William T. Anderson
William T. Anderson[a] (1840 – October 26, 1864), also known as "Bloody Bill" Anderson, was one of the deadliest and most famous pro-Confederate guerrilla leaders in the American Civil War. Anderson led a group of volunteer rangers who attacked Union loyalists and federal soldiers in the states of Missouri and Kansas.
| William T. Anderson | |
|---|---|
 Anderson, c. summer 1864 | |
| Nickname | Bloody Bill |
| Born | 1840 Hopkins County, Kentucky |
| Died | October 26, 1864 (aged 23–24) Albany, Missouri |
| Buried at | Pioneer Cemetery Richmond, Missouri |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Service/branch | Partisan rangers |
| Years of service | 1863–64 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Quantrill's Raiders |
| Battles/wars | |
Early life
William T. Anderson was born in 1840 in Hopkins County, Kentucky, to William C. and Martha Anderson.[1] His siblings were Jim, Ellis, Mary Ellen, Josephine and Janie.[2] His schoolmates remembered him as a well-behaved, quiet child. [1] During his childhood, Anderson's family moved to Huntsville, Missouri, where his father got a job on a farm, and the family became well-respected.[3] In 1857, they moved to the Kansas Territory, going southwest on the Santa Fe Trail and settling 13 miles (21 km) east of Council Grove.[4]
The Anderson family supported slavery, though they did not own slaves. They moved to Kansas most likely for economic rather than political reasons.[5]
William T. Anderson Media
Anderson in an ambrotype photograph, c. early 1860s
A painting of the Lawrence Massacre, in which Anderson played a leading role
A painting by George Caleb Bingham depicting General Order No. 11, which was prompted by the Lawrence Massacre
Anderson's body several hours after he died
Digital reconstruction of the flag found on Anderson's body, based on description (Obverse)
- William_T._Anderson_flag_Reverse
