Riverside City History
Civil War

The American Civil War was difficult for this part of Missouri and Riverside experienced violence. The region, in fact, may have suffered from added attention from pro-Confederate "bushwhackers" because of the presence of so many German-American families. ("Bushwhacker" was the name generally given to forces hiding in the woods or "bush" and conducting guerrilla warfare.) Across Missouri, many German-Americans had sided strongly with the Union, making life difficult for German descendants in locations where guerrilla warfare was active.

On at least three occasions during the war, Riverside experienced raids by bushwhackers. The Kansas Redlegs and Jayhawkers were pro-Union forces sometimes utilizing bushwhacker tactics while William Quantrell was an effective and well-known Pro-Southern commander. Residents were often caught in the middle, no matter which side they actually supported.

Neighbors attempted to warn each other of pending attacks. Once confronted by a force, which often wore no identifying uniform, potential victims might talk their way out of attacks by offering food or other temporary help. However, the German-American residents often found that their only defense was to barricade their fences and doors, then hide their valuables in a safe place.

In Riverside, the families of brothers John and Peter Brenner as well as the Renner family all experienced raids. These men were members of the pro-Union Enrolled Missouri Militia, which may explain why they were targeted for visits by the pro-Confederate bushwhackers. The Brenners at that time were living in a log cabin where Plantation and Line Creek Apartments are located today. They spoke very little English. Peter and his son John were in the front room of their log cabin when suddenly they heard gunshots outside. Peter quickly hid his good Kentucky musket in the closet and put John Peter's old rifle under the bed. He knew that the bushwhackers would expect at least one weapon in the house and hoped they would find the older rifle and be satisfied. A good rifle like the Kentucky was expensive and hard to come by. Meanwhile, the men at the door were yelling, demanding to be admitted and given guns. Peter let them in and pointed under the bed where they found the old rifle. They seemed satisfied and left, taking food on their way.

Peter's brother John lived not far away in another log cabin. His warning of an attack came with the barking of the family dogs. John looked out and saw men tearing down his fence. He drew his revolver to fire but was stopped by his wife, Elizabeth. The men threatened to kill John if he didn't open the door. When he opened it, the men shoved gun barrels in his face and crowded him back into the corner, demanding money. All he had was a silver quarter. The men ransacked the house then left with his revolver and a rifle. The bushwhackers then rode south to the Renner home, now the site of the Windemere rest home at Vivion and West Platte Roads.

One of the Renner brothers was upstairs when he saw a bushwhacker come into the house. The man headed for the stairs, but before the man reached the top step Renner fatally shot him. The other bushwhackers panicked and fled, leaving the weapons they had taken from John Brenner's home. The next morning Elizabeth went to the Renner home and saw her husband's rifle lying outside. She went in and found several women weeping over a man's body. Around the man was her husband's holster and revolver. Shaken with fright, Elizabeth explained to the women that the guns had been taken from her and her husband. She retrieved them and ran for home. On the way, she hid both the revolver and rifle in a fence corner where they remained for months.

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