Missourian, George Caleb Bingham, was a successful artist, politician and pro Union man. But Bingham was also terribly shaken and horrified at General Thomas Ewing's issuance of General Order Number 11.

Even as a staunch Unionist, Bingham was appalled by the consequences of Order Number 11 and wrote to General Thomas Ewing saying: "If you execute this order, I shall make you infamous with pen and brush."

Bingham was in the epicenter of Kansas City, Missouri at the time of the issuance and execution of Order 11 and personally witnessed the carnage - where he accordingly describing the events:

"It is well-known that men were shot down in the very act of obeying the order, and their wagons and effects seized by their murderers. Large trains of wagons, extending over the prairies for miles in length, and moving Kansasward, were freighted with every description of household furniture and wearing apparel belonging to the exiled inhabitants. Dense columns of smoke arising in every direction marked the conflagrations of dwellings, many of the evidences of which are yet to be seen in the remains of seared and blackened chimneys, standing as melancholy monuments of a ruthless military despotism which spared neither age, sex, character, nor condition. There was neither aid nor protection afforded to the banished inhabitants by the heartless authority which expelled them from their rightful possessions. They crowded by hundreds upon the banks of the Missouri River, and were indebted to the charity of benevolent steamboat conductors for transportation to places of safety where friendly aid could be extended to them without danger to those who ventured to contribute it."

Thereupon after witnessing the attrocity and previously appealing to Ewing; Bingham set out on his masterpiece of historical importance. With the simple words of "It will be adequate", Bingham brushed the famous painting "Order Number 11."

For the ages and future generations to see, George Caleb Bingham painted a masterpiece of Ewing's evil and cruel war crime. Legendary guerrilla Frank James commented upon seeing the painting, "This is a picture that speaks."

The historical painting, which is centered around General Ewing, complete with his "red legs", is a scene that no human should have ever endured. The painting depicts the horror, tragedy, suffering, death & destruction of innocent Missourians who General Ewing demonically terrorized.

This painting is one of the most stirring and haunting works ever laid to canvas. It shows the extreme means in which the innocent men, women and children of Missouri were treated by such scoundrels as General Ewing.

Noted author and historian Albert Castel would later write:

"Order Number 11 was the most drastic and repressive military measures directed against civilians by by the Union Army during the Civil War. In fact, it stands as the harshest treatment ever imposed on United States citizens under the plea of military necessity in our Nations History."