Served in Quantrill's Partisan Rangers, CSA under Captain Anderson.

Killed in action on September 28th, 1864 near Fayette, Missouri. No burial information is listed. He was likely buried near where he fell.

Turner Farn Fight, Howard County, Missouri, on September 23, 1864

About the beginning of the month of September, Bill Anderson commissioned Captain James Bissett, along with Harvey Brown, Tom Fulton, Sandy Macane, Roberts & John Wilson (six of the company's most trusted men), to collect from non-combatants a 'Contributive Tax' for the support and maintenance of his company. This tax was not mandatory, but altogether voluntary in its levy and payment. Captain Bissett and five comrades had been engaged in the performance of their duties four or five days when, on the morning of September 6th, about nine o'clock, a steady rain began falling. The six guerrillas turned their horses from the public highway and sought shelter in the barn on the farm of the widow Turner.- Feeling secure from attack by the enemy on account of the weather conditions, saddles were removed from their horses, blankets were spread to dry, revolvers were taken from scabbards to be cleaned and oiled. They had been thus engaged for an hour or longer when a Federal scout of 200 men (who had trailed the guerrillas by their horses' tracks in the muddy road for a distance of two miles, rode through the gate at the front of the Turner farm. Coming in front of the residence the officer in command inquired of an old Negro man, 'Seen any Bushwhackers 'round here?' The old negro for answer, simply pointed toward the barn, into which he had observed the six guerrillas enter only a short time before. By this time the men in the barn had discovered the enemy's presence. It is now given as told this writer by Lieutenant Williams several years after the close of the war (Williams being one of the attacking force):

"As we rushed forward to surround the barn, two of the men emerged there with a revolver in each hand firing rapidly. One man, whom we thought at the time to be Bill Anderson, fell dead at the) first volley from our guns, his body being literally riddled by musket balls. The second man was killed some thirty yards from the barn as he attempted to mount over a rail fence. The other four men had sprang into a field of standing corn on the south side of the barn and for a time they were hidden from our view. Three of them were soon discovered running southwest through the standing corn toward a bushy timber. Being afoot they could make much more rapid progress through the corn than their cavalry pursuers, though a fusillade was kept up by us in their direction. The three succeeded in getting a mile from the barn before bring overtaken. They fought desperately before we succeeded in their killing. The fourth man, who had secreted from his comrades, gained the timbered pasture one-half mile to the west, but was shot down, fighting to the last. It seemed a pity to kill such brave men, but it was war."

'The three guerrillas pursued through the corn field were killed on the farm of our esteemed friend, William H. Long. Rough coffins were made by O.R. White, Ira Darby, Sr., and W. H. Long; the bodies of the six brave men placed therein and interred in the Turner family burial ground near the residence.

"Bill Anderson's love for his men was shown by his grief on learning of the killing of Captain Bissett and five comrades. Indeed it was pitiable to behold. Great tears coursed down his cheeks, his breast heaved and his body shook with vehement agitation. For Captain James Bissett, in physique, was an Apollo-an educated gentleman-- with a courtesy that was displayed in both address and manner, a superb horseman, a born soldier, with a valor and boldness devoid of fear. Therefore, his killing brought sorrow to all his comrades as well as to his commander. For days thereafter Anderson was morose, sullen and gloomy. Planning, as proved by subsequent events, a coup de grace, for revenge.' (Babe of the Company, Watts, pp. 15-17)

Thank you, sir.

Information from Freda Cruse Phillips;

Born in 1837 in Ontario Canada, parents were David and Eunice McCrany Bissett he was born near Niagra Falls.

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James Nelson Bissett b: 11 Mar/Apr 1836 Ontario, Canada d: Sep 1864 Missouri (Civil War) --

Parents: David Bissett 1803-1879 and Eunice McCraney 1804-1841