Frank James begin his wartime activities early during the war as it spreaded through out the States. His guerrilla activities during the war was known to all in Missouri. Frank served at the battle of Wilson creek, along side of others who begin their war activities.
One important turning point which happened during the war and forever changed Frank was the torture of his family members back home at the farm in Kearney, Missouri. Absence from home, his activities and reputation was known unto all. Frank continued his guerrilla activities while Jesse and other family members were confronted by union troops.
Frank's activities and his whereabouts remain unknown, as the union forces angerly sought his whereabouts. Desperately they sought Frank James at the farm home of his mother. The union troops arrived at the home of Zerelda James Samuel to find the Family members who worked the farm. Frank James became a wanted man, as the troops who sought him came up empty on their search. Angry at their failure, the troops sought to torture Frank's family members. Union troops had beaten Frank's younger brother Jesse, a young lad in his early teens, and left the farm leaving Frank James's stepfather, Dr. Samuel hanging from a near by tree. The occurance which happened at the farm home of his mother, Zerelda James Samuel, would only fuel the fire in Frank James as news would reach him. Frank's reputation as a guerrilla and wartime rebel had brought harm unto his family. An occurance fueling the fire within Frank James after the wars end. Frank would return just a few short years to plan the first bank robbery at Liberty, Missouri.
Frank James went on to fight in many battles after the troops had tortured his family members, but Missouri had not heard the last of Frank James. Fighting accross the Missouri line, he fought at Lawrence Kansas, rode into Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. Frank covered much territory during the war. Aquiring many wartime skills, Frank became a master at his gunmanship. Carring two guns during the war, his appearance was mild as sat in the saddle with his shoulder length hair. Frank James had met a woman during the war.
The woman who would give birth unto two of his children. The war had kept him from home, as he and the woman continued their affection unto one another. Crossing the Mississippi river in late December of 1864, Frank entered into northern Kentucky by January of 1865. His son would be born nine months later after the war had ended.
His son born October 1st, 1865 and was all but a small part of the mystery that would surround Frank James. For all would fall short of the knowledge with the outlaw Frank James, as the only evidence of his son would be published by the Kansas City Times on April 11, 1882 after the death of Jesse James. |
