I was adding this info to my book and remembered to find out more about "red legs." Thought those of you who are interested might enjoy the following excerpts. Both have a bit of a different take on things:

From the US Genweb Kansas library archives; transcribed from volume II of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed July 2002 by Carolyn Ward. (there's more, good info there):

"Red Legs.—During the early part of the Civil war western Missouri was infested with bands of guerrillas, and it was no uncommon occurrence for some of these lawless gangs to cross the border and commit depredations in Kansas. To guard against these incursions, and otherwise to aid the Union cause, a company of border scouts was formed sometime in the year 1862. As it was an independent organization, never regularly mustered into the United States service, no official record of it has been preserved. The men composing the company became known as "Red Legs," from the fact that they wore leggings of red or tan-colored leather. Wilder, in his Annals of Kansas (p. 956), says it was a secret Union military society, that it was organized in June, 1862, and numbered 163 men, with George H. Hoyt as commander. John M. Dean, who was a member of the company, says it was organized in Oct., 1862. Connelley, in his Quantrill and the Border Wars, says it was organized by Gens. Ewing and Blunt for desperate service along the border, and George W. Martin, secretary of the Kansas Historical Society, in Volume XI of the Kansas Historical Collections (p. 279), says the Red Legs were organized in Dec., 1862, or Jan., 1863, and that there were never less than 50 nor more than 100 of them."

And, from Missouri and the Civil War"When President Lincoln sent in the Federal Occupational troops, these men took full advantage of their position and soon began traumatizing much of Western and West Central Missouri by committing unspeakable crimes. Innocent families became their victims, including women, children and the elderly. These troops became known as the Red Legs and were under the command of General Blunt and Kansas Senator Jim Lane. They were joined by Jayhawkers, who were Kansan free-state guerilla fighters opposed to Missouri during the Border War."

My dad added the story that said Quantrell was held prisoner and made to watch while his sister and mother were raped to death, which then caused him to be so revengeful, but who knows if there is any truth to that. On the second website listed above, there is a link to Quantrill's(sic) bio which states "He would not accept any man into his band unless they were seeking revenge for themselves or for their families for injuries that had been inflicted on them by the Union Army or the jayhawkers. This was in contrast to William's own personal history and therefore he made up a story to gain the confidence of his men." The story follows and is about his "brother" dying from injuries inflicted by Jayhawkers. Quantrell had no brother.

Thanks,

kat