Frontier Legends | Bass Reeves | 3
Summary
This episode of American History Tellers profiles Bass Reeves, a former slave who became one of the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshals in the West. Host Lindsey Graham details Reeves’ legendary career in Indian Territory, where he used disguises and marksmanship to arrest over 3,000 outlaws. The story covers his wrongful murder charge, his arrest of his own son, and his eventual retirement as Oklahoma achieved statehood.
Topics discussed
Intro, live tour announcement, and podcast sponsorships
Bass Reeves' early life, slavery, and escape to Indian Territory
Judge Parker, the Fort Smith jurisdiction, and Reeves' recruitment
Reeves' disguises and the arrest of fugitive Jim Webb
The manhunt and final confrontation with Jim Webb
Reeves' wrongful murder charge, trial, and acquittal
Policing the border, racial dynamics, and the arrest of his son
Family tragedies, retirement, and Reeves' legacy
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