Currently, most general histories of the Civil War on the Kansas-Missouri Border state that the "Jayhawkers" were normally from Kansas and the "Bushwhackers" were from Missouri. However, recent research indicates that there were "Civilian Jayhawkers" living in Missouri who were not loyal to the United States and were attacked, captured and killed by Union soldiers! These "Civilian Jayhawkers" were outlaws who robbed, plundered and murdered both Union and Confederate civilians. Kansas was not without sin, because there were civilian outlaws from Kansas called "Redlegs" that preyed on both civilians and soldiers in both states. These civilian "Redlegs" should not be confused with the Kansas soldiers from the 7th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment whose nickname was the "Redlegs".

Shortly after the beginning of the Civil War the Union Army issued orders that authorized the capture and arrest of any civilian or soldier who was suspected of or was apprehended stealing from or murdering civilians. The perpetrators of these crimes were often called "Jayhawkers" (noun) and their crimes were identified as "Jayhawking" (action verb). Granted, most of the jayhawkers were from Kansas, but it did not matter whether these "Outlaws" lived in Kansas or Missouri. Also, not all jayhawkers were outlaws, many were very good soldiers. Determining who was what is one of the reasons that the study of the Civil War in Kansas and Missouri is both fascinating & confusing! The following "After Action Report" describes a night mission into Missouri where Missouri jayhawkers were captured and killed by a detachment on Union soldiers from the 2nd Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. It is an excellent example of the horrific brutality of the Civil War in Eastern Kansas and the entire state of Missouri. This report is also very similar to and could have been the basis of one of the opening scenes in the recent Civil War movie entitled "Ride with the Devil".

March 22, 1862, Skirmish at Little Santa Fe, Mo.

Major: I have the honor that I left camp about 6:30 p.m. of the 22d instant, reached Little Santa Fe [formerly located in extreme Southwestern Jackson County, Mo., very close to the Ks. / Mo. border] about 10 o'clock that night and sent Major Pomeroy about 3 miles from the town, with instructions to arrest one David Tate, whom I had reason to believe was connected with Quantrill. Major Pomeroy had with him a detachment of Companies D and E under the command of Captain Moore and Lieutenant Stover. When Major Pomeroy reached the house he demanded entrance, and a gun was immediately fired through the door. He then called upon them to surrender, and to send out their women and children if they had any in the house. After waiting some time, while shots were fired from the house, he ordered a volley fired into the house.

The cries of women and children were then heard, when he ordered the men to cease firing. The women and children then came out and firing was resumed on both sides. Two of the men then came out of one of the windows and surrendered. They stated to Major Pomeroy that Quantrill was in the house with 26 men. Major Pomeroy then threatened to fire [burn] the house, and upon their continued refusal to surrender he ordered the house to be fired [burned], and an attempt was made to fire it without success. Major Pomeroy and Private Wills of Company D, were at this time shot. Major Pomeroy becoming disabled, Captain Moore took command, and sent back to me [at Little Santa Fe] requesting re-enforcements, so as not to let any of the men escape. Captain Moore having threatened, in case of the enemy not surrendering, to set fire to the house and they refusing to do so, he ordered the house to be set on fire, and this time the flames rapidly enveloped the house.

The men in the house who were not wounded then burst out the weatherboarding at the back of the house and ran for the timber immediately in the rear. TWO WERE SHOT DOWN AS THEY RAN, 1 KILLED INSTANTLY AND 1 MORTALLY WOUNDED, who died about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The others escaped and though the woods were carefully scoured, no traces of them were found. While firing was taking place several men were seen to fall in the house and the prisoners stated when they were first taken that there were 4 or 5 wounded. Five bodies could be distinctly seen in the flames.

Our loss was as follows: Major Pomeroy, severely wounded with a Mine ball in the right thigh near the femoral artery: Private William Wills of Company D, since died with a Minie ball in the right arm near the shoulder, and also with buck-shot in the groin and abdomen. We also lost 2 horses in the fight.

The Jayhawkers loss was five killed or wounded and BURNED UP IN THE HOUSE, 2 killed outside, and 6 prisoners. We took 25 horses, some of which have already been identified as belonging to parties in this State [Kansas], from whom they were stolen, and about 20 sets of horse equipments. The 2 men killed outside of the house were named Rollen (brothers). The names of those killed and burned up in the house I am unable to ascertain.

I send to the fort the following named prisoners [list not found].

I desire to express my gratitude to Major Pomeroy, who after he was wounded still cheered on his men; to Captain Moore, Lieutenant Stover and the men of their immediate command, for their gallantry and good behavior.

I have the honor to be, Major, your very obedient servant, Robert B. Mitchell, Colonel. Second Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.