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Trails of Our Past The Bushwhacker One cannot mention the term “western” and not think within
the first few seconds, “Josey Wales.” A classic film with the famed, Mr.
Eastwood, creates for a legacy in the media market that will continue to speak
to people, especially those of the south. However, the tale of Josey Wales
connects more with north Texas, Van Alstyne in particular, than many of us may
know. Some sources state that the story of Josey Wales was written and based upon the life of Bushwhacker William “Bill” Wilson. He was referred to as “The Bushwhacker” or “The Great Bushwhacker.” He was most probably the most notorious of all other men like him. Some say he ran with men like Quantrill, Jesse James, The Younger gang, Dick Kitchen and Anthony Wright and it is said that when he was with them he was in charge, leading all of Quantrill’s men on several occasions, this according to a 1938 biography written about him.
Born around the year 1830, he was a native to Phelps County,
Missouri, an area deep within the Ozarks. Before the war he had been married
and throughout his life, no matter what he was doing, he remained a family man
to his four children and wife. He stood six feet, two inches and weighed 185
pounds with thick locks of black curly hair. Light skinned and light blue eyes,
he normally wore a short beard. He was charismatic and enjoyed playing the
violin at local get-togethers. He remarked that his three best friends were his
two 44’s and his horse. A classic countryman, he had two known horses. The
first was called “Dime” because the horse had a dime shape on its forehead.
When the horse went lame, The Bushwhacker set him free to the hills and he
could be seen from time to time. The other faithful companion was a horse
named, “Bullet” – named so for his incredible speed. He was a well-trained
horse, as all of Wilson’s horses were, and would come to Bill the moment he
whistled. Bill and his three friends roamed the Ozarks throughout the
Civil War making terror for the Union and Red Legs whenever they could.
Originally Bill, like his home state of Missouri, was neutral and chose neither
the Union nor Confederate. After being wrongly accused of horse theft, his
family was thrown from their house while he was away and the structure was set
afire. From this moment on, Bill made it his goal to make hell for the
Government and Union forces. Keeping to the hills he would see his family and
friends when he was able and did what he could to help them, all the while
leaving the bodies of Unionist and spies across the countryside. So good a marksman
was he that it is said he would draw out his double 44’s while amount and
charge toward a tree, firing at it as he went around it. When he was done,
there was a perfect ring around the tree from his target practice. These rings
were found around trees long after his disappearance. 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. There are not many accounts as to what Bill
did over the next year, however if he had rode with Quantrill and his men at
other times, it is likely he came to Sherman where some of these men were known
to have resided. Grayson County was full of Missouri migrants, especially
during this time period. Recently, a story has emerged that Bill Wilson was murdered
near Van Alsyne and buried in a shallow grave somewhere nearby. The McKinney
Examiner reported to the Galveston Flakes Daily Bulletin on February 7, 1869 as
follows: “Horrible murder and robbery of
a Missourian - One of the foulest murders and robberies in the annals of crime
was committed on last Sunday evening in the southern portion of Grayson County,
a few miles north of Mantua in this county, a stranger from North Missouri,
entirely unknown in this section, being the victim, whose name is yet a
mystery.” The Georgetown Watchman reported on April 17, 1869 that “On the
discovery of the body of the murdered Wilson, great excitement prevailed on the
suspicion falling on the two men, Blackmore and Thompson.” Accounts state that Mr. Wilson was driving to McKinney with
a wagon load of apples which he sold. At the drug store of Foote & Herndon
Wilson exchanged gold for currency, a total of $600. It was revealed later, in
some newspaper accounts, that Blackmore and Thompson were preparing to rob the
drug store, however when they witnessed the before mentioned transaction they
decided to take their chances in robbing Wilson. Mr. Wilson headed back north
and stayed the night with Col. Wilmeth. The next day he continued north and was
gunned down by the two men north of Mantua near present day, Van Alstyne. Some
reports state that Wilson had seven bullet holes, supposedly all that entered
him through his back, while other accounts state there were only two gunshot
wounds, one in the head and one in the right side. The Galveston Flakes continued by saying: “The firing, which
occurred between two and three o’clock in the afternoon was heard throughout
the neighborhood, and the body of the murdered man was found off the main road
about a quarter of a mile, just before sundown. His saddle-bags, memoranda book
and all his money had been carried off by the murderers. Citizens to the number
of two or three hundred were summoned to the spot, and everyone was required
under oath to prove his whereabouts on Sunday, at the hour of the shooting was
heard, but this through investigation failed to throw any light on the track of
the murderers. Determined to bring the perpetrators of so foul a murder to
justice, scouts were sent in various directions. Two young men named Wm.
Blackmore, formerly of Carroll County, Missouri, and John Thompson, formerly of
Barry County, Missouri, were arrested and they are now lodged in jail at this place
(McKinney), awaiting an examination on the charge of murdering the traveler.
The murdered man is supposed to have had with him between $2500 and $3500 in
gold and currency.”    Trial of Blackmore & Thompson Felony Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
