Pat Garrett is a name deeply woven into the fabric of American Old West history. Known primarily for his role in the capture and killing of the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid, Garrett’s life story is a complex tapestry of law enforcement, frontier justice, and the rough-and-tumble life of the American West. This article delves into the life of Pat Garrett, exploring his rise to fame, his significant contributions to law enforcement, and the legacy he left behind.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett, better known as Pat Garrett, was born on June 5, 1850, in Chambers County, Alabama. He was the second of five children born to John Lumpkin Garrett and Elizabeth Ann Jarvis. Garrett’s early years were spent on the family plantation in Alabama, but the economic struggles of the post-Civil War South forced the family to relocate to Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, in 1853.
Growing up in the rural South, Garrett was exposed to the hardships of frontier life from an early age. His education was limited, and like many young men of his time, he was expected to work on the family farm. However, Garrett had different ambitions. In 1869, at the age of 19, he left home to join the buffalo hunting expeditions on the High Plains of Texas.
The Buffalo Hunter Years
Garrett’s years as a buffalo hunter were formative, exposing him to the harsh realities of life on the frontier. Hunting buffalo was a dangerous and grueling occupation, but it was also lucrative, attracting many young men looking to make their fortune. Garrett honed his skills as a marksman during this time, an ability that would later serve him well in his law enforcement career.
However, the buffalo trade began to decline in the mid-1870s as the vast herds were decimated by overhunting and the encroachment of settlers. By 1877, Garrett’s days as a buffalo hunter were over. He moved further west, settling in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where he would soon become embroiled in the violent conflicts that defined the region.
The Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a notorious conflict in the New Mexico Territory during the late 1870s. It was essentially a violent feud between rival factions vying for control of the lucrative cattle trade and local economy. The war involved various figures, including the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid, and it was against this backdrop that Pat Garrett would rise to prominence.
In November 1880, Garrett was elected sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, with the backing of the Democratic Party. One of his first tasks as sheriff was to apprehend Billy the Kid, who had become a symbol of lawlessness in the region. The Kid, whose real name was Henry McCarty, had been involved in several killings and was wanted for murder.
The Pursuit of Billy the Kid
Pat Garrett’s pursuit of Billy the Kid became one of the most legendary manhunts in American history. Garrett was determined to bring the outlaw to justice, and he relentlessly tracked him across the New Mexico Territory. In December 1880, Garrett finally captured Billy the Kid near Fort Sumner. The outlaw was tried and sentenced to hang for the murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady.
However, Billy the Kid managed to escape from jail in April 1881, killing two deputies in the process. Garrett resumed his pursuit, and on the night of July 14, 1881, he finally caught up with the Kid. Acting on a tip, Garrett entered the home of Pete Maxwell, a friend of the Kid, in Fort Sumner. According to Garrett’s account, Billy the Kid entered Maxwell’s darkened bedroom, unaware that Garrett was waiting inside. When the Kid asked, “Who is it?” Garrett responded by firing two shots, one of which struck Billy the Kid in the heart, killing him instantly.
The Aftermath and Controversy
The killing of Billy the Kid brought Pat Garrett national fame, but it also sparked controversy. Some people questioned the circumstances of the shooting, accusing Garrett of ambushing an unarmed man. Despite the controversy, Garrett was hailed as a hero by many and became a symbol of law and order in the Wild West.
Garrett documented his account of the manhunt in a book titled “The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid,” published in 1882. The book, co-authored by journalist Ash Upson, provided a firsthand account of the events leading up to the Kid’s death and solidified Garrett’s place in American folklore.
Later Career and Political Aspirations
Despite his fame, Pat Garrett’s career after the killing of Billy the Kid was marked by a series of disappointments and failures. In 1884, he ran unsuccessfully for the New Mexico Territorial Senate. He briefly served as the commander of the Texas Rangers’ LS Ranch division, tasked with protecting ranchers from cattle rustlers, but his tenure was short-lived.
Garrett’s fortunes improved somewhat when he was appointed sheriff of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, in 1896. He was tasked with investigating the disappearance of former Texas State Senator Albert J. Fountain and his young son, who were believed to have been murdered by cattle rustlers. Despite Garrett’s best efforts, the case remained unsolved, further tarnishing his reputation.
Later Years and Decline
By the early 1900s, Pat Garrett’s once-promising career was in decline. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him as a customs collector in El Paso, Texas, a position that provided some financial stability. However, Garrett’s abrasive personality and mounting debts led to his dismissal in 1906.
After leaving his post in El Paso, Garrett returned to New Mexico, where he attempted to make a living as a rancher. However, financial difficulties plagued him, and he struggled to maintain his ranch. Garrett’s final years were marked by increasing isolation and financial hardship.
Death and Legacy
On February 29, 1908, Pat Garrett was shot and killed near Las Cruces, New Mexico, while traveling from his ranch to the town of Organ. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a subject of speculation and debate. Wayne Brazel, a cowboy and tenant on Garrett’s ranch, confessed to the killing, claiming it was in self-defense. However, some historians believe Garrett was murdered as part of a conspiracy involving powerful local interests.
Garrett was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Las Cruces, but his remains were later moved to the Masonic Cemetery in the same city. Despite the controversies and hardships he faced in life, Pat Garrett’s legacy as a lawman who tamed the Wild West endures. His role in the capture and killing of Billy the Kid remains one of the most iconic stories of the American frontier.
Pat Garrett in Popular Culture
Pat Garrett’s life and career have been immortalized in numerous books, films, and television shows. The story of his pursuit of Billy the Kid has been retold countless times, solidifying Garrett’s status as a legendary figure in American history.
One of the most famous portrayals of Garrett is in the 1973 film “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” directed by Sam Peckinpah. The film, starring James Coburn as Garrett and Kris Kristofferson as Billy the Kid, is a fictionalized account of the events leading up to the Kid’s death. The film’s soundtrack, composed by Bob Dylan, includes the iconic song “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which has become synonymous with the themes of life and death in the Old West.
Garrett’s life has also been the subject of numerous biographies and historical studies, which have examined his role in the broader context of American history. His story is often seen as a reflection of the complexities and contradictions of the frontier era, where lawmen could easily become outlaws, and heroes could be flawed.
Historical Context and Impact
Pat Garrett’s life and career offer a window into the tumultuous and often violent history of the American West. The era in which Garrett lived was marked by rapid expansion, economic opportunity, and lawlessness. As settlers pushed westward, they encountered both opportunity and danger, and men like Garrett played a crucial role in maintaining order in a rapidly changing landscape.
Garrett’s pursuit and killing of Billy the Kid are emblematic of the broader conflicts that defined the American frontier. These conflicts often involved competing interests—cattle barons, landowners, outlaws, and lawmen—each vying for control of valuable resources and territory. Garrett’s success in capturing one of the most notorious outlaws of the time made him a national hero, but it also highlighted the blurred lines between justice and revenge in the Old West.
Conclusion
Pat Garrett remains one of the most enduring figures of the American West. His life, marked by both triumph and tragedy, encapsulates the complexities of frontier justice and the challenges of enforcing the law in a time and place where the rules were often unclear. While his role in the death of Billy the Kid may be his most famous accomplishment, Garrett’s broader contributions to law enforcement and his impact on the history of the American West are equally significant.
As history continues to examine and reinterpret the lives of figures like Pat Garrett, his story serves as a reminder of the enduring fascination with the Old West and the individuals who shaped its legacy. Whether viewed as a hero or a controversial figure, Pat Garrett’s place in American history is secure, and his life story continues to captivate and inspire.
