In this Book
- The Horrell Wars: Feuding in Texas and New Mexico
- Book
- 2014
- Published by: University of North Texas Press
- Series: A. C. Greene Series
summary
For decades the Horrell brothers of Lampasas, Texas, have been portrayed as ruthless killers and outlaws, but author David Johnson paints a different picture of these controversial men. The Horrells were ranchers, and while folklore has encouraged the belief that they built their herds by rustling, contemporary records indicate a far different picture. The family patriarch, Sam Horrell, was slain at forty-eight during a fight with Apaches in New Mexico. One Horrell son died in Confederate service; of the remaining six brothers, five were shot to death. Only Sam, Jr., lived to old age and died of natural causes. Johnson covers the Horrells and their wars from cradle to grave. Their initial confrontation with the State Police at Lampasas in 1873 marked the most disastrous shootout in Reconstruction history and in the history of the State Police. The brothers and loyal friends then fled to New Mexico, where they became entangled in what would later evolve into the violent Lincoln County War. Their contribution, known to history as the Horrell War, has racial overtones in addition to the violence that took place in Lincoln County. The brothers returned to Texas where in time they became involved in the Horrell-Higgins War. The family was nearly wiped out following the feud when two of the brothers were killed by a mob in Bosque County. Johnson presents an up-to-date account of these wars and incidents while maintaining a neutral stance necessary for historical books dealing with feuds. He also includes previously unpublished photographs of the Horrell family and others.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- List of Figures
- pp. ix-x
- Introduction
- pp. xv-xix
- Chapter 3: “The Lampasas Horror”
- pp. 31-44
- Chapter 5: “Begged for Mercy”
- pp. 59-70
- Chapter 8: “Didn’t Fire a Shot”
- pp. 95-106
- Chapter 10: “A Shooting Picnic at Lampasas”
- pp. 121-132
- Chapter 11: “Bloody Murder in Bosque”
- pp. 133-144
- Chapter 12: “This Saturnalia of Blood”
- pp. 145-160
- Afterword: “A Shocking Murder”
- pp. 161-168
- Appendix 1
- pp. 169-172
- Appendix 2
- pp. 173-174
- Appendix 3
- pp. 175-176
- Selected Works Consulted
- pp. 223-238
Additional Information
ISBN
9781574415605
Related ISBN(s)
9781574415506
MARC Record
OCLC
884035554
Pages
240
Launched on MUSE
2014-07-19
Language
English
Open Access
No