In the American Civil War one of the worst insurgent conflicts of modern history was fought between Confederate Partisan Rangers and Union Redlegs
In 1861, with the Civil war looming and states choosing sides, Missouri's future was far from certain. The state was a state where slave ownership was legalized which should have made it a confederate state by default but many residents held very strong pro-northern views and loyalties. On April 20th, 1861, 7,000 Federal troops, which had been sent by Lincoln to secure the U.S. Arsenal at St. Louis, fired on a crowd of civilians near Camp Jackson, killing 30 and wounding another 75. This swayed opinion and led to the Missouri Ordinance of Secession being passed on October 30th, 1861 with the Confederate Congress admitting Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederacy in November. This led to a Union invasion that forced the meager confederate forces out of most of the state by the first part of 1862. With no regular army units remaining in the state the only hope for resistance would be through guerilla warfare.
Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis, a former military officer and secretary of war did not believe in guerrilla warfare, considering it too disorganized. However, on April 21, 1862 he approved an act to authorize commissioned officers to form bands of Partisan rangers. It was then that General Thomas C. Hindman, published his "Confederate Partisan Act in Missouri". Hindman believed fully in the military value of guerrilla warfare. Below is an excerpt from that act:
"When as many as 10 men come together for this purpose they may organize by electing a captain, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and will at once commence operations against the enemy without waiting for special instructions. Their duty will be to cut off Federal pickets, scouts, foraging parties and trains and to kill pilots and others on gunboats and transports, attacking them day and night and using the greatest vigor in their movements...."
It is believed that nearly 75 independent Missouri Partisan Ranger Units were formed, typically named after their charismatic commander. These units had such flamboyant names as "Rector Johnson's Missouri Guerrilla Command", "Major Livingston's Missouri Scouts", and "Quantrill's Missouri Raider Company". Most of these bands were very small, typically of only a few dozen men. However there were some larger units, notably those of Colonel Poindexter and Captain Quantrill which numbered briefly as high as 1200 men under arms. Mark Twain (Samuel Clements) of "Huckleberry Finn" fame was even commander of a small unit of confederate irregulars for two weeks that never saw action.
These units can best be described as 'Irregular Cavalry' mounted on small local horses, with no uniforms and only a homemade banner if any. Equipment was obtained from home and was supplemented by that taken from the much better equipped union army. Weapons typically were not military in design and usually consisted of a motley collection of personal handguns and shotguns. Military training and discipline was basically non-existent with some bands committing war crimes such as torture and battle field executions of prisoners. Personnel typically drew no pay and often took lengthy furloughs to return home for months. Terms were simple, as described by the oath of allegiance of Captain "Bloody Bill' Anderson's partisan unit = "I swear to defend the Constitution of the Confederate States, obey orders and kill Yankees.".
Several men who later became famous outlaws served with these confederates including both Frank and Jesse James (who was only 15 when he enlisted), the Cole brothers and the Younger brothers.
The concept of irregular warfare fell well outside the accepted modes of combat. The partisans were very cautious, often lurking between towns in brushy areas awaiting targets of opportunity such as quartermaster supply trains and work parties. They were masters of stealth and reconnaissance, using brief massive firepower in close ambush to attack smaller federal units.
The nemesis of the partisans was the federal cavalry, notably the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 14th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry regiments otherwise known as the "Jayhawkers' or "Redlegs". The term redlegs came from the knee high, red yarn gaiter leggings they wore over their boots. Some of the men which comprised the Red Legs included a young "Wild Bill" Hickok and William S. Tough who would later go on to be a famous Pony Express rider. These men were every bit as rough as their partisan foes, with many holding personal grudges from the pre-war abolitionist gang fighting that was a fact of life along the Missouri-Kansas state line. These units were likewise responsible for just as many war crimes as the partisans they pursued.
(continued in part II)
