The Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace: The Texas Ranger and Hunter

by John Crittenden Duval

The thrilling adventures of traveler, rancher, and fighter “Big-Foot” Wallace in a bygone era of the American frontier.

Amid the embroiling conflicts of frontiersmen, Mexicans, and war in Texas, 1837, William “Big-Foot” Wallace left his hometown of Virginia to avenge the deaths of his brother and cousin, soldiers executed by Mexicans. Upon joining the Texas Rangers, Wallace was swept into the clashes at Salado Creek, Hondo River, and the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War.

Measuring at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, Big-Foot Wallace embodied the iron nerves and indomitable spirit of the Texan frontiersman. In one of his most famous and harrowing experiences during the Mier expedition, Wallace was captured by the Mexican army, blindfolded, and forced to draw from a pot of black and white beans to determine whether he would be imprisoned or executed. Wallace drew a white bean and lived. After the war, he returned from the wilderness to clean, civilized Virginia, and spent the rest of his days as a storytelling, yarn-spinning rancher.

John Duval, fellow Texas Ranger and Wallace’s best friend, gives a thrilling but factual account of the man’s life in a simple but engaging narrative style, combining action, suspense, and dry Texan humor. Wallace’s hairbreadth escapes and larger-than-life story are the perfect representation of the Old West in all its perils, comedy, and romance.

Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Westerns, Biography Memoir, Adventure

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1870

About the author

John Crittenden Duval (1816–1897) was an American writer of Texas literature. He has been noted as being the first Texas man of letters and was dubbed the "Father of Texas Literature" by J. Frank Dobie. His Early Times in Texas was initially published serially in 1867 in Burke's Weekly (Macon, Georgia) and was finally published in book form in 1892. The story, which became a Texas classic, recounted Duval's escape from the Goliad Massacre, in which his own brother Burr H. Duval was killed, as well as other tales.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Chad A. Pentecost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old west at its best

Any fan of westerns or historical fiction will enjoy this book. There are some racial slurs in the book so be prepared for those. Entertaining, exciting and educational.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts very slow. Tenderfoot comes to Texas. Kills a deer and a bear. Gets lost. Kills an Indian. Gets captured and then adopted by a bereaved squaw. All told in a super laid-back style, like it was normal.

It picks-up in the middle, with the Mier Expedition. One of several/many clashes between Texas and Mexico. Hundreds of Texans and allies were held in Mexico for well over a year, in unhappy conditions. Some escaped. Santa Anna ordered all the escapees to be executed, but compromised for decimation, a 1 in 10 lottery: 17 black beans were put in a pot of white beans, and the men who drew black beans were executed. Much myth-making here. Although the book was written to sell, as entertainment, this passage is apparently as historical as we can expect, seen through the memory of an old man.

Along the way BigFoot insults almost everybody, in words we do not use today. He made deals with some indians but if they broke the pact he punished them with insults and bullets. Twice he goes off on "Negros" (not his word). Then on and on about greasers (Mexicans); I know that long imprisonment does not make friends but he really gets into his subject. Later he goes back East and doesn't like everybody there (and soon returns to Texas), but not in such detail as Indians, Negros, and Mexicans.

Still in all, one angle of the complexities of Texas history, and worth reading for background flavor.

[Andy Herzfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Duval has thoroughly researched Big-Foot Wallace a legendary Texas Ranger. He writes this book as if Big-Foot is telling the story and he is his own story. This is a gritty, determined hard charging frontiersman who fought Indians, Mexicans and Outlaws. This takes place before the Texas Rangers were formally established back then a group of capable men were rounded up to chase down the horse thieves or whoever it may be. Great detail in the struggles and the fights with Mexico and being a prisoner of the Mexican Army. Lots of thirst and heat and endless desert. He comes out on top and there is a surprising amount of really hilarious humor in this book that keeps you laughing as Big Foot tells on himself and others. Excellent book.

[Jason Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big-Foot Wallace admittedly liked to "stretch the blanket" when telling stories, but also was known as a fundamentally honest person. The result is a charming and informative autobiographical series of narratives that give a real insight into the life and adventures of a Texas Ranger that should be taken with a grain of salt.
The account is certainly entertaining, and I recognize it as source material for McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series that I am also rereading and watching.
The reader should note that Wallace has 19th century southern and frontier sensibilities and would be classified a racist in today's world, but it should be remembered that many of us are classified as racists, so there is that.
Anyone who is interested in the life and times of the True West, this is a "must read."

[Doug Adamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read that provokes a number of reactions. One can empathize with the suffering and hardship Wallace endured when captured by the Mexican army when he and 200 others tried to capture the town of Mier. Much misery ensued. One wants to laugh with/at Wallace's seeming naiveté when travelling from Texas back to Lexington, Virginia. One is dismayed, if not appalled at the casual and repeated racism on the part of Wallace against Blacks, Mexicans, and Indians. At times, one wonders how true some of the tales are. Let the reader beware.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lengthy vignettes of a brief interlude in time now passed.

This is not a history book nor a scholarly writing. The value of this book is in the descriptions of events that are obviously enhanced for reader enjoyment. An entertaining read.

[LyleStiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wuz good readin'

This is one of those books that you can not put down. If you love real history and the early American west, this is for you. Told in the way of a adventurous old timmer, spinning a yarn about his younger days, over a campfire under the stars.

[Jennings Reveley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun listening to Big Foot. I would have loved to meet him.

Probably tells the story of the Wild West as it really was. One can only imagine the hostility felt as the Indians saw their way of life disappearing.

[Brenda Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's interesting to read about the early days of the Republic of Texas, but Wallace is also very racist.

[John Rhoads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adventure is as adventure was

As I stand on a pair of size 13's the trials of big-foot are not unfamiliar to me. The adventures though are truly a big deal...

[Bigbill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The language and attitude was a refreshing change. Enjoyed learning more about "Big-Foot" and the history of Teas that he imparted in this book.

[Doris Raines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but too racist for me.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. I typically like true stories over fiction. It was interesting to hear from this perspective.

[Mark Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A right fun read and historical too

I could not put this yarn down. Duval is correct about the intresting life Bigfoot Wallace lived in early Texas.

[Trey Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Well written and a great read. Good for anyone interested in the lore of the old west. I highly recommend.

[Kenneth W Ortensie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read.

I just enjoyed reading this book and following the many adventures of Big Foot. Big Foot hand at farming is even true today in Texas.

[Jonno · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastical tale. Based in a little truth. It was amusing and ironic to read Munchausen's name in the book!

[linda stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

This is about as honest and down to earth as you can get. Loved the rhetoric. Loved the humor. Hated for it to end.

[Babs M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this type of books and of course Big Foot is legend.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly readable. Very entertaining. Some absolutely wild adventure history here. Surprised I haven’t heard this legend before. Great read., Better than the rating suggests

[MICHAEL D. CASTLE · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review comes from my brother-in-law, who is doing the reading of this non-fiction book. He reads primarily non-fiction, mostly military history genre. As he was finished reading about USMC Col. Chesty Puller, he wanted something a bit different, but still of historical significance, so I picked this book out for him. He is a fairly common reader, as far as speed goes, and is moving rapidly through this book. He really likes it, and I can hear him chuckling from time to time as he moves through this book on Ranger Wallace. He tells me this is a fascinating history of a part of American history of which he has marginal knowledge or experience. When he is finished with the book, I'm going to take it up and fill another corner of my brain with this Texas history. If you are interested in this time of our country's history, this one will give you a fascinating glimpse into what life was like in early Texas.

[Wesley Frizzell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed that he didn't tell us more about his rangering experiences. Otherwise, interesting for someone who lives not too far from his early foray into the frontier.

[Suzanne Hencken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book interesting chiefly for the fact that it was written in 1871. It presents a picture of the times, I think a lot of it has the air of "tall tales" about it. The most interesting to me were the chapters that dealt with his time of capture in Mexico. This book would be judged racist by today's standards, the reader must keep in mind that it was written in a different time. A lot of the terminology is interesting, for instance he refers to pants as pantaloons and includes a lot of what was probably current slang for that time such as "slick back quarter".

[Jerimy Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guy is too funny. His laid-back sense of humor had me laughing throughout the entire book. He's a killer of Native Americans which I shouldn't think is too funny because I have Wyandot and sioux blood in my own veins, but his stories and expressions are hilarious. He's also very racist when it comes to black people, but it's hard not to laugh. His expression, "I wish to be kicked to death by grasshoppers." and other idioms are classic.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reprint of the 1871 dime novel that is said to tell the life of Texas legend William A. "Big-Foot" Wallace. It is written in the popular style of the period like other works about frontier notables. The author interjects himself deeply into the story. There are historical inaccuracies in the work.

[Keith Beddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in a very formal style but gien the time it was written not surprising. A lot of things in it would be shocking to 21st Century readers but were accepted as normality
at the time. Wallace comes across as a quiet resourceful and courageous man. A good read.

[Vince Pillig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Good read about the Mexican army and being captured by them . Would've liked to heard more about Texas and the Indians.