kit Dalton - Bio & Epitaph
1843 - 19 20

"Any notoriety that came my way was due to the happenstance that I was favored to live longer than most of the other men who rode with that devil."
During that odious war I took leave of service from Gen. Forrest

and in retaliation for transgressions by Unionist against my family in Kentucky, I joined Captain William Quantrill in Missouri.

After the war we were branded outlaws, so with a price on my head I became a "running gun" and for a time rode with Frank & Jesse James and the likes of other southern gentlemen game to sporting Union owned banks and railroads for a living.

By 1878 the way of the outlaw gun had played out. To a man they were being hunted down, shot dead, hung or placed in irons. Wanting no part of that drama I changed my ways and hid out where no one would think to look, and if they did few would question my word over that of a protester. I became Mr. Charles Bell,(one of many aliases used until finally pardoned) a gentleman of respectable habits, a Texas Ranger and a duly authorized punisher of evildoers, a task at which I was most proficient.

Contrarily, I never rode with the Dalton Gang. Bob, Grat and Emmett were my second cousins who appeared on the scene long after my outlaws days had come to an end. Their theatrics, like the one at Coffeeville on October 5, 1892, required the luck of a gambler and the experience of a raider- a familiarity that they unfortunately lacked.

My last ride for thunder was during the Spanish American War. Malaria caught from a lowly mosquito in Cuba did what no Colt was able to render, it put me down hard and I was sent home.
In later years I semi retired in Memphis, - home to a number of old scouts - and possibly seeking redemption took up preaching the word to congregations thereabouts.

A gathering of long riders in 1910 and final meeting with Frank James was my last hurrah. During The Great War I longed to be with the men in the campaign over there but by then my race had been long run, and oh ! - what a ride it had been.

Reflecting back over the years I don’t think I was particularly a bad person, not as good as some but not near as bad as others. Some of those boys were just downright mean spirited and their actions both in and out of service showed that deficiency.

Today I’m resting in total tranquility with a number of Old Scouts in the Confederate Lot at Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

Like most combatants who went from boyhood to manhood during that direful war I was a product of my time and environment. Any notoriety that came my way was due to the happenstance that I was favored to live longer than most of the other men who rode with that Devil.

That Devil - Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest

CAPT. KIT DALTON DEAD.
Sole Survivor of Jesse James Band and Quantrell Raiders.
Special to The New York Times

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 3, 1920.

Captain Kit Dalton, the sole survivor of the Jesse James band of outlaws, the Quantrell raiders and Sam Bass Texas band of outlaws, died here tonight. He did not die with his boots on. He succumbed to an Illness winch extended over four years.

Kit Dalton was born in Logan County, Ky., Jan. 23, 1848. For thirty years he had lived a quiet and respected life here in Memphis, and his small and erect figure, clad in Confederate uniform, with immaculate vest and shin, was familiar to alt Memphians.

Into the first thirty years of Kit Dalton’s life was crowded much adventure. As a youngster he ran away from home and Joined Forrest’s cavalry during the Civil War. It was when visiting his home on a furlough that devastation he saw caused him. to organize a band of guerrillas. They began to operate outside of Kentucky. Unable to return home he linked his fortunes with those of Jesse and Frank James, Five Governors had set a price upon the head of Kit Dalton, offering $50-000 for his capture dead or alive, but he Was never captured. He at one time was a member of Sam Bass’ gang, who operated in Texas, and he saw Bass killed.

Trial for a holdup In Franklin, Ky. of which Frank James was charged and proved innocent resulted in an agreement by the Government in which Dalton’s slate was wiped clean and lie returned to civil life. About eight yean ago he made a profession, of religion. He was a member of the Central Baptist Church when he died. He is Survived by his wife, Amanda Ellison Dalton, to whom ho was married forty-five years ago. He will be buried tomorrow afternoon in the United Confederate Veterans lot at Elmwood Cemetery.

The New York TimesPublished: April 4, 1920

Kit Dalton joins SASS/CAS

In 1995 Eve and I were living in Germantown, TN, a suburb East of Memphis. In early 1995 we read about the ante-bellum, walking tours of historic Elmwood Cemetery and attended one of their Sunday gatherings.

During the tour actor Larry Tolbert played the part of Captain Kit Dalton; he had Kit’s book “ Under The Black Flag “ reprinted and was selling autographed copies.

I remembered reading the book at a very early age, it was in the school library in Coolidge, TX, it was my first attempt at writing a book report. The copy had all the elements that a young Texas boy looks for in a book - war, horses, battles, outlaws and lawmen. Unfortunately, that subject matter wasn’t PC even back then and the report received a poor, but passing, grade.

During this time Easy Lee was changing his Sporting clay range at Rabbit Ridge, Byhalia, MS, into a cowboy action shooting range. As experience was gained Lee’s club joined SASS as the Mississippi River Rangers. As Lee envisioned, MRR became one of the premier SASS/CAS clubs.

When asked for an alias the name Captain Kit Dalton was fresh on my mind and it was available. Thus, Captain Kit Dalton became SASS member number 11103.

Actor Larry Tolbert as Captain Kit Dalton

As seen in Memphis paper, The Commercial Appeal

ELMWOOD ARTICLE - 1995

War Between the States buff Larry Tolbert was researching the lives of Memphians buried in Elmwood Cemetery when he unearthed a forgotten classic: Under the Black Flag: A Guerrilla Captain under Quantrell and Border Outlaw for 17 years.

Originally published in 1914, and long lost to the public, Kit Dalton’s autobiography describes his life as a Confederate guerrilla warrior, desperado with the James Gang, Indian fighter, Texas ranger, mercenary and preacher.

Tolbert portrayed Captain Dalton on the first historic walking tour through Elmwood Cemetery held last April which is sponsored by the General Robert E. Lee Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Captain Dalton spent the last 23 years of his life as a Memphis-based preacher before being buried in Elmwood in 1920.

In his own words, the legendary Kit Dalton tells the real story of the War Between the States and the American West. His true stories of the brutal War in the West under the famed Confederate guerrilla Quantrell, hold nothing back — not even the savage sack of Lawrence, Kan.

Kit introduces Frank and Jesse James and Cole Younger, his brothers in arms and cohorts in crime for 17 years. With wry humor Kit recalls Belle Star, Wild Bill Hickock and what really happened to Clell Miller. Tolbert did not abridge the original issued edition but he has added previously unavailable photographs such as Jesse James as a confederate guerilla.

What persuaded him to risk publishing Under the Black Flag? “Kit Dalton underwent a remarkable redemption in his life,” Tolbert answers. “He was truly a bad guy who made good, but his book also offers a concise account of the ugliest side of the War between the States.

“After the War guerrillas were not paroled, but declared outlaws,” he continued. “Kit Dalton was not a coward or a whiner. He admits what he did and tells us why. Best of all Under the Black Flag is funny in the best tradition of authentic American humor, far better than Wyatt Earp, Tombstone or any recent Hollywood concoction.”

To celebrate this republishing, Tolbert will be at the upcoming Lee Walking Tour at Historic Elmwood Cemetery to sign copies of the book on Saturday. April 27, 1995, from 10 am to 4 p.m. Tolbert will be in authentic western attire copied from Dalton’s book. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Elmwood Cemetery.

At Rest in Memphis

Elmwood Walking Tour 1995

Captain Kit Dalton

Cross the historic bridge going over to Elmwood Cemetery and step back into the Memphis of the 1800s. History comes alive as authentically costumed guides escort you through a walking tour of historic Elmwood Cemetery.

Actors and actresses in appropriate period attire speak to groups in the first person telling them of interesting, absurd, and sometimes funny and sometimes sad highlights of life in and around Memphis during the 1800s.

You will see a Confederate Noble Brothers cannon actually used in the Civil War, ladies and gentleman dressed in ante-bellum attire, hoop skirts and top hats.

Tour a confederate soldiers camp, hear live music from the past as a band (The Shades of Grey) plays from the porch of the historic Cottage of Elmwood.


The information conveyed to these groups is based upon historic documentation as can be obtained
through the Memphis Public Library System and other such sources.

These sources are woven together with small amounts of literary license into interesting stores, that interrelates the various parties and persons being “brought to life” for this tour.

Kit’s memoirs, Under The Black Flag, were first published in 1914 and released again in limited editions in 1995 by Larry J. Tolbert, Memphis, TN.

In 1921 A movie titled “Jesse James Under The Black Flag” starring, Who else but, Jesse James Jr., was released.

Kit Dalton, played by Tony Curtis, reappeared in the 1950 film, Kansas Raiders. This time Jesse James was played by the WWII hero, Audie Murphy.

Like King Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere are linked to the mystic middle ages and Camelot, the names of Hickok, Earp, Jesse & Frank James, Younger and Dalton will be forever linked to the glory days of the American west.

Link to the shootist photo albums of K.D. on Picturetrail

Link to the 9.11 Seven Trilogy > http://911seven.blogspot.com/

In 2006 several DFW cowboy action shooters formed TRD, Trinity River Desperados Old West Re-enactment Society. We perform Wild West re-enactments for venues within the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area.







Why all the shouting in the Saloon?


Visit Dallas Heritage Village every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month, September 20 to December 20, and witness early Dallas law and order, settler style, on the Village's Main Street. Performed by the Trinity River Desperadoes, visitors will get a firsthand view of the “Wild West” when a mild disagreement concerning the presidential nominees of 1900 campaign quickly turns into a gun fight on Main Street.Gun fights are at Noon and 1 p.m.Free with museum admission.

Memorable quotes:

“Yeah, I’ve seen that Dalton boy at work, he shoots like a blind gunfighter.”

“Almost everywhere that Hardin (John Wesley) went, he found a reason to kill someone.”

“Life For a Texican isn’t a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, bleeding profusely and loudly proclaiming ----WOW-- What a Ride, thank you Lord.”