“Wyatt Earp Couldn’t Be a Patch on His Pants.”
Bass the Brave
Image: “Bass Reeves,” by James Loveless
More than the 3 guardsmen or the Earps, Bass Reeves, the first Black Deputy United States Marshal in American history was the most feared lawman of the old west. Standing a muscular 6‘2“ tall, he was was relentless and absolutely formidable. Alive or on a stretcher, Reeves always got his man, no matter how long it took, or how arduous the task. No sensible outlaw messed with him. But some people had to find out the hard way.
In the 1870s and 1880s, the Oklahoma Indian Territory was arguably the most dangerous place in the United States, largely due to its unique legal and social circumstances. This region, originally set aside for Native American tribes relocated from their ancestral lands, became a haven for outlaws and fugitives from across the country. The lack of a structured legal system and the jurisdictional complexities between federal, tribal, and state authorities created a situation where law enforcement was minimal and often ineffective.
Image: Map of Oklahoma Indian territory. Library of Congress.
The area was rife with violence, including feuds, land disputes, robberies, and other crimes. Outlaws found it relatively easy to hide within the territory's vast, rugged landscapes and among its diverse communities, which included not only Native Americans but also settlers, cowboys, and escaped slaves. The notorious “Five Civilized Tribes” (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole) governed parts of this region, but their authority was limited in dealing with non-tribal members, leading to a sort of legal no-man’s-land.
This lawlessness attracted a variety of criminal elements and made the territory a perilous place for its inhabitants. It was into this chaotic environment that figures like Bass Reeves, one of the first Black deputy U.S. marshals to serve west of the Mississippi River, stepped in. Marshals like Reeves were tasked with bringing order to the region, often facing immense danger as they pursued outlaws through the rugged terrain. Their efforts were instrumental in gradually establishing law and order in what had been a largely ungoverned and hazardous part of the United States.
Image: A lost photo thought to be of Bass Reeves as a young man in the 1870s.
Perhaps the most famous of Bass Reeves' many confrontations with criminals was his intense encounter with Bob Dozier, a notorious outlaw whose criminal activities spanned a wide range. Robert "Bob" Dozier, initially a farmer, became an outlaw facing numerous accusations in Indian Territory.
Prior to his criminal activities, Dozier had been a successful farmer. Uniquely among many Oklahoma outlaws of that era, his turn to crime wasn't driven by necessity. Instead, he seemed to have opted for this path, possibly in search of adventure or driven by greed – the exact reasons remain unclear.
What is clear, however, is that Dozier's transition into a life of crime was as effective as his farming career had been. He demonstrated considerable success in his unlawful endeavors.Dozier was infamous for his heinous crimes, including murder, cattle rustling, armed robbery of banks and stores, acting as a road agent, swindling, and horse thievery.
Essentially, if an activity was both crooked and violent, Bill Dozier was likely involved in it. His reputation as a dangerous and elusive criminal was well-established across the region.
Reeves, who was known for his relentless pursuits of justice and unmatched tracking abilities, had been on the trail of Dozier for several years. He meticulously studied Dozier's patterns, anticipating his moves, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Image: U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves sitting for a group photo with other lawmen. Reeves is in the front row, far left, holding a cane.
Alongside another deputy, Reeves embarked on a daunting mission to capture the outlaw. Their relentless pursuit led them deep into the dense thickets of the upper Cherokee Nation, a terrain challenging even for the most experienced lawmen, and their chase reached a climax during a ferocious thunderstorm.
As the two marshals navigated a wooded ravine, seeking shelter from the torrential downpour and the chaos of the storm, the atmosphere was tense. It was nearing sundown, and the fading light combined with the flashes of lightning created a surreal and perilous setting. Suddenly, a bullet whistled past Reeves' head, a clear sign that Dozier was near and ready to fight. Through the rain and shadows, Reeves glimpsed a man darting through the trees. Reacting swiftly, he fired two shots, and the shadowy figure collapsed.
Image: A picture of a hunting party that is believed to show Bass Reeves, standing, on the left-hand side. (Photo credit: True West Magazine)
However, the danger was far from over. From another direction, more gunfire erupted. Reeves, caught off guard, spun around and fell to the wet ground. He lay motionless, playing dead under the cloak of rain and darkness. After agonizing minutes, his assailant, believing Reeves to be dead, emerged cautiously from his hiding spot and approached. It was at this critical moment that Reeves, with a cocked revolver concealed beneath him, sprang up and ordered the outlaw to drop his weapons.
Image: Bass Reeves stands in the door of a boxcar on the MK&T Railroad.
Dozier, caught off guard by Reeves' cunning strategy, was momentarily stunned. However, defiant to the end, he made a final attempt to reach for his pistol. But Reeves, ever the quicker draw, shot first. Dozier was hit by a bullet in the neck and sank to his knees, marking the end of a long and arduous pursuit. The dangerous criminal who had terrorized many and eluded justice for so long was finally brought down by the legendary lawman, Bass Reeves, in a dramatic and deadly finale.
Image: Bass Reeves at the age of 67 in Muskogee on the first day of Oklahoma statehood, November 16, 1907.
This episode not only cemented Reeves' status as one of the most formidable marshals of his time but also highlighted his intelligence, bravery, and skill in the line of duty.In the words of Art T. Burton, a former history professor and author, as quoted in his book "Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves," Reeves is celebrated as "the greatest frontier hero in American history."
Image: Author Art T. Burton: his book is one of the few detailed historical accounts of Reeves’ life.
Burton further notes, "He walked into the valley of death every day for 32 years. He helped people regardless of their race, their religion or their background his entire life."
During his service, Reeves eliminated 14 outlaws and apprehended over 3000, establishing himself as the preeminent lawman of the Old West. Reflecting on this, an old man who, in his youth, had known Bass Reeves said to author Burton about Reeves legacy, “Wyatt Earp couldn’t be a patch on Bass Reeves’ pants.”
Image: This is the best known photograph of Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves
Resources
https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/the-resurrection-of-bass-reeves/
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/bob-dozier-oklahoma-outlaw/
https://thetombstonenews.com/bass-reeves-he-set-a-timeless-example-p477-84.htm
Books
Burton, Art T. Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves*. University of Nebraska Press.
Burton, Art T. *Black, Red and Deadly: Black and Indian Gunfighters of the Indian Territory, 1875–1907*. Austin, TX: Eakin Press, 1991.
Paulsen, Gary. *The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West*. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2006.
Thompson, Sydney. *Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves*. The Bass Reeves Trilogy, Book One. Bison Books, March 2020.
Thompson, Sydney. *Hell on the Border*. The Bass Reeves Trilogy, Book Two. Bison Books, April 2021.
Thompson, Sydney. *The Forsaken and the Dead*. The Bass Reeves Trilogy, Book Three. Bison Books, October 2023.