War in East Texas

Regulators vs. Moderators

By: Bill O'Neal

Narrated by: Cliff Allen

From 1840 through 1844 East Texas was wracked by murderous violence between regulator and moderator factions. More than 30 men were killed in assassinations, lynchings, ambushes, street fights, and pitched battles. The sheriff of Harrison County was murdered, and so was the founder of Marshall, as well as a former district judge. Senator Robert Potter, a signer of the Texas declaration of independence, was slain by Regulators near his Caddo Lake home. Courts ceased to operate and anarchy reigned in Shelby County, Panola District, and Harrison County. Only the personal intervention of President Sam Houston and an invasion of the militia of the republic of Texas halted the bloodletting.

The regulator-moderator war was the first and largest of the many blood feuds of Texas. Bill O’Neal includes rosters of names of the Regulator and Moderator factions arranged by the counties in which the individuals were associated, along with a roster of the victims of the war.

The book is published by University of North Texas Press.

©2006 Bill O'Neal (P)2019 Redwood Audiobooks

Wow! In Deep East Texas!?

I found this book and, being from the Piney Woods, thought it would be interesting. Who knew that the most violent feud in US History happened right here! And that it took The President of Texas to bring it to an end! Interesting read. Good narration.