Movie credits say it was based on the book Gone to Texas by Forrest Carter. More on that later.
Looked up some of the names used in the movie to find that many of them are true historical figures but Josey Wales, along with the Indian Chief, were fictional. Opening scenes show his family being killed by people with red leggings. Turns there was a group of marauders that were not Union regulars but fought against the south. A very bloody and ruthless group. More here.
After he buries his wife and son a group of riders pull up and one introduces himself as Bill Anderson, says the are riding to Kansas to set things right, and Josey says ‘I’ll be riding with you”. Bloody Bill Anderson was the leader of a group of Southern sympathizers that wrecked havoc across Kansas and Missouri during the Civil War. Bloody Bill was also a ruthless marauder with a long list of battles, and died before the war ended. More on Bloody Bill Anderson here
Later in the movie, there is mention of Gen Joe Shelby that fled to Texas to continue fighting. Shelby had been involved in border wars between Kansas and Missouri before the Civil War and eventually became a general in the Confederate Army. After the war he went to Mexico with 1,000 men and offered his men To Maximilian as a foreign service, which was refused. But they were given land in Mexico called the New Virginia Colony but were forced out a couple years later after Maximilian was overthrown and executed. He eventually returned to Missouri and became a US Marshal.
So the book Gone to Texas was originally released as The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales . While promoting the book the author Forrest Carter was on a tour promoting his book when he was recognized and outed as Asa Earl Carter, a sgregationistnthat worked as a speech writer for Gov George Wallace and helped write the famous speech in which Wallace said “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!”. He later had a falling out with Wallace and ran against him. Eastwood later made the movie not knowing about Asa Carter’s past.
Found this all pretty fascinating. Having seen the movie numerous times always wondered how historically accurate it was. Hope you found this worthwhile.
Looked up some of the names used in the movie to find that many of them are true historical figures but Josey Wales, along with the Indian Chief, were fictional. Opening scenes show his family being killed by people with red leggings. Turns there was a group of marauders that were not Union regulars but fought against the south. A very bloody and ruthless group. More here.
The Red Legs of Kansas – Legends of America
Although the “Red Legs” is commonly associated with the Jayhawkers of the Bleeding Kansas era and the Civil War, they were a separate guerilla unit.
www.legendsofamerica.com
After he buries his wife and son a group of riders pull up and one introduces himself as Bill Anderson, says the are riding to Kansas to set things right, and Josey says ‘I’ll be riding with you”. Bloody Bill Anderson was the leader of a group of Southern sympathizers that wrecked havoc across Kansas and Missouri during the Civil War. Bloody Bill was also a ruthless marauder with a long list of battles, and died before the war ended. More on Bloody Bill Anderson here
William T. Anderson - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
Later in the movie, there is mention of Gen Joe Shelby that fled to Texas to continue fighting. Shelby had been involved in border wars between Kansas and Missouri before the Civil War and eventually became a general in the Confederate Army. After the war he went to Mexico with 1,000 men and offered his men To Maximilian as a foreign service, which was refused. But they were given land in Mexico called the New Virginia Colony but were forced out a couple years later after Maximilian was overthrown and executed. He eventually returned to Missouri and became a US Marshal.
Shelby, Joseph Orville | Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict, 1854-1865
civilwaronthewesternborder.org
So the book Gone to Texas was originally released as The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales . While promoting the book the author Forrest Carter was on a tour promoting his book when he was recognized and outed as Asa Earl Carter, a sgregationistnthat worked as a speech writer for Gov George Wallace and helped write the famous speech in which Wallace said “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!”. He later had a falling out with Wallace and ran against him. Eastwood later made the movie not knowing about Asa Carter’s past.
Asa Earl Carter - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
Found this all pretty fascinating. Having seen the movie numerous times always wondered how historically accurate it was. Hope you found this worthwhile.