Bass Reeves – Black Hero Marshal
"Maybe the law ain’t perfect, but it’s the only one we got, and without it, we got nuthin."
– Bass Reeves
The name Bass Reeves resonates through the annals of American history, a testament to courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication to justice. Born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, Bass Reeves would transcend the limitations imposed upon him by his birth and become one of the first African American Deputy U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi River. His story is one of resilience, skill, and an unyielding commitment to upholding the law in the often-lawless expanse of the Old West. He is remembered today as a true frontier hero.
Born into bondage, the circumstances surrounding Bass Reeves‘s early life were undeniably harsh. His parents were slaves owned by William Reeves, a man of considerable standing in the community, both a farmer and a politician. As was customary during this era, Bass adopted the surname of his owner, while his given name honored his grandfather, Basse Washington.
Initially, young Bass Reeves was assigned the role of a water boy, a common task for children on plantations. As he grew older and stronger, he transitioned to field labor, working alongside his parents in the arduous tasks of agricultural production. Around 1846, William Reeves relocated his family, operations, and enslaved people to Grayson County, Texas, further shaping the landscape of Bass’s formative years.
Standing tall at an impressive 6’2", Bass Reeves possessed not only a commanding physical presence but also a demeanor marked by good manners and a ready sense of humor. These qualities endeared him to William Reeves’s son, George, who selected Bass to serve as his valet, bodyguard, and close companion. When the Civil War erupted, and Texas joined the Confederacy, George Reeves enlisted, taking Bass with him into the turmoil of armed conflict.
The Civil War years proved to be a turning point in Bass Reeves’s life. The exact circumstances surrounding his departure from George Reeves’s service remain shrouded in some ambiguity. Some accounts suggest a falling out between the two men, stemming from a dispute over a card game that resulted in Bass physically assaulting George. Other narratives propose that Bass, having heard whispers of the impending emancipation of slaves, seized the opportunity to escape and seek his freedom. Regardless of the specific catalyst, Bass Reeves fled to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma, seeking refuge among the Seminole, Cherokee, and Creek tribes.
In this new environment, Bass Reeves immersed himself in the cultures and customs of the Native American people. He learned their languages, honed his tracking skills, and further developed his proficiency with firearms. While Reeves modestly described himself as "only fair" with a rifle, his skill with a pistol was undeniable, so much so that he was often excluded from local turkey shoots due to his consistently superior marksmanship.
The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 formally granted Bass Reeves his freedom. No longer a fugitive, he left Indian Territory and acquired land near Van Buren, Arkansas. There, he embarked on a new chapter as a farmer and rancher. A year later, he married Nellie Jennie, a woman from Texas, and together they built a family, raising ten children – five girls and five boys – on their homestead. Oral tradition suggests that during this period, Reeves occasionally served as a scout and guide for U.S. Deputy Marshals venturing into Indian Territory on behalf of the Van Buren Federal Court, which held jurisdiction over the region.
The tranquil life of Bass Reeves as a farmer was destined to change. The Federal Western District Court was moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Isaac C. Parker was appointed as judge on May 10, 1875. The Indian Territory had become a haven for outlaws, thieves, murderers, and fugitives seeking to evade the reach of the law. The territory lacked effective federal or state jurisdiction.
Recognizing the dire situation, one of Judge Parker’s initial actions was to appoint James F. Fagan as the U.S. Marshal responsible for recruiting a force of approximately 200 deputies. Fagan, aware of Bass Reeves’s extensive knowledge of the Indian Territory and his fluency in several tribal languages, quickly recruited him as a U.S. Deputy Marshal.
The deputies were tasked with the formidable challenge of "cleaning up" Indian Territory. Under Judge Parker’s uncompromising orders, they were instructed to bring criminals in "alive – or dead!"
Bass Reeves joined the ranks of other lawmen who would also become legends in their own right, including Heck Thomas, Bud Ledbetter, and Bill Tilghman. Reeves began patrolling the vast Oklahoma range in pursuit of outlaws. The United States Court at Fort Smith was the largest in the nation, encompassing some 75,000 square miles.
The methods employed by Reeves and his fellow deputies were often dictated by the specific circumstances of each case. Typically, a deputy would travel with a wagon, a cook, and a Native American posseman from Fort Smith. Their journeys frequently took them to locations such as Fort Reno, Fort Sill, and Anadarko, often entailing round trips exceeding 800 miles.
Despite being unable to read or write, Bass Reeves never allowed these limitations to hinder his effectiveness as a lawman. Before embarking on a mission, he would have someone read the warrants to him, carefully memorizing their contents and distinguishing features. When required to produce a warrant, he would invariably select the correct one.
Bass Reeves was an imposing figure, known for riding a large white stallion. He quickly gained a reputation for his courage and his uncanny ability to apprehend or eliminate the territory’s most dangerous desperadoes. Always impeccably dressed, with a large hat and boots polished to a gleaming shine, Reeves was renowned for his politeness and courteous demeanor. However, he was also a master of disguise and used aliases whenever the situation demanded it.
Whether posing as a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger, or even an outlaw, Reeves was always armed with two Colt pistols, worn butt-forward for a lightning-fast draw. Ambidextrous and possessing exceptional marksmanship, he rarely missed his target.
Leaving Fort Smith with a pocketful of warrants, Reeves would return months later, escorting a group of outlaws facing charges ranging from bootlegging to murder. Compensated through fees and rewards, he would earn a substantial sum before returning home to spend time with his family, only to venture back out onto the range.
The stories of Bass Reeves’s captures are legendary, filled with elements of intrigue, imagination, and sheer audacity. On one occasion, Reeves pursued two outlaws hiding near the Texas border in the Red River Valley. Assembling a posse, he established a camp about 28 miles from the outlaws’ suspected hideout at their mother’s home. After carefully analyzing the terrain, Reeves devised a daring plan. Disguising himself as a tramp, he concealed his handcuffs, pistol, and badge beneath his tattered clothing. He approached the house on foot, wearing worn shoes, dirty clothes, and carrying a cane, topped off with a floppy hat riddled with bullet holes.
Upon arriving at the house, he told the woman who answered the door that he had been pursued by a posse, which explained the bullet holes in his hat. After requesting a meal, she invited him inside. While he ate, she confided in him about her two outlaw sons, suggesting that the three of them should join forces.
Feigning weariness, Reeves convinced her to let him stay longer. As night fell, he heard a distinct whistle coming from beyond the house. Shortly thereafter, the woman went outside and responded with a similar whistle. Soon, two riders approached the house, engaging in a lengthy conversation with her outside. The three of them entered the house, and she introduced her sons to Reeves. After discussing their criminal activities, the trio agreed that joining forces would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Sharing the same room for the night, Reeves waited until the two men were sound asleep before handcuffing them without waking them. At daybreak, he roused the pair and marched them out the door. Followed for the first three miles by their mother, who unleashed a torrent of curses upon Reeves, he escorted the prisoners 28 miles back to the camp where the posse awaited. The outlaws were promptly delivered to the authorities, and Bass Reeves collected a $5,000 reward.
One of the most significant achievements in Bass Reeves’s career was the apprehension of Bob Dozier, a notorious outlaw known for his diverse criminal activities, ranging from cattle and horse rustling to bank, store, and stagecoach robberies, as well as murder and land swindles. Dozier’s unpredictable nature made him exceptionally difficult to catch, and despite numerous attempts by other lawmen, none had succeeded until Reeves took on the challenge. After months of relentless pursuit, Reeves finally tracked Dozier down in the Cherokee Nation. When Dozier refused to surrender, a gunfight ensued, resulting in Reeves killing Dozier on December 20, 1878.
In 1887, Reeves faced an unexpected challenge when he was charged with the murder of a posse cook. Like the many outlaws he had apprehended, he was brought before Judge Isaac Parker for trial. United States Attorney W.H.H. Clayton, a friend and colleague, served as his defense attorney. After a thorough examination of the evidence, Reeves was acquitted.
In 1889, while assigned to Paris, Texas, Reeves pursued the Tom Story gang, known for their horse thievery. He ambushed Tom Story along the gang’s known route and presented him with an arrest warrant. Story panicked and drew his gun, but Reeves drew faster and fatally shot him. The remaining members of the gang scattered and were never heard from again.
In 1890, Reeves apprehended Greenleaf, a notorious Seminole outlaw who had murdered seven people and remained at large for 18 years. In the same year, Reeves pursued Ned Christie, a famous Cherokee outlaw. Reeves and his posse burned Christie’s cabin, but Christie managed to evade capture at that time.
In 1896, Reeves’s wife passed away in Fort Smith. The following year, he was transferred to the Muskogee federal court in Indian Territory. In 1900, he remarried Winnie Sumter.
The tales of Bass Reeves’s heroic exploits are countless. One of the most difficult challenges he faced as a lawman was the manhunt for his own son in 1902. After delivering two prisoners to U.S. Marshal Leo Bennett in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Reeves received devastating news: his son, Bennie, had been charged with murdering his wife in a fit of jealousy. Despite the warrant having been on Bennett’s desk for two days, the other deputies hesitated to act. Although deeply shaken by the situation, Reeves insisted on taking responsibility for finding his son. Two weeks later, Reeves returned to Muskogee with Bennie in custody and turned him over to Marshal Bennett. Bennie was tried and convicted, receiving a life sentence. He was subsequently sent to Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas. Later, through a citizen’s petition and an exemplary prison record, Bennie Reeves was pardoned and lived the remainder of his life as a model citizen.
"Reeves was never known to show the slightest excitement under any circumstance. He does not know what fear is."
– Oklahoma City Weekly Times-Journal
In 1907, when state agencies assumed responsibility for law enforcement, Bass Reeves’s tenure as a deputy marshal came to an end. He then joined the Muskogee, Oklahoma Police Department as a patrolman. During his two years in this role, there were reportedly no crimes committed on his beat. Reeves’s career was ultimately cut short by a diagnosis of Bright’s disease, forcing him to retire in 1909. He passed away on January 12, 1910, and was buried in the Agency Cemetery in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The precise location of his grave remains unknown.
Bass Reeves’s obituary described him as "absolutely fearless and knowing no master but duty."
Over his 35-year career as a Deputy United States Marshal, Bass Reeves earned his place in history as one of the most effective lawmen in Indian Territory, apprehending over 3,000 outlaws and playing a crucial role in taming the lawless territory. While he killed some 14 men in the line of duty, Reeves maintained that he "never shot a man when it was not necessary for him to do so in the discharge of his duty to save his own life."
Some historians argue that Bass Reeves served as the inspiration for the iconic radio and television series "The Lone Ranger," citing several similarities between the character and the real-life lawman.