War in East Texas: Regulators vs. Moderators

by Bill O'Neal

From 1840 through 1844 East Texas was wracked by murderous violence between Regulator and Moderator factions. More than thirty 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

206 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2006

About the author

Bill O’Neal is an American historian of the West, author of more than 25 books and hundreds of articles, longtime Panola College professor, frequent documentary contributor, and recipient of the 2003 NOLA Literary Award.

Reviews

[Lucie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A forgotten piece of Texas history, or even the history of feuds in the US. Regulators was the contemporary name for vigilantes until the late 1800s, so this is a war between vigilantes and those who would curb them in the 1840s. Thirty two people were murdered, ambushed, or hung during a 10 year period but no big name was identified with this feud so it is mostly forgotten by history.

[Joseph Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have done substantial research into this feud and several of the families involved. Mr. O'Neal has presented a very one-sided view of the whole situation. He clearly has a preference for showing the Regulators in the best light possible. The author has taken many liberties with facts and I would offer that the book should be considered historical fiction and not a true historical reference book.

[Phylwil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dry and hard to follow but that is no ones fault. The number of people involved is just a characteristic of real life, but one that can be hard to keep straight.

I very much enjoyed learning about this most deadly feud. In the end I think the two factions weren’t fighting over an ideological difference just who would be in control.

[Catherine]

This book is about the Regulator/Moderator feud that started in East Texas during the 1840's. Our family (the Taylors) were part of the Moderators. Although not as well known as the Hatfield and Mccoy feud, it is still legendary in Texas, and some say is still a goin'on.