Ben Thompson : Portrait of a Gunfighter / by Thomas C. Bicknell and Chuck Parsons ; foreword by Robert K. DeArment.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bicknell, Thomas C., 1952- author.

Parsons, Chuck, author.

Series:

A.C. Greene series ; no. 20.

A.C. Greene series ; number 20

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Thompson, Texas Ben, 1842-1884.

Thompson, Texas Ben.

Frontier and pioneer life--Texas.

Frontier and pioneer life.

Peace officers--Texas--Biography.

Peace officers.

Gunfighters--Texas--Biography.

Gunfighters.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (689 pages).

Place of Publication:

Denton, Texas : University of North Texas Press, [2018]

Summary:

Ben Thompson was a remarkable man, and few Texans can claim to have crowded more excitement, danger, drama, and tragedy into their lives than he did. He was an Indian fighter, Texas Ranger, Confederate cavalryman, mercenary for a foreign emperor, hired gun for a railroad, an elected lawman, professional gambler, and the victor of numerous gunfights. As a leading member of the Wild West's sporting element, Ben Thompson spent most of his life moving in the unsavory underbelly of the West: saloons, dance-houses, billiard halls, bordellos, and gambling dens. During these travels many of the Wild West's most famous icons--Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin, John Ringo, and Buffalo Bill Cody--became acquainted with Ben Thompson. Some of these men called him a friend; others considered him a deadly enemy. In life and in death no one ever doubted Ben Thompson's courage; one Texas newspaperman asserted he was "perfectly fearless, a perfect lion in nature when aroused." This willingness to trust his life to his expertise with a pistol placed Thompson prominently among the western frontier's most flamboyant breed of men: gunfighters.

Contents:

The last of England

The Civil War years

A guerrilla chieftain south of the border

A presidential pardon

On to Abilene

Tragedy in Ellsworth

White affidavits

Ben Thompson on Ben Thompson

A little Christmas frolic

Shooting up Austin

Hired gun

A high old time in San Antonio

The best city marshal in Texas

Gunfire at the Vaudeville

A last visit to Galveston

Hellish business

Epilogue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-57441-741-X

OCLC:

1048621375