FRONTIER LEGENDS

Complete List of Old West Outlaw Gangs

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The above illustration, appearing on the cover of the

1992 issue of the Outlaw Gazette depicts Billy the Kid's Gang from left to right: Tom O'Folliard, Charlie Bowdre, Tom Pickett,  Billy the Kid, "Dirty Dave" Rudabaugh, and Billy Wilson.

Outlaw gangs go as far back in history as the beginning of man, with the word "thug" (Thugz) dating to 1200 A.D. when gangs in India were pillaging many of the country's towns. These gangs often had their own hand signs, rituals, symbols and slang, as they clustered together for means of force and protection.

During the 1800's, Americans were fascinated by gangs and their members such as the James Gang, Billy the Kid's Gang, the Doolin-Dalton Gang, the Wild Bunch and dozens of others that ruled the Wild West.

Though the history of these Old West gangs is often romanticized, it should not be forgotten that they were in fact, nothing more than thugs.

Find an Outlaw Gang

• Flores-Daniels Gang (1856-1857) - A notorious gang who raided southern California, preying on white settlers.

• High Fives Gang, aka: Black Jack Christian Gang (1895-1897) - Led by "Black Jack" Will Christian, the gang operated in New Mexico and Arizona until Will Christian was killed by a posse in 1897.

• Hole in the Wall Gang - See Wild Bunch

• The Innocents (1863-1864) - The Innocents were allegedly a gang of road agents led by Henry Plummer in the gold rush days of Montana.

• James Gang (1879-1882) - After the demise of the James-Younger Gang, Jesse James put together another group to continue on with his criminal career.

• James-Younger Gang (1866-1882) - After the Civil War, the James and Younger brothers hooked up, robbing banks, trains and stagecoaches for ten years, becoming the most famous outlaw gang in America's history.

• Jennings Gang (1897) - This short-lived gang operated only a few months making several failed train robbery attempts in 1897, before all were arrested or killed.

• Jesse Evans Gang, aka: The Boys (1872-1879) - Lead by Jesse Evans, this gang was actively involved in cattle rustling and armed robbery in New Mexico in the early 1870's.

• Black Jack Ketchum Gang (1896-1899) - Made up of a revolving list of members, the Ketchum Gang was led by Black Jack Ketchum. The gang robbed retail businesses, post offices and trains in New Mexico.

• John Kinney Gang (1870’s-1883) - Also known as the Rio Grande Posse, the John Kinney Gang were were successful cattle rustlers and hired gunmen in New Mexico. In 1877, they hired out to fight in the El Paso Salt War and the next year, to the Dolan-Murphy faction in the Lincoln County War. Afterwards, they returned to cattle rustling, operating until John Kinney was arrested in April, 1883.

• McCanles Gang (1861) - Led by David McCanles, this group of men were allegedly wanted for robbing banks and trains, cattle rustling, murder, and horse theft in the early 1860's.

• McCarty Gang (1892-1893) - The McCarty Gang was run by Tom McCarty, who was one of the first to introduce Butch Cassidy to the life of banditry.

• Mes Gang - This bunch of primarily Hispanic outlaws and gunman, were a rival of the John Kinney Gang, both operating out of New Mexico.

• Musgrove Gang (1867-1868) - A gang of horse thieves and cattle rustlers who operated throughout Southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado in the late 1860's. in the late 1860's.

• Oklahombres - See Doolin-Dalton Gang

• Henry Plummer Gang - See the Innocents

• Red Jack Gang - Led by "Red Jack” Almer, this gang preyed on Arizona stagecoaches during the early 1880s, particularly along the San Pedro River.  

• Reno Gang (1866-1868) - Four of the five Reno Brothers terrorized the state of Indiana for two years before they tracked down and hanged by the Southern Indiana Vigilance Committee in 1868.

• Reynolds Gang (1863-1864) - A group of confederate sympathizers that rampaged the South Park, Colorado area with the intention of raising money for the Confederate government.

• Rogers Brothers Gang (1890s) - First led by Bob Rogers, the gang also included his brothers Sam and Jim Rogers, Ralph Hedrick, and others who terrorized Oklahoma and Kansas in the 1890's.

• Rufus Buck Gang (1895-1896) - A gang of ruthless outlaws who preyed on victims in Oklahoma, five of them were hanged at Fort Smith, Arkansas.

• Seven Rivers Warriors - (1870's) - A gang of rustlers who operated in Lincoln County, New Mexico and fought in the Lincoln County War.

• Selman's Scouts (1878) - Led by John Selman, these outlaws terrorized Lincoln County, New Mexico, stealing horses and cattle, murdering innocent men and boys, and pillaging businesses and homes. They were finally stopped by Governor Lew Wallace.

• Silva's White Caps, aka: Forty Bandits, Society of Bandits (late 1880's-1893) - Led by Vicente Silva, a businessman in Las Vegas, New Mexico, the White Caps were a mafia-like organization, who sought to drive settlers from lands that had once been common pasture.

• Soapy Smith Gang (1879-1898) - Led by Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, the gang operated in Denver and Creede, Colorado before moving on to Skagway, Alaska, running a number of con games against unsuspecting citizens.

• Stockton Gang (1878-1881) - Led by Ike Stockton, this gang of cattle rustlers terrorized the area of northern New Mexico, while posing as "gentleman cowboys" in Durango, Colorado.

• Vasquez Gang (1860s-1875) - Led by Tiburcio Vasquez, the gang committed armed robbery and rustled horses and cattle up and down central and southern California for years.

• Bill Whitley or Brack Cornett Gang (1887-1888) - A gang of bank and train robbers who operated in Texas during the late 1880's. The outlaws were led by Bill Whitley and Brack Cornett, who were both killed by Texas lawmen.

• Wild Bunch, aka: Hole in the Wall Gang (1896-1901) - Led by Butch Cassidy, the Wild Bunch terrorized the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada for five years.

Continued Next Page

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Vintage Photographs of the Old West - From our personal Photo Print Shop, you can now order prints that provide dramatic glimpses into the rich heritage of the American West. From notorious outlaws, to Indian Chiefs, buffalo roaming the range, and pioneers on the trail, this varied collection grows daily.