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Bloody Bill Anderson: The Short, Savage Life of a Civil War Guerrilla
Nowhere was the Civil War as savage as it was in Missouri - and nowhere did it produce a killer more savage than William Anderson. For a brief but dramatic period, "Bloody Bill" played the leading role in the most violent arena of the entire war--and did so with a vicious abandon that spread fear throughout the land.
A name associated with William Quantrill and Jesse James, Bloody Bill Anderson was known for never taking prisoners. A former horse thief turned bushwhacker, he became the scourge of Kansas and Missouri with a reputation for unspeakable atrocities. Sometimes he left the bodies of dead Federal soldiers scalped, skinned, and castrated. Sometimes he decapitated them and rearranged their heads. Wherever Bloody Bill rode, the Grim Reaper rode alongside.
In telling this story of bitter bloodshed, historians Castel and Goodrich track Bloody Bill's reign of terror over increasingly violent raids. He rode with Quantrill in the infamous sack of Lawrence and killed more victims than any other raider. Then he led the brutal Centralia Massacre, a blood-soaked nightmare recounted here hour-by-hour from firsthand accounts.
More than compiling a chronicle of horrors, Castel and Goodrich have produced the first full-fledged account of Anderson's career. They examine his prewar life, explain how he became a guerrilla, then describe the war that he and his men waged against Union soldiers and defenseless civilians alike. The authors' disagreements on many aspects of Anderson's gruesome career add a fascinating dimension to the book.
Only 26 when he was killed charging an ambush, Bloody Bill Anderson had already become a legend. This book takes readers behind the legend and provides a closer look at the man--and at the face of terror.
A name associated with William Quantrill and Jesse James, Bloody Bill Anderson was known for never taking prisoners. A former horse thief turned bushwhacker, he became the scourge of Kansas and Missouri with a reputation for unspeakable atrocities. Sometimes he left the bodies of dead Federal soldiers scalped, skinned, and castrated. Sometimes he decapitated them and rearranged their heads. Wherever Bloody Bill rode, the Grim Reaper rode alongside.
In telling this story of bitter bloodshed, historians Castel and Goodrich track Bloody Bill's reign of terror over increasingly violent raids. He rode with Quantrill in the infamous sack of Lawrence and killed more victims than any other raider. Then he led the brutal Centralia Massacre, a blood-soaked nightmare recounted here hour-by-hour from firsthand accounts.
More than compiling a chronicle of horrors, Castel and Goodrich have produced the first full-fledged account of Anderson's career. They examine his prewar life, explain how he became a guerrilla, then describe the war that he and his men waged against Union soldiers and defenseless civilians alike. The authors' disagreements on many aspects of Anderson's gruesome career add a fascinating dimension to the book.
Only 26 when he was killed charging an ambush, Bloody Bill Anderson had already become a legend. This book takes readers behind the legend and provides a closer look at the man--and at the face of terror.
180 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
90 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Albert E. Castel
23 books11 followersOne of the leading authorities on the Civil War in the western theater, Albert Edward Castel earned his B.A. and M.A. from Wichita State University and his Ph.D. in History and Political Science from the University of Chicago. He taught at UCLA and Waynesburg College before accepting a position at Western Michigan University, where he taught from 1960 until his retirement in 1991.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 1, 2021
A sordid tale of a savage killer, but well done. Brings out the true nastiness of the time, in “the most viciously violent arena of the entire Civil War.” Anderson was an obscure figure until August 1863, so details about him before that time are a bit sketchy. Most of this book is about his doings in 1864, when he terrorized Northern Missouri. Don’t expect wall-to-wall coverage of Anderson here. There are digressions about other bushwhackers, Quantrill, Todd, etc., but they are not irrelevant. Brief mentions of Frank and Jesse James.
I wanted to know about Anderson’s motives and this book does a good job of explaining how they evolved from mere horse thieving for money—actually pony thieving—to revenge killing, then to killing for the sake of killing . . . and money, of course. He was consumed with hatred of Yankees, but wore a Yankee uniform as a guise.
Not an inspirational read, not an ennobling subject matter, but true history. Paints a vivid and authentic picture of the time. I recognize the period jargon from the Civil War letters I published: "going up the spout," being "played out," your "wife until death," etc. Photographic portraits were "likenesses." Recommended to historians and Missourians interested in the topic. Just the facts, no particular bias.
I wanted to know about Anderson’s motives and this book does a good job of explaining how they evolved from mere horse thieving for money—actually pony thieving—to revenge killing, then to killing for the sake of killing . . . and money, of course. He was consumed with hatred of Yankees, but wore a Yankee uniform as a guise.
Not an inspirational read, not an ennobling subject matter, but true history. Paints a vivid and authentic picture of the time. I recognize the period jargon from the Civil War letters I published: "going up the spout," being "played out," your "wife until death," etc. Photographic portraits were "likenesses." Recommended to historians and Missourians interested in the topic. Just the facts, no particular bias.
December 26, 2023
The Bushwhackers and Jayhawkers are widely hated characters. The former get more coverage due to their charismatic leaders and that they lost so are easy to hate. For a brief period the most feared was Anderson. Like many he started off more a bandit (he robbed pro Confederates in 1862 until disciplined by Quantrill). He then turned to revenge after his sister died in Federal captivity. I get the feeling the Confederacy was a distant third priority although Anderson certainly was pro slavery. This account reads at times like a novel, which makes for a good read although I at times questioned if the events happened as written. Overall though it makes for a bloody and sobering read, one of the best Civil War biographies for sure.
August 22, 2023
While the language style was a bit flowery, this book was still worth reading. As a simple, basic overview of a notorious Civil War guerrilla fighter, this book ranks as high as The Devil Knows How To Ride, another classic in the genre. While at times overly graphic, this book fills in a gap in the lore of banditry and Civil War partisan fighters in particular. While it may not be for the general reader, this book is tailored for the esoteric reader of Trans-Mississippi historical works. A very good read.
May 11, 2024
This account of Bloody Bill Anderson, the Missouri guerrilla who murdered and pillaged across the central portion of that state for years, combines well-cited source material with well-written narrative style that keeps the reader engaged.
While details are sparse due to a lack of official records and reports in a guerrilla war, the authors are able to fill in the blanks without appearing to create a blend of history and historical fiction.
A highlight of the book, and a good strategic choice, was the account of Union soldier turned prisoner Tom Goodman. Using his practice and point of view to tell the story of the Centralia Massacre gave the reader a fresh lens through which to interpret the story.
This bio was the perfect size with the right amount of historical fact framed with just enough interpretation. So many biographies are 50-100 pages too long. For the reader seeking more than an encyclopedia entry but not needing an exhaustive study, this book meets the need of the average student of the Civil War era.
While details are sparse due to a lack of official records and reports in a guerrilla war, the authors are able to fill in the blanks without appearing to create a blend of history and historical fiction.
A highlight of the book, and a good strategic choice, was the account of Union soldier turned prisoner Tom Goodman. Using his practice and point of view to tell the story of the Centralia Massacre gave the reader a fresh lens through which to interpret the story.
This bio was the perfect size with the right amount of historical fact framed with just enough interpretation. So many biographies are 50-100 pages too long. For the reader seeking more than an encyclopedia entry but not needing an exhaustive study, this book meets the need of the average student of the Civil War era.
September 25, 2014
The story of a civil war guerilla fighter in Missouri. Bloody Bill was possibly the most vicious of the Missouri bushwhacker captains. This book is not very long, but it is about Bill Anderson. There is some info about other guerilla fighters and a little Civil War info but it mostly sticks to the subject named in the title. (which anyone who reads my reviews knows that's how I prefer it). If you want to learn about "Bloody" Bill Anderson, this is your book. I would have liked maybe a little more detail. But I realize that with these kind of men, usually a lot of info is hard to come by. But I think the author did a great job of telling the story about a infamous guerilla fighter from over 100 years ago. Especially if you are a fan of Civil War history. Missouri, being a divided state, was kind of a war within the war. It created a extremely violent atmosphere. The book is a good, quick read and a very good account of Bill Anderson's life.
April 26, 2018
A slender though detailed account of the depredations of one Bill Anderson. They certainly did not leave out the details of the brutality that Anderson and his gang wreaked upon Missouri. It was well written book with extensive notes at the end. I found it interesting and I flew through it. Definitely recommended for those interested in the bushwhackers of Missouri in the Civil War.
December 15, 2019
Great book
A well thought out and written history of Bloody Bill Anderson. It explaining of his life and the events that occurred during the Civil War. A good read for anyone looking into the border war between Kansas and Missouri. It will end some myths people have been told about Anderson.
A well thought out and written history of Bloody Bill Anderson. It explaining of his life and the events that occurred during the Civil War. A good read for anyone looking into the border war between Kansas and Missouri. It will end some myths people have been told about Anderson.
May 27, 2023
I usually have little to no interest in the Civil War. But I am fascinated by how extreme Bloody Bill was. I really enjoyed this book. I found it difficult to put down at times. Bloody Bill was one of the most fearsome and deadly of the guerrilla leaders at the time and this makes for anything but a dull read. It's great to finally have something close to a real biography on Bloody Bill. There are many biographies on other guerrilla leaders but not on Bloody Bill for some reason.
Overall, this was a great read. The Centralia massacre was written about in a lot of gory detail. That said, there were some things I didn't like:
- The rape of a young servant girl was written about in a very romanticised way. Given the circumstances, it's safe to assume she was not "led into the bedroom". She was likely strong-armed in by a man who had already been described as "drunk and getting drunker."
- The rape of other female servants the next day was glossed over at breakneck speed, to the point where I wondered why the authors bothered mentioning it at all.
-The authors could and should have included more detail leading up to Bloody Bill's demise. It felt very rushed after the harrowing account of what happened to Benjamin Lewis.
- While the fact that Bill's finger was cut off after he died was mentioned (maybe because this can be clearly seen in the photo of his corpse they included), there was no acknowledgement of the report that his head was cut off and put on a telegraph pole. I have no idea if this happened or not, but it could have been mentioned.
- The book goes on for quite a while after Bloody Bill dies. At one point, I felt like the book almost turned into a mini biography on the James brothers, particularly Jesse James. I get that the authors are trying to let the reader know what happened to some of Bill's acolytes, but this could have been condensed somewhat.
On the whole, it's well worth a read and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in Bloody Bill or the Civil War. It was quite short, but so was Bloody Bill's life.
Overall, this was a great read. The Centralia massacre was written about in a lot of gory detail. That said, there were some things I didn't like:
- The rape of a young servant girl was written about in a very romanticised way. Given the circumstances, it's safe to assume she was not "led into the bedroom". She was likely strong-armed in by a man who had already been described as "drunk and getting drunker."
- The rape of other female servants the next day was glossed over at breakneck speed, to the point where I wondered why the authors bothered mentioning it at all.
-The authors could and should have included more detail leading up to Bloody Bill's demise. It felt very rushed after the harrowing account of what happened to Benjamin Lewis.
- While the fact that Bill's finger was cut off after he died was mentioned (maybe because this can be clearly seen in the photo of his corpse they included), there was no acknowledgement of the report that his head was cut off and put on a telegraph pole. I have no idea if this happened or not, but it could have been mentioned.
- The book goes on for quite a while after Bloody Bill dies. At one point, I felt like the book almost turned into a mini biography on the James brothers, particularly Jesse James. I get that the authors are trying to let the reader know what happened to some of Bill's acolytes, but this could have been condensed somewhat.
On the whole, it's well worth a read and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in Bloody Bill or the Civil War. It was quite short, but so was Bloody Bill's life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2021
Not the best written book, but if you are interested in minutia of the Civil War, particularly the guerilla warfare in Missouri and Kansas, the rise of the James Gang, etc., this will be of interest to you.
April 29, 2022
Quite a biography and story!
Very interesting to learn how the gorillas actually fought in the civil war. Good story keeps your attention I'd recommend the book for those who are interested in warfare. Guerrilla warfare has been around a long time.
Very interesting to learn how the gorillas actually fought in the civil war. Good story keeps your attention I'd recommend the book for those who are interested in warfare. Guerrilla warfare has been around a long time.
November 30, 2024
A great, quick insight on a pretty overlooked civil war figure. Easy to read and not as detail-oriented as other history books, making it a rapid read. Bonus points for most of it taking place in places in Kansas and Missouri.
October 29, 2017
If I never see the word 'hitherto' again it will be much too soon. The book itself was okay, but the content was fascinating.
October 31, 2022
A story of a savage man in savage times. Well worth the read but not for the faint hearted!
July 10, 2023
I just finished this book titled, Bloody Bill Anderson, who was one of the deadliest and most notorious pro-Confederate guerrilla leaders in the American Civil War. Anderson led a band of Confederate sympathizers ranging between 40 to 80 bushwhackers at any one time, that targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in the states of Missouri and Kansas in the years of 1862 until he was shot and killed on Oct. 27,1864.(The guerrillas were called bushwhackers, because they would hide in the bush by rivers and ravines to ambush Union troops as they would ride by)
Anderson took a leading role in the Lawrence Massacre, lead by, William Quantrill, and later participated in the Battle of Baxter Springs, both of which occurred in 1863.
In what became known as the Centralia Massacre, on Sept. 27,1864 Anderson's bushwhackers executed 24 unarmed Union soldiers in the town square, looted, pillaged, and burned down homes, the train depot, destroyed the train, and set an ambush later that day that killed more than 100+ Union militiamen. Anderson himself and his men would mutilate their victims by scalping and doing other various barbaric horrendous acts which is how he get his name of Bloody Bill.
Historians have made disparate appraisals of Anderson: some see him as a sadistic, psychopathic killer, but for others his actions cannot be separated from the general desperation and lawlessness of the time. Missouri was one of the worst battlegrounds for this conflict, since Missouri was a slave state that was part of the Union, and had supporters from both sides.
After the Civil War, some of these bushwhackers that survived became outlaws, train and bank robbers to still rage warfare against the Union...the most famous being The James Brothers, Jesse and Frank. These two did ride with Quantrill and Bloody Bill in both the Lawrence Massacre and the Centralia Massacre.
This is an interesting read on this very ugly subject that produced its own set of colorful demons that lived by their own principals. It is best to know your past so as not to repeat them again!
Anderson took a leading role in the Lawrence Massacre, lead by, William Quantrill, and later participated in the Battle of Baxter Springs, both of which occurred in 1863.
In what became known as the Centralia Massacre, on Sept. 27,1864 Anderson's bushwhackers executed 24 unarmed Union soldiers in the town square, looted, pillaged, and burned down homes, the train depot, destroyed the train, and set an ambush later that day that killed more than 100+ Union militiamen. Anderson himself and his men would mutilate their victims by scalping and doing other various barbaric horrendous acts which is how he get his name of Bloody Bill.
Historians have made disparate appraisals of Anderson: some see him as a sadistic, psychopathic killer, but for others his actions cannot be separated from the general desperation and lawlessness of the time. Missouri was one of the worst battlegrounds for this conflict, since Missouri was a slave state that was part of the Union, and had supporters from both sides.
After the Civil War, some of these bushwhackers that survived became outlaws, train and bank robbers to still rage warfare against the Union...the most famous being The James Brothers, Jesse and Frank. These two did ride with Quantrill and Bloody Bill in both the Lawrence Massacre and the Centralia Massacre.
This is an interesting read on this very ugly subject that produced its own set of colorful demons that lived by their own principals. It is best to know your past so as not to repeat them again!
November 16, 2018
I knew a lot about the Civil War in the East before picking up this book, but knew only a little of the Guerrilla War in the western theater.
I found this book a really easy readable book about a figure I've never heard of before finding this book. I was surprised by the brutality of the Anderson in his escapades against the Union. The only partisans I knew of in the west was Quantrill and assumed that he controlled all of the partisans. This book shows how there were several partisan bands and not all of them were following the same orders.
It was interesting to see that for a time Jesse and Frank James also crossed paths with Anderson while they were partisans. This is a great book about the Partisans, or Guerrillas, in the western theater.
I liked the author's style and did not feel he was too dry as many biographies tend to be. I will certainly be looking for other Castel books.
I found this book a really easy readable book about a figure I've never heard of before finding this book. I was surprised by the brutality of the Anderson in his escapades against the Union. The only partisans I knew of in the west was Quantrill and assumed that he controlled all of the partisans. This book shows how there were several partisan bands and not all of them were following the same orders.
It was interesting to see that for a time Jesse and Frank James also crossed paths with Anderson while they were partisans. This is a great book about the Partisans, or Guerrillas, in the western theater.
I liked the author's style and did not feel he was too dry as many biographies tend to be. I will certainly be looking for other Castel books.
July 10, 2011
"Bloody Bill Anderson: The Short, Savage Life of a Civil War Guerrilla" was a great book from beginning to end. Civil War literature is severely lacking in anything about Bill Anderson relying more on legend and myth than real life. This book corrects some of that. I enjoyed every minute of it. My only complaint is that it was too short, but, then again, so was Bloody Bill's life. It ties in well with the other Missouri guerrillas who went on the greater infamy after the war. The brutality of the irregular war in Missouri is very clear in the pages of this book.
As a student of the Civil War in Missouri, I was enthralled with every page of the book. It is very well written and documented. Relying heavily on the Official Record, contemporary news reports, and eyewitness accounts, this may be the definitive book on Bill Anderson. I recommend it highly!
As a student of the Civil War in Missouri, I was enthralled with every page of the book. It is very well written and documented. Relying heavily on the Official Record, contemporary news reports, and eyewitness accounts, this may be the definitive book on Bill Anderson. I recommend it highly!
February 8, 2014
A brief account of one of the Civil War’s most notorious Bushwackers Bloody Bill Anderson. It tells briefly of his life before the start of the Civil War and then once the War starts his rise as a guerilla leader, including his participation in the Lawrence massacre and his leadership in the killings at Centralia.
May 8, 2011
If you've ever seen "The Outlaw Josie Wales' you have the backdrop of Bloody Bill Anderson. What I was hoping for was a bit more narrative and lot less historical dissertation. The authors went for so much precision that they killed the story.
April 25, 2019
The brutal life of Bloody Bill, a bushwhacker who, to say the least, definitely had issues in his life. He killed indiscriminately, robbed, burned and stole horses. During a clash with union soldiers he ended up with 2 bullets in his head.
December 12, 2013
As I know little of Castel I vetted his bibliography and found it held up, off to the wars....
October 20, 2020
This is another of those really well-documented books, with at least 50% actual historical content. I used it to research a book I was writing, named "Swallow the Dog". Very good!
June 9, 2009
see my review here:
http://lovablerobot.com/?p=34
http://lovablerobot.com/?p=34
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews