The James Gang: From the FIRST ROBBERY to the FINAL SURRENDER | History Traveler Episode 213
The James Gang is easily one of the most notorious groups of outlaws in American history. Having ridden with men like William Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson, the Civil War became a training ground for Jesse and Frank James where they learned the art of violence. In this episode, we're going to the location of the very first daylight bank robbery in peacetime and the jail cell where Frank James was held after his final surrender (www.jchs.org/1859jailmuseum).
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
Get your History Underground MERCH at www.thehistoryundergroundstore.com
Set yourself up with a 10% DISCOUNT on all Origin gear and nutritional products by entering the code "history10" at www.originmaine.com!
Other episodes that you might enjoy:
- Was JESSE JAMES Radicalized At This Place??? | History Traveler Episode 212: • Was JESSE JAMES Radica...
- The Bullet That Killed Lincoln!!! | History Traveler Episode 15: • The Bullet That Killed...
- The 12th SS Massacre of the Canadians in Normandy | History Traveler Episode 195: • The 12th SS Massacre o...
- Holdy Battery: The Sister Gun Battery of Brecourt Manor | History Traveler Episode 187: • Holdy Battery: The Sis...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
Facebook: / thehistoryunderground
Instagram: @the_history_underground
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Outside the Jesse James Bank Museum
01:34 Robbing the bank
08:09 The 1859 Jail Museum
09:38 The jail cell of Frank James
13:20 Executions in the jail
15:34 The upper room of the jail
Пікірлер: 400
Brother, thank you. I'm a life long Missourian and a Civil War history geek. My state was a particular kind of hell, a cauldron within a maelstrom. It burned with long simmering familial hatreds, with grudges that needed settling. The war here was so very personal; and so very long. 1854 to 1882 and still being fought, in some respects today. Thank you for telling our story.
As much as I love all the WWII content you have given us, I sure do love all of the old west history as well. Hope there is more to come. Thanks for all your hard work!!!
@sarahr2498
2 жыл бұрын
Agree Jason! This is such a wonderful channel👏🏻👏🏻
@jasonpayne3363
2 жыл бұрын
@@sarahr2498 no doubt. JD is incredible how brings all of this to us
@martinadrempetic2395
Жыл бұрын
I am really enjoying this videos of old wild west! So interesting to see where Frank James was held prisoner!
You were just down the road from Winston MO. Where the James gang waited in a train tunnel and waited for the train to arrive to rob it and the station. The tunnel and bridge itself is actually still there just off the highway in the woods. Everything is still original. All that’s been removed is the actual tracks. My wife grew up in Winston and took me on a small hike to the tunnel for our fourth date. She knew I loved history and stories about outlaws during the Victorian era. Coolest thing to be standing in the exact spot Jesse James and the boys was so many years ago. Knowing the exact stones of the tunnel witnessed this moment.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Oh dang! I’ll have to check that out. Thanks!
@mrspankytank2858
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheHistoryUnderground Awesome! Keep in mind if you park on the shoulder of the highway to go out to the tunnel (you can actually see the bridge tunnel from the highway) to be sure to park more in the grass. We had a Very nice state trooper inform us of this.lol
@mrspankytank2858
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheHistoryUnderground A couple more tidbits of info, while it crossed my mind, it’s actually a train bridge (not tunnel) to allow the train to pass over a small creek. The town actually has a small celebration every year called “Jesse James day” I believe. You can actually tour the station but the bridge has been left somewhat neglected because of the lack of funding. According to history a young man lost his life during the robbery. I’m assuming Jesses gang waited in the far side of the tunnel furthest away from the road which is now a main highway. So they wouldn’t be seen by passerby’s. There’s also a really old cemetery across the highway close by. A lot of other really neat and almost forgotten stories in this area of MO. Take care watch for snakes if you decide to go to the tunnel itself. It’s said some locals help take care of that area because the state won’t.
Been waiting for a LONG time for this moment!!
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome!
Thank you for the shows. I am old and unable to go to these places anymore. So thank you so much for your hard work.
Lived in liberty my whole life, thank you for sharing the history!!! Also every year they have a reenactment of the robbery
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Really enjoyed my time there.
Loving the Jesse James videos. Hoping there’s more to come.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
🙂👍🏻
Going from the Civil War to outlaws. Maybe some Bonnie and Clyde??
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
That’s on my list.
I'd love to see you come to Australia one day and do a series on Ned Kelly, our most famous outlaw & bush ranger. Excellent video as always mate :)
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Oh man, that would be cool.
@mattanderson6336
2 жыл бұрын
Since Mick Jagger starred in the 1970 bio-pic of Ned Kelly maybe he would narrate it.
Excellent video! I am a graduate of William Jewell College in Liberty. The college campus is about a mile to the east from the bank museum. Although Frank and Jesse did not attend William Jewell, the James family is tied into the early history of the college. Robert James, Frank and Jesse’s father, was a Baptist minister in the Kearney-Liberty area. When the college was founded in 1849, Revered James signed the charter for the college, along with other members of the Missouri Baptist Convention. His name appears on my diploma. Reverend James left the Kearney-Liberty for California in the early 1850s. It is not known if he was looking for gold or preaching to the gold miners. He died in California without ever seeing his family again.
I'm never ready for your videos to end. Thanks for stirring interest!!
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Appreciate that!
Before you said that they allowed Frank James to put some homey things in the cell and I saw the furniture. I thought of Mayberry and Aunt Bea making meals. The drop ceilibg was brutal
@TimMillernapavalleyfilmworks
2 жыл бұрын
Huh?
I was in the bank building in the early 60's. Back then, it was a dry cleaners. The folks that were running the dry cleaners were used to history buffs stopping by, and almost required us to go into the vault.
I told my wife that you were referring to wives when you were discussing "the classic ball and chain"! She didn't find that funny one bit.....🤣
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Ha!
@jodiehighroller9820
2 жыл бұрын
Lol..hopefully she isn’t the “classic ball and chain”in your life..😂sure sounds like she might be
@swtexan6502
2 жыл бұрын
@@jodiehighroller9820 Far from it, thankfully. I am blessed beyond measure.
@backwoodspiper3033
2 жыл бұрын
Lol I said the same to my wife. She did laugh... Before informing me to hush while I was able 😂
Another fantastic (and a bit funny!) episode! How strange that the kid’s room was so close to the prisoners! Talk about a “scared straight” program!!! Thanks JD!
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Ha!
@seambrooks7346
2 жыл бұрын
Yea great deterrent ! Wages if sin is death approach
@seambrooks7346
2 жыл бұрын
*of
@1psychofan
2 жыл бұрын
@@seambrooks7346 ha! Imagine if they did that today? 😳
@seambrooks7346
2 жыл бұрын
They would be sued by ACLU etc
I wonder why Frank James was allowed to have such a nice cell? 🤔This was a fun video. Can’t imagine cooking for all those prisoners and raising kids around them. Great job JD this is why history is so much fun. Thank you!👍😁
totally rocking vid.. loved it I love your vids just came across you by accident. I lived in Missouri and it has a lot of history indeed. I will subscribe want to learn more... I cannot get out much anymore and this is how I see and learn the world! thank you for sharing
JD Thank so much!! Another great episode!! My wife an I could watch all day !! You could even make your episodes longer. ! Never get bored with them ! We both seem like we know you personally! Thanks again! Semper fi LDR from southern Indiana
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Appreciate that. Gotta keep the episodes fairly short so that teachers can use them in the classroom. Plus, there’s only so much of this face that you can look at before you need a break.
@kathyrichardson8735
2 жыл бұрын
J.D., You might enjoy the American Military Museum in Vincennes, Indiana. Just an hour north of Evansville and an hour south of Terre Haute. We were very impressed with it. Also, the Evansville Wartime Museum right by the airport off if Hiway 41 has some really impressive collections. Hope you can check them out.
I'm sure the hanging area so close to the jail cells was an encouragement for the other prisoners to rethink their life choices.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Ha! It would certainly get me to thinking.
I remember going to Jesse James bank in elementary school. I still have the wanted posters I bought in the gift shop to this day.
It is amazing how much American forgotten history is involved in Missouri alone. Thank you for covering these "small"details everyplace you go. Keep traveling. Oh, among suggestions for ideas, rail road decetives during the late 19th and early 20th Century. Many were used by the treasury department and several insurance carriers. My great grandfather was William Stamper and even was featured in a newspaper in Macon. Mo. It was a big deal at the time. I had some skelton keys he and a partner used in an undercover bust.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure! Lots of history in that state.
I just love your western/civil war history. I learn so much from you “hands on” experience
Watching again because it’s so great! Well done JD! This episode is a classic!
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
🙏🏼
As an Arab and from the Gulf, I loved your channel very much and I am very interested in the American Civil War, and its great leaders, whether the North or the South, all of them are honest men.
J.D. great one, I love the way you can go from Gettysburg, to Normandy, to real time Ukraine and back to the civil war era, keep it up I'm a big fan.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Ha! Yeah, I’m kind of all over the place. Thanks.
For a guy walking around with the camera trained on him, you deliver some good content brother. I think you’ve gotten better at it over the years. Keep it up for us free loaders that love history!
Oh, Wow! That was great! I have loved period set rooms since I was a child. It just stimulates my imagination as to how people lived in another point in history and what they might have experienced. More please :)
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Got some more on the way 🙂
While in the US Navy, I knew a guy from Northfield, Minn. His great uncle was in the street shootout when the gang tried to rob a bank there. Don't know if it's true or not, but he did know a lot about the history. Dates, names, and times, all passed down through his family.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Wow!
@vuville514
2 жыл бұрын
I grew up in Northfield and still live 30 minutes north of there. We go down to the Defeat of Jesse James Day every September. It's a great get together for a small town. They do a reenactment every year with an actual shoot out. Everyone gets dressed up for the event. They close the streets for it. In Northfield, they celebrate it. It's part of Northfield's rich history.
Someday, it would be very interesting if you did the Northfield raid and the escape route the James Younger gang took and trier ultimate demise. Love your videos, and have watched the vast majority of them. Keep up the great work
Loving the Old West history series! We haven’t seen anything that you made that we didn’t like. You take great care to study the subject matter, videoing the subject & surrounding area & using the right music to pull it all together. Keep up the outstanding work.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much!
Grew up in Clay County, and my maternal great-grandfather rode with Quantrill and the James Gang. Been by the bank hundreds of times, but never have been in it. Need to pay it a visit!
@charleyshack
2 жыл бұрын
What is your great-grandfathers name?
@jimarmstrong5637
2 жыл бұрын
@@charleyshack William Hensley, they called him "Uncle Billy".
Great video, always learning and making me dig more into that time period! I hate to admit it, but I remember using "chamber pots" at my Mamaw's house in Kentucky! I was told #1 only, #2 had to wait for the outhouse in the morning! But man, Mamaw's feather bed was the best!
@The.Original.Potatocakes
2 жыл бұрын
What if you can hold it till the morning, we all know what bubble gut means. I get it sometimes after eating 5 chili cheese burritos from Taco Bell.
You missed the clay county historical museum. And there is a really awesome mercantile on the square too! (Both are literally around the corner from the bank, the mercantile is privately owned and is a source for anything period (clothes, fabric, combs, books, etc) it's truly fantastic, it's heavily used by reenactors in the area.)
If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!
I am loving this. I hope your trip to Missouri was great. We have so much history here and it is wonderful to see you remind us all of the good, the bad and the ugly!
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Appreciate that!
Great work as always JD! And yes your Gettysburg videos are my favorite! I like all your videos, but Gettysburg holds a special place in my heart, and I thank you for the reverence you show on all your videos. That is important to me and I appreciate it!
Always impressive JD, thank you.
The bank and jail were fascinating! I love looking at how people lived long ago. Thank you for sharing!
That was amazing, loved that tour and only you have that great delivery way about you. Another top self episode.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much!
I appreciate a break from the Gettyburg stuff and showing us other places that we too could visit
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks. There might have been a few episodes that you missed. I think the last History Traveler video from Gettysburg was back in August. Always trying to mix it up :)
I love historical video's like this. Thank you so much for sharing. Stay safe.
Another great video JD. I enjoy the honesty that you show when you discover more than you went for. A bit like expecting one gift under the tree but finding more behind it.
The Stephen King Movie “Sometimes They Come Back” was mostly filmed in Liberty as well. Where the main character stands on the corner a couple hundred feet from the bank door you can see the old liberty highschool which is still there. The James Farm is a few minutes north of Liberty and has wonderful tours where the James family descendants tell stuff about the raid there that you don’t see in the history books. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the adventure!!!
I really enjoy and appreciate this channel. Thanks for all you do. It's much appreciated 👍.
Man you were right around the corner from me when you visited the jail. Wish I’d have known, would have offered to show you a few more James and younger places.
A drop floor in the jail? Whoa, talk about being "scared straight"! Great Job!
@TheHistoryUnderground
Жыл бұрын
Ha! Pretty wild.
I just couldn't imagine being on the run for so long. I would go insane. Great video JD.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Seems like it’s take it’s toll.
that was really cool. Glad your video got put into the algorithm and came up on my “recommendeds”. I watch a lot of history content but hadn’t seen yours before. Keep up the great work.
I am so glad I discovered this channel. Absolutely fantastic and well presented.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
🙏🏼
@melaniecroft5576
2 жыл бұрын
I'm addicted! It's fantastic. Well done!
I live in Whites Creek TN where Bill Ryan (alias Tom Hill)was arrested at the Whites Creek Saloon and Frank and Jesse left with families next day from Nashville
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting!
Like others I really enjoy the change of pace going into The James Gang history it's just so fascinating ...
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Gotta switch things up every once in awhile.
Endless fascination & learning on this channel. Thank you JD.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching.
Thanks, well made, great info and nice music...
JD another fantastic video as usual history from your perspective and what you get to see and be apart of is mind blowing here's to many adventures History traveler
I really love this channel. Wonderful knowledge!! Just awesome!!
@TheHistoryUnderground
10 ай бұрын
🙏🏼
I enjoyed this video very much! Good work!
Super fantastic !!! LOVE the west and ALL!! that happened .👀❤ Thank You !! I LOVE Jesse James !! 👀❤- So Long ! from Toronto Canada - 1/19/23🤠
As I sit down for lunch I thank you for providing me with some quality entertainment. You’re appreciated!
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
🙏🏼
Another great episode. I love the flatpicking background music. The craftsmanship in those old structures is pretty cool. The stonework in the jail and the wood floors,moulding and turned 4 poster bed are really interesting. The whole worldview and morality of that period in the western US is so complex. Im always amazed by the fluidity of the outlaw/law enforcement boundary. So many individuals were both depending on timing and location. Thanks for continuing to make history entertaining and informative.
Another great video! Thanks JD
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure!!
Thanks JD! Awesome content as usual. 😊
Another great video.Thankyou.
hi! thank you for the wonderful videos! you give all very valuable information.
Town museums have hidden treasures and some dark things. But none the less always worth stopping in. Thank you for sharing this. Fascinating!
Great video. I have to admit I am rather partial to your Civil War and Old West content. Great job.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks 👍🏻
Awesome advice from JD that all of us should heed...."you don't know what to you don't know". Love it. Awesome video again.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks 👍
A great video my friend! Just watched your video of the Jesse James murder house as well. Fabulous few episodes.
All very historic. And the bank was neat. The Jail where Frank James turned himself into . Was pretty tough.
Great video always loved the history of the James younger gang
A girl i was dating when i was just out of high school. We spent a Christmas with her grandparents in Missouri. They showed me a family heirloom. It was a Remington new model army ( civil war pistol) they had town records showing there distant grandfather spent time in jail with Jesse James (must have not been a big thing because it was a few weeks for both). Story has they befriended each other, and Jesse James stayed at their house a few times. Jesse traded the Remington for a horse..have no idea if its really true but the info they showed me really made it seem possible. They also found a picture of jesse holding a Remington that looked identical to the one they had. The grip was slightly broken on the sides. Even in the picture of jesse the grip was broken. they seemed to be a perfect match. It was very interesting. The real reason i still think that might have been a true story is the picture and records of course. but they also kept it as a Secret. in a way they seemed ashamed. I only think they showed me. was i was dating this girl for many years. at the time it looked like i was going to be part of the family. Its funny looking back because that gun started my interest in antique firearms.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Wow!
@snappers_antique_firearms
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheHistoryUnderground because of this sometime it makes me think of all the lost artifacts...They might not be lost. There owners just don't want them found.
Yes, always fun to go to the lesser known sites. We had gone to Galena IL, and popped into their museum there. Turned the corner into one of their rooms to be faced with the 9 foot by 12 foot Thomas Nast painting "Peace in Union". A painting I've seen dozens of times in history books...just...right there.
Fascinating building ! How cool that would be to stand in that building & how things went down. Thank you, as always.
Cool bit of history. Thanks
thanks for posting the vid of the tour of historical sites
Thanks JD. Always interesting to see the connection of things. Neat jail. Thanks and stay safe. 👍👍👍👍👍
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks. I thought that it was a pretty fascinating place.
I love these types of videos man. Awesome.😂
Damn.... you're a man of many hats. Vast knowledge it seems. Thanks for enlightening and entertaining me. I love military history but this video was great. Thank you !
@TheHistoryUnderground
Жыл бұрын
🙏🏼
I love 10 min east of St. Joseph, MO. Love is video, man. Great content. Would love to see more videos here. This town has such a rich history
Great video. I think the prison was a gem all by itself.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, that place was cool as heck.
Thank you!
These videos simply get better and better. This has become my favorite channel on YT. Outstanding work.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
🙏🏼
@thinghammer
2 жыл бұрын
@@TheHistoryUnderground yeah, man. I hope you get paid for this. I discovered you when I would do these long walks after getting off late (3am..lol) . I didn't want music, I just wanted to hear a good story. And that's when I found your channel. You always bring up the quirks and minor details. That's what I really like about it
Very cool stuff!!
Another great video! Was wondering if Lincoln’s walking cane was still on display at the bank in Liberty, pretty interesting story. Keep the videos coming.
Great video thanks
I'm interested in history as well and appreciate your work. Great job 👍
Amazing!!
Thank you from Missouri!
Love your channel. !
Great video JD
Would love a series on the American frontier. Learning more about the Natives and the settlers would be fascinating!
Nice Job, bro! Felt like i was there. Thanks!
Fascinating place. As you say very dark but served its purpose for getting rid of naughty boys almost medieval in appearance the way the sells are constructed. I would not want my kids sleeping in that room. Crazy
I love the CW/old west era of history. If it’s history I love it. I guess I should’ve said my favorite era. Love your channel JD!
I love all your videos and the history you are talking about I wish they would told me this in high school
What a great video J D have been a Jesse and Frank James fan from the first time I heard about them in elementary school many years ago. Enjoyed this video very much thank you so much for your hard work.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was raised on a farm in Southern MARYLAND and had my own chamber pot. I still have it.
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Ha! Awesome.
It's great to be able to go back in time and be told of the events of yesteryear. Yes, the west was really wild!
Another Great video ..thanks
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
🙏🏼
Having visited Tombstone back in the day, this was more than interesting, Thank you so much..
@TheHistoryUnderground
2 жыл бұрын
Definitely want to get to Tombstone at some point.