jjares reviewed Legends of the West: Forgotten Sidekicks of the Wild West on + 3299 more book reviews
This book tells the stories of several forgotten sidekicks of more-famous men. This eBook was longer, which gave the author more space to explain complicated relationships and events.
Sherman McMaster was part of Wyatt Earp's Vendetta Ride, which was a federal posse going after a loose confederation of outlaw 'cowboys.' US Marshall Wyatt Earp's Ride was precipitated by Virgil and Morgan Earp being ambushed. Virgil was maimed and Morgan was killed.
Texas Jack Vermillion -- was also known as "Shoot-Your-Eye-Out" Vermillion was a gunfighter and known for participating in the Wyatt Earp Vendetta Ride. Later, he was associated with the con artist and very dishonest Soapy Smith.
'Bloody Bill' Anderson -- was one of the most deadly and notorious pro-Confederate guerrilla leaders in the Civil War. He was an associate of Quantrill's Raiders, who targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in Missouri and Kansas. He was a 'Bushwacker' who loved to kill. He never spared a man's life.
Jim Anderson -- was beside his older brother, 'Bloody Bill's' side. The two Andersons started out as horse thieves. But with unrest in both Missouri and Kansas, they started taking advantage of the chaos. In 1863, both Andersons joined William Quantrill, destroying infrastructure, killing, burning, and scalping.
The story of Jesse and Frank James and the Younger Brothers is particularly poignant. It explains why they came to hate the Union so much. The Union soldiers, hoping to stop some of the bushwacking, gathered about 25 women into a rickety, two-story house that fell in ruin. Josephine James, three Younger sisters, and two Younger cousins were in the building when it came down. Only 5 women survived. Quantrill's guerillas believed the Union soldiers did it on purpose. They decided to attack Lawrence, Kansas in retribution.
After their time with Quantrill's Raiders, the Youngers and the James started robbing banks.
Doc Scurlock was a fellow-outlaw with Billy the Kid. They were important participants in the Lincoln County War. Lincoln County, New Mexico was so corrupt that 15 % of the murders in the US occurred there in the 1870s, in spite of their sparse population. The blood feud lasted until November 1878. In 1879, Scurlock gave away his guns (weary of war and fighting), moved back to Texas and lived 30 more years. In 1881, Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid.
Sherman McMaster was part of Wyatt Earp's Vendetta Ride, which was a federal posse going after a loose confederation of outlaw 'cowboys.' US Marshall Wyatt Earp's Ride was precipitated by Virgil and Morgan Earp being ambushed. Virgil was maimed and Morgan was killed.
Texas Jack Vermillion -- was also known as "Shoot-Your-Eye-Out" Vermillion was a gunfighter and known for participating in the Wyatt Earp Vendetta Ride. Later, he was associated with the con artist and very dishonest Soapy Smith.
'Bloody Bill' Anderson -- was one of the most deadly and notorious pro-Confederate guerrilla leaders in the Civil War. He was an associate of Quantrill's Raiders, who targeted Union loyalists and federal soldiers in Missouri and Kansas. He was a 'Bushwacker' who loved to kill. He never spared a man's life.
Jim Anderson -- was beside his older brother, 'Bloody Bill's' side. The two Andersons started out as horse thieves. But with unrest in both Missouri and Kansas, they started taking advantage of the chaos. In 1863, both Andersons joined William Quantrill, destroying infrastructure, killing, burning, and scalping.
The story of Jesse and Frank James and the Younger Brothers is particularly poignant. It explains why they came to hate the Union so much. The Union soldiers, hoping to stop some of the bushwacking, gathered about 25 women into a rickety, two-story house that fell in ruin. Josephine James, three Younger sisters, and two Younger cousins were in the building when it came down. Only 5 women survived. Quantrill's guerillas believed the Union soldiers did it on purpose. They decided to attack Lawrence, Kansas in retribution.
After their time with Quantrill's Raiders, the Youngers and the James started robbing banks.
Doc Scurlock was a fellow-outlaw with Billy the Kid. They were important participants in the Lincoln County War. Lincoln County, New Mexico was so corrupt that 15 % of the murders in the US occurred there in the 1870s, in spite of their sparse population. The blood feud lasted until November 1878. In 1879, Scurlock gave away his guns (weary of war and fighting), moved back to Texas and lived 30 more years. In 1881, Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid.
