John “Jack” Hays Taylor – Fighting in the Sutton-Taylor Feud
John “Jack” Hays Taylor, a figure etched in the annals of the American West, remains a controversial character, remembered for his involvement in the bloody and protracted Sutton-Taylor Feud. His life, though tragically short, encapsulates the turbulent era of Reconstruction Texas, where simmering tensions between former Confederates and Union sympathizers frequently erupted into violence. This is the story of John “Jack” Hays Taylor.
Born in 1842, Jack Taylor inherited a legacy of frontier grit and skill from his father, the renowned Texas Ranger Creed Taylor. While Creed Taylor dedicated his life to upholding a certain interpretation of law and order, his son Jack chose a different path, one that led him down a road of conflict and ultimately, to an early grave. Unlike his father, John “Jack” Hays Taylor didn’t embrace the life of a hero or a public servant. Instead, he became embroiled in the bitter disputes that defined the post-Civil War landscape.
The Taylor family, deeply rooted in Southern sympathies, staunchly opposed Reconstruction policies. They were unwavering Confederate supporters in a region grappling with the imposition of federal authority. This unwavering allegiance, coupled with the perceived injustices of the Reconstruction era, fueled the animosity that would eventually ignite the infamous Sutton-Taylor Feud. However, before the feud fully consumed him, John “Jack” Hays Taylor had already tasted the bitter fruit of conflict with the occupying Union forces.
In November 1867, an incident at Fort Mason, Texas, foreshadowed the violence that would come to define John “Jack” Hays Taylor’s life. While visiting the fort with his brother Phillip, the Taylor brothers were allegedly harassed by Union soldiers. The situation escalated when one of the soldiers knocked Jack’s hat to the ground – a seemingly minor act that triggered a deadly response. In a moment of explosive anger, Taylor drew his pistol and shot the soldier. The act sparked a chaotic melee, as more soldiers swarmed the brothers, attempting to subdue and arrest them. A fierce gunfight erupted, leaving an army sergeant dead at the hands of the Taylors. Faced with overwhelming odds, Jack and Phillip fled Fort Mason, becoming fugitives and further solidifying their reputation as men willing to defy federal authority.
While Jack and Phillip evaded capture, tensions were reaching a boiling point back in DeWitt County, Texas, the Taylor family’s home ground. The seeds of the Sutton-Taylor Feud, watered by years of political and economic grievances, were beginning to sprout. The Suttons, a family with close ties to law enforcement and Reconstruction authorities, represented the opposing faction in this escalating conflict.
On August 23, 1869, the simmering feud boiled over into open warfare. The Suttons, acting as "Regulators" (a term used to describe lawmen and vigilantes), used the Fort Mason incident as a pretext to pursue the Taylor brothers. As Jack and Phillip rode near their father’s ranch in the early morning light, they were ambushed by a posse of Sutton Regulators, led by the notorious Jack Helm. The Suttons opened fire without warning, initiating a desperate fight for survival. Phillip was wounded in the initial volley but managed to escape the deadly encounter. However, John “Jack” Hays Taylor was not so fortunate. He was fatally wounded in the ambush, but not before inflicting significant casualties on his attackers. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Taylor managed to wound five of the Regulators, demonstrating his skill and determination as a fighter.
The death of John “Jack” Hays Taylor marked a significant escalation in the Sutton-Taylor Feud. His demise fueled the flames of vengeance and intensified the cycle of violence that would plague DeWitt County for years to come. He became a martyr for the Taylor faction, a symbol of resistance against what they perceived as an oppressive and unjust regime.
Today, John “Jack” Hays Taylor rests in the Bird Cemetery in Caddo, Texas. His grave stands as a silent testament to a life lived in the shadow of conflict, a reminder of the turbulent times that shaped the American West. He is a complex figure, neither a hero nor a villain, but a man caught in the crossfire of a brutal feud, a product of his time and circumstances. His story continues to fascinate and intrigue, offering a glimpse into the dark heart of the Sutton-Taylor Feud and the enduring legacy of the Wild West. The story of the infamous John “Jack” Hays Taylor is a reminder of the violence and lawlessness of the time.