The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Scalping of Bill Anderson's Men--What We Know Now

So given the development of the information the property in question was owned by Sue Miller by the end of the 19th century, we seem to have unequivocally located the site of the skirmish where the 160+ troopers from the 9th MSM Cavalry came across six or seven of Bill Anderson's men in the squad of Captain James Bissett, killed six in a running fight that ended up on the property of William H. Long just to the west, and, by the admission of an officer from the 9th MSM Cavalry made within a week of this scrap, the Federals scalped at least one of the Confederates..

That same night, near Cherry Grove School, Bill Anderson's main body of men joined up with George Todd, Tom Todd, and Caleb Perkin's command, which had just been in a fight that same day at Goslin's Lane 20 miles to the east near what is now Woodlandville.

Interestingly, as it turns out, the Cherry Grove School is just a half mile or so east of the Widow Turner's house. Bissett was probably there as an early arrival to this larger planned rendevous, and had the bad luck to arrive on scene just a short time before a large contingent of Federal troops happened by and saw the muddy hoofprints Bissett's horses had made.

Here's what else is known that I'll put into context here -- at the Cherry Grove School rendevous that night Bill Anderson was incredibly incensed regarding what had happened to Bissett and his men. The next day the entire group, led by Anderson, went off and ill-advisedly attacked Fayette in a rage, and got badly mauled there. Frank James referred to the Fayette Fight as the "worst scared" he ever was during the war. Three days after Fayette this same group ends up outside Centralia, where Anderson's own command executes the troops off the train in the Centralia Massacre, and the larger group subsequently wipes out the entire command of Major A.V.E. Johnston and his men of the 39th Missouri Infantry (Mtd.).

But in this thread, let's stay focused on fleshing out the affair at the Widow Turner's.

Messages In This Thread

Scalping of Bill Anderson's Men--What We Know Now
Capt. Bissett's Men -- additional info
'Noted Guerrillas' list of scalped--better details
Re: 'Noted Guerrillas' list of scalped--better det
More On The Post-Scalpings Big Rendezvous
Re: More On The Post-Scalpings Big Rendezvous
Nailed It
Re: Nailed It
John R. White -- Slaveholder, Slave Dealer
Re: John R. White -- Slaveholder, Slave Dealer
Re: John R. White -Slaveholder, Slave Dealer
The Whites Were Members of O.A.K.
Re: The Whites Were Members of O.A.K.
Slave Broker Lower than Saloon Keeper
Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Re: Anderson Men's Burials on White's Land
Sept. 6 date
Bissett appearance
Re: Bissett appearance
Re: Bissett appearance