John Baker Omohundro (July 26, 1846 â€" June 28, 1880), also known as
"Texas Jack", was an American frontier scout, actor, and cowboy. Born
in rural Virginia, he served in the Confederacy during the American
Civil War and, later, as a civilian scout for the US Army during the
Indian Wars. Before his untimely death, Texas Jack became a legendary
figure in the American Old West as a Western showman performing dramas
on the stage throughout the country, and was immortalized in dime
novels published around the world.Omohundro was born in Palmyra on the
Pleasure Hill farm in Fluvanna County, Virginia, on July 26, 1846, to
John Burwell and Catherine Baker Omohundro of Anglo-American ancestry.
He attended grammar school in Fluvanna and at an early age showed a
strong skill in hunting and fishing.At the start of the American Civil
War, Omohundro attempted to join his older brother, Orville, in the
Confederate Army. He was twice refused for his age, but was allowed to
serve as a courier at the headquarters of the Virginia Militia under
Major General John B. Floyd. Because of his youth and knowledge of the
countryside, he became known as the "Boy Scout of the Confederacy". In
February 1864, at the age of 17, he successfully enlisted as a private
in Company G of the 5th Virginia Cavalry, part of the Army of Northern
Virginia, and was soon serving directly in General J.E.B. Stuart's
command as a courier and scout. At the Battle of Yellow Tavern, he
delivered a scouting report to Stuart only minutes before the general
was killed in battle. During the Battle of Trevilian Station,
Omohundro was wounded and admitted to the Confederate States General
Hospital in Charlottesville on June 20, 1864. After recovering from
his injuries, and a short leave home, he returned to his company and
scouted under the command of General Lunsford L. Lomax. Following the
Third Battle of Winchester, the 5th Virginia Cavalry was consolidated
with the 15th Virginia Cavalry, where Omohundro scouted under General
Fitzhugh Lee during the last months of the war.After the Civil War,
Omohundro left Virginia at age 19 for Florida. After a short time, he
moved on to Texas, arriving at the Taylor Ranch near Brazos, where he
began working as a cowboy participating in cattle drives, notably on
the Chisholm Trail. After one drive across Arkansas to a meat-poor
Tennessee, he was given nickname "Texas Jack" by the locals. On
another drive, Omohundro found a five-year-old boy orphaned after a
Native American raid killed his family. He brought the boy to safety
in Fort Worth, and the boy later took the name Texas Jack Jr. in
homage, going on to run the Texas Jack's Wild West Show and Circus in
1903 in South Africa.
"Texas Jack", was an American frontier scout, actor, and cowboy. Born
in rural Virginia, he served in the Confederacy during the American
Civil War and, later, as a civilian scout for the US Army during the
Indian Wars. Before his untimely death, Texas Jack became a legendary
figure in the American Old West as a Western showman performing dramas
on the stage throughout the country, and was immortalized in dime
novels published around the world.Omohundro was born in Palmyra on the
Pleasure Hill farm in Fluvanna County, Virginia, on July 26, 1846, to
John Burwell and Catherine Baker Omohundro of Anglo-American ancestry.
He attended grammar school in Fluvanna and at an early age showed a
strong skill in hunting and fishing.At the start of the American Civil
War, Omohundro attempted to join his older brother, Orville, in the
Confederate Army. He was twice refused for his age, but was allowed to
serve as a courier at the headquarters of the Virginia Militia under
Major General John B. Floyd. Because of his youth and knowledge of the
countryside, he became known as the "Boy Scout of the Confederacy". In
February 1864, at the age of 17, he successfully enlisted as a private
in Company G of the 5th Virginia Cavalry, part of the Army of Northern
Virginia, and was soon serving directly in General J.E.B. Stuart's
command as a courier and scout. At the Battle of Yellow Tavern, he
delivered a scouting report to Stuart only minutes before the general
was killed in battle. During the Battle of Trevilian Station,
Omohundro was wounded and admitted to the Confederate States General
Hospital in Charlottesville on June 20, 1864. After recovering from
his injuries, and a short leave home, he returned to his company and
scouted under the command of General Lunsford L. Lomax. Following the
Third Battle of Winchester, the 5th Virginia Cavalry was consolidated
with the 15th Virginia Cavalry, where Omohundro scouted under General
Fitzhugh Lee during the last months of the war.After the Civil War,
Omohundro left Virginia at age 19 for Florida. After a short time, he
moved on to Texas, arriving at the Taylor Ranch near Brazos, where he
began working as a cowboy participating in cattle drives, notably on
the Chisholm Trail. After one drive across Arkansas to a meat-poor
Tennessee, he was given nickname "Texas Jack" by the locals. On
another drive, Omohundro found a five-year-old boy orphaned after a
Native American raid killed his family. He brought the boy to safety
in Fort Worth, and the boy later took the name Texas Jack Jr. in
homage, going on to run the Texas Jack's Wild West Show and Circus in
1903 in South Africa.
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