Ostensibly a Jayhawker fighting for the Union, Cleveland indiscriminately plundered the Kansas-Missouri border until he was killed by members of the 6th Kansas Cavalry Regiment in 1862.
[2][3] In November of 1861, only a few weeks after officially joining Jennison's regiment, Cleveland resigned his formal commission, in part because he was rebuked by Daniel Read Anthony for wearing improper attire during a dress parade.
[4] After leaving the 7th Cavalry, Cleveland began to ostensibly operate as an independent Jayhawker under the aegis of the Union; in actuality, he "brazenly worked both sides of the [Kansas-Missouri] border, robbing and murdering Unionist and rebel alike".
[5] Cleveland and his gang were based out of a saloon in Atchison, Kansas, as the city had less of a military presence than either Ft. Leavenworth and St. Joseph.
[7] Eventually, Major General David Hunter sent members of the 6th Kansas Cavalry Regiment to arrest Cleveland.