Bloody Bill Anderson in repose

[Skeeter Lewis]

Another picture taken on that memorable occasion.

Some clearer definition of the shirt pattern. The pattern is on both the cloak and the shirt so it looks as though they were a single garment, as RCJ suggested.
It's clear from this and other pictures of guerrillas that they dressed the part - fancy shirts, plumes in their hats and, of necessity, two, three or more revolvers. They must have made quite a sight.....

[St. George]

Gents,

This thread is concerned with clothing, and not with the personalities or politics surrounding the era.

Keep it on track.

Scouts Out!

[MJN77]

How can you make such a blanket, unprovable statement like that? You weren't there.

My grandmother who lived during those times, said the majority of the people, who were supporting either the Union side, or the confederate side, in the Civil War, didn't support either side involved in the Kansas/Missouri conflict.

I think her recollections are a pretty fair statement of fact...
Bill

I was referring to the guerillas on both sides. Don't know why you are getting a burr in your britches over something that happened 140 years ago. Relax a little bit, no one is trying to argue with you.

[Skeeter Lewis]

I know, I know....it's a well-known image. But Jesse and Bloody Bill set the fashion bar pretty high. Skeeter

[James Hunt]

I am having a hard time seeing a cloak on Bloody Bill's shirt, rather I see a wide collar, the seams on both shoulders for the arms seem apparent to me.

[Skeeter Lewis]

James, you're the expert. The bagginess of an overshirt may have created the effect of a half-cloak around his right elbow. I agree there is (in the second image) what could be a shoulder seam.

[James Hunt]

The only thing expert about me is my timely appearance at a table, however I just don't see a cape there. I am having trouble recalling an image of an overshirt with a cape. Plenty of capes during the period but they were worn on great coats or over civilian evening wear as far as I recall and not attached to a shirt. True clothing guru's of the period such as Dr. Bob, RCJ, Brass should weigh in as to whether they existed. That is a dandy shirt he is wearing. Makes me want to make one, collect all my cap and balls, saddle my pony - and then go raise some devil in the neighborhood.

[MJN77]

Union reports said, Bill was wearing a white hat with black feathers, close fitting dunn colored frock coat, blue vest, and an embroidered black shirt.

[Dr. Bob]

Expert - someone at least 50 miles from home! 

I would agree with James that he is pictured wearing a very fancy overshirt!  Damn, I would also like to have one! 

There were plenty of atrocities by both sides - Bleeding Kansas - which actually included the western 1/4 of Missouri.  The areas that supported secession were located in the Missouri & Mississippi valleys where the crops of hemp, cotton and tobacco were grown.  The rest of the state supported the Union.  [A generalization.]  My G. G. [?] Grandfather was a stone mason, immigrant from Wales who lived in St. Louis.  He hired a man to go in his place and worked on building St. Louis during the ACW.

[Stillwater]

I was referring to the guerillas on both sides. Don't know why you are getting a burr in your britches over something that happened 140 years ago. Relax a little bit, no one is trying to argue with you.

May I refer you to St. Georges post, the post immediately above yours...!

Bill

[Fox Creek Kid]

Since few if any ''guerilla'' shirts survive and the few photos are B&W and not exactly Nat. Geo. quality there is a LOT of room for speculation as to what was/is a guerilla overshirt. Personally, I have never seen an original ''guerilla'' shirt. Does one survive?