Historians estimate that one in four cowboys was african american, though. Apr 21, 2014 bass reeves was born in 1838 in crawford county, arkansas, a child of slaves. One plotline depicts reevess youth as a slave, including his service as a body servant to a confederate cavalry officer during the civil war. Among all the lawmen of the frontier, one man stands out as a true hero. The legend of bass reeves by gary paulsen scholastic. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Cowboy stories and movies about the wild west are full of amazing characters. Bass reeves july 1838 january 12, 1910 was an american law enforcement officer. By 1875, reeves and his family were living back in western arkansas, and it was there that he was approached to apply for a position as a deputy u. Another plotline depicts him years later, after emancipation, at the height of his deputy. A drama based on the life of bass reeves, the first africanamerican united states deputy marshal. The 2010 coretta scott king author award winner title of a book, article or.
Honoring deputy us marshal bass reeves catalyst partners. In 1860, reeves took the distraction of the civil war as an opportunity to escape and live among the indians. Bass reeves was big, tall, and strong, wore a bushy mustache, and rode a powerful horse. He was a dogged tracker with a reputation for getting his man. Nkokheli also has a hope for how reeves is treated in the hbo series. Bass reeves was born in 1838 in crawford county, arkansas, a child of slaves. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
Marshal who served under the hangin judge, isaac c. But of all the sheriffs of the frontier, one man stands out as a true hero. Reeves had his own tonto of sorts an indian man and tracker he often rode with, when he was out capturing bad guys close to 3000 in all, during his years as a marshal, 14 of them he killed. Marshal bass reeves to be dedicated may 26 in pendergraft park honors one of the western frontiers greatest lawmen, and fort smiths historic ties to the u. Yet many of the lawmen we think of as heroes were anything but some were violent scoundrels and outlaws themselves. Bass reeves, the first black commissioned united states deputy marshal west of the mississippi river, was born to slave parents in july 1838 in arkansas. Born to slave parents in 1838 in crawford county, arkansas, bass reeves would become the first black u. Bass reeves was big, tall, and strong, wore a bushy mustache, and rode a powerful. Maybe the law aint perfect, but its the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin bass reeves. Born a slave in 1838, reeves had spent the civil war as a runaway in indian territory, and spoke five tribal languages. The legend of bass reeves ebook by gary paulsen rakuten kobo. His remarkable life should be an inspiration for any reader. Bass reeves was born into slavery in 1838 in crawford county, arkansas.
You will follow him from as he meets famous people of the time. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the man who shot bass reeves. Hollywood is joining fort smith in honoring one of the men who hunted outlaws in the wild west. He escaped to indian territory after severely beating his young master in a dispute over cards and lived among the five civilized tribes, especially the creeks, as a fugitive until 1863. Apr 20, 2017 reeves had his own tonto of sorts an indian man and tracker he often rode with, when he was out capturing bad guys close to 3000 in all, during his years as a marshal, 14 of them he killed. Fort smith, arkansas, is quite proud of its history. The life and legend of frontier marshall bass reeves. Born a slave in arkansas, reeves grew up in grayson county, texas, following the relocation of his owner, william s. Bass reeves worked a total of thirtytwo years as a deputy u. A 25foot work of art honors the illustrious lawman, believed to be the first black u. That reeves was also an african american who had spent his early life as a slave in arkansas and texas makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable.
Morgan freemans bass reeves project finally gets a lift. Gritty, fictionalized biography of forgotten western hero. Us marshals museum searches for bass reeves relatives ap news. Feb 22, 2012 hollywood is joining fort smith in honoring one of the men who hunted outlaws in the wild west. Nov 7, 2018 bass reeves july 1838 12 january 1910 was one of the first african americans possibly the first to receive a commission as a deputy u. This volume of the trilogy will put the reader in the deadly indian territory and connect bass with pistol pete, belle star and the famous judge issac parker. David gyasi, left, as bass reeves and ron perlman in hell on the border 2019. Deputy marshal maybe the law aint perfect, but its the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin bass reeves born to slave parents in 1838 in crawford county, arkansas, bass reeves would become the first black u. They will be impressed, and astonished by his fearlessness, dedication to honor, commitment to the law and his impact on history. Actor morgan freeman is one of the producers that will adapt the art t. Marshal james fagan to hire 200 deputy marshals to help police the 4,500 square mile lawless territory.
He escaped to indian territory after severely beating his young master in a dispute over cards and lived among the five civilized tribes, especially the creeks. Many heroic lawmen of the wild west, familiar to us through television and film, were actually violent scoundrels and outlaws themselves. The legend of bass reeves audiobook, by gary paulsen. See the full list of bass reeves cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. The magnificent, bronze statue of the great africanamerican deputy u. He usually either brought his outlaw in or left him dead. Us marshall bass reeves sculpture by harold holden the. Reeves was born into a paris, texas, slave family circa 1838, and was the first africanamerican to be commissioned a u.
Bass reeves, american lawman who was one of the first deputy u. A sculpture by celebrated western artist harold holden that pays tribute to the life and legacy of the feared african american us marshall, bass reeves. The continuing story of bass reeves, the first black us marshal west of the mississippi. House, santiago villalobos, craig rainey, wesley blake. Bass reeves escaped numerous assassination attempts on his life, he was the most feared deputy u. Sep 03, 2017 bass reeves is on his most dangerous mission yet, facing one of the most notorious outlaws in the indian territory. You want the definition of a touch old west lawman. The sculpture is bronzetone and made to look identical to the monument in fort smith, arkansas by harold holden entitled into the territory. The legend of bass reeves audiobook listen instantly.
Reeves, bass the handbook of texas online texas state. Art burtons evidence to support his conclusion that reeves was the reallife lawman is pretty compelling. But burton also draws the connection between reeves and the lone ranger with the fact that many of the outlaws reeves captured were sent to a federal. Bass reeves lawman is the second of a trilogy based on the true life of bass reeves, the first black us marshal west of the mississippi. Owned by farmer and politician george reeves, bass worked as water boy and later as his owners personal servant. Jan 27, 2010 former slave bass reeves, the first black u. Bass reeves and his family were slaves of arkansas state legislator william steele reeves. George reeves in the battles of pea ridge 1862, chickamauga 1863, and missionary ridge.
A black man becomes a united states deputy marshal in. Reeves was a deputy under leo bennett in the last years of the federal regime in oklahoma, and also served in the old days of judge parker at fort smith. Bass reeves july 1838 12 january 1910 was one of the first african americans possibly the first to receive a commission as a deputy u. This project takes us to the classic old west to play out the life of frontier marshal bass reeves. Reeves, born into slavery, served for 32 years under federal judge isaac c. Bass reeves, a deputy united states marshal in old indian territory for over thirty years, is very ill at his home in the fourth ward and is not expected to live. Marshall, staunchly defended territorial law in the american west through many remarkable deeds.
The 2010 coretta scott king author award winner title of a book, article or other published item this will display to the public. A history of frontier justice in the indian territory, 18341896 author. The marshals service is the oldest american federal law enforcement agency. During his long career, he was credited with arresting more than 3,000 felons. He worked mostly in arkansas and the oklahoma territory. Bass reeves, born 1838, crawford county, arkansas, u.
Reeves is reported to have apprehended more then 3,000 outlaws during his 35 years serving as a deputy united states marshal. Marshals museum in fort smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed deputy u. Bass reeves monument former slave, respected lawman a 25foot work of art honors the illustrious lawman, believed to be the first black u. He grew up in grayson, texas after his owner, william s. Bass reeves, he argues, was almost certainly the reallife inspiration for the lone ranger. United states marshals service usms er en efterforskningstjeneste og forbundspoliti inden for u. Reeves according to research is the only deputy on record who started working for parkers court in 1875 and worked up to statehood in 1907. Bass reeves 2010 a black man becomes a united states deputy marshal in the 1875 west. Yet another miniseries adapted from a biography is in the planning stages at hbo. By the time clayton moore took on the persona of the lone ranger for the 1950s abc series, the black mask covered only his eyes next slide. He was tall at 62, expert shooter with either hand. Marshal bass reeves ever pulled on a criminal copy link facebook twitter reddit flipboard pocket bass reeves, wearing his iconic push broom mustache. Marshals and their deputies have served as the instruments of civil authority by all three branches of the u. Lawman the bass reeves western adventures book 1 kindle edition by fred staff, c.
It is one of the oldest american federal law enforcement agencies and was created by the judiciary act of 1789 during the presidency of george washington as the office of the united states marshal. Montgomery lauren hanzelka university of northern iowa bad news for outlaws. Bass reeves lawman ebook by fred staff 9781626753112. Marshal bass reeves appears as one of eight notable oklahomans, the most feared u. Bass reeves was a paris, texasborn slave who become one of the toughest men of the frontier in history. During the civil war, bass claimed to have fought under the leadership of william reeves son, col. The sculpture is bronzetone and made to look identical to the monument in fort smith, arkansas by. He faced some of the most murderous outlaws known to. Another plotline depicts him years later, after emancipation, at the height of his deputy career, when he has. A western adventure from the author of bass reeves.
The united states marshals service usms is a federal law enforcement agency within the u. Born into slavery, bass reeves became the most successful us marshal of the wild west. In the early days of the character, the mask covered the lone rangers entire face, which may have been a homage to bass reeves above, if indeed the character was based on the frontier deputy marshal. Deputy marshal west of the mississippi river and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history owned by a man named william reeves, a farmer and politician. This literaryhistorical novel details the life of africanamerican deputy us marshal bass reeves between the years 18381862 and 18831884. Nkokheli, dressed as reeves, used the time to update freeman on the plans to build a reeves statue and on how the bass reeves legacy initiative works with area schools and other groups to raise awareness about the marshal. Texasborn bass reeves roamed the american west for more than three decades, chasing murderers, thieves and whiskey smugglers. See more ideas about african, black history and black cowboys. Aug 06, 20 bass reeves, he argues, was almost certainly the reallife inspiration for the lone ranger. Marshal bass reeves, a true legend of the american west.
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