Rob, they did exist and the impression that the southern supporters hated them is an understatement. The irregular war in Missouri was a vicious, no-quarter war that spawned the likes of Quantrill, Bill Anderson, the James brothers, the Youngers, and the "bushwackers". An excellent book on the subject is "Inside War" by Michael Fellman done by Oxford Press in 1989. It is a facinating aspect of the ACW that is not much appreciated. -- lancer
"Ride With the Devil" is a good movie starring Tobey (Spiderman) McGuire of all people, but is very believable in his part as a bushwhacker. The movie generally tells the southern viewpoint but does show the way everyone got dragged in. There is a great Lawrence raid sequence as well as other good action scenes and the obligatory love story. Worth watching IMO. -- lancer
Rob
"Dying - ain't no way to make a living"
GREAT MOVIE !
Rob
I cannot add much to what the other guys have posted except perhaps a little clarification of the group names of all these border ruffians and knowing you have an interest in the ACW the least I can do is try to nurture your curiosity
As the guys have said the border states saw a hell of a lot of citizen's blood spilt during the war especially the period 1862/63.
A Jayhawker was a Unionist who was determined to burn out and execute Rebs and Rebel sympathisers.
A Bushwhacker was a rebel Jayhawker who banded with others for the purpose of preying upon the lives and property of Union citizens.
And a Redleg was as the posters have described-originally formed as Kansas Border Scouts in 1862 and depending what side of the fence one was on were either seen as murderous outlaws or patriotic saviours (Where have you heard that one before)
As you mentioned the movie Josey Wales- a sidebar that may interest you is the "evil" character Red Leg Terrill (played by Bill McKinney a favorite Eastwood character actor) was probably based on William S Tough a real interesting but little known character.
Southern born in Savannah about 1840 but at the outbreak of the war was living in Baltimore Maryland-another divided state-he was not particularly interested in the war for Southern Independence until he was attacked by a bunch of Jayhawkers who stole his horses. He got short thrift and no recompense from Uncle Sam so he searched out the rebel force to join up but on his proposed enlistment journey he came up against a gang of Bushwhackers who shot him and left him for dead (pretty unlucky guy). He swore eternal vengeance against the Rebs, to help him get his revenge he raised a gang of 100 men and hunted down his would be killers and hung the lot and carried on shooting and hanging as many Rebs as he could find. His bloody reputation came to the attention of Union Brig Gen.James Gillpatrick Blunt (the character Senator Lane was loosely based on Blunt in the movie) who recruited him as his chief of scouts for his Kansas Brigade and together had many a run-in with Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson. But unlike the grisly demise of Terrill in the movie Tough survived and died peacefully in 1914.
Reb.
Rob
I cannot add much to what the other guys have posted except perhaps a little clarification of the group names of all these border ruffians and knowing you have an interest in the ACW the least I can do is try to nurture your curiosity
As the guys have said the border states saw a hell of a lot of citizen's blood spilt during the war especially the period 1862/63.
A Jayhawker was a Unionist who was determined to burn out and execute Rebs and Rebel sympathisers.
A Bushwhacker was a rebel Jayhawker who banded with others for the purpose of preying upon the lives and property of Union citizens.
And a Redleg was as the posters have described-originally formed as Kansas Border Scouts in 1862 and depending what side of the fence one was on were either seen as murderous outlaws or patriotic saviours (Where have you heard that one before)
As you mentioned the movie Josey Wales- a sidebar that may interest you is the "evil" character Red Leg Terrill (played by Bill McKinney a favorite Eastwood character actor) was probably based on William S Tough a real interesting but little known character.
Southern born in Savannah about 1840 but at the outbreak of the war was living in Baltimore Maryland-another divided state-he was not particularly interested in the war for Southern Independence until he was attacked by a bunch of Jayhawkers who stole his horses. He got short thrift and no recompense from Uncle Sam so he searched out the rebel force to join up but on his proposed enlistment journey he came up against a gang of Bushwhackers who shot him and left him for dead (pretty unlucky guy). He swore eternal vengeance against the Rebs, to help him get his revenge he raised a gang of 100 men and hunted down his would be killers and hung the lot and carried on shooting and hanging as many Rebs as he could find. His bloody reputation came to the attention of Union Brig Gen.James Gillpatrick Blunt (the character Senator Lane was loosely based on Blunt in the movie) who recruited him as his chief of scouts for his Kansas Brigade and together had many a run-in with Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson. But unlike the grisly demise of Terrill in the movie Tough survived and died peacefully in 1914.
Reb.
