Bushwacker. A True Story Of Bill Wilson, Missouri's Greatest Desperado; A Story Of Blood

GEORGE CLINTON ARTHUR

Publication: Rolla Printing Company, 1938, Rolla

First edition. 12mo. Original black cloth with red lettering on front cover, 108 [1]pp., frontis., preface, illustrated, portraits, 17.8 cm. Born around the year 1830, Bill Wilson was a native to Phelps County, Missouri, an area deep within the Ozarks. Bill used to roam the Ozarks throughout the Civil War making terror for the Union and Red Legs whenever he could. In the summer of 1861, Bill was accused of stealing horses from the Union. He was questioned and released, but a few days later, while he was away from home, a group of Yankees, Red Legs, and Jawhawkers ejected his family from his house, stole everything worth stealing, and burned the house, barn, and outbuildings. From that day forward, Bill became a one-man army intent on killing every Yankee, or Yankee sympathizer, he could find. He became one of the best known Bushwhackers in Missouri. After the war, Missouri was still full of unrest and bodies continued to emerge throughout the area. The great cleanup of Bushwhackers came in 1868. Bill moved his family to a new piece of land nearby and bid them farewell as he headed for Texas. In Sherman, Texas, two of his ex-comrades, former Missouri Partisan Rangers, apparently got the drop on him and murdered him for the cash he was carrying. The Adams 150: #3 says, "This is the only book of which I know devoted to this Missouri outlaw, telling of his hardships and daring exploits. Many will disagree with the statement that he was Missouri's greatest outlaw. To most authorities Jesse James is still the greatest. At least he was the best known." Six Guns 85. Slight bowing to fore edges of very thin cloth-covered boards, else a Very good copy. Very scarce.

Inventory Number: 49026