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Cole Younger: Last of the Great Outlaws
Violence dictated the daily rhythms of Cole Younger’s life. During the Civil War he was selected to join Quantrill’s Raiders because he owned his own revolver. His participation in the brutal 1863 raid on Lawrence, Kansas, drove him and other guerrillas into hiding as Union troops sought to punish the perpetrators of atrocities including the murder of women and children.
Younger met up with Jesse James in 1866. The James and Younger families cooperated in a series of bank and train robberies over the next decade that led to a feeling of invincibility. That feeling came to an end in Northfield, Minnesota, when local citizens killed two of the gang and wounded most of the others. Cole and his younger brothers were captured, tried, and sentenced to life in the Minnesota State Penitentiary. But even a life sentence could not keep Younger in prison.
Despite a career that included thirty wounds, battles with Pinkerton detectives and Yankees, an affair with outlaw Belle Starr, and a near-fatal confrontation with Jesse James, Cole Younger survived to become a living legend in his home state of Missouri. He died peacefully, a free man.
Younger met up with Jesse James in 1866. The James and Younger families cooperated in a series of bank and train robberies over the next decade that led to a feeling of invincibility. That feeling came to an end in Northfield, Minnesota, when local citizens killed two of the gang and wounded most of the others. Cole and his younger brothers were captured, tried, and sentenced to life in the Minnesota State Penitentiary. But even a life sentence could not keep Younger in prison.
Despite a career that included thirty wounds, battles with Pinkerton detectives and Yankees, an affair with outlaw Belle Starr, and a near-fatal confrontation with Jesse James, Cole Younger survived to become a living legend in his home state of Missouri. He died peacefully, a free man.
250 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 9, 2011
Cole Younger was one of the most successful outlaws who got their start as Confederate bushwhackers. Like Frank and Jesse James and a whole crowd of lesser names, Younger learned to ride and shoot and steal in Missouri's bitter Civil War. He became a legend, and tales of his exploits made fireside conversation in Missouri and other states for generations.
Homer Croy (1883-1965) grew up on those tales. He grew up not too far from the James farm so he heard a lot of them. Reading this book is a bit like sitting by a fire in a little cabin in the woods, hearing some oldtimer spin stories. It's hugely entertaining, but it's not history.
Croy writes in a homey, informal sort of way, often slipping out of the narrative to talk about his own experiences researching this book. He talked to many people who knew Cole Younger, and this adds a huge amount of value to his work.
He's weak on the facts, though. For example, he has Quantrill dying a few months after the Lawrence Massacre, when in fact he lived until 1865. He has Jim Younger getting shot through the jaw during the Northfield holdup, when actually he received that injury two weeks later when cornered by a posse. He also says the film Under the Black Flag was about Cole. I've seen it and it's about Jesse James, played by his son Jesse James, Jr. Croy obviously didn't see the picture, which is good for him because it was terrible.
Croy also repeats the legend of Cole Younger and Belle Starr being lovers. This has been disproved. It was Cole's uncle who had a brief affair with Belle.
But legends are what this book is about. Croy spins a fun tale, and as long as you don't take it as history, or at least reliable history, it's a highly entertaining read.
Homer Croy (1883-1965) grew up on those tales. He grew up not too far from the James farm so he heard a lot of them. Reading this book is a bit like sitting by a fire in a little cabin in the woods, hearing some oldtimer spin stories. It's hugely entertaining, but it's not history.
Croy writes in a homey, informal sort of way, often slipping out of the narrative to talk about his own experiences researching this book. He talked to many people who knew Cole Younger, and this adds a huge amount of value to his work.
He's weak on the facts, though. For example, he has Quantrill dying a few months after the Lawrence Massacre, when in fact he lived until 1865. He has Jim Younger getting shot through the jaw during the Northfield holdup, when actually he received that injury two weeks later when cornered by a posse. He also says the film Under the Black Flag was about Cole. I've seen it and it's about Jesse James, played by his son Jesse James, Jr. Croy obviously didn't see the picture, which is good for him because it was terrible.
Croy also repeats the legend of Cole Younger and Belle Starr being lovers. This has been disproved. It was Cole's uncle who had a brief affair with Belle.
But legends are what this book is about. Croy spins a fun tale, and as long as you don't take it as history, or at least reliable history, it's a highly entertaining read.
January 15, 2022
I am fascinated by the outlaws from the old west and after watching the movie ‘The Long Riders’, Cole younger definitely seemed interesting. This book makes him a regular man and is written as if Cole is his hero. But it’s a good, informative book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews