Wild Bill Hickok by Emerson Hough
The vast plains of the American West remained largely untouched until the relentless march of the railroads began to bisect the landscape. This iron horse arrived in tandem with the burgeoning cattle industry, as massive herds were driven north from Texas in search of lucrative markets. These markets didn’t passively await the completion of the railways; instead, they aggressively pursued them, establishing themselves as the rail lines snaked their way across the prairies. In this volatile environment, the frontier sheriff emerged as a pivotal figure, tasked with maintaining order in the face of unprecedented lawlessness. Simultaneously, the notorious "bad man" rose to prominence, his exploits amplified by the increasing accessibility of the West to tourists and journalists eager to document the untamed frontier. These were indeed the heyday of the Wild Bill Hickok era.
Beyond the transient gold rush settlements nestled in the mountains, few places rivaled the raw, unbridled energy of a temporary railroad terminus on the frontier. These makeshift towns, hastily erected from tents and rough-hewn shanties, represented the very edge of civilization. Each town mirrored the next, sharing a common DNA of ambition, opportunism, and a struggle for order. The histories of Wichita, Newton, and Fort Dodge, Kansas, echoed those of Abilene, Ellsworth, and Hays City, Kansas – all boomtowns that sprung up at the head of the advancing rails. The same cast of characters – gamblers, outlaws, and prostitutes – migrated from one town to the next, mirroring the frenzied stampedes of the gold rush days.
The chronicle of each of these unruly towns could be a tedious and repetitive exercise. However, a unique characteristic sets them apart. Unlike the transient nature of mining camps, these cowtowns aspired to permanence. They aimed to evolve into legitimate settlements, governed by social contracts and the rule of law. Among the throngs of opportunists and outlaws, there were those who envisioned building homes and establishing a stable community. These individuals championed law and order, striving to create a functional government. The framework of the American governmental system arrived with remarkable speed, almost simultaneously with the railroad itself. This nascent government possessed both legislative and executive power. At the forefront of this effort was the frontier sheriff or town marshal, a figure as bold and resilient as the very individuals he was tasked with subduing. These lawmen were skilled with weapons, unafraid to face death, and driven by a profound sense of duty. They were further fortified by the knowledge that the majority of the town’s residents, the law-abiding citizens, stood firmly behind them.
To illustrate the life and times of these Western town marshals, none stands taller or more iconic than James Butler Hickok, better known as Wild Bill Hickok. His name has resonated through generations, earning him a distinguished place in the annals of American history. Born on May 27, 1837, in La Salle County, Illinois, Hickok’s youth coincided with the era of westward expansion and exploration. Immersed in tales of legendary figures like Kit Carson and John Fremont, he developed a yearning for a life of adventure. At the age of eighteen, he ventured west, serving as a fighting man under the command of James H. Lane, a prominent figure in the Free Soil movement, during the turbulent pre-Civil War days in Kansas. His bravery and competence quickly earned him recognition, leading to his election as a constable in that lawless territory before he even reached the age of twenty.
Hickok was a striking figure, initially described as a tall, lanky youth standing six feet one inch tall, with flowing yellow hair and piercing blue eyes. He evolved into a remarkably handsome man, possessing both strength and agility. His features were sharply defined and expressive, his posture erect and dignified. Contrary to the popular image of a rough-and-tumble outlaw, Hickok possessed a quiet demeanor. He was not prone to quarreling, and his voice was calm and measured. He even exhibited a remarkable sense of composure, reminiscent of the legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone – "not agitated." He was a natural marksman, possessing an innate talent for handling weapons. His proficiency with rifles and revolvers was unparalleled on the frontier. The frontier ethos demanded accuracy, and Hickok rarely fired unless he was confident of hitting his target. The sheer number of documented instances of his involvement in single combat killings surpasses that of any other figure in American history.
After numerous encounters with pro-slavery factions along the border, Bill, then known as "Shanghai Bill" – a nickname that would stick with him for years – began driving stagecoaches for the Overland Stage Company. He also participated in skirmishes against Native Americans while in the employ of the stage line. In 1861, he settled down as a station agent for the Overland Stage at Rock Creek Station, Nebraska, approximately fifty miles from Topeka, Kansas. His primary responsibility was guarding the company’s horses, as the region was rife with horse thieves and bandits, making robberies and killings commonplace. It was at Rock Creek Station that Hickok was thrust into the most extraordinary battle of his life, a singular instance of one man defying overwhelming odds at close quarters. No similar event has been recorded in the history of the American West, and it’s unlikely that it will ever be replicated.
Kansas at that time was a battleground between pro and anti-slavery factions. The Civil War raged, and Confederate sympathizers from Missouri crossed into eastern Kansas under various pretexts. Horse theft was rampant, often justified as a legitimate means of preying on the enemy. Two outlaw brothers named McCanles led a gang of hardened men who engaged in such activities. They attempted to recruit Hickok, but he declined, resulting in their plan to steal the stage company’s horses. Hickok dared them to try, and on the afternoon of December 16, 1861, the McCanles brothers and ten of their men approached his dugout. Hickok was alone as his stableman was hunting. Retreating into the dimly lit interior of his dugout, he readied his weapons: a rifle, two six-shooters, and a Bowie knife.
The McCanles gang battered down the door with a log. As the door splintered, Jim McCanles charged into the opening. Hickok shot and killed him. He grabbed the six-shooters from a nearby table and shot and killed three more of the gang as they rushed through the doorway. Four men were dead within seconds. Six assailants remained, all inside the dugout and firing at Hickok from close range. Hickok, in the confined space, resorted to his Bowie knife. A knife wound is not immediately disabling unless a bone is struck. The melee of shooting, stabbing, and desperate struggling raged for minutes. Jack McCanles struck Hickok on the head with his rifle barrel and attacked him with a knife. Hickok managed to fire a six-shooter, killing him just as he was about to strike. Hickok later recalled the events, stating, "I just got sort of wild. I thought my heart was on fire."
After the ordeal, Hickok earned the nickname "Wild Bill." Six men lay dead inside the dugout. The remaining four fled. Two were badly wounded. Hickok, despite his injuries, followed them to the door. His stableman arrived with a rifle. Hickok grabbed it and shot and killed one of the wounded men as he tried to mount his horse. The other wounded man later died. Eight men were killed by one man.
Hickok’s wounds took a year to heal. He served as a wagon master under General Fremont. While en route to Sedalia, Missouri, he was attacked by Confederate forces. He fled, killing more men with his six-shooters. Hickok had now killed 12 men in a single fight.
This tally did not include Native Americans, whom he had also killed. Although he did not formally enlist, he served as an independent sharpshooter. At the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, he killed thirty-five men in four hours, including Confederate General McCullough. He also worked as a spy for General Curtis, infiltrating Confederate lines. He enlisted in a company of Price’s mounted rangers, gathered intelligence, and escaped, killing a Confederate sergeant. Curtis sent him back, this time into the forces of Kirby Smith in Texas. Hickok enlisted, showed his skill, and killed two more men as he fled. His known victims numbered at least sixty-two men.
Curtis sent Hickok into the Confederate lines a third time. He was detected and arrested as a spy. Bound hand and foot, he tore his hands free, killed his captor, and escaped. He served as a scout with General Davis during Price’s second invasion of Missouri. One day, he was stopped by three men who ordered him to halt and dismount. Hickok killed two of them and fatally wounded the third. His tally was now sixty-six men.
Curtis sent Hickok to Kansas to investigate reports of Native Americans joining the Confederate forces. He engaged in a knife duel with the Sioux, Conquering Bear, whom he accused of ambush. Hickok killed his opponent but was severely wounded.
After the war, Hickok lived a transient life. In Springfield, Missouri, he killed Dave Tutt. It was a fair fight in the town square. Hickok’s actions earned him respect on the border. He was known nationwide. He trapped in Nebraska. After a saloon row, he invited four opponents outside to fight him with pistols. He killed one man at the first fire but was shot through the shoulder.
His score was now seventy-two men, not counting Native Americans. He and Buffalo Bill served as scouts in the Black Kettle campaign. Hickok was badly wounded in the thigh. He returned East to Illinois to heal. Finding that he had a reputation, he tried to capitalize on it. However, he returned to the West.
Hays City, Kansas, needed a town marshal. Wild Bill Hickok was selected. In six weeks, he killed Jack Strawhan. Another bad man, Mulvey, started to run Hays. Hickok killed Mulvey. His tally was now seventy-five men. He killed three more in a fight with private soldiers. He was struck by seven pistol balls and escaped to a nearby ranch. He later escaped in a box-car to another town. His days as marshal of Hays were over.
He killed two more with his left hand and wounded the other.
Hickok tried theatricals. He failed and returned to the plains. He was chosen marshal of Abilene, Kansas.
Two days after Hickok was elected marshal, he killed a desperado. That same night, he killed a friend and one of his own deputies in dim light. He had to kill the friend of the desperado whom he had shot. By this time, Abilene respected its new marshal. He supported a McCanles widow and furnished funerals for his corpses. Enemies made up a purse of five thousand dollars and hired eight men to kill the town marshal. Hickok made them jump off the train where he met them. One was killed in the jump. His list of homicides was now eighty-one. He had never been arrested for murder.
Hickok tried theatricals again. He quit and returned to the West. He appeared at Cheyenne in the Black Hills. He killed four Native Americans with four shots. He got away from the Black Hills with difficulty. In 1876, he was back at Deadwood, married.
On August 2, 1876, while he was sitting at a game of cards in a saloon, Jack McCall shot him in the back of the head. McCall was later arrested, tried, convicted, and hanged.
Hickok’s body was buried at Deadwood. His grave remained a feature of Deadwood. His tally of eighty-five men seems large, but it is not large enough. He killed many Native Americans. He killed between twenty and thirty men in personal combat.
Hickok was about thirty-nine years old when killed. General George Custer said: "He was a plainsman in every sense of the word, unlike any other of his class. Whether on foot or on horseback, he was one of the most perfect types of physical manhood I ever saw. His manner was entirely free from all bluster and bravado. He never spoke of himself unless requested to do so. His influence among the frontiersmen was unbounded; his word was law. Wild Bill Hickok was anything but a quarrelsome man, yet none but himself could enumerate the many conflicts in which he had been engaged."