Lawmen: Bass Reeves depicts George Reeves as the slave owner of Bass Reeves who served as a Colonel in the Confederate Army before pursuing politics.
WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
Summary
- Colonel George Reeves, the owner of Bass Reeves, was a Confederate Army leader who survived the war and later cheated Bass of his freedom.
- Despite his efforts to help the Confederacy, Reeves resigned as Colonel before the Civil War officially ended due to disagreements with his superior officer.
- Reeves pursued a successful political career in Texas after the war, becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives before dying from rabies in 1882.
One of the most compelling and morally corrupt characters in Lawmen: Bass Reeves is Colonel George Reeves. Played by Shea Whigham (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One), George Reeves was the real-life owner of Bass Reeves before the abolishment of slavery in the United States, which occurred with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865. George Reeves was one of the leaders of the Confederate Army who fought in the United States Civil War from 1861 until 1865. He was reportedly the longest-standing Colonel of the 11th Regiment of the Texas Calvary.
Before joining the war, Reeves was the Sheriff of Grayson County, Texas between 1850 and 1854. Whigham's portrayal of George Reeves depicts him as a headstrong warrior on the battlefield who thrusts a rifle into Bass Reeves' hands during the bloody Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas. The vast majority of the members of the 11th Texas Calvary died in combat, making George Reeves' survival a rare occurrence. He was brutally beaten up by Bass Reeves after promising him his freedom for his heroics on the battlefield only to prank and cheat Bass in a game of poker, stripping him once again of his liberty.
George Reeves Resigned As Colonel Near The End Of The Civil War
Despite his efforts to help the Confederacy prevail during the majority of the Civil War, George Reeves submitted his letter of resignation as Colonel in 1865 before the war was officially over. Reeves had led Confederate advances in some of the most historic battles of the U.S. Civil War including the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863 which Bass Reeves is also said to have fought in against his will. George Reeves continued his service after Bass had beaten him and escaped from Texas, ultimately leaving the Confederate effort after having irreconcilable disagreements with his superior officer.
Reeves Pursued A Successful Political Career In Texas From 1866 To 1882
George Reeves left the Confederate Army believing he could better serve his country in politics. One year after the end of the Civil War, Reeves was elected as a member of the Texas State Legislature in 1866, a title he would be reflected for four times over a fourteen-year span. George Reeves notably became the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the State of Texas in 1881, which was the highest position of the U.S. Government he would ever hold. Reeves was bitten by a rabid dog in 1882 and later died of rabies in September of that year. Reeves County, Texas was named in honor of the Lawmen: Bass Reeves character in 1884.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Cast: David Oyelowo, Dennis Quaid, Forrest Goodluck, Lauren E. Banks, Barry Pepper, Grantham Coleman, Demi Singleton, Garrett Hedlund Genres: Drama, Western Rating: TV-MA Seasons: 1 Writers: Chad Feehan, Jacob Forman, Taylor Sheridan Streaming Service(s): Paramount+ Directors: Taylor Sheridan, Damian Marcano, Christina Alexandra Voros Showrunner: Chad Feehan, Taylor Sheridan Release Date: 2023-11-05
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