The Outlaw Years: The History of the Land Pirates of the Natchez Trace

The years just before 1880 until about 1885 are considered the 'outlaw years'. Lawlessness developed a law of its own and planned an empire. Operating along the Natchez Trace, an overland trading and postal-rider route that in places was barely a trail, the outlaws preyed upon the traffic along this line. Their plans were laid in the dives under the bluffs of the river towns -- Natchez and Vicksburg and as far south as New Orleans. One gang of outlaws under John Murrell even threatened national stability for a time in his plot to steal slaves and organise insurrection, in order to disorganise the government and establish his own state.