A story of John McCorcle about the Civil War Essay

leader got killed and his followers, McCorkle among them, surrendered and were paroled by Union authorities. Early in this century, having returned to farming, McCorkle told his remarkable Civil War experiences to a lawyer by the name of O.S. Barton, who wrote this book. Throughout this book, many of the experiences that McCorkle shared with Quantrill take the readers breathe away and really grab hold of their attention. Most every minute detail gets put into play when McCorkle goes through every situation he got to spend with the wild guerilla leader. Not even the fact that he, along with many other raiders, mowed down many Unionist troops and destroyed numerous homes of people who defied the Confederacy. In the later parts of the memoir, McCorkle ends up admitting that in some ways he does indeed feel a little bit of guilt when he thinks back on his raiding days and how much destruction they caused. He explains that this feeling does not come from his own personal action, but actually from what he did not do when he saw the real Quantrill come out towards the end of the war. McCorkle says that his only regret comes from not stopping or questioning Quantrill in some instances in which his rage and hatred took over. Although the guilt remains, he also states that no matter what he would never trade the magnificent experiences and lasting memories of riding with the most decorated Civil War guerilla leader of all time.

These deeds, both demonized and celebrated depending on which person you are talking to, are unbelievably interesting and important when studying Civil War time in America. Throughout the classic biography, William Clarke Quantrill His Life and Times, Albert Castel portrays the story of Quantrill and makes it come alive through facts Castel dug deep for. Along with talking about each event Quantrill fought in, he also provides the reader with both sides of the topic, vilifying his actions on one side and romanticizing them on the other. In providing these two opposite sides of every situation Quantrill got involved in, Castel gives the reader to remain open minded towards every situation Quantrill took action in. Castel realizes that people may automatically feel a certain way about Quantrills actions or tactics just from reading biased works about his horrific massacres in

Kansas and Missouri. Providing a scholarly work that gives the reader both sides of the story and shows both criticism and praise towards each one of the situations that are presented in this book causes the reader to think critically and for themselves. In doing this, Castel creates a very unique outlook through both sides of each riveting story so that a very unique man could get the fair judgment he deserves from each reader who dares to dissect this fantastic Civil War icon.

Quantrills raids throughout the state of Missouri are extremely important and will remain to never get forgotten by historians like Joseph K. Houts. In his work Quantrill's