I Dreamt I Was in Heaven: The Rampage of the Rufus Buck Gang

I Dreamt I Was in Heaven: The Rampage of the Rufus Buck Gang by Leonce Gaiter   288 pages

 One of the things I love about historical fiction is that it uncovers forgotten stories, and this is one of them.  I have never heard of  the “Hanging Judge,” Isaac Parker nor the notorious Rufus Buck Gang. I thought the “Hanging Judge” was Roy Bean. That could have been the movies’ fault, especially the one with Paul Newman.  I’m not saying that that movie had it all wrong, I haven’t seen it in decades, I’m saying I probably got confused.

The Rufus Buck Gang was “an outlaw multi-racial gang whose members were part African American and part Creek Indian. They operated in the Indian Territory of the Arkansas-Oklahoma area from 1895 to 1896. Formed by Rufus Buck, the gang consisted also of Lewis Davis, Sam Sampson, Maoma July, and Lucky Davis.” (Wikipedia) It’s refreshing not have the usual band of white dudes trying to evict the American Indians from their land or the Indians killing white dudes, trying to send them back to where they came from. What fascinated me most about this story was that Rufus and his “gang” were all teenagers. These kids brought with them years of oppression and abuse they have suffered.

That and Rufus thought he was on a mission from God, who talked to him through a white girl, 13-year-old Theodosia Swain. That’s where the novel’s title originates.

Set in the Indian Territory story focuses on a shocking 13-day, violent rampage where Rufus and the gang embark on a mission to reclaim the Indian territories from the United States. Rufus believes that their actions will cause the Indians to rise up and reclaim their land. Rufus even purposely gets sent to the same prison that houses Cherokee Bill. He makes plans to bust out Cherokee Bill, who will then aid him on his mission. 

I wish I could say it better, but this blurb from the back cover is the best way to describe this hard-to-read (due to the violence) and eye-opening novel: “…famous, historical figures dance with fictional characters to create a turn-of-the-century tapestry of violence and innocence, love and betrayal, butchery and grace--mirroring and chafing against the backdrop of a burgeoning United States, and a disappearing American West.

One important item to note is Gaiter's prose.  I would never have thought that a western could be literary, and that's the classification I would give this: Literary Western

Warning:  Contains scenes of graphic sexual violence.

“I Dreamt I Was in Heaven: The Rampage of the Rufus Buck Gang” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.