In the wild and chaotic days of the Old West, not many lawmen are as well-known as Bass Reeves. He was one of the rare African American lawmen back then, starting his career as a U.S. Marshal in 1875 under the notorious Hanging Judge Parker. Even with the racial challenges of the time, few could match Reeves’ impressive track record, skills, or determination.
Where Was Bass Reeves Born and Taken To?
Born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, Reeves moved to Texas with his owner’s family when he was a kid. He spent his early years working in the fields until he was old enough to look after his owner’s son. When the Civil War kicked off, Reeves ended up traveling and possibly fighting alongside Colonel George Reeves, his owner. But that didn’t last long; in 1861, Reeves fought back against the Colonel and escaped into Indian Territory, where the law couldn’t touch him.
How Did Living in Indian Territory Benefit Reeves Later?
During his time as a fugitive in what’s now Oklahoma, Reeves really made the most of it. This huge area was home to the Five Nations tribes of Native Americans who had been relocated there by the U.S. government years earlier. When he became a deputy a decade later, Reeves, who was naturally good with languages, picked up Choctaw, Seminole, Cherokee, Cree, and Chickasaw. His language skills and connections helped him track down outlaws hiding out in Oklahoma. He eventually left the region after hearing about the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and moved to Arkansas.
When Did Bass Reeves Start His Career as a U.S. Marshal?
In 1875, the American West was pretty wild and lawless. New towns were popping up everywhere, and they really needed some solid law enforcement. The U.S. government made some laws, but actually enforcing them was a whole different story. To tackle the chaos, they brought on two hundred U.S. Marshals, including Bass Reeves.
Reeves was a perfect fit for the job. He spoke the local languages fluently and was skilled with both pistols and rifles. Plus, he learned tracking and stalking from Native Americans, which came in handy. His marksmanship and tracking skills would later be a huge asset to Judge Parker and his fellow officers. Not many had a career as impressive as Reeves. As a Marshal, he was responsible for covering a massive area—over 70,000 square miles across Arkansas and Oklahoma in 1875!
Why Is Bass Reeves Considered Such a Great Lawman?
There were a bunch of things that made an Old West lawman like Reeves pretty dangerous. For starters, he was an ace shot. Having served in the Civil War, he really knew his way around guns. In those days, guns were essential for both outlaws and hunting, so Reeves practiced a lot to become that top-notch shooter. He could draw his revolvers quickly and shoot accurately with either hand. Plus, he had two Colt revolvers and a Winchester rifle that all used the same ammo, which made reloading a breeze.
But it wasn’t just his impressive gun skills that made him stand out; it was also his integrity. Back then, it wasn’t uncommon for outlaws to switch sides and become lawmen, but Reeves never played that game. He stayed honest throughout his career, even going as far as arresting his own son for murder at one point.
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What Dangerous Fugitives Did Bass Reeves Arrest or Kill?
Bass’s career spanned from 1875 until he hung up his boots in 1907. He was just as dangerous as the outlaws he chased, managing to arrest over 3,000 of them and taking down fourteen men for good. He had some intense run-ins with infamous outlaws like Tom Story. Their cat-and-mouse game went on for five years, from 1884 to 1889, with Bass hot on Story’s trail. Story was known for stealing horses and managed to dodge the law until Reeves came after him. Bass eventually tracked Story to his hideout in Oklahoma. When they finally faced off, both pulled their guns, and Reeves ended up shooting Story dead.
In another risky situation, Reeves went after Jim Webb in 1884. Webb had a nasty temper and had already killed an African American preacher. Since Reeves couldn’t read, he memorized Webb’s arrest warrant. He managed to find and catch Webb, but the outlaw slipped away. Their next encounter turned into a shootout, with Bass hitting Webb from 500 yards away using his Winchester. Webb’s bullets barely missed Reeves, grazing his saddle horn, coat button, and hat. Before long, Reeves had built such a fearsome reputation that Belle Starr, another notorious outlaw, gave herself up when she heard that the U.S. Marshal had her warrant.
Why Was Bass Reeves Arrested?
In 1884, Reeves got arrested for accidentally shooting his posse’s cook. He owned up to it but insisted it was an accident. Since he had a solid reputation for being honest, the charges were dropped. His long career as a lawman came to an end when Oklahoma became a state in 1907. By that time, Reeves’ health was starting to decline. Sadly, just two years later, one of the greatest lawmen of the Old West passed away from kidney disease.
