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Shot All To Hell    by Mark Lee Gardner Amazon.com order for
Shot All To Hell
by Mark Lee Gardner
Order:  USA  Can
William Morrow, 2013 (2013)
Hardcover, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Jesse James and his gang committed the most famous robbery of all times when they broached Northfield's First National Bank on the Watonwan River, Northfield, Missouri.

Accompanying James were the Younger boys and Jesse's brother Frank along with a few hangers-on. They got away with a miniscule amount of money, not worth the effort nor the lives that were lost. A bank cashier was shot and killed, creating the mystery of who shot the man and why. Theories were laid out for 135 years until author Mark Lee Gardner wrote All Shot to Hell:Jesse James, the Northfield Raid, and the Wild West's Greatest Escape after voluminous research on the James-Younger gang and their last robbery.

Two of the robbers were shot and killed by the citizens of Northfield. Even one of their horses was shot. Bob Younger was severely wounded, slowing down the gang's escape. Frank and Jesse felt they had to move more quickly if they were to avoid being captured by the following posse. They split up, the Youngers going one way and Frank and Jesse another.

The tale of the travails both groups suffered as they rode (and walked) commandeering or stealing fresh mounts and food, is a true Western story. They suffered festering wounds, sleep deprivation, cold, rain, ice, insufficient clothing and anything else that could have made both groups miserable.

The Notes at the end of this book would make a book in themselves. Fascinating reading of a past time and a few of the people who were a part of it, famous or infamous. A good read.

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