Frank and Jesse James, Colonel William Quantrill

The Edwardsville Journal newspaper has been running an interesting series of articles by author Bill Nunes, entitled "Illinois in the Civil War". The articles have proven rather interesting.

Many do not know that there was much Southern sentiment in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio during the War of Northern Aggression.

In my friend Terry Warren's home of Lawrence County, Illinois there was much "Copperhead" activity , and a Pro-South newspaper.

"Illinois in the Civil War Part II" contains the following little known facts:

"The Democrats had been a powerful force in Illinois politics ever since the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828. An obstructionist faction within their ranks continued to cause trouble. Democrats in Springfield prepared a list of 15 grievances against Lincoln and Yates. They hindered the Illinois' war effort by blocking important legislation. Governor Yates grew so disgusted with the legislature that in the spring he prorogued (dissolved) the Assembly and orders it not to meet until January 1865.

In June, 40,000 dissatisfied citizens, led by Democratic members of the legislature, held a convention and passed a resolution calling for a national convention to "restore the Union." One of the members of this anti-war rally was William Quantrill"

The article also notes another little known fact:

"Frank and Jesse James were sympathetic to the South and rode with Quantrill. When the war was over and the brothers became robbers and outlaws, they frequently stayed at the home of Ignatius Burch on Kaskaskia Island when the heat was on. According to a son named Charlie Burch, the James brothers rode in after dark and had a secret knock on the door as a signal to make their presence known."

Clint, Missouri Bushwhacker

P.S.

Yet another interesting tidbit in this article is the fact that it reveals just how much of a White Supremacist Abraham Lincoln was, and  his real idea of "emancipation". Noting that:

"During the war, Lincoln met with Negro leaders (the first president to do so) and suggested that they establish a colony in Central America (Panama)."

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