Quantrill's Raid

[mofederal]

James S. Rollins was originally a Whig. It says Price was a Democrat. Rollins was allied with a US (Sam Carruthers) Rep down in this part of the state, and I have seen Carruthers' speeches reprinted up in North Central Mo. A lot of Whigs were Conditional Unionists later Rollins became a CU then a Unionist later a Republican. In 1861 Price was a Conditional Unionist. Rollins at Centralia was wearing his gold cufflinks with his initials on them, JSR. He told the guerrillas another name. Rollins was a long time force in Missouri politics.

 

[Waterloo50]

A couple of intresting paragraphs from the archive,
THE LAWRENCE MASSACRE
BY A BAND OF MISSOURI RUFFIANS
UNDER QUANTRELL
AUGUST 21, 1863

It may be asked, why the people of Lawrence relaxed their vigilance so soon after receiving such authentic evidence of Quantrell's intentions? The city and military authorities made the fatal mistake of keeping the ground of apprehension a profound secret. Nobody new the reason of the preparations. Rumors were afloat, but they could not be traced to any reliable source. Companies came in from the country, but could not ascertain why they were sent for, and went home to be laughed at by their neighbors. Unable to find any ground of alarm, people soon began to think that the rumors were like the other false alarms by which they had been periodically disturbed for the last two years. The course of the military authorities tended to strengthen this view.

Mayor Collamore sent to Fort Leavenworth for cannon and troops. They were at once sent over, but were met at Lawrence by a dispatch from Kansas City, ordering them back. A few days after, the squad of soldiers under Lieut. Hadley was ordered away. It was evident, therefore, that the military authorities at Kansas City, who ought to know, did not consider the place in danger. The usual sense of security soon returned. Citizens were assured that Quantrell could not penetrate the military line on the border without detection. They felt sure, too, that he could not travel fifty miles through a loyal county without their being informed of the approach of danger. The people never felt more secure, and were never less prepared, than the night before the raid.

Still many of the citizens did not feel that the place was entirely safe. Mayor Collamore, early in the summer, prevailed upon the military authorities to station a squad of soldiers in Lawrence. These soldiers were under the command of Lieut. Hadley, a very efficient officer. Lieut. Hadley had a brother on Gen. Ewing's staff. About the first of August this brother wrote him that his spies had been in Quantrell's camp &emdash; had mingled freely with his men &emdash; and had learned from Quantrell's clerk, that they proposed to make a raid on Lawrence about the full of the moon, which would be three weeks before the actual raid. He told his brother to do all he could for the defense of the town, to fight them to the last, and never be taken prisoner, for Quantrell killed all prisoners. Lieut. Hadley showed the letter to Mayor Collamore, who at once set about the work of putting the town in a state of defense. The milita was called out, pickets detailed, the cannon got in readiness, and the country warned. Had Quantrell's gang come according to promise, they would have been "welcomed with bloody hands and hospitable graves." Someone asked Quantrell, when in Lawrence, why he did not come before when he said he would. He replied "You were expecting me then &emdash; but I have caught you napping now."

 

[archieclement]

A couple of intresting paragraphs from the archive,
THE LAWRENCE MASSACRE
BY A BAND OF MISSOURI RUFFIANS
UNDER QUANTRELL
AUGUST 21, 1863

It may be asked, why the people of Lawrence relaxed their vigilance so soon after receiving such authentic evidence of Quantrell's intentions? The city and military authorities made the fatal mistake of keeping the ground of apprehension a profound secret. Nobody new the reason of the preparations. Rumors were afloat, but they could not be traced to any reliable source. Companies came in from the country, but could not ascertain why they were sent for, and went home to be laughed at by their neighbors. Unable to find any ground of alarm, people soon began to think that the rumors were like the other false alarms by which they had been periodically disturbed for the last two years. The course of the military authorities tended to strengthen this view.

Mayor Collamore sent to Fort Leavenworth for cannon and troops. They were at once sent over, but were met at Lawrence by a dispatch from Kansas City, ordering them back. A few days after, the squad of soldiers under Lieut. Hadley was ordered away. It was evident, therefore, that the military authorities at Kansas City, who ought to know, did not consider the place in danger. The usual sense of security soon returned. Citizens were assured that Quantrell could not penetrate the military line on the border without detection. They felt sure, too, that he could not travel fifty miles through a loyal county without their being informed of the approach of danger. The people never felt more secure, and were never less prepared, than the night before the raid.

Still many of the citizens did not feel that the place was entirely safe. Mayor Collamore, early in the summer, prevailed upon the military authorities to station a squad of soldiers in Lawrence. These soldiers were under the command of Lieut. Hadley, a very efficient officer. Lieut. Hadley had a brother on Gen. Ewing's staff. About the first of August this brother wrote him that his spies had been in Quantrell's camp &emdash; had mingled freely with his men &emdash; and had learned from Quantrell's clerk, that they proposed to make a raid on Lawrence about the full of the moon, which would be three weeks before the actual raid. He told his brother to do all he could for the defense of the town, to fight them to the last, and never be taken prisoner, for Quantrell killed all prisoners. Lieut. Hadley showed the letter to Mayor Collamore, who at once set about the work of putting the town in a state of defense. The milita was called out, pickets detailed, the cannon got in readiness, and the country warned. Had Quantrell's gang come according to promise, they would have been "welcomed with bloody hands and hospitable graves." Someone asked Quantrell, when in Lawrence, why he did not come before when he said he would. He replied "You were expecting me then &emdash; but I have caught you napping now."

Well they were right in the guerrillas couldn't penetrate the border without detection, they were detected. And multiple warnings went out, just not to Lawrence

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Awesome thread, @Patrick H !!!

Bill

 

[Patrick H]

He got extreamly drunk while in Lawrence and didn't realise that the raiders had left and was overcome by the townspeople.

That's what that cheap Kansas rotgut whiskey will do to you!

 

[leftyhunter]

Archie, if the thread hasn't been launched by about 9 AM our time tomorrow, please go ahead and launch it. Otherwise, I might have to launch it. And I don't know all that much about the border ruffians!

Here's a quote from " the Devil knows how to ride the true story of William Clarke Quantrill and his Confederate Raiders " Edward Leslie Da Capo Press
P.209
" It is obvious that many of Quantrill's raiders meant to kill every man and teenage boy capable of bearing arms against the South".
Leftyhunter

 

[Patrick H]

Here's a quote from " the Devil knows how to ride the true story of William Clarke Quantrill and his Confederate Raiders " Edward Leslie Da Capo Press
P.209
" It is obvious that many of Quantrill's raiders meant to kill every man and teenage boy capable of bearing arms against the South".
Leftyhunter

Thanks. I'm familiar with the book. Leslie is noting his own opinion in that statement, but he's entitled to it. There's an element of truth to it, too. Many of the raiders were most likely trying to do just that. I've said repeatedly that it was a case of teenaged boys killing teenaged bous.

 

[archieclement]

Thanks. I'm familiar with the book. Leslie is noting his own opinion in that statement, but he's entitled to it. There's an element of truth to it, too. Many of the raiders were most likely trying to do just that. I've said repeatedly that it was a case of teenaged boys killing teenaged bous.

Its an opinion that cant even be quantified...…

 

[Patrick H]

One of the Quantrill guerrillas who interests me most deeply is John Noland. In fact, I discovered this web site while looking online for information about Noland in 2014. At that time, anything which appeared about him seemed to be a cut-and-past job copied from some other website. It was very frustrating.

It's known that Noland rode with Quantrill and that he was a combatant--at least at times. John McCorckle describes his action at the assault on the Lamar, Missouri courthouse. William Elsey Connelley tried to interview Noland for his book "Quantrill and The Border Wars," but Noland wouldn't talk about Lawrence. It's known that Noland and Fletch Taylor both scouted Lawrence ahead of the raid, but Noland insisted that Quantrill had already left for Kansas by the time he returned to make his report. I can well imagine that Noland chose discretion as the better part of valor when talking with Connelley in the early 1900s.

The question of why he rode with Quantrill was at the center of my fascination with him. The cut-and-paste posters always said he did it "because of abuses that Jayhawkers perpetrated on his family." Hmmmmm. That's a very curious assertion, and no detail was ever provided.

Some months ago, @Booner was researching census records and came across the family of (I believe) Asbury Noland--one of a family of prominent farmers in the Independence area. Listed in the household was a "mulatto" the same age as indicated by John's given birth year. Two young white brothers were members of the extended Noland family.

Jayhawkers did, indeed, raid the Noland farms and the brothers left to join Quantrill. I am convinced that John Noland went to Q. with his blood cousins.

He is known to have attended Quantrill reunions after the war, and appears in several photographs of those gatherings. He seems to have been very well accepted by his old comrades. I have read that the pallbearers at his funeral were all white and all former members of Quantrill's band, but I've never seen a record of who they were, specifically.

In any event, @Booner and I finally located the grave of John Noland in Independence, Missouri yesterday afternoon. This was thanks in large part to the great assistance of two groundskeepers who had a plot map in their truck. (Thanks, Guys!)

Before you scroll to the attached photos, please don't get excited about the inscription on the face of Noland's tomb stone. I am not responsible for that, and, yes, I know anyone can engrave just about anything on a grave stone. Please don't use this post to whip up a big, heated argument about the meaning of "Confederate." That's not my intention here. Concentrate on the word "Scout," because he surely was a scout. Let the rest of the inscription pass. Pay attention to the inscription on the back, too.

It was a pleasure to finally locate Mr. John Noland.

 

[archieclement]

One of the Quantrill guerrillas who interests me most deeply is John Noland. In fact, I discovered this web site while looking online for information about Noland in 2014. At that time, anything which appeared about him seemed to be a cut-and-past job copied from some other website. It was very frustrating.

It's known that Noland rode with Quantrill and that he was a combatant--at least at times. John McCorckle describes his action at the assault on the Lamar, Missouri courthouse. William Elsey Connelley tried to interview Noland for his book "Quantrill and The Border Wars," but Noland wouldn't talk about Lawrence. It's known that Noland and Fletch Taylor both scouted Lawrence ahead of the raid, but Noland insisted that Quantrill had already left for Kansas by the time he returned to make his report. I can well imagine that Noland chose discretion as the better part of valor when talking with Connelley in the early 1900s.

The question of why he rode with Quantrill was at the center of my fascination with him. The cut-and-paste posters always said he did it "because of abuses that Jayhawkers perpetrated on his family." Hmmmmm. That's a very curious assertion, and no detail was ever provided.

Some months ago, @Booner was researching census records and came across the family of (I believe) Asbury Noland--one of a family of prominent farmers in the Independence area. Listed in the household was a "mulatto" the same age as indicated by John's given birth year. Two young white brothers were members of the extended Noland family.

Jayhawkers did, indeed, raid the Noland farms and the brothers left to join Quantrill. I am convinced that John Noland went to Q. with his blood cousins.

He is known to have attended Quantrill reunions after the war, and appears in several photographs of those gatherings. He seems to have been very well accepted by his old comrades. I have read that the pallbearers at his funeral were all white and all former members of Quantrill's band, but I've never seen a record of who they were, specifically.

In any event, @Booner and I finally located the grave of John Noland in Independence, Missouri yesterday afternoon. This was thanks in large part to the great assistance of two groundskeepers who had a plot map in their truck. (Thanks, Guys!)

Before you scroll to the attached photos, please don't get excited about the inscription on the face of Noland's tomb stone. I am not responsible for that, and, yes, I know anyone can engrave just about anything on a grave stone. Please don't use this post to whip up a big, heated argument about the meaning of "Confederate." That's not my intention here. Concentrate on the word "Scout," because he surely was a scout. Let the rest of the inscription pass. Pay attention to the inscription on the back, too.

It was a pleasure to finally locate Mr. John Noland.

View attachment 204840

View attachment 204841

There were a couple of others, Henry Wilson comes to mind, also think I read about one who may have been half black/half Indian who scouted for them also

 

[Patrick H]

Yes, Henry Wilson, John Lobb (or Loeb), and probably others. Noland is the one who really fascinates me and I'm very happy that I found him.

 

[Waterloo50]

Yes, Henry Wilson, John Lobb (or Loeb), and probably others. Noland is the one who really fascinates me and I'm very happy that I found him.

Great post and a great find. I have to ask though, what was it about Noland that enabled him and men like him to become a scout, did he have some special skills or would it have been simply because he knew the lay of the land. I'm of the opinion the anyone that operated as a scout was taking a particularly high risk.

 

[byron ed]

Quantrill and his boys needed a better press agent.

or at least a better cause.

 

[Patrick H]

Great post and a great find. I have to ask though, what was it about Noland that enabled him and men like him to become a scout, did he have some special skills or would it have been simply because he knew the lay of the land. I'm of the opinion the anyone that operated as a scout was taking a particularly high risk.

I think it was because he was a black man who could talk with slaves or free black men alike without arousing suspicion. For that matter, Quantrill could write him a fake pass under an assumed name and send him into a town on an errand, where Noland could observe troop strengths, overall preparedness, and so on. He could masquerade as the servant of nearly any civilian supporter of Quantrill's company and gather the same information. I've read that Quantrill also gave him signed "passports" which Noland sewed into the lining of his jacket. This was in case he was apprehended by another guerrilla band or by Confederate recruits while on a mission.

He was a clever, cunning man and I'm sure a very brave one, too. I can well imagine that a lone black man, or one accompanying a white "master" could drive a wagon into a town, act very subservient, show his "shopping list" to a store keeper or some similar action, and have the whole town pretty accurately profiled within an hour.

In a similar way, he could ride or drive cross country, portraying a trusted servant, to see which roads were patrolled, how many times he would get stopped by militia, get detained temporarily at garrisons (where he could count troops and weaponry) and so on.

He was spying as well as scouting, and it must have taken nerves of steel to do that.

 

[Booner]

or at least a better cause.

And what "cause" would that be?

Of course, the simplified answer that many would come to first would be for the protection and promotion of slavery, as obviously, the guerrillias in question supported the southern cause. But from my readings of first hand accounts, I come away with the immpretion that their "cause" was in defending their households, ( which, of course, would include slaves), from those who they considered "outside invaders."

Modern research on the guerrillia war in Missouri has come up with the term "household war" and sheds new light on the guerrilla's motives. Prof. Joseph M Beilein's book, "Bushwhackers: Guerrillia Warfare, Manhood, and the Household in Civil War Missouri" goes into great detail on all these points, and I highly recommend it.

 

[Lost Cause]

Morality was out the window when it came to the Ks/Mo conflict.

Prior to Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, did Jim Lane and associates ever consider the consequences of using Lawrence as a safe haven or a staging area into Mo to Kansas citizens? Did the citizens ever consider offering the return of items plundered from Mo?

 

[Lusty Murfax]

Morality was out the window when it came to the Ks/Mo conflict.

Prior to Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, did Jim Lane and associates ever consider the consequences of using Lawrence as a safe haven or a staging area into Mo to Kansas citizens? Did the citizens ever consider offering the return of items plundered from Mo?

Union/Federal authorities in Kansas and obviously those in Missouri were fully aware of the murder and plunder visited on innocent Missouri civilians. The terror committed on Missouri was systematic and had the appearance of official approval, though I doubt documentation survived the war. We do know that Union Gen. Ewing issued his infamous Order No. 11 (http://www.civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/general-order-no-11) ordering depopulation of four Missouri Counties on the Kansas border. This is just one of several onerous edicts designed to punish Missourians. In this political environment do you think it likely Kansas citizens felt the urge to make things right?

 

[Lost Cause]

Union/Federal authorities in Kansas and obviously those in Missouri were fully aware of the murder and plunder visited on innocent Missouri civilians. The terror committed on Missouri was systematic and had the appearance of official approval, though I doubt documentation survived the war. We do know that Union Gen. Ewing issued his infamous Order No. 11 (http://www.civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/general-order-no-11) ordering depopulation of four Missouri Counties on the Kansas border. This is just one of several onerous edicts designed to punish Missourians. In this political environment do you think it likely Kansas citizens felt the urge to make things right?

Was referencing the raids into Mo prior to Lawrence. For example:

http://www.casscountyorderno11.com/the-civil-war.html

 

[Borderruffian]

One of the Quantrill guerrillas who interests me most deeply is John Noland. In fact, I discovered this web site while looking online for information about Noland in 2014. At that time, anything which appeared about him seemed to be a cut-and-past job copied from some other website. It was very frustrating.

It's known that Noland rode with Quantrill and that he was a combatant--at least at times. John McCorckle describes his action at the assault on the Lamar, Missouri courthouse. William Elsey Connelley tried to interview Noland for his book "Quantrill and The Border Wars," but Noland wouldn't talk about Lawrence. It's known that Noland and Fletch Taylor both scouted Lawrence ahead of the raid, but Noland insisted that Quantrill had already left for Kansas by the time he returned to make his report. I can well imagine that Noland chose discretion as the better part of valor when talking with Connelley in the early 1900s.

The question of why he rode with Quantrill was at the center of my fascination with him. The cut-and-paste posters always said he did it "because of abuses that Jayhawkers perpetrated on his family." Hmmmmm. That's a very curious assertion, and no detail was ever provided.

Some months ago, @Booner was researching census records and came across the family of (I believe) Asbury Noland--one of a family of prominent farmers in the Independence area. Listed in the household was a "mulatto" the same age as indicated by John's given birth year. Two young white brothers were members of the extended Noland family.

Jayhawkers did, indeed, raid the Noland farms and the brothers left to join Quantrill. I am convinced that John Noland went to Q. with his blood cousins.

He is known to have attended Quantrill reunions after the war, and appears in several photographs of those gatherings. He seems to have been very well accepted by his old comrades. I have read that the pallbearers at his funeral were all white and all former members of Quantrill's band, but I've never seen a record of who they were, specifically.

In any event, @Booner and I finally located the grave of John Noland in Independence, Missouri yesterday afternoon. This was thanks in large part to the great assistance of two groundskeepers who had a plot map in their truck. (Thanks, Guys!)

Before you scroll to the attached photos, please don't get excited about the inscription on the face of Noland's tomb stone. I am not responsible for that, and, yes, I know anyone can engrave just about anything on a grave stone. Please don't use this post to whip up a big, heated argument about the meaning of "Confederate." That's not my intention here. Concentrate on the word "Scout," because he surely was a scout. Let the rest of the inscription pass. Pay attention to the inscription on the back, too.

It was a pleasure to finally locate Mr. John Noland.

View attachment 204840

View attachment 204841

Noland was captured and paroled while attempting to join the MSG near Springfield , returning home he was called before the Provost Marshal charged with singing Rebel Songs i.e. " We'll hang John Brown from a sour apple tree" then forced to "escort "the mail to prevent partisan attacks guess he figured he was safer in the brush than escorting federal mail. But you know the story. According to him.

 

[Patrick H]

Noland was captured and paroled while attempting to join the MSG near Springfield , returning home he was called before the Provost Marshal charged with singing Rebel Songs i.e. " We'll hang John Brown from a sour apple tree" then forced to "escort "the mail to prevent partisan attacks guess he figured he was safer in the brush than escorting federal mail. But you know the story. According to him.

This is great information, and it doesn't rule out the possibility that he was the "mulatto" in the census records. Where did you find it? I'd like to read about it. Thanks!