Bass Reeves – The Real Lone Ranger
By
John C Abercrombie
Most fans of Western movies featuring cowboys have been deluded with myth, but how deep are these myths? For starters, it is estimated that 20 to 25% of all cowboys were Black. The work was hard, the hours long and the conditions tough. Despite this, no Blacks are shown in most films of the time. Blacks are not mentioned in books either fiction or history.
There is little mention of one of the most respected men of the time. A man named Bass Reeves.
Born a slave in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838, the first name comes from his grandfather, Bass Washington, but the last name comes from that of his owner Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves.
Around 1846, William Reeves moved to Grayson County, Texas and it is reported that Bass Reeves served William Reeves son, George R Reeves. George Reeves was a sheriff, legislator and one-time speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. It was during the Civil War that William made Bass accompany his son, George, to fight for the Confederacy.
During that war, the American Civil War, Bass beat up George to get out of slavery. He fled north into what is frequently referred to as “Indian” Territory.
For purposes of this post, we will use this misnomer because of familiarity only. The term Indian refers to a mistake on the part of Columbus who thought he was in the country of India when the term was first applied. Many mistaken attributes associated with the term will be covered in future posts.
Even under the best circumstances, slavery is a cruel institution. During the American Civil War, Bass beat up George Reeves to get out of slavery, fleeing north into what was called “Indian” territory he lived with several Native American tribes including the Cherokee, Seminole and Creek. Also, in the area were the Chickasaw, Choctaw.
These Native Americans constituted what is commonly referred to as as the 5 civilized tribes. This is because they were the first recognized for centralized governments, literacy, market participation and written constitutions. This implies that other tribes were not civilized which is entirely wrong.
While in the territory he learned the culture, language and customs of these amazing people. There was mutual respect. Bass Reeves remained in the area until 1865 when the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and he returned to Arkansas where he took up farming.
Bass Reeves farmed near Van Buren, Arkansas, farming for 10 years. While there he married Nellie Jennie. They had 11 children.
In 1875, Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the “Indian” territory. Parker then appointed James F Fagan, United States Marshall, directing him to hire 200 deputy marshals. Having heard about Bass and his knowledge of and ability to speak the language of the people there, recruited him.
Bass Reeves stood 6’2”, weighed 180 pounds and was strong as a horse. Of the 200 men who started as United States Marshals, Bass Reeves is the only one who worked from start to the point of Oklahoma statehood, a period of 32 years.
Bass Reeves became the first Black deputy marshal to serve West of the Mississippi River. He was assigned to the Western District of Arkansas which had responsibility for the “Indian” Territory.
This area was governed by a system of tribal courts with jurisdiction extending only to members of the tribes discussed in this article. Anyone who was not part of these tribes, and this included everybody from escaped slaves to criminals, could only be pursued on the federal level and this responsibility fell on the deputy marshals. This is the reason for the lawlessness in the territory was a jurisdictional problem.
Bass Reeves was in a very unique position because United States Marshals had the authority to arrest Whites, Blacks or Native Americans who broke federal laws. This was a unique reality for Blacks given the Jim Crow laws on the books after Reconstruction ended in 1877.
At one time, Reeves was given a warrant for Belle Starr and this was the one time she turned herself in at the Fort Smith Federal Court. Bass Reeves was a legend in his own time and was considered one of the greatest lawmen of the Western frontier.
Due to practices and laws, slaves were no allowed to be taught to read or write. The lack of this ability is one of opportunity and not a sign of limited intelligence. Unable to read the warrants, Bass had someone read them to him, he memorized the information and never brought in the wrong person.
Bass Reeves brought in some of the most dangerous criminals of the time. He worked for 32 years as a federal peace officer and became one o Judge Parker’s most valued deputies. It is reported that other deputies would sort through the list of wanted persons, selecting the easiest ones. Bass on the other hand would take what was on the top of the stack, giving him the most dangerous.
Bass was never wounded in the line of duty although he had some real close calls. On one occasion, he had his hat shot off and on another his belt.
Reeves was an excellent marksman with rifle and pistol but had many other skills which he used with great success. He was very familiar with the landscape, the language and customs of the inhabitants, having lived with the people in the area. He was also had superior detective skills and in practice theatrical and make up abilities, which he used effectively.
During his career he arrested over 3,000 felons. During this time, he shot 14 in defense of his life. He was a no-nonsense person and dedicated to the job he had sworn to perform.
At one time, there was an arrest warrant for his son Bennie Reeves. Bennie had been charged with the murder of his wife. Many other deputies refused the warrant, but despite the obvious pain, he demanded the responsibility of bringing his own son to justice.
Bennie Reeves was tracked, captured and convicted, serving time in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. When released he lived the rest of his life as a responsible and model citizen.
Bass Reeves himself was once charged with murder of a posse cook. At trial he was acquitted.
Reeves retired when Oklahoma gained statehood in 1907 at the age of 68. He then became an officer of the Muskogee Police department for 2 years before retiring due to ill health. During his time in Muskogee, he had a beat in Downtown and it is said that there was not a single crime reported on his beat. Legend is that he had a sidekick who carried a satchel of pistons accompany him on the beat.
His health continued to decline until his death from Bright’s disease, a kidney disease in 1910.
Bass Reeves was the great uncle of Paul L Brady, the first Black appointed as a federal administrative law judge. Being appointed in 1972.
The program “The Lone Ranger” starts with the Lone Ranger being one of 6 marshals attacked. The story tells that 5 were killed and the 6th was alive but was nursed back to health by his Native American friend. 6 burial sites were prepared, and his identity was therefore unknown, according to the legend.
Other than this, the stories parallel the life, time and exploits of Bass Reeves! We see this in the classic western with the star wearing a black mask and riding a white horse, which Reeves is known to ride, named Silver. Together with his faithful companion “Tonto”.
It was a requirement that lawmen have a Native American guide.
However, Reeves had friends in the area who qualified although he knew the territory from having lived there.
Music from the William Tell Overture by Rossini was the theme song on television which signaled to us loyal fans that the Lone Ranger was coming with another episode. We just didn’t know who the role model for our hero was. Now we do!
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Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves (Race and Ethnicity in the American West)
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves appears as one of “eight notable Oklahomans,” the “most feared U.S. marshal in the Indian country.” 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
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We see once again that even positive people, places and events are overlooked in American History. Bass Reeves should be better known as well as Stagecoach Mary. That is the reason for Amazing Black History . Com. We should be on your list of regular places, bookmark us and be enlightened!
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