Six Years with the Texas Rangers, 1875 to 1881 [Paperback]

James B. Gillett (Author), Milo Milton Quaife (Editor, Introduction), Oliver Knight (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1976

When James B. Gillett joined the newly created Texas Rangers in 1875, its duties were as varied and its members as unorthodox as its methods were irregular.

First published in 1921, Gillett's now classic account of his six years of service depicts with freshness and authenticity how the Rangers maintained law and order on the frontier—and occasionally dispensed summary justice. From the Mason County War to the Horrell-Higgins feud, the capture of Sam Bass, and the pursuit of Victorio's rebellious Apaches, Gillett saw the kind of action that established the Rangers' enduring reputation for effectiveness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

His narrative "combines all the excitement of a Western yellowback with the genuineness of a first-hand document"--"Saturday Review"

Product Details

• Paperback: 281 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books (August 1, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803258445
• ISBN-13: 978-0803258440
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,115,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An authentic, exciting slice of frontier life, July 10, 1999

By 

R. Brecht (Philadelphia, Pa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Six Years with the Texas Rangers, 1875 to 1881 (Paperback)

This is an enduring document of life on the frontier in a company of Texas Rangers. Every laconic sentence has the ring of authenticity from the pursuit of Sam Bass to the last battles with the brilliant Apache war chieften, Victorio. It is a fine, tough little book, just like its author. And you'll know when you finish why the Texas Rangers were so widely feared and respected in the 1870's and 80's.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Life of a Texas Ranger, June 2, 2006

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Six Years with the Texas Rangers 1875 to 1881 (Paperback)

James B. Gillett became a Texas Ranger in the Frontier Battalion in 1875 at the age of 19 after growing up on ranches near Austin and Lampasas. This book, written long after he had left the Rangers for ranch life mainly near Alpine, Texas, is a reminiscent account of his experiences while serving with the Rangers (1875-1881). He says in the Preface that he will write only about what he personally experienced and not try to write a history of the Texas Rangers, a task he feels unqualified to do; he is mostly faithful to that endeavor, though some events (the "Salt Lake War" near El Paso, for example) were not actually witnessed first-hand by Gillett. Some other major episodes related include the killing of Sam Bass (some of the details regarding Bass appear to be embellishments), the escorting of John Wesley Hardin to prison, capturing the murderous Baca brothers, and conducting numerous raids against the Apaches. Gillett writes in a straightforward, matter-of-fact style, and his memory for events and people encountered decades earlier is impressive. He doesn't embellish too much in his recounting, and he has the knack of telling a story interestingly and with authority. One comes away from the book with a very good idea of what made the Rangers tick and some of the difficulties they were up against. It would be hard to ask for anything more.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best down-to-earth tales you'll ever read., January 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Six Years with the Texas Rangers, 1875 to 1881 (Paperback)

By the end of the book you smell gunpower on the breeze and sense indians behind every tree. A real must for the Texas historian who wants the sensation of "being there."