ependence was the scene of a bloody warfare. One day
early in February Capt. Quantrell and David Pool, Bill Gregg and George
Shepherd, George Todd and myself, charged in pairs down three of the
streets to the court house, other members of the company coming through
other streets. We had eleven hurt, but we got away with ammunition and
other supplies that were badly needed. Seven militiamen died that day.

Another charge, at daybreak of Feb. 21, resulted badly. Instead of the
one company we expected to find, there were four. Although we killed
seventeen, we lost one, young George, who fell so close to the guns of the
foe that we had considerable difficulty in getting him away for burial.
Then we disbanded for a time. Capt. Quantrell believed that it was harder
to trail one man than a company, and every little while the company would
break up, to rally again at a moment's notice.

4. THE TRAP THAT FAILED

In March Quantrell planned to attack Independence. We met at David
George's and went from there toward Independence as far as Little Blue
church, where Allen Parmer, who afterward married Susie James, the sister
of Frank and Jesse, told the captain that instead of there being 300
Jayhawkers in Independence, there were 600. The odds were too strong, and
we swung around to the southwest.

Thirteen soldiers who guarded the bridge at the Big Blue found their
number unlucky. The bridge was burned and we dined that day at the home
of Alex. Majors, of Russell, Majors & Waddell, the freighters, and rested
for the night at Maj. Tale's house, near New Santa Fe, where there was
fighting for sure before morning.

A militia command, 300 strong, came out to capture us, but they did not
risk an attack until nearly midnight.

Capt. Quantrell, John Jarrette, and I were sleeping together when the
alarm was given, the sentry's challenge, "Who are you?" followed by a
pistol shot.

We were up on the instant.

So stealthy had been their approach that they had cut the sentry off from
us before alarming him, and he fled into the timber in a shower of lead.

There was a heavy knock on the outer door, and a deep voice shouted: "Make
a light."

Quantrell, listening within, fired through the panel. The visitor fell.

While we barricaded the windows with bedding, the captain polled his men.
"Boys," he said, "we're in a tight place. We can't stay here and I do not
mean to surrender. All who want to follow me out can sa