Bass Reeves (July 1838 – January 12, 1910) was a deputyU.S. Marshal, gunfighter, farmer, scout, tracker, railroad agent and an escaped enslaved person. He spoke the languages of several Native American tribes includingCherokee,Choctaw,Chickasaw,Seminole andCreek. Reeves was one of the first African-American Deputy U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi River, mostly working in the Indian Territory. The region was saturated with horse thieves, cattle rustlers, gunslingers, bandits, bootleggers, swindlers and murderers. Reeves made up to 3,000 arrests in his lifetime, killing twenty men in the line of duty.[1][2]
Reeves was born into slavery inCrawford County, Arkansas. His family were enslaved by Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. During theAmerican Civil War, his owners fought for the Confederacy. At some point, Reeves escaped and fled to Indian Territory, where he learned American Indian languages and customs, as well as tracking and survival skills. He eventually became a farmer and rancher. By 1875, Reeves was hired as a deputy U.S. Marshal along with other individuals. He was 37 years old. Reeves was well acquainted with the Indian Territory and served there for over 32 years as a peace officer, covering over 75,000 square miles in what is now Oklahoma. He was involved in several tragedies during his lifetime. He accidentally shot his cook, William Leach, which led to the court caseUnited States vs. Bass Reeves, for which he was acquitted. His first wife Jennie died in 1896, and in 1902 he had to arrest his son Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves, who was charged with murdering his wife, Castella Brown. Bennie was convicted and found guilty by a jury on January 22, 1903, in Muskogee. The presiding judge was C. W. Raymond. Bennie was sentenced to the U.S. prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for his natural life.[3] Bennie was released after eleven years in prison, and lived out the rest of his life as a model citizen.[4][5][a]
Reeves encountered some of the most ruthless outlaws of his day. His weapons of choice were theWinchester models 1873 and 1892. They were guns that conveniently fit dual-purpose handgun/rifle cartridges. He also briefly used the 1873 Colt Single Action .45 caliber Peacemaker.[6] He tracked and killed notorious outlaw Jim Webb, who had murdered over eleven people.[7] Another notorious desperado Reeves encountered was murderer and horse thief Wiley Bear. Reeves rounded him up along with his gang, which included John Simmons and Sam Lasly. Reeves was in a gunfight with the Creek desperado Frank Buck, whom he shot and killed.[3] Reeves was immortalized in popular media, including TV shows, films, novels, poems and books. He was also inducted into theTexas Trail of Fame.[8] A bronze statue of Reeves was erected in Pendergraft Park inFort Smith, Arkansas, and the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge in Oklahoma was named after the legendary lawman.[9] A life size statue of Reeves was erected and unveiled by The Three Rivers Museum on Saturday January 11, 2025 in Muskogee, Oklahoma.[10]
When theAmerican Civil War began, George Reeves joined theConfederate States Army, taking Bass with him. According to the Reeves family, at some time between 1861 and 1862, Bass attacked George Reeves following an argument during a poker card game. He escaped to Indian Territory which is now Kansas and Oklahoma. Once there, he became acquainted with the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole, learning their customs, languages, and tracking skills.[4][5][14] TheEmancipation Proclamation gave Reeves his freedom. As afreedman, Reeves returned to Arkansas and farmed nearVan Buren.[8][15][16][17][18]
Reeves and his family farmed until 1875, whenIsaac C. Parker was appointedfederal judge for theIndian Territory. Parker appointedJames F. Fagan as U.S. marshal, directing him to hire 200 deputy U.S. marshals. Fagan had heard about Reeves, who knew the Territory and could speak several Native languages.[15] He recruited him as a deputy. Reeves, age 37, was among the first Black deputies to serve west of the Mississippi River.[19]
Reeves was assigned as a deputy U.S. marshal for theWestern District of Arkansas, which had responsibility also for Indian Territory.[20] He served there until 1893. That year he transferred to theEastern District of Texas inParis, Texas, for a short while. In 1897, he was transferred again, serving at the Muskogee Federal Court in the Native Territory.[20]
Reeves worked for 32 years as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory and became one of Judge Parker's most valued deputies. Reeves brought in some of the most dangerous fugitives of the time. He was never wounded, despite having his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions.[12]
In addition to being a marksman with a rifle and revolver, Reeves developed superior detective skills during his long career. When he retired in 1907, Reeves had on his record thousands of arrests offelons, some accounts claiming over 3,000.[12][15] According to his obituary, he killed 14 outlaws to defend his life.[15] Reeves even had to arrest his son for murder.[12] Benjamin "Bennie" Reeves was charged with the murder of his wife. Despite the perpetrator being his son, Reeves insisted on the responsibility of bringing Bennie to justice. Accounts of the incident report that Bennie was captured by his father, or turned himself in. He was ultimately tried and convicted, serving 11 years atFort Leavenworth inKansas before his sentence was commuted. He reportedly lived the rest of his life as a model citizen.[12]
When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Reeves, then 68, became an officer of theMuskogee Police Department.[12] He served for two years before he became ill and retired.[15]
Reeves was once charged with murdering aposse cook. At his trial before Judge Parker, Reeves claimed to have shot the man by mistake while cleaning his gun. He was represented by former United States AttorneyW. H. H. Clayton, who was a colleague and friend. Reeves was eventually believed and acquitted, possibly based on his exceptional record.[21]
Reeves' health began to fail further after retiring. He died ofBright's disease (nephritis) on January 12, 1910.[15]
Reeves was married twice and had eleven children. In 1864 he married Nellie Jennie (d. 1896) and after her death Winnie Sumter (1900–1910). His children were named Newland, Benjamin, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice.[15][16][17][18]
Reeves is one possible inspiration for theLone Ranger, the travelling hero of western radio, TV and films; historian Art T. Burton says "Bass Reeves is the closest person to resemble the Lone Ranger" citing similarities including Reeves working with Native American partners and handing out souvenir silver dollars.[30]
Reeves is the subject of season 1, episode 3 titled "Bass Reeves: Trailblazing Lawman" (2021) in the Roku seriesWild West Chronicles
Reeves is the subject of season 2, episode 4 titled "The Real Lone Ranger" inGunslingers[31]
Reeves figures prominently in an episode ofHow It's Made, in which a Bass Reeves limited-edition collectors' figurine is shown in various stages of the production process[32]
In "The Murder of Jesse James", an episode of the television seriesTimeless (season one, episode 12), Reeves is portrayed byColman Domingo.[33]
In "Everybody Knows", a season two episode of the television seriesWynonna Earp, Reeves is portrayed byAdrian Holmes.[35]
Reeves is mentioned in the plot of "The Royal Family", a season two episode of the television seriesGreenleaf. Reeves' name is used as an alias by pastor Basie Skanks to support his church with gambling earnings.[36]
Reeves' status as one of the first black Deputy U.S. Marshals plays a significant role as a childhood role model for the character of Will Reeves in theWatchmen television series. Reeves is portrayed by Jamal Akakpo in three episodes featuring a fictional 1920s silent film based on Reeves' exploits titled "Trust in the Law".[37]
Reeves is mentioned in season 3, episode 2 of the television seriesJustified as two U.S. Marshals are discussing their all-time favorite historical U.S. Marshals.[38]
Reeves features in the "Stressed Western" episode ofLegends of Tomorrow, portrayed byDavid Ramsey. Ramsey is noted for having playedGreen Arrow's ally and confidantJohn Diggle in theArrowverse since its inception. In context, Reeves is portrayed as Diggle's ancestor whereSara Lance called him "Dig" at one point even though he thought they were digging the gunfight activities. The Legends encounter him at Fist City, Oklahoma at the time when they were pursuing the Haverack, a rage-attracted alien worm that has been excreting gold. After the Haverack was slain byAstra Logue, Reeves brought Fist City back in order.
A miniseries based on Art T. Burton's 2006 biography (and co-produced byMorgan Freeman) was reported to be under development byHBO in 2015.[40] The concept was later acquired byAmazon Studios in 2019 and ordered to series in 2022 under the titleTwin Territories.[41]
In season 34, episode 14 ofThe Simpsons, "Carl Carlson Rides Again," the character Lenny states that the TV show "The Lone Ranger" is based on Reeves.[42]
InThey Die by Dawn (2013), Reeves is portrayed byHarry Lennix.[45]
Hell on the Border is a 2019 action film based on the early law enforcement career of Reeves, starringDavid Gyasi. It was written and directed by Wes Miller and featuresRon Perlman in a supporting role.[46]
In April 2018,Amazon Studios was reported to be developing abiopic of Reeves with the script and direction helmed byChloé Zhao.[47] No subsequent announcement was made about the fate of the project.
Reeves is a playable character in theboard gameWestern Legends.[54]
In the card gameCartaventura Oklahoma, one plays the fictional escape of Bass Reeves with five possible outcomes.[55] The game also includes an insert with a summary of Bass Reeves' story.
Bass Reeves appears as a quest NPC in the video gameNightingale.[56]
Reeves was to be the playable protagonist ofBass Reeves Can't Die, a game that was being developed byStrange Scaffold [wd], the developers ofEl Paso, Elsewhere.[57]
Brady, Paul L. (2005).The Black Badge: Deputy United States Marshal Bass Reeves from Slave to Heroic Lawman. Los Angeles, Calif.: Milligan Books.ISBN0-9759654-5-X.OCLC62315198.
Burton, Arthur T. (2006).Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.ISBN0-8032-0541-4.OCLC68481191. Republished in 2022:ISBN9781496234469
^Indian Territory comprised most of what became Eastern Oklahoma on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. Reeves's former position as a deputy U.S. Marshal was abolished at that time, so he became an officer with the Muskogee Police Department, where he served for two years until he was forced to resign because of his declining health.
^Art T. Burton (April 10, 2015)."Bass Reeves". Fort Smith, Arkansas: National Park Service.Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 2, 2024.
^Burton, Art T. (November 17, 2023)."Encyclopedia of Arkansas".encyclopediaofarkansas.net.Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 2, 2024.
^ab"United States Census, 1870".FamilySearch.org. p. 10, family 75, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,550. RetrievedApril 1, 2016.Bass Reeves, Arkansas, United States
^ab"United States Census, 1880".FamilySearch.org. enumeration district ED 50, sheet 582A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0042; FHL microfilm 1,254,042. RetrievedApril 1, 2016.Bass Reeves, Van Buren, Crawford, Arkansas, United States
^ab"United States Census, 1900".FamilySearch.org. citing sheet 20B, family 468, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,853. RetrievedApril 1, 2016.Bass Reeves, Muscogee (part of M K & T Railway) Muscogee, Creek Nation, Natives Territory, United States
