VIENNA — The Civil War is often remembered in broad strokes. Union soldiers as the good guys, Confederates as the villains and a nation divided over ideals and territory. But for most families in Maries County, the story was rarely that simple. History came to life during a program hosted by the Historical Society of Maries County, where special guest speaker Don Wilson shared local memories that revealed a more complicated picture of violence, loss and blurred moral lines.

The local author and historian, along with most of his 14 brothers and sisters, have lived on fertile land in Maries County and Rolla for generations. Wilson tells a story of what happened over 150 years ago. When the war reached Missouri, it didn’t just come with battles on distant fields. According to Wilson, Union soldiers entered the county under the guise of maintaining order.

Instead, he says they took what they wanted, destroyed what they could not use and left families like his own struggling to survive. Land that had belonged to his family for decades was seized. Belongings were stolen and homes were burned. While the Union army is sometimes portrayed as the “good side,” for Wilson’s family, the soldiers’ actions were a form of war-time terror. Thus creating Bushwhackers, people who fought back for their freedom.

Stories like these were not isolated incidents. Missouri, a border state located along the divide between free and slave regions, became a chaotic mix of armies, militias and Bushwhacker gangs. Loyalties were often uncertain. Families were divided, neighbors turned on each other and the line between hero and villain was nearly impossible to define.

The term “Bushwhacker” itself carries the memory of these violent irregulars, guerrilla fighters who operated outside the formal rules of war. Yet, as Wilson remembers his grandfather’s words, some Union soldiers behaved indistinguishably from who they represented.

The war’s moral ambiguity is part of what makes Wilson’s account so powerful. In history books, Union soldierare celebrated for preserving the nation and ending slavery, something Wilson does agree with fully (ending slavery). But history also has to reckon with the local consequences of national decisions.

In Maries County, ordinary families bore the brunt of occupation, theft and intimidation. Good intentions at the top did not always translate to good actions on the ground. The Wilson family’s experience demonstrates how the same group of people can be both liberators and oppressors, depending on whose story is being told.

Personal narratives like Wilson’s also give life to the broader history of the Civil War. It’s a reminder that wars are not just fought on battlefields; they are fought in homes, on farms and in communities. Children watched as soldiers passed through their towns, stealing livestock and destroying orchards. Parents were forced to choose between resistance and survival. Every loss of property, every act of intimidation, became a mark of the chaos that the war imposed on ordinary people.

Even decades later, the echoes of those events are visible in the county. Descendants of families like Wilson’s carry the stories forward, keeping alive the memory of those who suffered outside of the victories. Oral histories, letters and local records preserve these accounts, ensuring that the complexity of the war, the moral grey areas and the unpredictable loyalties, are not forgotten.

For some, Wilson’s reflections challenge the simplistic narratives of heroes and villains. They show that even those considered heroes can act in ways that are devastating to ordinary people. They highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of history.

A notable piece of Maries County history brought up is the story of William “Bill” Wilson, Don Wilson’s great grandfather, whose experiences during the Civil War inspired the Hollywood film The Outlaw Josey Wales. 

In the film, Wales, a Missouri farmer, sought revenge after Union forces, known as “Redlegs,” attacked his family. They burned his house, killed his wife and son and left him for dead. Surviving the assault, Wales then joined guerrilla fighters and became a feared outlaw. The story was dramatized in the 1976 film, starring Clint Eastwood as Josey Wales.

Don Wilson said that, aside from the murder of great grandfather’s wife and son, without which he would not be born, and other aspects that involved Hollywood dramatization, the burning of his house and the attacks on his family depicted in the movie were one hundred percent accurate.

The film’s portrayal of the burning of Wales’ home is a dramatic representation of the real-life devastation experienced by many families in the region during the Civil War.

In addition to the guest speaker, The Maries County Historical Society celebrated volunteers, ongoing projects and local history. Members and visitors were treated to updates from key volunteers.

The evening opened with recognition for the dedication and efforts of society members. Lisa Jones, the society’s president, opened by giving acknowledgments. Glenda Baxter was thanked for her research and newsletter work and Sarah Stratman, secretary and “Facebook wizard,” was praised for her technical support. Denise Tyler, the Belle, Missouri representative, was acknowledged for her connections and ongoing support and Sharon Wulff, a longtime member since the 1980s, was described as the society’s “Master of Research”.

John Veasman was also recognized for his extensive local knowledge and contributions of artifacts. Volunteers John Allen and Kendall Stratman Williams were honored for their dedication to maintaining displays and helping with everyday museum operations.

Project updates were given including structural repairs that continue at the Old Jail Museum Complex, alongside ground improvements that include fence restoration by Carl Henderson. The society has also acquired and organized historic newspapers, including a full collection donated by Nicole Snodgrass and has begun digitizing old rural school records.

Preservation efforts extend to hand-drawn maps from the late 1800s and yearbooks from local schools are also in the works.

The society announced plans for the historical society’s building expansion, led by Lori Hayes. The project will add 15 feet to the building, install concrete floors, upgrade lighting and include garage doors for artifact access, making the facility fully accessible. The expansion will create space for agricultural and transportation displays. An in-depth article will be featured in next week’s edition of the Advocate.

Several attendees and members suggested creating a local archive or exhibit to highlight these lesser-known accounts, ensuring the full scope of Maries County’s Civil War history is remembered.

In other business, The historical society hosted its final tour of the year at the Old Jail Museum on Oct. 15 for about 50 elementary school students. The museum closed for the winter at the tour’s conclusion.

“The chamber pot was a huge success,” Jones said. “It was a huge hit, and I shared with them that it was the kids’ job back then each morning to clean the chamber pot. They were interested and well-behaved.”

In addition, the Historical Society of Maries County has been collaborating with PBS to develop a short video about Maries County, which is now complete and links to view it are available online.

Eventually, all 114 Missouri counties will have a similar short story aimed at providing information for the general public, students and anyone with an interest in local history, according to Jones.

The meeting concluded with reminders for the next session, encouraging members to bring any family records, artifacts or personal stories related to the Civil War or Maries County history.

Society leaders, including Jones, stressed the importance and value of capturing diverse perspectives by preserving the county’s rich and sometimes complicated past.