Neil, check out my July 17 response about why the furloughed soldiers on the train were not armed. They were required to turn in their arms and "accoutrements" before departing. So they did not have any military issued arms on them when the murderer Anderson stopped the train. My great-grand uncle, one of those taken from the train had been a farmer with wife and 3 kids in Buchanan County, MO. I doubt he could have afforded a personal sidearm. If he had a firearm, it would have remained at home for his wife to use against varmits. And those soldiers travelling home were following regulations at the time. Bushwhackers and guerrillas didn't have to.