Customer Reviews

Bloody Bill Anderson: The Short, Savage Life of a Civil War Guerrilla

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In most places, the War for Southern Independence, as brutal as it sometimes was, had rules which were more or less followed, at least early on. In Missouri, the War for Southern Independence had no rules and was fought that way, brutally and savagely. And the most brutal and savage Missourian of all during this time was William "Bloody Bill" Anderson.

This is an outstanding book, although not for the faint-of-heart(as was the war it describes). The only minor fault I found is that too many of the stories about Anderson come from Union sympathizers and sound like it. Of course, this is a limitation with any book written during this time. Not many of these men got a chance to sit down and write their memoirs, so any researcher must take what is available. And the authors present Anderson as they found him; I could detect no particular bias. This is as good a book as I've ever seen about the WFSI in Missouri and I highly recommend it.

Once I picked up this book, I could not put it down. Castel and Goodrich did a wonderful job in researching the events that took place in Missouri and Kansas throughout the Civil War. As a previous reviewer had stated, this book is definitely "to the point" and "no holds barred" (not for the squeamish) when it comes to discussing the brutalities that took place against humanity. From robbing banks to kidnapping and brutally beating a wealthy Missourian who gave over 150 slaves their freedom (for those who stayed on, he offered them better pay) to the massacres that took place for those that were either Union soldiers or sympathizers, it was evident that Bill Anderson and his followers had only one mode of operation...that was to inflict as much pain as they could on the region. I never realized how much of a social and economic impact the rogue warriors (Bushwhackers) had on this region. Thanks Castel and Goodrich for a well written, non-biased book!

Bloody Bill Anderson was a product of savagery in the early days of the Civil War's influence on Kansas and Missouri. The border war there was bloody and brutal. An eye for an eye conflict that escalated beyond anyone's imagination. The region was devastated. The atrocities that men were willing to commit against each other on both sides of the fratricide in that area are horrendous. Rocketing out of that soup came Bloody Bill. He is the prototype of a deadly psychopath. He was sadistic, ruthless and devoid of conscience.

Castel and Goodrich have outdone themselves in taking what little historical data is available to present as thorough an accounting of Bill Anderson's life as you're likely to find. They hone in on two of his most infamous rampages around Centralia, Missouri. You'll believe you were an eyewitness. However, they don't fabricate the stories or engage in fiction. The book is thoroughly researched and very credible in every detail. They could only have exceeded in this endeavor if there were more firsthand historical data to draw from.

Fact is Bloody Bill was a real individual and these events really did transpire. You will be transfixed even as you are horrified.

I found this book to be an easy to read history of not only Anderson but the circumstances that helped create him. The authors have done an excellent job turning up new information and sifting old information to write a helpful new view of Anderson. The book is well footnoted and contains several never before printed photos including a photo of Anderson's wife, Bush Smith and one of the cord he used to keep track of his kills. This book is a must for anyone interested in the Civil War on the Kansas-Missouri border.

I would have to rate this book 5 stars if only becuase it was not a revisionist history foisted on an unsuspecting public by vengeful victor sympathizers.

The first time I ever heard about Bill Anderson was in the movie, "The Outlaw Josey Wales". Needless to say, the two minute portrayal was enough to give me a completely wrong impression of who Bill Anderson was. Several years later, this book was recommended to me by several participants on a internet Confederate discussion board.

Real information about William Anderson is scarce. The authors of this book have done an outstanding job of piecing together what little there is to give us a semblance of a picture of a very effective guerilla fighter during the War of Southern Secession. There are still many holes in the story, but you will not be disappointed by this book. The authors show no bias, which is very rare in books about this historical period, and they present their research like a documentary.

Guerrilla warfare is seldom spoken in Civil War circles or written about. Probably one of the more popular characters in this topic from that period is Bill Anderson. Authors Albert Castel and Thomas Goodrich have assembled quite a bit of useful information in regards to Anderson's ambitions, motivations, movements and operations throughout Kansas and Missouri. This dangerous, callous and revengeful individual is brought forth to show how rough and chaotic war can be, especially for a divided state such as Missouri. Anderson leads his small band of raiders throughout these states living like desperate pirates to plunder towns and more importantly hunt down enemies to the extreme.

Anderson's life is never short of violence as he is the ultimate and sadistic leader of a dangerous group of bandits that have borderline allegiances to the Confederate cause. Portraying to be Union Cavalry, Anderson and his band of murderers steal, burn, kill and ravage towns of Union sympathizers. Union Militia throughout the state of Missouri is quickly and badly organized to hunt down Anderson and his company that seems to constantly grow larger in membership. Anderson raids towns such as Fayette and Centralia leaving deadly results by killing many former Union soldiers, burning depots and various other buildings while looting stores. Anderson and his gang are always drinking and whiskey seems to elevate their need for murder and money that never ends.
Is he ever stopped?

Like many, I couldn't resist this book and wished for more though there is quite a bit of useful information for a short book of roughly 144 pages. It was descriptively well-written, concise, maps and pictures were included which gave the book a great rhythmic flow as far as content. 5 STARS!!

Thomas Goodrich did an outstanding job of researching his subject. I've read many other accounts of Anderson, but this is the most complete and revealing. It's unfortunate that Stackpole insisted on bringing Castel into the mix, as the two men's writing styles are so different. The end product, though the best work so far on a fascinating man, doesn't equal Goodrich's original work.

This is a very interesting and well written book about the atrocities that Bill Anderson and his bushwhackers committed, within the background of the Civil War. The authors have done a tremendous amount of research and it pays off.

The only problem I has with it is that at 150 pages, it was a bit too short. Then again, the subtitle does say Short and Savage life.

Well recommended for Civil War or military history buffs.

Easy read but well researched...some of the best information so far on what the Civil War was in Missouri.

"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!