James-Younger Gang's Drunken Downfall

Bob Boze Bell tells the truth about the Battle of Northfield on September 7, 1876 when the James-Younger Gang went face-to-face with the Townsmen of Northfield and lost possibly as a result of alcohol.
Bob Boze Bell is known as America's Western Storyteller. He is an artist, author, writer and serves as executive editor of True West magazine. Bell is a popular, sought-after figure in television documentaries about the Old West, appearing as an expert in dozens of Wild West history shows. Bell won an Emmy Award as Executive Producer of the PBS special, Outrageous Arizona, a zany look at the state's centennial, that he also wrote and helped direct. As an author, Bell has brought to life Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok in his best-selling Illustrated Life and Times series. His books Classic Gunfights I, II and III are must-reads about the most important Old West gunfights. Bell’s Bad Men is now in its fourth printing, while his illustrated autobiography, The 66 Kid: Raised on the Mother Road, gives personal insight into the passions that have driven him on his lifelong quest to interpret the history of the American West for audiences around the world.
This classic gunfight, along with many more, can be found in Bob Boze Bell’s Classic Gunfights Volume I. Even more can be found in Classic Gunfights Volume II, Classic Gunfights Volume III, or the Classic Gunfights I, II, and III Complete Set.
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[@7colliemac]

I’m from Australia.. my dad (RIP) was a western fanatic. He would have loved your stories as I do & would have bought your book. You watch movies & don’t know how accurate it is.

[@vernonpurdy8607]

My grandfather put coffee cans on the fence posts and perforated the bottom so when he put grease or old oil would drain slowly on the post so it would preserve the wooden post.

[@robappleby583]

Correct! I was about to say the same thing.

[@jerrys2745]

Wow very interesting factoid.

[@JenGa001]

Mine too... it's very common where I live

[@johnpogz9523]

I have seen it, but it it never registered it was old old cans though. That's pretty genius.

[@KingsleykSkorzeny]

Thanks, Thats a fine idea, make ya fence last a long time.

[@ShaneReynolds0421]

New fan, here 😎👍🏼 keep ‘em coming. I’m 30, now. I enjoy listening to men wiser than me explain their interests. So much knowledge; It’s awesome.

[@CharlesinGA]

My Great, great, grandfather (my dad's father's mother's father) George Crutchley, was a doctor in Hardin (Ray Co) and Norborne (Carroll Co) in Missouri and was reputed to have doctored on the James and Younger gang on occasions when one of them got shot or injured. I have much of the furniture from his home, and we still have one of his leather doctors bags with medical equipment inside. He eventually got out of doctoring and opened a general store. Both he and his son were buried in the Hardin Cemetery in which many of the graves, including theirs, were washed away in the great 1993 flood.

[@rickytodd6651]

Iam a Younger......we have much left from the Youngers and the most recent family book written about our family. As well I served time were Cole was at Stillwater after Northfield

[@susanmccormick6022]

​@@rickytodd6651 Sheesh I wish I could meet you.I have a book about the family which is a great read.And the cd of music played on Jim's violin.I wonder where it is now.

[@bullitt7544]

I have seen quite a few of your presentations there Hombre, and when it comes to the "Wild West's Most Notorious Gangsters you are without a doubt a much better "Speculator" than most, if not All others. Your stories are enthralling, exciting, and bring back History in a very full and complete manner. Hats off to you Pardner...

[@larrysune2659]

I actually grew up by Forest City, IA. There is a old square house out in the country north of Scarville which supposedly a overnight place back in the day that the gang stayed in just before Northfield.

[@uptonsavoie]

This enthusiastic retelling of the downfall of the J-Y gang is the best I've heard. I think Uno's comments were a great touch; give him a dog biscuit for me. I'm proud to have had a grandmother from Minnesota, and she was definitely "Minnesota nice" but Minnesota tough and no shrinking violet! Who can say but if she had been there at the time of the botched robbery, she might have been one of the shooters?

[@vehdynam]

Wow ! I just found this channel.......great telling , very interesting for a fan of the old west. thank you .

[@HarpsichordHymnsTimRemington]

Thanks so much! I really enjoyed learning many of the details about this robbery attempt. I never knew the whiskey angle before. I love all the insights into how the people lived their lives at that time.

[@tsimmons121]

thank you...i really enjoyed the story and appreciate your time...cheers🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@scottharvey9357]

How do you from North Dakota! Just wanted to thank you for all your documentaries and all of your great information we really appreciate the way that you tell us about all of the stories and all of the things that the old west is really all about we appreciate the fact-finding information and true to life pictures and documentaries that you tell us keep it up hope to see more of this in 23 have a happy new year thanks

[@stevepenney2073]

Very interesting and entertaining.I remember many years ago my uncle telling me about seeing Frank James . I was only about 7 or 8 and i asked him...was he carrying a gun?He said he didnt know but a lot of people carried a gun in their pocket.That stuck with me.

[@susanmccormick6022]

Steve Penney:Brings it close for me,thinking how my father who was born 1910,was alive when Cole & Frank were.May they all RIP.

[@thork0tjt515]

Very interesting story. Thanks for sharing. Wasn’t there a shoot-out in Madelia prior to their capture near the LaSalle/ Hanska area? There is a beautiful mural depicting the shoot-out painted on the side of a historic building in Madelia. Downtown Madelia use to host a one day celebration reenactment of the shoot-out with the James Gang similar to the one in Northfield. You can find several historical markers in the area with information on the James Gang.

[@artisaprimus6306]

My brother lives in St Paul. I visited him last summer and he took me to Northfield. A beautiful river park and the bank is still there.

[@davidbonneson9993]

I'm from Mankato and have heard many stories about the gang and the route they took to get away. One was about when they hid out in a cave outside of town.

[@dks13827]

Where is the cave, please ? Great info.

[@jesserichards5582]

Very Fascinating! Thank You!

[@cliffordturner4197]

I so injoy your Stories

[@harleygrit5358]

Thanks for the video! Great job and very interesting!

[@ravensbrood3544]

Great Tale Bob, My Grandfather was born and raised in Forest City Iowa on a farm, l heard quite a few stories he shared with me.😊

[@georgej.dorner3262]

BBB is a great story teller, sincere, knowledgeable, good diction. It's such a joy to hear a good American narrator on an American topic instead of some nitwit Brit.

[@cBadArsBiker1579]

I absolutely loved this!

[@vilstef6988]

Ry Colder did the soundtrack to the movie The Long Rider. It's a great listen!

[@Bumper776]

In the 1960s the furniture from the old Greenbriar Hotel south of Oblong Illinois was auctioned off. The hotel had been there since the 1860s or before. A local man bought a small table at the auction and years later noticed that on the underneath side of the table, written in pencil was the name "Jesse James" and a date in the 1870s. The table is in the possession of the man's daughter who is a retired schoolteacher. My questions are: Was Jesse James ever known to have been in that area? Is there any way to have the signature authenticated?

[@patriley9449]

I was just at Northfield last week and went into the bank. It was a very small place, and the locals did not make a big deal over the historical robbery. Yes, I do understand that there are Jesse James days when there are reenactments, but when I went there in July, I had to ask where the site of the robbery was located. I also went to Deadwood and Tombstone and these towns really publicize Wild Bill Hickok and the Earps. What I learned from the person giving the talk about the robbery is that bank clerk Heywood was a true hero in keeping the bank funds safe and possibly saved the town as there was a lot of unsecured money in that safe. The robbers got away with about $ 26.00 when there were thousands that they should have taken if not for Heywood.

[@disgruntledpedant2755]

Why aren't there more of these?

[@ergbudster3333]

Now I always thought it was a matter of "don't rob Vikings or else!"

[@nimitz1739]

It’s weird that all up north all the men were soft. The South had just gotten whooped by the north in the Civil War. Most men in America at the time had military experience, north and south.

[@Oneeyedicehockeycoach]

Many of radio programs what 100.7 in the early eighties Come on you zany zones,,, And another one of your great "was Phoenix Arizona the world's most Midwestern Cities in the world something like that,, and then True North AM program was incredibly cool ..l thank you so much for all for all your great work

[@robertayoder2063]

Chadwell was from Minnesota so I would think he had something to do with coming up with the raid in Northfield

[@susanmccormick6022]

Roberta Yoder:That's right.Looks like nobody said back up would be needed if anything was to happen to Bill.Or maybe it was overconfidence.

[@brianmfieldwick3494]

Great story

[@skipstalforce]

This would make an outstanding comedy - Chevy Chase, Martin Short, oh wait that was Three Amigos

[@0lddragracer426]

Thanks for a great story Bob. Throughly enjoyed it. Were their hard feelings against Jesse and Frank James for abandoning the Youngers?

[@dks13827]

No.......... they all knew the Youngers were too hurt to 'run' anymore........... the James brothers knew they had to go on !!!

[@artdelcueto3072]

The James brothers were NOT involved. Cole was not to fond of Jesse

[@susanmccormick6022]

​@@artdelcueto3072 I always understood Frank was Cole's friend,not Jess.

[@davidrice3337]

​@@artdelcueto3072how did Cole and his kin get shot up in Minn?

[@Allen-ln6gz]

@@susanmccormick6022 Jesse and Cole were first cousins

[@walterspangle1582]

Nice presentation. The dog was entertaning as well.

[@michaelhenson138]

None of the guys with a gun could never out shoot bob mundon.

[@rthomas1247]

Love this guy! Bob I hope you bring in UNO next time and I hate to say, HE/SHE "up-staged" you! Love your video segments. You are a true "gem" of "early, western history and culture", THANK YOU!

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

UNO probably wanted some whiskey, sounds like to me.

[@JanOlafRisnes]

Thank you again. This is good 👍 Its very interesting. I have been in the area. Had plans to do ALOT more,,, but ended up in Thailand.

[@keewheeler9441]

You were from forest city iowa, I'm from mason city Iowa. Love jesse james

[@ifronnin]

They mistook kindness for weakness.

[@ThomasHronbrook]

Well hello this is extremely interesting to me as my family is related to james younger my great grandmother is a younger I'm not sure witch younger it is

[@douglasturner6153]

You mention a map of the Jame"s boy's escape route. Is there a good video with accurate and detailed information on in all of Frank and Jesse's experiences getting back to Missouri?

[@bradmeeds1226]

Or how they get back to Nashville where they both lived

[@normanpearson8753]

I've seen a video on the Net , a coach party partially followed their route , but can't find it now . I'm surprised the route hasn't been followed and videod , as far as is possible . My library , herein the U.K. got me a book from a Minnesota library , softback, many maps .

[@danhemsworth7488]

I live in Rome Iowa. Live in old bank building , i heard was robbed by James but I've never found proof.

[@BobAhl-x5c]

What's nice about all these Northfield Bank and Jesse James stories is everyone is different. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the actual truth?

[@gizabit]

Our finest were sent to you ❤️

[@johnholman09]

You are pretty cool, just stumbled on you I think I might just stick around.

[@richardliles4415]

Dang! That was good. Thank you.

[@ravewarrior6775]

I grew up in Minnesota however I never heard the story

[@kamillgran7902]

Hey Bob, is the light still on in that motel? I forget what motel it was but I know you left the light on😄

[@KoolT]

Wow, the do look like the Stacy Keach YOUNGER BROS MOVIE. KINDA AMAZING

[@eriknorthenscold704]

Very cooI grew up in Mankato.

[@MrArthoz]

Thanks for the great story. I think Uno just want some face time too. Put him on your lap and hug him next time. I know I'd do that.

[@normanpearson8753]

The boy that was kidnapped what a tale he had to tell in later years !

[@putoparvose]

Does anyone have any idea of how many shots were fired by both sides?

[@RabelFibal1]

Have I got a story for you sir.. Here in Tucson now...grew up in Littleton Colorado 5th generation. My father's side settled in Trinidad Colorado in 1870's. I got proof.

[@russellclymens]

my folks grew up in iowa and missouri. My grand mother would talk about the james gang before i knew who they were

[@gregoryurbach3015]

All very fascinating. I search for old newspapers, and 30 years ago at a swap meet, found the St. Paul Pioneer-Press and Tribune for Sept. 28, 1876. The headline is the capture of the Younger Brothers. A paragraph in the text says Jesse James is believed dead. The newspaper is not in great condition. It was laying on a blanket covered in dirt, but it was only $1.

[@johnfilardo2699]

Outstanding story Bob and Uno. I totally appreciated the opportunity to hear about the Great Northfield raid told truthfully. The Long Riders was an entertaining movie but the true story was even better. The people of Minnesota were brave and highly motivated to protect their bank! As a new subscriber to your site I'm looking forward to digging into all of your stories. Well done sir. 👏

[@susanmccormick6022]

John Filardo:The idea of brothers playing the Younger's & James boys was good But as a true story,heck,no.

[@DavidVanmeterDutch]

Always has and still fascinates me how far but yet how close in time we are to all of this history. My grandfather that passed 3 years ago was born in 1929 and his mother came across the Oregon trail in wagons to settle in south central Oregon when they were kids. I grew up in the area they homesteaded but no family property or anything was still held after I was 2 or 3 years old.

[@glvarner]

This story was excellent. Bob, you did a great job on this history. When the dog started barking I felt like I was home. Keep the stories coming partner.

[@Mitchell7]

I wish I could say, "yea, my dog too", but my black lab Mitchell 'never barks'....! I know, strange, but true.

[@purpleaesthetic8617]

Me and James young share the same great great great grandmother and grandpa

[@stevewhite205]

Frank shot Heywood, all that was ever said was "the guy on the dun horse". Never heard about them grabbing a kid to get thru Mankato. Was always, the Jame's wanted to kill off Bob cuz he was slowing them down, and Cole said "No Way". So Frank & Jesse left and took off west. When Bob got shot at Hanska Slough, after he gave up the shot came from a guy on a hill off to the side, and Sheriff Glispin said "Hold your fire, or I'll shoot the next man who fires a shot". But they did get treated very nice after being captured. Great Video Bob.

[@fredcourtney03]

I love the humanity interjected into the story. Your dog barking in the background just shows that you are telling stories from your home. I just need a glass of sweet tea. Great stories

[@markstaggs7342]

Reno brothers from Seymour Indiana is the very first train robbers,Lots of people think Jesse James was but that is not correct,It was the Reno brothers and they were hanged.

[@jerryhulburt8527]

I lived between Mankato and madelia Minnesota. They still practice Minnesota nice to this day

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

You would think that so soon after the Civil War anybody with half a brain would not underestimate northerners willingness to fight, but good old boys will be good old boys...

[@mikepulis4618]

Bob Boze Bell came to one of our cowboy action shoots by Mankato and filmed some of us. The area of the range looked similar to the Hanska slough by LaSalle, MN. Our match director was Rex McBeth, a local cowboy poet, author and historian. At the entrance to North Mankato is a tribute to Rex which contains one of his poems about the Northfield raid. I wonder where Mr Bell has that video. I still have a picture of us cowboys from the day of the filming.

[@chieffamilygenealogyoffice621]

My grandfather was young in Minnesota and the MD who took care of the prisoners including the last remaining Younger brother -I think Cole younger - came to little falls minnesota. They were walking down the street past the empty lot where my grandfather and his friends had built a “fort”. Cole looked at it and said “that reminds me when we were camping out on the plains”. Am fairly sure there was more to the conversation…..

[@mikemhoon]

Maybe the coffee cans on the posts may were an attempt to keep the posts from rotting on the top?

[@janupczak1643]

Oh! What a great time I've just had listening to this! I realized half way through I was smiling and chuckling...Thanks so much for the most entertaining AND educational video. I'm so glad I found you.

[@walkertongdee]

It's not confidence that turned them to the whiskey before the fight it was fear, the liquid courage fortified their mettle, obviously...

[@frankmiller95]

But not the intellect.

[@jimbailey7997]

In Cole younger’s biography he said the James Brothers was not at Northfield .

[@rthomas1247]

I think it was more a case of: When history becomes muddled, print the "LEGEND"!----- "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"!!!!

[@rudolphrmcallister]

I had just watched "The Long Riders" and I wanted to find some true to life facts on the Longfield robbery attempt. I'm so glad I found this page. Truth is sometimes much more interesting and crazier than fiction. Thank you sir for this explanation.

[@guadalahonky4002]

The Long Riders is one of my favorite films, I've been to Northfield to see the bank. It's worth pointing out that the James Brothers parted ways with the shot-to-pieces Youngers and Clell Miller, in Madelia, MN, that's over 80 miles away from Northfield. That's a pretty fair piece, being chased by a posse. Frank and Jesse rode as far west as Garretson, South Dakota before circling back southward, toward Missouri.

[@WalldoTheWInner]

Me too!!

[@davidrice3337]

it's pretty good for a made for tv movie

[@lynnwood7205]

Long ago you could still see the pockmarks in the brick and plaster walls from where the bullets were dug out. Boyhood memory from 1959 or 1960.

[@gonnafish]

A good tale! “Shot All to Hell” by Mark Lee Gardner is a great read and is well researched on the robbery and escape.

[@dks13827]

Kent read about the daughter May Heywood, see above.

[@scarakus]

This makes want to play Red Dead Redemption.

[@billm2078]

The younger brothers were captured a few miles north of our home place. Just south of the town of LaSalle MN.

[@cloudymindtv85]

wow I could listen to him all day, love putting him in the background while I’m playing red dead redemption. I would love to hear his take on the Hatfield and mccoy story.

[@carolinadog8634]

The best story teller I’ve ever heard about the Wild West!

[@kevinwassellsr.5646]

The coffee cans were to slow the decay from elements entering top of post

[@rooster6271]

You are such an interesting storyteller, great voice for it too

[@rickriggins8440]

I have been to the location in Northfield. The street where all this happened is very narrow and the fact anyone made it out of town is amazing.

[@guadalahonky4002]

The town reminded me of Prague or Vienna, lit up at night and the river running through downtown. My nephew had a soccer match there and the family asked me if I wanted to go to Northfield. I said 'Heck Ya!'

[@clistabalusek6043]

À1

[@BabyfaceGaming101]

This is an awesome story...on a Dalton/Younger binge because my maternal great grandmother was a Dalton and cousins with the Dalton boys via her great grandfather and theirs being one and the same...also related to them via the Youngers on my father's paternal line about the same distance...also have a great grandfather (father's maternal Carter line) that personally associated with the James brothers (which was apparently significant enough for it to be mentioned in his obituary) after the Civil War... It is one hell of a small world...

[@ThomasHronbrook]

I'm just trying to understand my family great grandmother is a younger and have learned small pieces of it this is just an incredible why to hear what took place not to far back in our family's history

[@BabyfaceGaming101]

@@ThomasHronbrook ikr...welcome to the family cousin!!!

[@williamfrancis402]

Thanks for the great story Bob, always look forward to your videos

[@mikemiller3553]

I love reading True West magazine because it de-Hollywoods the stories and gives you the facts!! Looking forward to your next time on, and you spin a good truth!!

[@patricklondon6006]

Being a distance relative of the Youngers and having heard about the Northfield raid, I did learn something from you. I never knew they road the train there. I was just at Gads Hill Missouri the other day where Jesse James and 4 others carried out the first train robbery in Missouri on January 31 1874. Keep up the good work.

[@4wchitstands]

My grandmother was a younger from cherryvale Kansas and she said that her mother said that all the ladys liked Cole younger when he road into town. He is a cousin of mine also. Charles younger was my great grandfather. The youngers to me are American heroes fighting tyranny!!!

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

Distant relative

[@guadalahonky4002]

Cole Younger's father had a prestigious job with the mail and was highly respected and that was stripped away from the Youngers.

[@Tmanaz480]

Maternal great grandmother was a Younger.

[@emmaconrey4575]

I am also a relative of the youngers!

[@larrydavis2559]

Great story brought to life by your excellent story telling ability.

[@tskime16]

I'm wondering your thoughts about Devil's Gulch in Garretson SD. Legend has it that Jessie's horse jumped it to escape the posse.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

What happened in Northfield destroys the myth of a group of outlaws “treeing” a town. Most of the adult males in these towns were Civil War veterans. They were proficient with firearms and had no problem using firearms in defense of personal safety and property. What happened in Northfield would have happened in any other town. This also happened in Coffeyville, KS.

[@MegaBIGJOE64]

Veterans where just too happy to shoot that varmint down before taking a bath. Two dead and three wounded for 8 members, only one civilian died.

[@jordanhicks5131]

They "treed" a lot of towns before they got brought down, soooo.......

[@jim2003sound]

I was never particularly attracted to these historic Desperado stories but how could you not be drawn in by the infectious enthusiasm of such a great story teller.

[@johnbasalto4668]

Viva Uno! Great story, as usual, Bob. I love hearing you tell the stories.

[@burtvincent1278]

Love the story, love the dog.

[@brunovolk7462]

Very nice video, thanks 👍👍👍

[@wapartist]

Excellent story teller! So glad I found this channel

[@stevethomas5209]

Time to chose a name for my soon to be son 1997 I was in video store renting the movie "Jesse and the Younger gang"... no sooner I heard a mother chasing her little boy around the video store screaming his name Cole ! Cole ! Cole !. I turned to my wife and said listen to that lady chasing that little boy named Cole she looked at me perplexed and I told her my sons name is going to be Cole after Cole Younger's name. My father's name is James so we named him Cole James Thomas.

[@normanpearson8753]

Call the next Woodson , then the rest after the Northfield robbers !. Congrats .

[@billstevens3372]

A very good job,Thank you

[@susanmccormick6022]

That's right.Jim had actually moved or planned to move to California,the former I think.But when Bob insisted that he was going with Dingus come hell or high water,Cole & Jim got swept in against their better judgement.I think,as the youngest,Bob felt he had to prove himself.He blamed himself for his brothers'capture & said if they had left him to his fate,the rest of them would never have been caught.He & Jim paid a heavy price.

[@alexhatfield4448]

Hell that's how you got shot 11 times and live, a quart of whiskey.

[@dedbytes2041]

Loving the stories my friend! I wouldn't be so dismissive of a dog aggressively barking at my balls loool. Dog lover here and giving you a bit of shmoo :p I am in love with the old west and am finding your research and stories very fascinating!

[@ericanate3155]

I spent some time in Sioux city and let me tell you, it's an incredibly beautiful city

[@casey8899]

I love James Gang when they play Funk 49!

[@monkeywrangler5200]

I’m named after JJ and my brother after Cole…. No real reason why. Just all I’m adding. 🤷‍♂️

[@Sheltowee1775]

Glad to see when you got up you had on pants. All these meetings in 2020 on Zoom I didn’t always where pants (well, I wore pajama pants and a nice shirt).