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.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

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

Shelby: Would like to paid paper money or yankee $20 gold coins?

Anderson: Scalps.

 

[TallTallMan]

They got paid in loot.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

I'm an operation with Quantril Anderson became furious with his counterpart. Quantril had captured a barrel of whiskey and let a wagon train with a payroll escape. Quantril's men got (Edit: I accidentally typed git rather than got. I think this site is getting into my mind too much) staggering drunk and that was the begining of the end of that working relationship.

Excessively violent, yes, but I've always seen Anderson as the Col. Kurtz of the Confederacy. He'd gone around the bend, but maybe that was actual 'total war'.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

They got paid in loot.

And stolen uniforms, horses, weapons, ears...

 

[RedRover]

I'm an operation with Quantril Anderson became furious with his counterpart. Quantril had captured a barrel of whiskey and let a wagon train with a payroll escape. Quantril's men got (Edit: I accidentally typed git rather than got. I think this site is getting into my mind too much) staggering drunk and that was the begining of the end of that working relationship.

Excessively violent, yes, but I've always seen Anderson as the Col. Kurtz of the Confederacy. He'd gone around the bend, but maybe that was actual 'total war'.

Cole Younger later noted...

...

In 1864 Anderson was killed in a skirmish with soldiers of the Enrolled Missouri Militia, and some county guards...

Col. Cox's report of the action resulting in Bill Anderson's death...

 

[dfostermem]

Henderson's Scouts was an independent unit that was authorized by Beauregard and worked closely with the various units in West TN and MS. When they were authorized, their "pay" was to be limited to rations and forage. So they started out in 1862 not expecting any pay. Much of that mindset seems to be based on operating close to home. Later when they got pushed out of TN, Henderson worked to have them paid since they were isolated from their homes. Some of the financial records for the unit seem to be to cover costs for their horses. There were times that they went on a "scout" and get reimbursed for forage for horses but nothing for men. There were also reimbursements for shoeing horses and purchasing paper/envelopes/pens/pencils - have to write messages on something.

From my reading, it sounds like clothing, shoes, etc were obtained from home. That seems to be one reason Forrest would go on up into West Tennessee. Many of his troops would take advantage and visit home or relatives.

 

[dfostermem]

There are many examples of "taking". Most of the ones I've read about are claims that the other side were the one doing it. I'm sure it happened but it was also a way to work up the troops to fight harder.

Stealing was something that was taken seriously. The one account I read of a soldier who admitted "borrowing' was a cavalry man who had his horse killed and he was told to walk back. On his way, he came across a black man on a mule. He took the mule and he told the man his mule would be waiting for him at Verona. It ends up the mule's real owner was on Forrest's staff. When Forrest found out, he ordered the soldier arrested. Forrest had already put the word out that any soldier caught stealing a horse or mule would be severely punished. The threat must have been real, because when his Captain found out he told the soldier to leave the area.

I should add that taking military items was viewed differently. The leadership on both sides didn't put up with stealing from civilians. But taking military horses, material, etc from the other side was OK but it had to be turned over to the army.