USA
(St Louis Taylor Copying Co.
/ Library of Congress)
Outlaw Jesse James was around seventeen when this portrait was taken towards the latter part of the American Civil War. At this time, Jesse and his brother Frank had joined the confederate guerrilla outfit led by ‘Bloody Bill’ Anderson. All three were participants in the Centralia Massacre, during which their group killed or wounded more than twenty Union troops, all unarmed.
After the war, James gained fame and notoriety as a bank, train and coach robber in the James-Younger gang. Killed by Robert Ford, a member of his own gang, in 1882, Jesse and his gang became popular heroes in ‘Dime’ novels, published even when he was alive.
‘Dear Sir: I and my brother Frank are charged with the crime of killing the cashier and robbing the bank at Gallatin, Mo., Dec. 7th, 1869. When I think I can get a fair trial, I will surrender myself to the civil authorities of Missouri. But I never will surrender to be mobbed by a set of bloodthirsty poltroons. It is true that during the war I was a Confederate soldier, and fought under the black flag, but since then I have lived a peaceable citizen, and obeyed the laws of the United States to the best of my knowledge.
Respectfully,
Jesse W. James’
Letter to the Liberty Tribune from Jesse James, June 24, 1870
