic guerillas, had carried out some raids devastators in Missouri. Jim Lane was likely to hear the horses in time. he hid in a corn field with for only clothing a nightdress until the troops of Quantrill from go away.

Following this massacre, the Ewing general emits the Order n° 11, making evacuate the civilians of the four counties of Missouri bordering Kansas. Ten thousand people are then driven out their grounds, making for a long time a desert of this territory.

Tracking

Tracked in Kansas and Missouri, the band of Quantrill takes refuge with the Texas where, the December 25th, it puts the small town of Sherman at fire and blood. Texas is however slave but that did not stop Quantrill which, from now on, does not know any more limits. Bill Anderson disputes its authority and turns over towards Missouri with fifty men, of which Frank James and the Younger brothers.

In March 1864, the general Henry MacCulloch manages to capture Quantrill but this one benefits from one moment of carelessness of its geôliers to distort company to them. Continued, it is saved by the arrival of its band, ordered by its new second, George Todd. Him-also puts itself soon to dispute its authority, separating from him while taking along a good part of her gang. When it sets out again for Missouri, Quantrill has nothing any more with him but one dozen of men.

At the beginning of 1865, Quantrill and its men move to small stages towards the east with perhaps the intention to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. In April, they with the Kentucky, are taken refuge in judge Jonathan Davis, where they learn death from the President. The May 10th, they are surprised in a farm, to about fifty kilometers of Louisville. The majority of them succeed in fleeing but Quantrill, wounded of one ball to the spinal column, is made prisoner. Paralyzed, it is thrown in a prison of Louisville where it dies the June 6th 1865.

Anecdotes

William Quantrill had a mistress, Kate King, with which it left a good part of its illegally acquired fortune. This one benefitted from this heritage to found a fancy house , a closed house, becoming thus one of the most notorious personalities of the badly famed districts of Saint Louis, Missouri.

See too

• Ace of the trigger

Sources

• Albert Castel, William Clarke Quantrill: His life and Times .