Word of the massacre quickly spread. A unit of the Thirty-ninth Missouri Infantry was in the vicinity, searching for the guerrilla bands an were dispatched to Centralia. The troops, under Major A. V. E. Johnston, were largely new recruits, riding farm horses and armed with Enfield muskets, a heavy muzzle-loading gun.
Air photo showing approximate size of Centralia, Mo. at time of Civil War and location of Massacre and Battle location.
Upon arriving in Centralia the frightened citizens told the Union troops at the band of Bloody Bill Anderson numbered less an 10 men and had moved to the southeast from Centralia. Ignoring warnings from some Centralians that there were more bushwackers bivouacked south of town, the Federal Infantry followed the guerrilla trail, expecting to find a relatively small force as had been described to them. About three miles southeast of Centralia, they became entangled in a guerrilla ambush.
Air photo showing disposition of various guerrilla forces around Centralia Battlefield. Initially Anderson's group lead Johnston's group into the field and then they turned and engaged Johnston along with all the other guerilla bands hidden in the trees.
The inexperienced Federal troops, with their single shot riles followed the traditional warfare practice of advancing on foot, leaving their horses tended by a few soldiers. They marched into a three-sided formation of several hundred hidden guerrillas, each armed with several Colt revolvers, and within minutes, the Union troops were nearly annihilated. The few soldiers that were not killed on the first guerrilla vollies, ran back to their horses, but the guerrillas with their faster horses, overtook the fleeing troops and within the hour, over 120 soldiers were killed. Some nearly reached the sanctuary of Sturgeon some ten miles from the battle- ground, before the guerrillas completed the rout.
Three of the guerrillas were reported killed in the battle. Among the guerrillas in action on that date were Frank James and his younger brother, Jesse. Historical accounts challenge whether Jesse James was a part of the Battle of Centralia, but later year lectures by Frank James, seem to confirm his participation. Some accounts credit Jesse James as the slayer of Major Johnston, commander of the ill-fated Union troops. Cole Younger was also listed as a member of the guerrilla force.
Additional Sources:
centralia.missouri.org/massacre
www.bigcountry.de
www.geocities.com/mosouthron/partisans
www.cityofrichmondmo.org
www.mmcwrt.org
