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Archiver > MO-CW > 2004-11 > 1100557886


From: Charley Hart <>
Subject: Re: [MO-CW] Jesse James and Prostitution
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 14:31:29 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <20041115211806.75579.qmail@web50204.mail.yahoo.com>


Arleigh:

Where are you getting your information that Edwards never met Quantrill, I don't remember Edwards saying he never met Quantrill? General Shelby who was Major Edward's boss during the War knew Quantrill, in fact Edwards credits Frank James among others are credited with saving Shelby and Edwards from being captured. Moreover Quantrill fought at Lexington and his heroic deeds came to the attention of General Price, and Shelby was friends with the James boys after the conflict. And over the years Quantrill's men sometimes rode in support of Shelby, Price and other "regular" Confederate units.

If you read Mr. Petersen's book you would have found this information plus so much more. Of course of you have already made up you mind like your responses tend to indicate, then I doubt that anything you read will ever change your mind. So perhaps Quantrill and Edwards never met, but it seem highly unlikely.

Once again you keep beating a dead horse, saying that anyone who followed Quantrill was "tricked" into think he was a Southerner. Apparently you are unable to grasp the fact that not everyone who fought for the South was a Southerner. What about the free black men former slaves which also fought for along side Quantrill, where they also tricked into thinking Quantrill was from the South? Do you really think that the James and Younger's and the rest didn't KNOW that Quantrill was born a Yankee? Good Ole Abe offered one of his brother-in law's who was a Southerner a commission in the US Army, do you think Mary Todd duped her husband into thinking that he was REALLY NOT A SOUTHERNER? No they didn't care where people were born, they only cared in what they believed and if they'd fight for it.

Finally I find it outrageous that the only point anyone focuses on concerning Quantrills' story, is the fact that he didn't have a brother. Ignoring the possibility that he may have been referring to a friend as a brother. But even if this story was a lie, few deny that this man life' affected by the Jayhawkers by no fault of his own. Unlike the wonderful abolitionist like John Brown and the rest of the the Jayhawkers, who took it upon themselves to right what they perceived was wrong with the world. You do a great side of telling one side of the story while you totally ignore the other point of view.

Yes "Company Aytch" is a great book, and it gives a unique perspective of the "common infantry soldier." However its perspective is of little direct correlation to the life of a Missouri Partisan ranger. Arleigh once again I think the readers of this message board by now all know how WE BOTH FEEL. If you stop expressing the same opinion over and over again so will I. Finally I have cut and pasted below a little story which is about looking at things from only one point of view. I feel has a lot of relevance to this conversation.

Patrick


Marine Corps General Reinwald was interviewed on the radio the other

day and you have to read his reply to the lady who Interviewed him

concerning guns and children. Regardless of how you feel about gun laws

you gotta love this!!!! This is one of the best comeback lines of all

time. It is a portion of National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a

female broadcaster and US Marine Corps General Reinwald who was about to

sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military installation.




FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to

teach these young boys when they visit your base?



GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing, canoing,

archery, and shooting.



FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?



GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the

rifle range.



FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous

activity to be teaching children?



GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle

discipline before they even touch a firearm.



FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become violent

killers.



GENERAL REINWALD: Well, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not

one, are you?





The radio went silent ..... and the interview ended.



You gotta love the Marines!!!








Arleigh Birchler <> wrote:
Rose,

Yes, that's the basic line of the story. He is said to have put on a dress, claimed "her" parents were too strict, and wanted to have "some fun" with the soldiers, and that he could bring several other young women from nearby who felt the same. The Madame hired "her" on the spot.

It is my understanding that Edwards never met Quantrill, and got all of his material from talking to troopers who rode with him. He writes in the very flowery, romantic, "we're right and they are wrong", style that was common at that time. I have not read Connelly, and have probably read as many books on the subject as I want.

I have never done original research on the subject. It interests me because one branch of my family lived in Cass County, Missouri, and another in Eudora, just outside of Lawrence. I tend to take Leslie's book, "The Devil Knows how to Ride" pretty much at face value. If Leslie is right, then Edwards was duped into believing that Quantrill was a Southerner, and that he ever had a brother. I suspect that the guerrillas Edwards spoke with believed the story, so that is how Edwards heard it. They all probably embellished their own parts a bit, too.

I suspect that Quantrill is a subject on which I would side with Jefferson Davis and the Secretary of War. I ALWAYS draw a large distinction between private soldiers and their "leaders." The kid down the road wrote a book called "Company Aytch; a side show to the big show." I highly recommend it to anyone who has a little extra time to read.

Arleigh

rose wrote:

If I remember right, Jesse James was sent as a spy to the house of
prostitution. Because he was young, he was "girlish" looking so could
mingle among the Union soldiers and find out what they were planning, etc.
Edwards served under Shelby as an adjutant and advanced to the rank of major
in the Confederate Army, sooooooooo he would know first hand about much of
what he wrote. Although, I will admit, he was biased in favor of Quantrill
and his men (including the James brothers) were concerned. William E.
Connelly was biased against Quantrill (and his men) but one has to read both
to kind of "get the picture."
Rose Mary Lankford





Arleigh Birchler, MDiv, BSN
Bram's Addition Life&Choice
1718 Fisher St #2
Madison WI 53713
608-251-4437

Company Dee
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CompanyDee/

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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MusickPorter/

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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MusickResearch/


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