George M. Todd
Encyclopedia
George M. Todd was a Confederate
guerrilla
leader during the American Civil War
who served under the infamous William C. Quantrill. A participant in numerous raids, including the Lawrence Massacre in 1863, he was ultimately killed at the Second Battle of Independence
in 1864.
Todd had worked as a bridge mason before the war, and served with the Missouri State Guard
before joining Quantrill in 1862. He rose to become one of Quantrill's principal lieutenants, and participated in various raids of his own as well as with Quantrill. During the First Battle of Independence
on August 11, 1862, Todd served under Quantrill in a two-pronged attack on the city led by Col.
John T. Hughes
. During the fighting, Todd liberated several prisoners in the city jail, one of whom was the city marshal, James Knowles, who had been imprisoned for the killing of a rowdy citizen. Knowles and a Union
captain named Thomas (whom Todd had captured at this same time) were summarily executed by Todd and his men, who wanted revenge for previous attacks made by those two on their command.
On August 21, 1863, Todd participated in Quantrill's famous raid on Lawrence.
Todd and his men participated in the Centralia Massacre
, on September 27, 1864. Following the initial massacre of unarmed soldiers on a train, the guerrillas overran a relief force of inexperienced mounted infantry carrying single shot rifles, killing nearly all of them as well.
Todd was killed during the first day's fighting at the Second Battle of Independence
, on October 21, 1864, by a Union sharpshooter at a distance of 400 yards. Todd was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence, where his grave is a local historical attraction.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare in the American Civil War
Guerrilla warfare in the American Civil War followed the same general patterns of irregular warfare conducted in 19th century Europe. Structurally, they can be divided into three different types of operations—the so-called 'People's War', 'partisan warfare', and 'raiding warfare'...
leader during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
who served under the infamous William C. Quantrill. A participant in numerous raids, including the Lawrence Massacre in 1863, he was ultimately killed at the Second Battle of Independence
Second Battle of Independence
The Second Battle of Independence was a minor engagement of the American Civil War October 21–22, 1864 centered in Independence, Missouri, with some of the fiercest fighting taking place at the present-day United Nations Peace Plaza; the "Harry Truman" Railroad Depot; George Caleb Bingham's...
in 1864.
Todd had worked as a bridge mason before the war, and served with the Missouri State Guard
Missouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
before joining Quantrill in 1862. He rose to become one of Quantrill's principal lieutenants, and participated in various raids of his own as well as with Quantrill. During the First Battle of Independence
First Battle of Independence
-External links:** *...
on August 11, 1862, Todd served under Quantrill in a two-pronged attack on the city led by Col.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
John T. Hughes
John T. Hughes
John T. Hughes was a colonel in the Missouri State Guard and Confederate Army during the American Civil War...
. During the fighting, Todd liberated several prisoners in the city jail, one of whom was the city marshal, James Knowles, who had been imprisoned for the killing of a rowdy citizen. Knowles and a Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
captain named Thomas (whom Todd had captured at this same time) were summarily executed by Todd and his men, who wanted revenge for previous attacks made by those two on their command.
On August 21, 1863, Todd participated in Quantrill's famous raid on Lawrence.
Todd and his men participated in the Centralia Massacre
Centralia Massacre (Missouri)
The Centralia Massacre was an incident during the American Civil War in which twenty-four unarmed Union soldiers were captured and executed at Centralia, Missouri on September 27, 1864 by the pro-Confederate guerrilla leader William T. Anderson...
, on September 27, 1864. Following the initial massacre of unarmed soldiers on a train, the guerrillas overran a relief force of inexperienced mounted infantry carrying single shot rifles, killing nearly all of them as well.
Todd was killed during the first day's fighting at the Second Battle of Independence
Second Battle of Independence
The Second Battle of Independence was a minor engagement of the American Civil War October 21–22, 1864 centered in Independence, Missouri, with some of the fiercest fighting taking place at the present-day United Nations Peace Plaza; the "Harry Truman" Railroad Depot; George Caleb Bingham's...
, on October 21, 1864, by a Union sharpshooter at a distance of 400 yards. Todd was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence, where his grave is a local historical attraction.