The Outlaw Who Quoted Shakespeare, Frank James: By G.C. Stevens

 

                                             Frank James, Photo from the Authors Collection. 

                                                Frank James: Found peace in Tennessee. 

Alexander Franklin James, born January 10, 1843, in Clay County, Missouri, was the older brother of the infamous Jesse James. While Jesse’s name became synonymous with the romanticized outlaw of the American West, Frank’s story is different in that it is one of rebellion, crime, and his deliberate choices to leave that life behind, particularly during and after his time in Tennessee. An intelligent man with a love for Shakespeare's works, Frank’s journey from Confederate guerrilla to law-abiding citizen reveals a very complex figure weary of the life of crime that he once pursued.
Frank’s outlaw career began after the Civil War, where he fought as a Confederate guerrilla alongside William Quantrill and “Bloody Bill” Anderson. Jesse and Frank James lives shaped by Missouri’s pro-Southern sentiments, turned to crime in 1866, robbing trains, banks and stagecoaches as part of the James-Younger Gang. Their exploits, including the audacious robbery in 1866 in Liberty, Missouri, that bank robbery, earned them both notoriety and a Robin Hood-like reputation which was fueled by public resentment toward banks and railroads. Though, Frank, unlike the fame-hungry Jesse, was a more reserved person, preferring books and family over the spotlight.
The turning point came after the disastrous robbery in 1876 at Northfield, Minnesota, during the bank robbery there, which wiped out the James-Younger Gang. Most of the members were killed or captured, but Frank and Jesse escaped, fleeing to Tennessee to evade the massive manhunt. Adopting the alias Ben J. Woodson, Frank settled near Nashville with his wife, Annie Ralston, a former schoolteacher he married in 1874. Tennessee offered a fresh start, and Frank embraced it. He worked as a teamster, raised Poland China hogs, and joined a Methodist church, befriending local notables like the sheriff and a state legislator. These years, Frank later recalled, were among his happiest, as “my old life grew more detestable the further I got from it.”
In Tennessee, Frank experienced the peace of civilian life. His son, Robert Franklin James, was born in 1878, grounding him further. While Jesse, restless under the alias John Davis Howard, chafed and eventually lured Frank back for more robberies, Frank’s heart was obviously not in it. Then in 1881 during the Winston train robbery, two innocent men were killed. This turned public sympathy and intensified Missouri’s resolve to stop the crime wave. After Jesse’s murder by Robert Ford in 1882, Frank faced a crossroads. In an article from the Kansas City Journal, on April 06th, 1882, it was reported that Frank was probably not 500 miles from where Jesse was laid in his coffin, and the paper expressed some fear of vengeance from Frank, but nothing could be further from the truth. Exhausted by decades of being hunted, he eventually surrendered to Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden, declaring, “I have been hunted for twenty-one years, have literally lived in the saddle, have never known a day of perfect peace.”

Frank’s decision to go straight was pragmatic and heartfelt. Remarkably, he faced trials in both Missouri and Alabama but was acquitted, partly due to lingering public fascination with the Jesse James legend and his alibi of being in Texas during the Winston robbery. For the next three decades, Frank lived quietly, working as a shoe salesman, theater usher, and telegraph operator. In 1903, he partnered with former gang member Cole Younger in the James-Younger Wild West Show, capitalizing on his past without returning to crime.

Returning to the family farm in Missouri after his mother’s death in 1911, Frank died peacefully on February 18, 1915, at age 72. His Tennessee years and choice to abandon outlawry highlight a man who, unlike his brother, valued survival and serenity over legend, proving that even an outlaw could rewrite his story.

Reference: Frank and Jesse James In Nashville by Terry Coats, Jesse James The Best Writings on the Notorious Outlaw and His Gang. By Herold Dellinger, https://ozarks-history.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-cole-younger-frank-james-wild-west.html?m=1

Good by Jesse James, by the Jesse James Bank Museum 1967

                                                                   

                                CSL&OH.A. On the move!

                                   Update by the Editor

The tracks are laid, the locomotive is buffing away on the tracks and the Conductor just shouted "ALL ABOARD! We are heading west, from Des Moines Iowa to Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska, to Scouts Rest in North Platte, onto Dodge City Kansas and out to Tombstone Arizona! The wild west is alive and well here at the Central States Lawman & Outlaws Historic Assn. I'm currently working on two new manuscripts. And I'll talk more about that as time goes on. I signed a contract with Arcadia books to write a book about the darker (but fun) side Iowa history. Iowa may be bucolic and folksy, but outlaws still roamed the hills of southwest Iowa, and Indian Massacres occurred just like the rest of the American west. We (My self and our VP Patrick Meguiar) are also working on a expose on an early Jesse James photo that came from the Nashville area. I will also be doing a book signing in Fort Dodge Iowa in June at the Pioneer days. I'll keep everyone posted on that.

See you on the dusty trail!

 

The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851

 

The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851:

Photo is public domain     

 A Historic Agreement
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 stands as a pivotal moment in the history of U.S.-Native American relations, reflecting both a rare attempt at diplomacy and the mounting pressures of westward expansion. Signed on September 17, 1851, near Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming, this agreement brought together representatives of the United States and several Plains Indian tribes, including the Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapaho, Crow, Assiniboine, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. Its primary aim was to ensure peace and regulate interactions between these tribes and the growing number of American settlers moving westward along trails like the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.
By the mid-19th century, the United States was experiencing rapid territorial expansion, fueled by the ideology of Manifest Destiny. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 and the passage of the Homestead Act further accelerated migration across the Great Plains. This influx disrupted the traditional territories and lifeways of the Plains tribes, whose economies and cultures depended heavily on vast hunting grounds, particularly the buffalo herds that roamed the region.
Tensions rose as settlers’ wagon trains, livestock, and military outposts encroached on tribal lands, depleting resources and sparking occasional conflicts. The U.S. government, seeking to protect its citizens and maintain order, recognized the need for a formal agreement with the tribes to secure safe passage and reduce hostilities. The result was the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851, one of the first major treaties negotiated with multiple Plains tribes simultaneously.
Key Provisions of the Treaty
The treaty was a landmark effort to define tribal territories and establish a framework for peaceful coexistence. Its main provisions included:
• Territorial Boundaries: The treaty assigned specific territories to each tribe, delineating their lands to reduce intertribal conflicts and provide clarity for U.S. authorities. For example, the Sioux were granted a vast region north of the North Platte River, while the Cheyenne and Arapaho received lands to the south.
• Safe Passage for Settlers: The tribes agreed to allow settlers to travel through their territories unmolested along designated routes, such as the Oregon Trail, and permitted the U.S. to establish roads and military posts.
• Peace Among Tribes: The agreement sought to end intertribal warfare, a frequent source of instability on the Plains, by encouraging the tribes to maintain peace with one another and with the United States.
• Annuities and Compensation: In exchange for these concessions, the U.S. promised to provide annual payments of goods—valued at $50,000 per year for 50 years (later reduced to 10 years by Congress)—including food, clothing, and tools. This was intended to offset the loss of game and resources caused by settler traffic.
The treaty was signed by notable figures, including U.S. commissioners David D. Mitchell and Thomas Fitzpatrick, and tribal leaders such as the Cheyenne’s Black Hawk and the Sioux’s White Antelope. Over 10,000 Native Americans reportedly gathered near Fort Laramie during the negotiations, a testament to the treaty’s significance.
Implementation and Challenges
While the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 was a diplomatic achievement on paper, its execution faced immediate hurdles. The U.S. government struggled to enforce the agreement among settlers and soldiers, many of whom disregarded tribal boundaries. Similarly, not all tribal members felt bound by the treaty, as leadership structures among the Plains tribes were decentralized, and the signatories did not always represent the entirety of their people.
The promised annuities often arrived late, were of poor quality, or were insufficient to meet the tribes’ needs as buffalo populations declined due to overhunting and habitat loss. Meanwhile, the steady stream of settlers continued to strain resources and provoke skirmishes, undermining the treaty’s goal of peace.
Legacy and Breach
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 ultimately failed to achieve lasting stability. Within a decade, escalating conflicts—most notably the Grattan Massacre of 1854, where U.S. troops clashed with the Sioux over a stolen cow—exposed the treaty’s fragility. The discovery of gold in Montana and Colorado further intensified settler incursions, leading to the abrogation of the treaty’s terms by both sides.
The treaty’s collapse paved the way for subsequent agreements, such as the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, which redefined Sioux territory and established the Great Sioux Reservation. However, the pattern of broken promises persisted, culminating in events like the Black Hills Gold Rush and the Battle of Little Bighorn, which underscored the U.S. government’s prioritization of expansion over treaty obligations.
Conclusion
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 represents a fleeting moment of negotiation in an era marked by conquest and displacement. It highlights the complexities of cross-cultural diplomacy and the challenges of reconciling the interests of nomadic tribes with a nation bent on westward growth. Though it failed to prevent the conflicts that followed, the treaty remains a critical historical document, offering insight into the aspirations—and limitations—of mid-19th-century efforts to forge peace on the American frontier. Today, it serves as a reminder of the enduring consequences of those early interactions between the United States and the Indigenous peoples of the Plains.

The above is and AI summary of the Fort Laramie Treaty

Book Review: A Terrible Glory, By James Donovan.

 

  Art work from xAI.

Book Review:

A Terrible Glory 

by James Donovan

Review by G.C. Stevens 
James Donovan’s A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn – The Last Great Battle of the American West (2008, Little, Brown and Company) is a meticulously researched and engaging account of the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876. This 500-plus-page work explores George Armstrong Custer’s “Last Stand,” at the Little Big Horn, where he and 210 soldiers of the Seventh Cavalry were soundly defeated by a coalition of Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. Donovan, aims to provide a comprehensive narrative, incorporating 25 years of research—archaeological findings, eyewitness accounts, and scholarly reassessments—to move beyond myths and offer a nuanced history. This review looks the book’s strengths, it's narrative style, and contribution to Little Bighorn historiography.

The book traces the broader context of U.S.-Native American tensions during westward expansion, Custer’s flamboyant military and controversial career, and the battle’s climactic events, concluding with its aftermath and legacy. Donovan starts with the historical backdrop of the Indian Wars, then focuses on Custer’s journey from Civil War hero to frontier commander. The heart of the narrative reconstructs the battle using forensic evidence and diverse perspectives, including those of Native leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The final sections explore the U.S. Army’s attempts to deflect blame, framing Custer as a scapegoat.
Donovan claims A Terrible Glory is the first to fully integrate recent scholarship, such as battlefield archaeology and revised assessments of tactical decisions, offering a fuller picture than earlier works. This ambition drives its detailed exploration of not just the battle, but the personalities, strategies, and institutional failures that shaped it.

Donovan excels at merging rigorous research with a novelistic flair. The book is accessible yet scholarly, appealing to both casual readers and historians. Custer emerges as a bold, flawed figure—ambitious and brave, yet undone by overconfidence. Sitting Bull is a resolute visionary, Crazy Horse a tactical genius, and Major Marcus Reno a conflicted officer whose hesitation remains debated. These vivid portrayals bring the story to life.
The research is a standout feature, drawing on military records, Native oral histories, newspapers, and over 100 pages of notes and bibliography. Donovan uses battlefield evidence—like cartridge case patterns—to clarify troop movements, challenging myths that pin the disaster solely on Custer. He highlights poor communication, divided command, and underestimation of Native strength as key factors, offering a balanced critique. The aftermath, with its revelations of an Army cover-up, adds depth, showing how officials manipulated narratives to protect their image.
This blend of storytelling and evidence makes A Terrible Glory a compelling read. Donovan’s ability to present complex historical data—such as the chaotic final moments on Last Stand Hill—in a clear, gripping way ensures the book resonates beyond academic circles.

Despite its strengths, the book has limitations. Donovan’s focuses on Custer. However he presents the Native American perspective, while he humanizes Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, the broader cultural stakes for the Plains Indians. 
The wealth of detail, while a boon for scholars, occasionally slows the pace. Early chapters on Custer’s career and U.S.-Indian conflicts delve into minutiae, delaying the battle’s momentum. A tighter edit could have streamlined the narrative without losing substance.
Donovan also avoids firm conclusions on some mysteries, like Custer’s final actions—heroic stand or panicked collapse? This restraint reflects his evidence-based approach, but may leave readers wanting clearer resolution. Still, it aligns with his goal of presenting facts over speculation, letting the evidence speak.
Contribution and Relevance
A Terrible Glory bridges romanticized tales (e.g., Libbie Custer’s hagiographies) and vilifying portrayals (e.g., Little Big Man), offering a balanced Custer: a courageous soldier felled by hubris and circumstance. By integrating modern research—like forensic studies and Native accounts—it surpasses earlier works, earning its claim as a landmark study. It’s a valuable resource for understanding the battle’s complexities and the American frontier’s violent legacy.
Beyond history, the book offers lessons in leadership, decision-making, and cultural misjudgment, relevant to modern discussions of power and conflict. Military enthusiasts will appreciate its tactical breakdown, while those interested in Native resistance will find the warriors’ resilience compelling.

A Terrible Glory is a triumph of historical narrative, blending deep research with a gripping tale of ambition, bravery, and tragedy. Its Custer focus and occasional pacing issues are minor compared to its clarity, depth, and fresh perspective. For anyone seeking to move beyond Hollywood’s Little Bighorn, this book is essential. Donovan illuminates a pivotal moment and invites reflection on the forces that shaped it, securing A Terrible Glory as a modern classic.

Tin Jesus on Horse-back, Buffalo Bills Bitter Business: By Matthew Kerns

Buffalo Bill and Nate Salsbury displayed on Buffalo Bill's Wild West, promotional poster

Photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

 Tin Jesus on Horseback:

 Buffalo Bill’s Bitter Business and Personal Feuds: 

By Matthew Kerns

Buffalo Bill Cody was a legend, but legends are not built alone. His rise to fame depended on key business partnerships, yet those partnerships were often fraught with conflict. Cody’s inability to manage money, his loyalty to problematic associates, and his drinking habits created tensions that led to dramatic fallouts with some of his closest allies. Nowhere was this more evident than in his feuds with two of his most notable partners—Nate Salsbury and Dr. William “Doc” Carver.

                                          Nate Salsbury, Photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

Nate Salsbury was the driving business force behind Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, handling logistics, finances, and promotion. Without Salsbury, the show might not have achieved its enormous success, but the partnership was strained. Salsbury grew frustrated with Cody’s reckless spending and poor financial decisions, particularly when Buffalo Bill invested heavily in the irrigation project that founded the town of Cody, Wyoming. Their relationship was further tested by Cody’s drinking and his tendency to surround himself with friends who drained money from the operation. Before his death in 1902, Salsbury documented his grievances in a memoir he never published, referring to his years working with Buffalo Bill as “Sixteen Years in Hell.” He derisively described Cody as a “Tin Jesus on Horseback,” a man with a grand vision but little control over his affairs.

Buffalo Bill and Doc Carver, photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

Salsbury’s unpublished manuscript was filled with venom. “Buffalo Bill makes a virtue of keeping sober most of the time during the summer season, and when he does so for an entire season, he looks on himself as a paragon of virtue,” he wrote. “But when the fever gets into his brain, he forgets honor, reputation, friend, and obligation in his mad eagerness to fill his hide with rotgut of any kind.” He went on to accuse Cody of breaking promises, saying, “He becomes so utterly lost to all sense of decency and shame that he will break his plighted word and sully his most solemn obligation.” Even in death, Salsbury’s words remained a testament to the bitter dissolution of their once-lucrative partnership.

As Salsbury’s health failed, he became increasingly paranoid that Buffalo Bill would find a way to cut his family out of the profits of the Wild West show. “All the brutal things that Cody is capable of are well known to me,” he wrote. “I want this record to stand so that when he starts in to malign me, as he will do, my friends will have my answer.” The mistrust between them had become irreparable, yet Salsbury remained with the Wild West show until his dying day, unwilling—or perhaps unable—to sever ties completely. His family, however, did not share his attachment. When he passed in 1902, his heirs moved quickly to protect what was left of his legacy, selling off his interests in the show and ensuring that Buffalo Bill would no longer have control over Salsbury’s share of the profits.

Another significant rift occurred between Cody and Doc Carver, a sharpshooter and showman who initially partnered with him to launch the Wild West spectacle. Carver’s ego matched Cody’s, and their differing visions for the show led to an early split. While Carver saw himself as an equal partner, Cody ultimately sought a larger spotlight. Carver, embittered, went on to create his own show, claiming that he was the true mastermind behind the Wild West performance. The rivalry between the two became personal, with Carver challenging Cody’s version of events and attempting to outdo him in the show circuit. Carver’s bitterness persisted long after their partnership dissolved, and he spent years trying to compete with the Wild West’s enduring popularity.

Despite these conflicts, Buffalo Bill’s charisma kept his name at the forefront of entertainment. However, his poor business sense and fractured relationships left him vulnerable. After Salsbury’s death, Cody’s financial troubles worsened, forcing him into questionable business deals that led to the eventual loss of control over his own show. He had once been the undisputed star of a global phenomenon, but by the twilight of his career, he was a performer in another man’s circus, haunted by the ghosts of his past feuds and failures.

About The Editor

 

Gene Stevens, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, is an American author, historian, and blogger known for his work in historical crime literature and his engaging online presence under the pseudonym G.C. Stevens. With a deep passion for uncovering the untold stories of America's past, Stevens has carved a unique niche as a writer and researcher, blending meticulous historical detail with gripping narrative storytelling. His most notable work, A Fiendish Crime, explores the true story of the first train robbery in the American West, showcasing his ability to bring forgotten events to life with vivid prose and a keen eye for historical context.
Stevens’ journey to authorship was shaped by a diverse and adventurous life. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Naval Reserves and Army National Guard, he transitioned into a career in law enforcement. Over the years,  he served as a patrol officer, juvenile officer, and D.A.R.E. instructor. His experiences in security, law enforcement and military police training—provided him with a unique perspective on crime and justice, which he channels into his writing.
As G.C. Stevens, he maintains a blog titled Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association, where he delves into topics ranging from Wild West mysteries to Civil War history. His posts reflect his extensive travels across the United States, visiting historic sites, and his dedication to genealogy, tracing his family’s roots back to Ireland and England. Stevens’ love for history extends beyond the page—he spent over three decades as a living historian, reenacting periods from the Revolutionary War to World War II.

In addition to A Fiendish Crime, Stevens has authored other works, including Red Flag of Defiance, about the Black Hawk War, and the semi-fictional Ten Eycke Chronicles: Return to Tombstone. Now residing in Des Moines, Iowa, where he runs a private investigative company, Stevens continues to explore the intersections of history, crime, and human experience. Married in Tombstone, Arizona, in 2017, he lives with his wife and remains an avid researcher, traveler, and storyteller, committed to preserving the past for modern readers.

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Gene Stevens Wild West Anthology

The author associated with the "Wild West Anthology" is Gene Stevens, a historian, author, and former law enforcement officer. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, originally named Eugene Curtis Stawinski, and was raised in Chicago after his mother passed away when he was six years old. Stevens served in the United States Navy from 1978 to 1982, completing basic training at Great Lakes Naval Base and serving aboard the USS Wichita AOR-1, where he participated in operations during the Iran Hostage Crisis and assisted in rescuing Vietnamese refugees. He later served in the US Naval Reserves, the Illinois National Guard, and various law enforcement agencies, including the Fox River Grove and Spring Grove Police Departments in Illinois, where he held roles such as Patrol Officer, Juvenile Officer, and D.A.R.E. Officer.

Stevens is a genealogist who traced his family's roots back to Ireland and England, and he is a descendant of the Curtis family who settled in Illinois in the 1830s. He is a living historian who has reenacted historical periods from the Revolutionary War to World War II. He has written numerous articles on Western history and self-published several books, including Red Flag of Defiance, which details the first battle of the Black Hawk War, The Battle for Apple River Fort, and A Fiendish Crime, the true story of the first train robbery in the West. He is also the author of the semi-fictional Ten Eycke Chronicles: Return to Tombstone. His work often focuses on the American West, with topics including the history of the Santa Fe Trail, Old West ranching, and the lives of figures like Wyatt Earp and Jesse James. He and his wife were married in Tombstone, Arizona, in 2017.

Stevens is the founder of the Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association and maintains a blog where he shares his research and historical narratives. He has been recognized with several military and civilian awards, including the Navy Battle E, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Medal. He currently owns a private investigative company in the Des Moines, Iowa, region. While he is known for his historical non-fiction, the "Wild West Anthology" likely refers to his body of work featured in his blog and publications, which explore the history and legends of the American frontier

John Wayne Birthday Bulletin. May 23th, 24th & 25th

 

Save the date for the 10th Anniversary of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset Iowa.

For more details visit the John Wayne Birthplace Museum web page

Now Available: Dusty Trails of the Old West Anthology

Now available from

Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

Dusty Trails Books;

Dusty Trails of the Old West Anthology.

 Stories of the wild west

Kindle

Hardcover 

Paperback

 

Jesses James Wins 3 to 1 by G.C. Stevens

     Note the card on the right, this is known as the "guerilla photo" and is widely recognized as  a confirmed photo Jesse James.

All photos taken by the Author 

*Location: I-35 SB, on the Iowa/ Missouri Border. 

With the weather getting better, from sub zero temps to 55 degrees here in central Iowa. I decided to take a short road trip into Missouri. Just off I-35 on the Missouri Iowa border is a great visitor center with an on duty receptionist. This visitor center is packed wall to wall with travel tourist booklets and brochures. I took a few minutes looked around for stuff on historical sites and civil war battle fields.  Missouri played an important part in the war. As did other historical events.  But I found that once you entered Missouri,  you were in Jesse James Territory. After looking the visitor center room, I found that most historic sites but one brochure.  And Jesse James had three, each for different sites. Jesse's Birthplace, the Jesse James Bank Museum  and the his home in St. JO Where he was killed.

Jesse James : Kin folk by G.C. Stevens

                             The following information was provided by Patrick Meguiar. 

                                       William Martin 

                     Was a Confederate, and he helped (Cousin) Jesse James with 

                                       training his horses He was a 2nd cousin 

                              of Robert Sallee James who was Jesse's father.