Customer Reviews

Six Years with the Texas Rangers, 1875 to 1881

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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."

First-hand accounts are always the best and this, although written by a non-writer, is very entertaining and quite readable. Well worth the price.

Gillett provides an honest and detailed account of the life of a Texas Ranger as he lived it. He's proud of the Rangers and what they accomplished, but not afraid to call attention to low points he witnessed. It illuminates the difficulties the frontiersmen faced on a daily basis that we can scarcely comprehend now. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

While not affecting the readability to any real extent, the Kindle version showed artifacts of having been "scanned" in. For example, page titles/headings breaking up paragraphs and OCR errors on characters ("C"s scanned as "G"s, etc.) However, as I never read the paperback, it's possible the issues are present in the manuscript as well.

Dry and matter-of-fact telling of his time serving with the Texas Rangers, but nevertheless interesting and historically accurate. Gillet's not a master story-teller, but it sure is interesting to get the straight story of how it really was. Lonesome Dove without the romance.

Another customer review used the word 'laconic,' and it is apt. The author could have said more than he did, but he was writing for readers of an earlier time, who must have known more about the frontier than most of us do today.

This book is a compelling and entertaining first-hand account of one of Texas' most revered lawmen of the old West. James B. Gillett's experiences in the far-western reaches of the Texas frontier make for exciting reading as he takes on the likes of the Apache chieftan Victorio, one of the last and arguably the greatest of the Apache war chiefs. Gillett recounts the day-to-day experiences of those who rode with the Rangers from 1875-1881. From the Mason County War to encounters with the likes of outlaw Sam Bass, this book captures the excitement and the aura of the real Texas near the end of the nineteenth century. For the reader who yearns for the smell of wet saddle leather and gunsmoke, Gillette delivers on a most memorable note.

Gillett has lived a wonderful life. I have read many Texas Rangers books and this one is very good. You have to understand the absolute bravery of the Texas Ranger and the lack of any fear. Never in the book does any weakness raise it's head and at the same time never does Gillett take on the attitude of, "I shot a bear". I have fowarded the book to my son in Chicago. I don't think he shares my admiration for the Ranger force, but someday he will.