The provisional government for Missouri offered an amnesty for ex-Confederate soldiers if they took an oath of allegiance to the United States. Soon, however, the same government ordered every adult man to join the state militia and fight for the Union. This Frank refused to do, instead landing in jail until he escaped and joined Quantrill's guerillas. Jesse was jealous. He wanted to join, too, but had to stay home and farm because of his age.
In June, 1863, when Jesse was still fifteen, a squad of state militia soldiers galloped up to the Samuel home and demanded information about Frank and the guerillas. When Dr. Samuel and Zerelda insisted they had no information, the soldiers hauled the good doctor outside, tied his wrists together, put a rope around his neck, and tossed the other end over a tree branch. They pulled him up for a moment and then let him down, insisting he give them information. After he refused they hauled him up again. When, for the third time, he said he had no information, they left him hanging and headed out into the field. Fortunately, pregnant Zerelda was able to cut her husband down while he was still alive.
In the field, the soldiers found Jesse plowing. They caught him and beat him with a rope. When they left, still with no information, Jesse returned to the house and after learning what had happened to his step-father, he vowed he would get even.
The next day he tried to join the Quantrill guerillas, but was turned down because of his age. He kept looking until he found a side-command under Quantrill's direction which would accept him. Thus began the life of Jesse James, Outlaw, a life he considered to be like Robin Hood's.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
Breihan, Carl W. "The Complete and Authentic Life of Jesse James," 1953.
Bruns, Roger A. "Jesse James, Legendary Outlaw," 1998.
Croy, Homer. "Jesse James Was My Neighbor," 1997 (1949).
Ernst, John. "Jesse James," 1976.
Stiles, T. J. "Jesse James," 1994.
WEB SITES
http://www.sptddog.com/sotp/jesse.html Chronology of Jesse James (4 stars) A good list of main events in Jesse's life, listed chronologically with dates given. However, of the links at the bottom of the page, "More on Jesse Woodson James" takes you to a site that has nothing to do with the man. A click on the link to "His Images" takes you to a site with a number of pictures of Jesse. "More Information" will land you on a site that lists all of the robberies he participated in, with links to all of the sites as well as other information about the James brothers and their cohorts
