Did guerrillas get paid?

[jrweis1997]

My knowledge about the western theater is pretty sparse, How did independent units work out there were they sanctioned by the CSA/US? Did they draw any sort of pay like the army or were they just out there on their own. If they were out there on their own how did they get by loot and split it? Weekend warriors? I honestly have no idea and am very curious about this topic.

 

[RedRover]

The most well known "guerrilla" force out west were the pro-Confederate Guerrillas in Missouri. They were not paid. They were neither in the Confederate Army, nor in any militia service. Nor did they pay for supplies drawn from the communities in which they operated. They were supported by private contributions... given voluntarily or not.

Cole Younger, who commanded a guerrilla company under Quantrill, noted most of their action was against Missouri Militia.

From Independence Missouri, the report of a Militia colonel...

From the History of Carroll County, Missouri, 1881:

 

[jrweis1997]

The most well known "guerrilla" force out west were the pro-Confederate Guerrillas in Missouri. They were not paid. They were neither in the Confederate Army, nor in any militia service. Nor did they pay for supplies drawn from the communities in which they operated. They were supported by private contributions... given voluntarily or not.

View attachment 541554

Cole Younger, who commanded a guerrilla company under Quantrill, noted most of their action was against Missouri Militia.

View attachment 541555


From Independence Missouri, the report of a Militia colonel...

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From the History of Carroll County, Missouri, 1881:

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Wow thank you for the thoughtful and detailed response! I find this part particularly interesting

I did not realize that regular army on both sides distanced themselves this much from this group... very interesting

 

[RedRover]

Wow thank you for the thoughtful and detailed response! I find this part particularly interesting
View attachment 541562
I did not realize that regular army on both sides distanced themselves this much from this group... very interesting

There were occasions during the war where "guerrilla companies" acted with regular Confederate forces. But they were under no particular discipline or regulation, and usually dispersed after a given raid, etc. General Jo Shelby used them as scouts, spies, etc. during his campaigns, and had no complaint of such services rendered.

The Missouri Guerrilla commander William C. Quantrill evidently commanded a company of scouts, which acted occasionally with the army, and for this received the pay of a captain of "scouts" for such services rendered in 1862 and 1863...

But generally his actions and operations were outside of any official authority, and perhaps too often transcended any of customary laws of war. Cole Younger, one of his chief lieutenants, in his memoir states Quantrill attempted to raise a large regularly organized partisan ranger command, but Richmond declined given some difference in opinion about the laws of war. He raised his force, apparently, anyways as a guerrilla force. Captain H.E. Palmer of the 11th Kansas Cavalry, USA, recalled of serving against Quantrill's guerrillas...

But the Confederate army, and government, generally, wanted nothing to do with guerrillas in any official sense. There was provision in Confederate law for "partisan rangers" in regularly organized commands, operating beyond the lines, necessarily without pay, but these units were constrained to obey the laws of war so far as their circumstances allowed. Adam R. Johnson of the 10th Kentucky Partisan Rangers posted notice that his was not a guerrilla command, set upon thievery or vengeance, but a Confederate army unit...

It became evident by 1864 some of even the partisan ranger bands had crossed the line into guerrilla disorder and the partisan ranger act was repealed, and any of their men that did not join regular commands were "outlawed" as deserters. Johnson's command, for example, being redesignated the 10th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA.

In August, 1864, for example, Adam R. Johnson addressed a note to the Union commander in Kentucky after two of his men had been shot as "guerrillas"... Johnson noting that holding his soldiers responsible for the murders of robbers or guerrillas in the vicinity was no more fair than blaming them for the killings by Indians...

But the Union commander replied simply that as Johnson's command was acting outside of what were recognized as Confederate lines, he was constrained to act against anyone suspected of lawless depredations in a summary manner, irrespective of their claims of regular Confederate service, where evidence suggested the necessity.

In 1862, at the request of General Halleck in Washington, Francis Leiber prepared a treatise on the laws relative to guerrillas. He concluded partisan corps, where they acted as if lawless guerrillas, were not subject to treatment as prisoners of war. And guerrillas not at all.

 

[Story]

Reference the passage cited in Post #3 above, the WORD OF THE DAY is...

 

[TnFed]

I remember reading that the Unionist guerrilla, Tinker Dave Beatty got a lump sum payment from the Union Army. Also believe, they armed him.

 

[RedRover]

I remember reading that the Unionist guerrilla, Tinker Dave Beatty got a lump sum payment from the Union Army. Also believe, they armed him.

Tinker Dave's company of "independent Tennessee scouts" was never mustered into any active service by the USA or the State of Tennessee, but was active in opposing Confederate interests in Fentress county and thereabouts. To that end they were reportedly supplied with some weapons and equipment by the United States forces, etc.

Similarly, in East Florida, by 1864, the US was supplying arms and ammunition to pro-Union bands resisting Confederate conscription in Taylor and Lafayette counties, etc.

Under a July, 1870 Act of Congress, Beaty and his men were allowed pay/pensions as Union soldiers where their services rendered warranted it...

That act reads...

A muster roll of Tinker Dave's company of independent volunteer Tennessee Scouts was compiled and submitted to the US Government for the purposes of back pay, etc., but upon investigation, some of the claims of extended active service were found to be somewhat exaggerated. A difficulty being the command, like any guerrilla command, was frequently dispersed, and even when collected was not regularly accounted for.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

My knowledge about the western theater is pretty sparse, How did independent units work out there were they sanctioned by the CSA/US? Did they draw any sort of pay like the army or were they just out there on their own. If they were out there on their own how did they get by loot and split it? Weekend warriors? I honestly have no idea and am very curious about this topic.

Welcome @jrweis1997. Learn, contribute, and Enjoy!

 

[archieclement]

There were occasions during the war where "guerrilla companies" acted with regular Confederate forces. But they were under no particular discipline or regulation, and usually dispersed after a given raid, etc. General Jo Shelby used them as scouts, spies, etc. during his campaigns, and had no complaint of such services rendered.

View attachment 541564
View attachment 541565

The Missouri Guerrilla commander William C. Quantrill evidently commanded a company of scouts, which acted occasionally with the army, and for this received the pay of a captain of "scouts" for such services rendered in 1862 and 1863...

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View attachment 541576

But generally his actions and operations were outside of any official authority, and perhaps too often transcended any of customary laws of war. Cole Younger, one of his chief lieutenants, in his memoir states Quantrill attempted to raise a large regularly organized partisan ranger command, but Richmond declined given some difference in opinion about the laws of war. He raised his force, apparently, anyways as a guerrilla force. Captain H.E. Palmer of the 11th Kansas Cavalry, USA, recalled of serving against Quantrill's guerrillas...

View attachment 541580


But the Confederate army, and government, generally, wanted nothing to do with guerrillas in any official sense. There was provision in Confederate law for "partisan rangers" in regularly organized commands, operating beyond the lines, necessarily without pay, but these units were constrained to obey the laws of war so far as their circumstances allowed. Adam R. Johnson of the 10th Kentucky Partisan Rangers posted notice that his was not a guerrilla command, set upon thievery or vengeance, but a Confederate army unit...

View attachment 541566


It became evident by 1864 some of even the partisan ranger bands had crossed the line into guerrilla disorder and the partisan ranger act was repealed, and any of their men that did not join regular commands were "outlawed" as deserters. Johnson's command, for example, being redesignated the 10th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA.

In August, 1864, for example, Adam R. Johnson addressed a note to the Union commander in Kentucky after two of his men had been shot as "guerrillas"... Johnson noting that holding his soldiers responsible for the murders of robbers or guerrillas in the vicinity was no more fair than blaming them for the killings by Indians...

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But the Union commander replied simply that as Johnson's command was acting outside of what were recognized as Confederate lines, he was constrained to act against anyone suspected of lawless depredations in a summary manner, irrespective of their claims of regular Confederate service, where evidence suggested the necessity.

In 1862, at the request of General Halleck in Washington, Francis Leiber prepared a treatise on the laws relative to guerrillas. He concluded partisan corps, where they acted as if lawless guerrillas, were not subject to treatment as prisoners of war. And guerrillas not at all.

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Indeed in 1862 before Prairie Grove they were regularly mustered in it seems in Arkansas.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

The most well known "guerrilla" force out west were the pro-Confederate Guerrillas in Missouri. They were not paid. They were neither in the Confederate Army, nor in any militia service. Nor did they pay for supplies drawn from the communities in which they operated. They were supported by private contributions... given voluntarily or not.

View attachment 541554

Cole Younger, who commanded a guerrilla company under Quantrill, noted most of their action was against Missouri Militia.

View attachment 541555


From Independence Missouri, the report of a Militia colonel...

View attachment 541556
View attachment 541557

From the History of Carroll County, Missouri, 1881:

View attachment 541559

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I know they didn't draw pay and were supported by their own, but didn't the Partisan Ranger Act make them part of the army? Or did it make them a quasi-part of the army? I ask because I know that act was revoked at the end of the war.

Ya know, because of the scalps and all.

(EDIT)

 

[jrweis1997]

Tinker Dave's company of "independent Tennessee scouts" was never mustered into any active service by the USA or the State of Tennessee, but was active in opposing Confederate interests in Fentress county and thereabouts. To that end they were reportedly supplied with some weapons and equipment by the United States forces, etc.

Similarly, in East Florida, by 1864, the US was supplying arms and ammunition to pro-Union bands resisting Confederate conscription in Taylor and Lafayette counties, etc.

Under a July, 1870 Act of Congress, Beaty and his men were allowed pay/pensions as Union soldiers where their services rendered warranted it...

View attachment 541594

That act reads...

View attachment 541595
View attachment 541596

A muster roll of Tinker Dave's company of independent volunteer Tennessee Scouts was compiled and submitted to the US Government for the purposes of back pay, etc., but upon investigation, some of the claims of extended active service were found to be somewhat exaggerated. A difficulty being the command, like any guerrilla command, was frequently dispersed, and even when collected was not regularly accounted for.

View attachment 541592
View attachment 541593

How surreal it is to read that they would come together fight a bit then go home almost like a boy scout camping trip with Colt Navies!

 

[TnFed]

Tinker Dave's company of "independent Tennessee scouts" was never mustered into any active service by the USA or the State of Tennessee, but was active in opposing Confederate interests in Fentress county and thereabouts. To that end they were reportedly supplied with some weapons and equipment by the United States forces, etc.

Similarly, in East Florida, by 1864, the US was supplying arms and ammunition to pro-Union bands resisting Confederate conscription in Taylor and Lafayette counties, etc.

Under a July, 1870 Act of Congress, Beaty and his men were allowed pay/pensions as Union soldiers where their services rendered warranted it...

View attachment 541594

That act reads...

View attachment 541595
View attachment 541596

A muster roll of Tinker Dave's company of independent volunteer Tennessee Scouts was compiled and submitted to the US Government for the purposes of back pay, etc., but upon investigation, some of the claims of extended active service were found to be somewhat exaggerated. A difficulty being the command, like any guerrilla command, was frequently dispersed, and even when collected was not regularly accounted for.

View attachment 541592
View attachment 541593

Thanks, you can also find pension files for units like the 1st TN National Guard. Though legitimate combatans they were in the main a partisan force. Andrew Johnson is supposed to have offered Beatty the ranks of Colonel in the army. Beatty did not want it. I belive that story because I can think of three Union deseters offhand that he made officers in the 3rd TN Mounted Infantry. Though legitimate Union outfits a lot of TN Mounted were most irregular in conduct. Some didn't take take too many reb guerrilas back alive and reb bushwackers like John P Gatewood, also of Fentress County, were more than willing to return the favor.

 

[RedRover]

I know they didn't draw pay and were supported by their own, but didn't the Partisan Ranger Act make them part of the army? Or did it make them a quasi-part of the army? I ask because I know that act was revoked at the end of the war.

Ya know, because of the scalps and all.

(EDIT)

The units of Confederate "Partisan Rangers" 1862-64 were indeed Confederate Army units. They were commanded by officers commissioned by Jeff Davis after the submission of their muster rolls to Richmond, etc.

The guerrilla units were not partisan ranger units. They never subjected to any regulations, other than by their immediate commanders and associates, and evidently kept no records or rosters, etc. According to Cole Younger, when Quantrill wanted to incorporate as partisan rangers, his unwillingness to enforce regulations relative to discipline, or taking of prisoners, giving paroles, etc. was a problem.

So he carried on as he saw fit, as his actions, and those of his associates were generally beyond the Confederate lines anyway most of the time. For Partisan Ranger service with the CS Army, a unit had to submit its muster roll to the War Department at Richmond. There may have been men who joined up with the guerrillas presuming they were Confederate "partisan rangers."

As you mention, some of the CSA partisan ranger units either devolved into marauders or were complicit in some manner, or otherwise failed to enforce discipline, and in 1864 the Partisan Ranger act was repealed, and all partisan rangers ordered to reorganize as standard commands...

This had no effect upon the guerrillas, who were not under the authority of the Confederate army, though groups of them occasionally acted as scouts for CS troops. As an extreme example perhaps, by the time Lee surrendered in April, 1865, Cole Younger of the Missouri guerrillas was residing in Los Angeles, California.

 

[RedRover]

Thanks, you can also find pension files for units like the 1st TN National Guard. Though legitimate combatans they were in the main a partisan force. Andrew Johnson is supposed to have offered Beatty the ranks of Colonel in the army. Beatty did not want it. I belive that story because I can think of three Union deseters offhand that he made officers in the 3rd TN Mounted Infantry. Though legitimate Union outfits a lot of TN Mounted were most irregular in conduct. Some didn't take take too many reb guerrilas back alive and reb bushwackers like John P Gatewood, also of Fentress County, were more than willing to return the favor.

Indeed. Irregular warfare abounded during the conflict.

During the war, US forces did not consider pro-Confederate guerrillas or bushwhackers behind Union lines combatants, nor for that matter Confederate soldiers found guilty of acting as if such. They were frequently treated as criminals and under the prevailing martial law frequently executed in retaliation for depredations, waylaying or bushwhacking soldiers, or even spying, etc. From US General Orders no. 100:

Also, regarding the operations of US forces, be they troops, militia, or partisan corps behind the lines, US General Orders No. 100 of 1863 established a particular modes for irregular warfare, called "retaliation..." or "protective retribution."

Captain "Tinker Dave" Beaty, or perhaps some of his men, say some, were motivated in some wartime actions by a spirit akin "mere" revenge, rather than "protective retribution." Such should have been outside the bounds of his duty had be been regularly mustered, or joined a unit in service.

In the 1870 act, the USA seemed willing to pay Beaty and his "scouts" for such active service as they rendered during the war years; viz. embodied as a unit, acting either with US forces, as if a US force, or against CS forces... but not for the full four years of the war: during much of which their modes were said by some to have been more revengeful perhaps than retaliatory. Thus the investigation by US Army officers into the services rendered by each man recorded post-war on Beaty's roll.



Also, from the US military's standing general orders after 1863, any resistance to US forces, of any kind, was to be considered by US forces as if "Treason" viz. a "levying of war" against the United States and dealt with accordingly, either with arms in hand, or by military tribunal, etc.

And even the citizenry in "revolted" districts were to be policed in a manner much stricter by military forces in the service of the United States, than if they had been foreign ("enemy") non-combatants... throwing the burden of the war on them.

The State of Tennessee, so far as the Union authorities went, was under such martial law during the war, with Brigadier General Andrew Johnson, USA, acting as the provisional governor, besides the US Army departmental commands operating therein:

The insurrection declared by President Lincoln in the State of Tennessee in 1861 was only declared concluded by President Johnson in June, 1865:

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

The units of Confederate "Partisan Rangers" 1862-64 were indeed Confederate Army units. They were commanded by officers commissioned by Jeff Davis after the submission of their muster rolls to Richmond, etc.

View attachment 541622


The guerrilla units were not partisan ranger units. They never subjected to any regulations, other than by their immediate commanders and associates, and evidently kept no records or rosters, etc. According to Cole Younger, when Quantrill wanted to incorporate as partisan rangers, his unwillingness to enforce regulations relative to discipline, or taking of prisoners, giving paroles, etc. was a problem.

View attachment 541621

So he carried on as he saw fit, as his actions, and those of his associates were generally beyond the Confederate lines anyway most of the time. For Partisan Ranger service with the CS Army, a unit had to submit its muster roll to the War Department at Richmond. There may have been men who joined up with the guerrillas presuming they were Confederate "partisan rangers."

As you mention, some of the CSA partisan ranger units either devolved into marauders or were complicit in some manner, or otherwise failed to enforce discipline, and in 1864 the Partisan Ranger act was repealed, and all partisan rangers ordered to reorganize as standard commands...

View attachment 541618

This had no effect upon the guerrillas, who were not under the authority of the Confederate army, though groups of them occasionally acted as scouts for CS troops. As an extreme example perhaps, by the time Lee surrendered in April, 1865, Cole Younger of the Missouri guerrillas was residing in Los Angeles, California.

Begs the question though, why did Price use Anderson's group? Was it a case of civilian contractors?

 

[RedRover]

Begs the question though, why did Price use Anderson's group? Was it a case of civilian contractors?

General Price and Jo Shelby both employed the volunteer services of guerrilla bands, in the form of scout companies, in aid of their various raids.

Some later speculated that the Confederates could not have been fully aware of some of what was going on beyond their lines...

I would suspect that when either Price or Shelby, etc. employed the guerrillas in aid of their operations, they would have preferred they join their regular units, but if not to at least remain embodied and organize as "partisan rangers" in the CSA service at least, but in all cases, the guerrillas dispersed when and how they saw fit.


During the War, the federal authorities claimed that Price had encouraged the formation of "guerrilla" bands in Missouri, under commissions he let out, in March, 1862...

But Price had not authorized "guerrillas" in the non-legal sense. He encouraged the organization of Confederate Army partisan ranger corps throughout the period of that acts' standing in the Confederacy...

For the Union's part, not recognizing Confederate laws or jurisdiction generally, they were aware that those commands Price was authorizing behind the lines in '62 were "partisan ranger" corps, but for their part orders were clear that any of them that acted like guerrillas, WERE GUERILLAS...

Among the units of Missouri Partisan Rangers were Col. Robert Lawther's regiment, active behind the lines in 1862, etc. When Col. Lawther was captured in September, 1862, the US forces stated he commanded a "guerrilla band"

But with Confederate papers... (viz. as a Partisan Ranger in the CSA service)... he was treated as a Prisoner of war... and later exchanged etc.

Col. Lawther later commanded the 10th Missouri Cavalry CSA with Price's forces.

 

[TnFed]

General Price and Jo Shelby both employed the volunteer services of guerrilla bands, in the form of scout companies, in aid of their various raids.

Some later speculated that the Confederates could not have been fully aware of some of what was going on beyond their lines...

View attachment 541633

I would suspect that when either Price or Shelby, etc. employed the guerrillas in aid of their operations, they would have preferred they join their regular units, but if not to at least remain embodied and organize as "partisan rangers" in the CSA service at least, but in all cases, the guerrillas dispersed when and how they saw fit.


During the War, the federal authorities claimed that Price had encouraged the formation of "guerrilla" bands in Missouri, under commissions he let out, in March, 1862...

View attachment 541634

But Price had not authorized "guerrillas" in the non-legal sense. He encouraged the organization of Confederate Army partisan ranger corps throughout the period of that acts' standing in the Confederacy...

View attachment 541635


For the Union's part, not recognizing Confederate laws or jurisdiction generally, they were aware that those commands Price was authorizing behind the lines in '62 were "partisan ranger" corps, but for their part orders were clear that any of them that acted like guerrillas, WERE GUERILLAS...

View attachment 541638


Among the units of Missouri Partisan Rangers were Col. Robert Lawther's regiment, active behind the lines in 1862, etc. When Col. Lawther was captured in September, 1862, the US forces stated he commanded a "guerrilla band"

View attachment 541643

But with Confederate papers... (viz. as a Partisan Ranger in the CSA service)... he was treated as a Prisoner of war... and later exchanged etc.

View attachment 541644

Col. Lawther later commanded the 10th Missouri Cavalry CSA with Price's forces.

I suspect..at least in parts of TN...that it was to the sometime benefit of both yank and reb legitimate combatants to have those willing to act outside the rules..so to speak.

 

[jrweis1997]

General Price and Jo Shelby both employed the volunteer services of guerrilla bands, in the form of scout companies, in aid of their various raids.

Some later speculated that the Confederates could not have been fully aware of some of what was going on beyond their lines...

View attachment 541633

I would suspect that when either Price or Shelby, etc. employed the guerrillas in aid of their operations, they would have preferred they join their regular units, but if not to at least remain embodied and organize as "partisan rangers" in the CSA service at least, but in all cases, the guerrillas dispersed when and how they saw fit.


During the War, the federal authorities claimed that Price had encouraged the formation of "guerrilla" bands in Missouri, under commissions he let out, in March, 1862...

View attachment 541634

But Price had not authorized "guerrillas" in the non-legal sense. He encouraged the organization of Confederate Army partisan ranger corps throughout the period of that acts' standing in the Confederacy...

View attachment 541635


For the Union's part, not recognizing Confederate laws or jurisdiction generally, they were aware that those commands Price was authorizing behind the lines in '62 were "partisan ranger" corps, but for their part orders were clear that any of them that acted like guerrillas, WERE GUERILLAS...

View attachment 541638


Among the units of Missouri Partisan Rangers were Col. Robert Lawther's regiment, active behind the lines in 1862, etc. When Col. Lawther was captured in September, 1862, the US forces stated he commanded a "guerrilla band"

View attachment 541643

But with Confederate papers... (viz. as a Partisan Ranger in the CSA service)... he was treated as a Prisoner of war... and later exchanged etc.

View attachment 541644

Col. Lawther later commanded the 10th Missouri Cavalry CSA with Price's forces.

on a side note how do you search primary sources like this it is very cool!

 

[RedRover]

on a side note how do you search primary sources like this it is very cool!

Some websites that make it fun are Google books. Archive.org. Hathi Trust. Also lots of vague memories of voracious reading in my youth.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

on a side note how do you search primary sources like this it is very cool!

Right? Wish I had those books.