The Life and Death of a Gunfighter, Book 1, Part One
The Saga of Clay Allison/Gentlemen Gunfighter
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Home , yes my God home was all that Robert Clay Allison could think about . Home was what all the men that Clay was being held with thought about too, because these men and Clay were Confederate soldiers... prisoners of war . This was The Great American Civil War, a war that was a lost cause from the beginning . The war was coming to an end now , this great American travesty . It was the Spring of 1865 and Lee had already surrendered at Appomattox . The men being held at Gainesville, Alabama had heard rumors of the South ' s defeat and the wars end . Now all these tales were no longer just rumors . The prisoners of war in this small stockade at Gainesville were assembled before the camp's commander. As the camp's commander read out the decree to affect the release of the prisoners, they raised their right hand to be sworn back into the Union . Most took the oath with great sorrow ,but all swore their allegiance just the same . All swore their loyalty , because this was a time of rebuilding , a time to mend differences and hopefully a time for healing . As Clay stood there he knew that this would not be , this could not be , too much had happened without resolve . At this point ,Clay knew exactly what he had to do , this was to go home , home to Wayne County Tennessee , then to a place where a man could make a name for himself , where he had plenty of space to grow and where them damned Yankees couldn't touch him . This place was Texas . But , first things first , home .
After Clay was released he headed North walking . The war had taken its' toll on him . Most of what had been recognized as a uniform had since rotted away . Nevertheless ,one could tell that Clay was a handsome man in spite of all the outwardly signs of physical abuse and starvation . He stood six foot two inches tall with black hair and cold green eyes , which at a glance could be mistaken for steel blue eyes. He weighed about one hundred seventy-five pounds before the hunger took its' toll . Now he was down to about one hundred fifty , but with nourishment and plenty of rest he would be as good as new in no time at all .
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About the Book
The South had lost the war and chaos had taken the place of a genteel life of the Southern people. The carpetbaggers and the Northern Government had made it impossible for the defeated South to retain any of its life it enjoyed before the war.
Some fled to Mexico. Many to South America. In Mexico they were forced to return by the Mexican Government, but in South America they prospered. Clay and his family went west. There Clay became a legend as a cattleman and deadly with a six-shooter. From the Brazos to Dodge City to Cimarron to the Pecos Clay was known and feared by some.
About the Author
Gerry Clay Allison is the Great, Great Nephew of Robert Clay Allison. He is a living historian, writer and re-enactor. Gerry has been a part of a few movies and made for television productions. He has spent the last thirty years of his life trailing his famous ancestors to bring you this story of not only his heritage, but our link to a history that is seldom or never taught in school, our lawless days and the men who forged the Wild West.