The facts are this: In June of 1863, William Moseley was out working in his field in Wright County, Missouri, despite the blistering sun. Whether his wife heard the gunshot or if she merely went looking for him when he failed to come in for dinner has been lost to history, but William Moseley was found dead among his own crops. Who killed him? We have stories naming three different suspects.
The first story is that he was shot in cold-blood by Union soldiers who knew his older boys had joined the Confederate army. The second theory bandied about was that there were bushwhackers roving the woods. They shot him down for his horse or whatever goods they could rustle up. The third story was that local tough James McClanahan robbed and murdered William. Fact is, nothing was ever proven, no one was ever tried for his death. All we know for sure is that when it came to murderers, there was no lack of suspects in Southwestern Missouri.
In many ways, the war started for the people of Missouri and Kansas long before the firing on Fort Sumter. From 1854 on, bands of armed men crossed the border both ways to intimidate their opponents, whether pro- or anti-slavery. Some of these vigilantes might have had lofty political goals, but to the farm families in the Ozark Mountains they were deadly nuisances.
In the beginning, the anti-slavery Kansans who formed groups to protect against or 
perpetrate violence (still depending on which side of the border the story comes from) were called jayhawkers or red-legs. Those from Missouri who took up arms whether to attack or defend were called bushwhackers. Back and forth, these loosely organized gangs roved, meting out vigilante justice, revenge or merely looking for selfish gain. With the onset of the Civil War, Kansas sided with the Union. Former jayhawkers were given a uniform and put under the leadership of men who hadn’t forgotten the ongoing feud with their neighboring state. The State of Missouri remained neutral—loyal to the Union, but requesting that its men be allowed to remain within its borders to protect the state’s interest. That request was denied.
On August 31, 1861, martial law was declared in the state of Missouri. Now any activity against their old foes the jayhawkers was viewed as guerilla warfare. No prisoners of war, no trials. “Summary execution, forced deportations, and seizures of private property…all with no legal process other than the consent of a Federal officer.”1
This, in a state that was loyal to the Union.
And the more the government tried to intervene, the more resentment grew. Unable to stem the guerilla warfare in the rugged Ozark Mountains, the federal government resorted to more draconian measures. Their desperation peaked in 1863, the year of William Moseley’s murder, with General Order No. 11 which forced a complete evacuation of four Missouri counties. It’s estimated that over 20,000 people were displaced leaving with only what they could haul out at a moment’s notice. Although the Order was intended to weaken the bushwhackers and pro-South guerillas, it had the opposite effect, causing many slavery opponents from the newly named “Burnt District” to turn on the government that set their homes and farms aflame, even if they were able to prove loyalty to the Union.
How widespread was the carnage caused by the warring factions? Although Missouri never entered the Civil War, there were more casualties from Missouri than from Virginia…or any other Confederate state for that matter.
So the jayhawkers became Union soldiers while the bushwhackers joined the Confederate troops as they found opportunity, giving themselves the protection of a soldier’s rights if captured. But some men, bloodthirsty and undisciplined, preferred to continue under their own flag, without the restraining hand of a commanding officer. Thus, the term bushwhacker began to be used generically for anyone who hid in the bushes to “whack” an unsuspecting citizen, while the title Jayhawk was cleaned up and applied to anyone from Kansas.
But who killed William Moseley? Was it a renegade Federal soldier, a former jayhawker? Was it a bushwhacker involved in guerilla warfare, who didn’t care what side poor Mr. Moseley was on? Or was it a nasty neighbor, looking to settle an old score or make some profit? We’ll never know. All I know is that I’m glad William’s two year old daughter survived the brutal war, or she never would’ve become my great-great grandmother.
To celebrate the season of great gifts, we’ll give an autographed copy of my latest A Most Inconvenient Marriage to one lucky commenter.
A Most Inconvenient Marriage
Abigail Stuart married Jeremiah Calhoun on his deathbed…or so she thought.
With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he’s gone–a practical solution for both of them.
After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain–until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail’s story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she’s never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn’t trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?
BIO:
Regina Jennings is homeschooling mother of four from Oklahoma. She enjoys watching musicals with her kids, traveling with her husband and reading by herself. When not plotting historical fiction, she plots how she could move Highclere Castle, stone by stone, into her pasture and how she could afford the staff to manage it.
Regina is the author of five historical romances. Her latest release is A Most Inconvenient Marriage. She loves to hear from readers at her website – www.reginajennings.com and on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
- Gallman, J. Matthew, David Rubel, and Russell Shorto.The Civil War Chronicle: The Only Day-by-day Portrait of America’s Tragic Conflict as Told by Soldiers, Journalists, Politicians, Farmers, Nurses, Slaves, and Other Eyewitnesses. New York: Crown, 2000. Print.
What a scary period of history! I love the personal touch you threw in at the end 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!!!
The Civil War was definitely anything but civil.
Interesting, I never knew why U Kansas athletic teams were nicknamed the Jayhawks.
What a sad personal tie-in to that turbulent time period. It’s too bad they never found out who murdered your great-great- great grandfather.
I liked the synopsis to your story, A MOST INCONVENIENT MARRIAGE. I’m intrigued why someone would claim to be Jeremiah on his deathbed or if it was Jeremiah that actually recovered from his injuries. I love marriage of convenience stories. I’m looking forward to finding out how Abigail and Jeremiah deal with this unusual situation and subsequent marriage.
happy holidays
johns lake at usa dot com
Thanks for the interesting post
Heidi and Laurie,
Thanks for commenting. Just as a fun extra, in 2011 the town of Osceola, Missouri, passed a resolution that the University of Kansas should change the name of their mascot because of the violence Osceola and other Missouri towns suffered at the hands of the Jayhawkers. Obviously there are still hard feelings. 🙂
You are welcome, Janine!
This was so interesting to me, Historical fiction and that time period must have been so hard. War is always awful & this one was so up close.
I would love to read this book of an Inconvenient marriage 🙂
Hi Regina! Welcome to the Junction. We’re excited to have you come visit us and hope you’ll feel at home. Those of us whose ancestors came from Kansas and Missouri can certainly relate to your subject. I didn’t realize until I began tracing my roots how many records were burned during that time you speak of. Men did horrible things all in the name of right and justice. I hope we never see any more of that in this country.
I love the premise of your book! Having a man show up that was thought dead is a wonderful twist and one that hooks me every time. I’ve got to read this story.
Wishing you much success. Thanks for coming!
Deanna and Linda,
Research was a challenge. Trying to figure out which unit a soldier from this area would have been in, which battles he would’ve fought, was much more difficult than I realized. Since the state was neutral, it was pretty much every man for himself.
And while the times were dark, the book isn’t that bleak. My editors made sure of that. 🙂
What a dark time in our history! Don’t you just love knowing your families history!
I don’t know that I have read any of your books but I will be soon!!
This was a bad time in our history. Your book sounds like one I would read. I will look for it.
This is one book I’ve been dying to get my hands on!
Thanks for sharing your post with us… oh boy does your book sounds really good!!!
Thanks for posting!
Thanks for the history lesson! I love History! Your new book sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks, Connie! I do enjoy family history and I’m fortunate that others have gathered it for me. Here’s more about my Great-great Grandma Laura, who had quite a story as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl2zGtIgIeI&list=UUOTCh77FT1ZAyg-Mrj97HWw
Good luck to you ladies on winning the book!
How interesting to know that much about your family that far back. I have an uncle that delves into family history and the only thing interesting is one of the relatives got hung for being a horse thief lol.
Catslady, if we go far enough back we’ll all find those stories, I’m sure. 🙂
Great post and I loved the way you ended it. I don’t know that much about my family history because I have never checked into it It would be interesting though. I have not read your work before but looking forward to read your books.
Very interesting. I enjoy history much more now than when I was in school. Thanks for your giveaway. I enjoy all your books.
very interesting post, thanks for coming today,,I love reading about that time period
What fascinating family history! Thank you so much for sharing, Regina!
Thanks for this post about our Kansas history. It’s really interesting to find out more about our ancestors so I’m glad you have this family story.
Thank you for sharing this great post!
You are welcome! Thank you for allowing me to visit!
Good article. I’m sure your Great Great Grandma L.M.A.M.L.J.M.A. would have enjoyed all of your stories but especially your Missouri tales. I just finished A Most Inconvenient Marriage. Once I got started I had to set aside my “to do list” and read to the end. Good book!
That is an amazing story about your great-great grandmother. I love that time period (reading and writing, I don’t think I would have wanted to live through it).
And your book sounds awesome!
Such an amazing part of your family history. Very sad, but fascinating too.
What an interesting piece of history (and family history, too)! I wish I know this kind of stuff about my family. I’ve tried to trace it, but haven’t found out a whole lot.
Have you seen the movie RIDE WITH THE DEVIL with Tobey Maguire? It takes place during this time and in this setting, and is a great movie.
Best of luck with A MOST INCONVENIENT MARRIAGE. It sounds like a great book!
~Carol
This was an interesting post. I love stories about family history. This looks like a great book and I love the cover.
Carol, I haven’t seen Ride with the Devil. That sounds like one I need to see.
You all have no way of knowing this but Bonnie up there is my first-double cousin once removed. (I think that’s right!) The acronym is for our Great-Great Grandma Laura Malissa Alica Mahala Louisa Jane Moseley Austin, William’s daughter. That was her real name. For the explanation on why she was named that you can visit here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl2zGtIgIeI&feature=em-subs_digest
It’s a fun story.