Reminiscences of a Ranger

"Reminiscences of a Ranger. . . by Horace Bell. . . published in 1881. . . became a classic work of frontier literature. Bell, a gold-seeker, volunteer lawman, soldier, lawyer and journalist, was a masterful story-teller and his colorful book has been aptly termed 'the finest memoirs of early Los Angeles'. . . accounts of gold rush bandits, gunfights, vigilantes and manhunts." -Tulsa World, Jan. 9, 2000

"Reminiscences of a Ranger. . . by Horace Bell. . . is the real thing, a first person memoir that allows us to see the landscape of early California in the Gold Rush era through the eyes of someone who was there. . . his classic autobiography focuses on his experiences as a founding member of the volunteer police force known as the Los Angeles Rangers. . . colorful and compelling. . . a historical artifact." -LA Times, Jan. 13, 2000

"Everyone interested in California's past knows 'Reminiscences of a Ranger' by Maj. Horace Bell. . . still holds its own as one of our most realistic and valuable documents." -LA Times, Oct. 5, 1930

"In 1852. . . the country was infested with horse-thieves and cutthroats, and the Los Angeles Rangers (mounted) were organized. Horace joined them." -LA Times, March 17, 1887

Infested with horse-thieves and cutthroats during the Gold Rush era, how successful were early Californians who formed the "California Rangers," in restoring law and order to that lawless region? Horace Bell has surprising answers in his 1881 book "Reminiscences of a Ranger: or, Early Times in Southern California."

Horace Bell (1830 - 1918), was active in the American era of 19th century California, especially in the Los Angeles region. He was a California Ranger, filibuster, soldier, lawyer, journalist and newspaper publisher, and author of two Southern California history books. The first was an 1881 memoir, Reminiscences of a Ranger: Early Times in Southern California.

The California Rangers were California's first statewide law enforcement agency, formed in 1853 to deal particularly with the outlaw gangs troubling the Gold Country during the early 1850s. The original posse disbanded following their success in bringing the violent Five Joaquins gang to justice.

In this book Bell writes:

"No country or section during the first decade following the conquest of California, has been more prolific of adventure than our own bright and beautiful land ; and to rescue from threatened oblivion the incidents herein related, and either occurring under the personal observation of the author, or related to him on the ground by the actors therein, and to give place on the page of history to the names of brave and worthy men who figured in the stirring events of the times referred to, as well as to portray pioneer life as it then existed, not only among the American pioneers, but also the California Spaniards, the author sends forth his book of Reminiscences, trusting that its many imperfections may be charitably scrutinized by a criticising public, and that the honesty of purpose with which it is written will be duly appreciated. "