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Richmond, Missouri, William "Bloody Bill" Anderson, Confederate Guerrilla, Tombstone Grave photo

Richmond, Missouri, William "Bloody Bill" Anderson, Confederate Guerrilla, Tombstone Grave photo

The grave and tombstone of William "Bloody Bill" Anderson, the noted Civil War Confederate guerrilla leader, buried in the Pioneer Cemetery at Richmond, Missouri. Anderson was known and feared for his countless brutal attacks on not only Union soldiers but also of those who were known to be sympathetic to the Union cause. He was a promient leader of the guerrilla forces under William Quantrill who led the burning and massacre at Lawrence, Kansas on August 21, 1863. His most notorious act was the attack on Centralia, Missouri on September 27, 1864 which resulted in the capture of a passenger train that arrived during the attack. On board the train were twenty-four unarmed Union soldiers who were captured, lined up and executed. As a result of this massacre, Anderson was hotly pursued by Union forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel P. Cox. It is reported that among those then riding with Anderson's men were Frank and Jesse James (Jesse was then seventeen years old). On October 26, 1864, the Union troops led by Cox caught up with Anderson near Albany (later known as Orrick), in Ray County, Missouri where Anderson was killed during a charge by a shot behind the ear. Most of the others escaped. His body was taken to Richmond, Missouri where it was photographed and placed on public display. His burial took place in a field outside of Richmond. In 1908, at the direction of Cole Younger, his body was removed and re-buried in an unmarked grave in the Pioneer Cemetery in Richmond. It was not until 1967 that a tombstone was placed upon his grave.

William "Bloody Bill" Anderson, born 1840 (exact date unknown) in Hopkins County, Kentucky; died October 26, 1864 near Albany (now Orrick), Ray County, Missouri, his age was 23 or 24. Buried in Pioneer Cemetery, Richmond, Missouri.

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