The book uses old west language to tell the story of reeve s exciting life capturing criminals. By the time clayton moore took on the persona of the lone ranger for the 1950s abc series, the black mask covered only his eyes next slide. Bass reeves lesson plans and lesson ideas brainpop educators. This project takes us to the classic old west to play out the life of frontier marshal bass reeves. Marshall, staunchly defended territorial law in the american west through many remarkable deeds.
However, one historian believes that this 19thcentury deputy u. The life and legend of frontier marshal bass reeves. Bass reeves worked a total of thirtytwo years as a deputy u. Bass reeves was the first africanamerican to be commissioned as a u. Bass reeves fullon dances with wolves drunk history. During his time as a marshal, reeves caught more than 3,000 criminals. Marshals museum in fort smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed deputy u.
S marshal when he satrted his line of duty may 29, 1875. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the man who shot bass reeves. The marshals service is the oldest american federal law enforcement agency. He spoke seven native american languages, and set records for apprehending and shooting outlaws. Black gun, silver star tells bass reevess story for the first time, sifting through fact and legend to discover the truth about one of the most outstanding peace officers in latenineteenthcentury americaand perhaps the greatest lawman of the wild west era.
Watch him defeat notorious outlaws and battle his greatest foe, jim crow. Reeves, bass the handbook of texas online texas state. A drama based on the life of bass reeves, the first africanamerican united states. Bass reeves fullon dances with wolves clip season 3 ep 7 102015 a slave named bass reeves escapes, seeks refuge with native americans and is recruited to work as a u. He worked mostly in arkansas and the oklahoma territory.
See more ideas about black history, african and black cowboys. Nov 7, 2018 bass reeves july 1838 12 january 1910 was one of the first african americans possibly the first to receive a commission as a deputy u. Honoring deputy us marshal bass reeves catalyst partners. Marshal west of the mississippi river and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history. He was a legend in the indian territory, feared by the lawless and respected by. During the late 19th century no area in the united states was a haven and a refuge for criminals like the indian territory, prestatehood oklahoma. In the early days of the character, the mask covered the lone rangers entire face, which may have been a homage to bass reeves above, if indeed the character was based on the frontier deputy marshal. Yet another miniseries adapted from a biography is in the planning stages at hbo. Bass reeves, the first black commissioned united states deputy marshal west of the mississippi river, was born to slave parents in july 1838 in arkansas. In the midst of this chaos, nine outlaws attempt to take over a saloon in the worst way.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Born to slave parents in 1838 in crawford county, arkansas, bass reeves would become the first black u. Actor morgan freeman is one of the producers that will adapt the art t. Owned by a man named george reeves, a farmer and politician, bass took the surname of his owner, like other slaves of the time. Us marshals museum searches for bass reeves relatives ap news. Marshal bass reeves, born as a slave in arkansas, grew up in lamar and grayson counties, texas, where he belonged to col.
The united states marshals service usms is a federal law enforcement agency within the u. House, santiago villalobos, craig rainey, wesley blake. Maybe the law aint perfect, but its the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin bass reeves. The continuing story of bass reeves, the first black us marshal west of the mississippi. Bass reeves july 1838 january 12, 1910 was an american law enforcement officer. Bass reeves could well have been one of the greatest lawmen of the wild west. Reeves, bass the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. Marshal bass reeves ever pulled on a criminal a particularly glorious example of fake it til you make it. A 25foot work of art honors the illustrious lawman, believed to be the first black u. A black man becomes a united states deputy marshal in the 1875 west. The legend of bass reeves he rode for judge parkers court in fort smith. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading frontier justice.
Owned by farmer and politician george reeves, bass worked as water boy and later as his owners personal servant. During the civil war he escaped and lived among the indians of the five civilized tribes in the oklahoma territories. The legend of bass reeves by author gary paulsen is a western written for young readers. Bass reeves was one of the first african american deputy u. In 1860, reeves took the distraction of the civil war as an opportunity to escape and live among the indians. Marshal bass reeves, and he makes a compelling case. It was a beautiful, but warm, saturday morning, likely akin to ones in the late. Morgan freemans bass reeves project finally gets a lift, thanks to hbo. Reeves according to research is the only deputy on record who started working for parkers court in 1875 and worked up to statehood in 1907. Just in time for the release of disneys the lone ranger movie, the july issue of true west magazine has an intriguing article about the possible reallife model for the masked man. Sam bass was a deputy us marshal who worked the oklahoma territory in the days of judge paker. Bass reeves frontier marshal volume 1 phillips, gary, odom, mel, salmon, andrew, ferguson, derrick on. Montgomery lauren hanzelka university of northern iowa bad news for outlaws. A western adventure from the author of bass reeves.
The life and legend of frontier marshall bass reeves. During his long career, he was credited with arresting more than 3,000 felons. Marshal by vaunda micheaux nelson is a great read, especially for 35 grade students who may be reluctant or uninterested readers. Bass reeves was one of those rugged lawman who brought law and order to the american west, and more particularly to nineteenthcentury oklahoma. Bass reeves july 1838 12 january 1910 was one of the first african americans possibly the first to receive a commission as a deputy u. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the adventures of bass reeves deputy u.
He fought and struck his master with a garden hoe and killed him in one strike may 24, 1875. A western adventure from the author of the bass reeves stories kindle edition by ray, charles, thompson, paul l. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Deputy marshal west of the mississippi river and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history. Marshal bass reeves patrolled indian territory during and the wild west era. The hbo series watchmen has familiarized audiences with the reallife deputy us marshal bass reeves, an africanamerican lawman in the. After oklahoma gained statehood in 1907, jim crow laws prevented him from continuing as a deputy marshal, and he joined the muskogee police department. Tales of the talented tenth, volume one tells the story of bass reeves, an escaped slave who became one of the most successful lawman of the old west. He was also notable for being african american in a day and age where it was unheardof among lawmen. In this animated educational movie about american westward expansion, learn how u.
Marshal bass reeves, a former slave born in crawford county near van buren in 1838. He escaped to indian territory after severely beating his young master in a dispute over cards and lived among the five civilized tribes, especially the creeks. By 1875, reeves and his family were living back in western arkansas, and it was there that he was approached to apply for a position as a deputy u. But of all the sheriffs of the frontier, one man stands out as a true hero. The jurisdiction of this territory fell to the united states court for western arkansas, located at fort smith, arkansas. The crowd gathered on the lawn adjacent to the old federal courthouse in fort smith, arkansas, where judge isaac c. Morgan freeman brings bass reeves miniseries to hbo.
Marshal in the indian country bass reeves won a reputation as the most feared u. He was the most successful federal marshal in the us in his day. Bass reeves, a deputy united states marshal in old indian territory for over thirty years, is very ill at his home in the fourth ward and is not expected to live. Morgan freemans bass reeves project finally gets a lift. Well, it looks like morgan freeman thought the same thing because hes teamed up with hbo for a miniseries based on the bass reeves life. Though the truth has yet to be determined, historians consider it unlikely that reeves ever served in the last two battles. Bass reeves family however, claims an alternative story which suggests that between 1861 and 1862, reeves attacked his owner in an argument over a card game and escaped into indian territory. In the year 1875 the indian territory was the most dangerous place in the united states, because there was virtually no law to govern the land. With derek ray duncan, samuel godwin, mauricio griffin, david guthrie. Born to slave parents in 1838 in paris, texas, bass reeves would become the first black u.
Born into slavery, bass reeves became the most successful us marshal of the wild west. Hollywood is joining fort smith in honoring one of the men who hunted outlaws in the wild west. Deputy marshal west of the mississippi river and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history owned by a man named william reeves, a farmer and politician. African american history online presents bass reeves. Reeves was a deputy under leo bennett in the last years of the federal regime in oklahoma and also served in the old days of judge parker at fort smith. Many heroic lawmen of the wild west, familiar to us through television and film, were actually violent scoundrels and outlaws themselves. This volume of the trilogy will put the reader in the deadly indian territory and connect bass with pistol pete, belle star and the famous judge issac parker. Volume i chronicles his life from winnign shooting matches in early childhood to traveling with his master, living with native americans in indian territory, and finally becoming a u. See the full list of bass reeves cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. It focuses on the true story of a littleknown marshal who patrolled the old indian territory, now known as oklahoma. Old west legends bass reeves black hero marshal born to slave parents in 1838 in paris, texas, bass reeves would become the first black u. Reeves was a deputy under leo bennett in the last years of the federal regime in oklahoma, and also served in the old days of judge parker at fort smith.
Bass reeves was a paris, texasborn slave who become one of the toughest men of the frontier in history. During the late 19th century no area in the united states was a haven and a refuge for criminals. Tales of a western legendhe began his life as a slave. Marshal, an arkansas slave named bass reeves, was the reallife inspiration for the lone ranger.
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