Much of my sources for the murdered southerners in SW MO came from the family accounts of the deceased who either recognized one of the riders who rode into their yard or who was recognized by neighbors when they passed by. The men somebody recognized probably served as the guides for a particular murder raid. I seem to recall that from one of those sources that name was mentioned. If you need more specifics, please remind me which murdered man this involved, as that I how I can retrieve the information with references.

I have noticed that the death squad's progress bore fruit later in the war for the northern side, as during 1864 and 1865 other regions of Missouri remained active in guerrilla war, but southwest Missouri was strangely quiet. A factor to this was that rural SW MO was also much depopulated as many residents moved away or moved to the large towns to keep from destruction by one side or the other. SW MO was still a popular "avenue of approach" for guerrilla bands and Confederate recruiting commands coming into or leaving Missouri, but they had to move smarter and quicker without as many southern sympathizers to help subsist them along the way.

Bruce Nichols