Bass Reeves: No Master but Duty
February 14, 2022
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By: Allie Little
After the conclusion of the Civil War, many people found their families torn apart, loved ones dead, and homes ruined by the utter destruction and carnage the battles left in their wake. Wanting to leave the remnants of their former life behind, many folks saw the Western United States as a place to start new. People started to settle in towns near various trading trails and railroads, set up businesses, and tried to appoint their own leaders with a varying degree of success. The states west of the Mississippi River were either brand new or not officially recognized yet, so carrying over the official laws of the land was a hopeless task. While many folks saw this land as an opportunity to develop their own communities, others saw it as an opportunity to collect power. This power would come from fear, respect, strength, or skill and led to many struggles for dominance in these new communities. It was these power struggles that created the classic outlaw versus lawman narrative that helped make the Old West so mythological. There was a clear divide of heroes and villains, and the circulation of their stories would spread throughout the nation, often increasing their notoriety and infamy.
While the formal laws of the land were largely ignored, there was still an attempt to capture and/or kill those wanted for a variety of crimes. Although to formally prosecute various outlaws was through the deputizing of US Marshalls, many famous lawmen of the Old West were more of a vigilante within the justice system. For example, Wyatt Earp, one of the most famous figures of the Old West, wasn’t formally deputized until shortly before the shootout at O.K. Corral. To become deputized one must be appointed by the Attorney General and officially given the freedom to track down those evading the law and back to seek justice for their crimes. One of the most successful and prolific US Marshals was a man by the name of Bass Reeves.
The end of the Civil War led many African Americans to abandon the South in search for a new start. The West created that new beginning for many, including Bass Reeves. Born into slavery under the ownership of Arkansas Senator William Reeves and later Confederate Army Colonel George Reeves, Bass Reeves developed many skills that aided him well in his eventual career as a Marshal. While fighting in the Confederate Army, Reeves became a great marksman and strategist. Following an argument with George over a card game that led to Reeves punching the Colonel in the face, he fled West in fear of retaliation. His journey through the Midwest made him familiar and even friendly with many Native American tribes in the area. He attempted to learn the various traditions and languages for the different communities he came across as he made his way, eventually, back to Arkansas.
While Reeves was settling in as a rancher and family man, an opportunity arose for the Attorney General of the area to appoint someone to the position of a US Marshal. Reeves seemed to have everything to make him a perfect candidate. Not only did he have military training in marksmanship and intelligence gathering, his relationship with the various Native American tribes around the area was crucial to the capturing of outlaws. Due to the law enforcers being hesitant to interact with the tribes around the Midwest, many outlaws would find refuge in the unsearched land. Reeves already had a friendly relationship with many of the Native American leaders, was familiar (if not fluent) in the various tribal languages, and knew the territories better than any other Marshal. With his abundance of qualifications, Bass Reeves became the first Black US Marshal west of the Mississippi.
After being deputized, the name of Bass Reeves struck fear into the hearts of outlaws throughout the West. His 6’ 2” stature and impressive handlebar mustache are just the beginning of his intimidating persona. It was rumored that if someone heard that Reeves was the Marshal on their tail, the fugitive would walk into town and give up the chase. One man was reported to have been haunted by nightmares of Reeves. The nightmares scared the man enough that he gave himself up the very next morning. Throughout his career as a US Marshal, Reeves reportedly captured over 3,000 outlaws without sustaining any serious injuries. While speaking of Reeves, the Daily Admoreite once reported in 1910 that,
“At different times his hat was shot in two, buttons were shot from his coat, and his bridle was shot out of his hands. A bullet never touched his body.”
There’s no denying that Reeves was an excellent marksman, but his high intelligence was also an incredible weapon in capturing his targets. Reeves never learned to read or write in his life, but his memory was something of legend. After having someone read the arrest warrant or court order out loud, Reeves would memorize it and be able to report it to the fugitive after capture or the local law office when he returned. He never held the warrants or papers on his person.
After discovering that a pair of fugitives were hiding out in their mother’s barn, Reeves took it upon himself to create a disguise. He shot three holes in his hat, dirtied his clothes, and wore old shoes before walking the 28 miles to the mother’s house. Upon arriving, he asked the woman for a place to stay and explained that he was a fugitive running from the law. Playing on the woman’s sympathy for someone in the same situation as her sons found themselves in, Reeves was escorted to a spare room in the farmhouse and waited for his targets. The men’s mother would wait for them to show up and then whistle in the distance if the coast was clear for them to come home, so Reeves lay in wait. Upon hearing the whistle from the older woman, he calmly rose from his bed and went down to where the two outlaws were staying. The story claims that when the two men woke up in the morning, both were handcuffed and Reeves was waiting in the corner of the room in order to bring them back to town.
The success Reeves had as a lawman came despite the racial prejudice and discrimination that was prevelent in the United States in the years following the Civil War. Many lawmen had a problem with the idea of a Black man arresting and ordering white outlaws around. One such instance happened while Reeves and other marshals ordered a group of federal prisoners where to move while being transported to another penitentiary. A nearby white law enforcement officer saw Reeves doing his job and proceeded to pull his pistol on the Marshal, threatening his life. The men avoided a shootout due to the other marshals stepping up, but incidents like this were not uncommon for Reeves. Even with the discrimintion dealt his way, Bass Reeves managed to be one of the most honest lawmen on record.
Reeves clearly had a talent for bringing ne’er-do-wells to face justice. On January 2nd, 1908, The Daily Admoreite printed that Bass Reeves “never failed to bring in a man he went after. He would get them either dead or alive.” He was so dedicated to the law, not even his family members would be spared. Bennie Reeves, one of Bass Reeves’s sons, was charged with murder on January 4th, 1903. While it was suggested that he hand the personal case to another marshal, Reeves reportedly said “give me the writ,” later finding and arresting his own son. Bennie Reeves was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, and the professionalism of Bass was praised throughout the Midwest.
Due to his instantly recognizable appearance, seemingly superhuman skills, and impeccable legacy, Bass Reeves has become a favorite in today’s pop culture depiction of the Old West. For many years, it was rumored that The Lone Ranger (1949-1957) TV show was inspired by the life of Bass Reeves. This has been proven false over the years, but the legend of his bravery and hunt for justice would be something he has in common with the masked ranger. In fact, he is often referred to as the Lone Ranger. More recent adaptations of the man include a feature on an episode of the sci-fi TV show Wynonna Earp (2016-2021). In this episode set in the modern town of Purgatory, Reeves seeks to arrest the legendary Doc Holiday for crimes he committed in the 1880’s and discovers he was the inspiration for one of the characters becoming a US Marshal. Yes, this show is wild, and it’s also a personal favorite. This portrayal of Reeves highlighted his dedication to his duty as a lawman and the importance of the law as a form of formal retribution.
Another appearance of our legendary lawman was the 2021 Netflix film The Harder They Fall. This film brings together many legendary Black figures from the Old West and creates a fictional narrative of revenge and violence that is extremely entertaining to watch. Bass Reeves teams up with Nat Love, “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, Bill Pickett, and Jim Beckworth as they seek revenge on Rufus Buck and his gang for the murder of Nat Love’s parents. This film shows an older, more grizzled Reeves and compares him to the young and more optimistic Nat Love. Reeves possessed a level head in all scenarios which makes his mentor role in this film a perfect portrayal of the man.
Bass Reeves retired from the US Marshals after 35 years of service and over 3,000 outlaws brought to justice. He was remembered in his obituary as a “universally respected US Deputy Marshal who was absolutely fearless and had known no master but duty.” His legacy is still as respected in his death as his reputation was in his life, and his name can only increase in respect with his name being known by more people. Along with people like Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, Billy the Kid, and Jesse James, Bass Reeves deserves recognition as one of the most important figures in the American Wild West.
