A Spirit of Spite: New Truths About Old Truths About Jesse James

 November 28, 2023

   If you want to know the truth, it all started with the mother.

Daily Whip Out: "The Widow James"

   She was a Tall Drink of Water and she had a thing for preachers. And, with the fruit of their loins, like many preacher's kids, they went in another direction.

Daily Whip Out: "Frank James Revised"

   I had to take another swing at Jesse's older brother. I didn't intend this, but, to me, he looks like Jeff Daniels gone South.

Jeff Daniels in "Terms of Endearment"

   Meanwhile, here is where we are with Frank's younger brother.

Daily Whip Out: "Bloody Jesse"

   And together those Missouri farm boys raised some major hell.

Daily Whip Out: "Bushwhackers From Hell"

And, they were all just kids, really.

Daily Whip Out:

"Bushwhackers In Training"

They called their leader "The Old Man."

Daily Whip Out: "Bloody Bill"

      William Anderson was all of 23-years-old.

A Spirit of Spite

   "The cycle of violence could be endless. It was expressed in arson, looting, and shooting expeditions, associated with a spirit of spite meant to break the will of civilian enemies and their troops."

—Michael Fellman, "Inside War: The Guerrilla Conflict in Missouri During The Civil War"