“...that is why the fighting, especially in Missouri and Kansas, paved the way for the Western gunfighter that followed”
I enjoy Western history and have often wondered about the origins ow Western lawlessness on the frontier. Lots of movies and tv shows showed the connection of individuals and gangs to the Civil War, but I had never thought about as the primary cause. It makes sense.
As the years passed, the west matured, the young gunslingers aged out or were killed, and serious lawmen moved in to create order.
13 year old boy s fought at the Battle of Saratoga source: “Northern Traveler”, p.41
Up until recent more times a 16 year old male was considered a man, often started a family and was expected to make his way in the world. I’d be surprised if there weren’t 16 year old soldiers in the CW. There were such in WW1 and WW2 as well.
Ping.
5.56mm
btt
Our 28 yo men don’t have the maturity of an 1860 15 yo
A great movie about this subject: “Field of lost shoes”