Clark Hockensmith was born February 21, 1843; in 1860 he was living in Jackson County, Missouri. When the Civil War began he became a Confederate guerrilla, first fighting with Charles Harrison; in April 1863 Harrison and a party of officers were ordered to Colorado to recruit Confederate sympathizers. On the way, Harrison and his band were attacked by pro-Union Osage Indians; Hockensmith was one of two survivors.

Joining William Clarke Quantrill, Hockensmith was present for the raid on Lawrence, Kansas, on August 21, 1863, and was with William Anderson for the Centralia Massacre on September 27, 1864. At the close of the war, he went to Kentucky with Quantrill, where he was killed on May 10, 1865, trying to rescue Quantrill during a fight with Union forces at James H. Wakefield’s farm.

Tintype by Unknown Photographer.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 30208