Bass Reeves: Unraveling Sherill Lynn's Civil War Tale and Its Implications for Law Enforcement

Article Overview

Sherill Lynn, played by Dannis Quaid, is a key figure in the Paramount+ show Lawmen: Bass Reeves. He convinces Bass Reeves to join the ranks of law enforcement and presents him with his initial assignment.

Moving into episode 2, Sherill requests Bass Reeves' assistance in tracking down a fugitive from the Choctaw Nation. Bass agrees based on his fluency in the language and unwavering moral compass, demonstrating his potential as a lawman.

The portrayal of Sherill's character and the events surrounding the J.R. Williams ambush are fictionalized to create a more dramatic story. Although Sherill himself is not based on an actual Deputy U.S. Marshal, he represents a realistic depiction of the type of person Bass Reeves would have collaborated with.

In the new Paramount+ series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Sherill Lynn plays a prominent role. Played by Dannis Quaid (known for The Rookie and The Parent Trap), Lynn is a Civil War veteran and Deputy U.S. Marshal who recruits Bass Reeves and offers him his first job in law enforcement. Lawmen: Bass Reeves, executive produced by Taylor Sheridan and David Oyelowo, premiered its first two episodes on Paramount+ on November 5, 2023, and will be broadcast on CBS at 9 p.m. EST on November 12, 2023. Oyelowo himself stars as the real-life Old West lawman who achieved more than 3000 arrests throughout his career spanning over 30 years.

In Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 2, Sherill enlists the help of Bass Reeves in tracking down a wanted man from the Choctaw Nation who had committed the murder of a fellow lawman. Despite not being a member of law enforcement at the time, Bass's strong sense of morality and proficiency in the Indigenous language make him a valuable asset to Sherill. Having spent years living in Indigenous Territory (modern-day Oklahoma) after escaping slavery, Bass Reeves is fluent in several Indigenous languages. His natural aptitude for law enforcement leads to his eventual appointment as one of the first black Deputy U.S. Marshals by Judge Parker (Donald Sutherland).

Sherill Tells Bass About Real-Life Ambush On The J.R. Williams

In episode 2, while sitting beside Bass Reeves near the campfire, Sherill openly shares his firsthand account of serving in the U.S. Civil War. Despite being unwillingly involved in the Confederate Army as a slave under Colonel George R. Reeves, Bass Reeves eventually fought alongside them during the conflict. Throughout Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 2, Sherill expresses his frustration towards Indigenous Peoples and attributes his deep-seated racial resentment to a personal, tragic war experience. One significant event involved Sherill's presence on the "iron coffin," a steamboat named J.R. Williams, which became the backdrop for the sole recorded naval battle during the U.S. Civil War.

Sherill’s Civil War Story Proves He Fought For The Union Army

In the episode, Sherill recounts the horrifying experience of being ambushed by enemy Indigenous forces while the J.R. Williams was navigating the Arkansas River from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. The vessel, primarily used for transporting military supplies during the Civil War, sustained extensive damage from a series of strategic cannonball attacks directly targeting it. Sherill considers himself fortunate to have survived, as the majority of his fellow soldiers tragically perished, drowning in their own blood. Additionally, Sherill vividly describes a near-scalping incident with one of the Indigenous individuals as he made his escape, providing profound insight into the source of his deep-seated animosity.

Sherill's account of the ambush on J.R. Williams demonstrates his service in the Union Army during the Civil War. This actual incident took place on June 15, 1864, when the Union Army was on the verge of victory. In order to avoid continual interception by Confederate soldiers, the Union made the strategic decision to transport their supplies along the Arkansas River instead of using wagons. The J.R. Williams, specifically tasked with delivering provisions to support Indigenous tribes sympathetic to the Union cause, had relocated from Kansas and Missouri.

General Stand Watie, along with a contingent of around 400 soldiers, a significant number of whom were Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, and Seminole supporters of the Confederate Army, orchestrated the ambush of the J.R. Williams. In her book Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Sherill Lynn asserts that she was among those present on the infamous vessel, claiming that she had indeed fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. However, historical records indicate that the ambush was not as terrifying as Sherill's account portrays it, as there were only six individuals wounded and four individuals killed.

Is Sherill Lynn Based On An Actual Deputy U.S. Marshall?

In Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the impact of the ambush on the J.R. Williams is deliberately intensified to enhance the portrayal of Sherill Lynn's character and contribute to the overall dramatic narrative. Similar to the interpretation of the tragic war story in episode 2, Sherill Lynn is a fictional character created by showrunner Chad Feehan and the writing team. While he represents a realistic but fictionalized version of a Deputy U.S. Marshal, it is important to note that Bass Reeves may have indeed collaborated with someone resembling Sherill Lynn during his tenure as a lawman in 1875.

Source: The Capture of the J.R. Williams

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of the show "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," I am intrigued by the character of Sherill Lynn and his connection to the real-life Bass Reeves. While Sherill himself is a fictional character, he represents the type of person with whom Reeves would have collaborated during his time as a lawman. The portrayal of Sherill's character and the events surrounding the J.R. Williams ambush are fictionalized to create a more dramatic story.

The show does a great job of weaving historical events and figures with fictional characters and storylines. The character of Sherill Lynn is a complex and fascinating one, and I am eager to see how his relationship with Bass Reeves develops over the course of the series. I am also interested in learning more about the real-life events that inspired the show, and how they shaped the life of Bass Reeves.