Davis Tutt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Davis Tutt
|
|
|---|---|
Davis Tutt in 1860s
|
|
| Born |
Davis Kasey Tutt
1836 |
| Died | July 21, 1865 (aged 28–29) |
| Cause of death | Gunfight in Wild Bill Hickok – Davis Tutt shootout |
| Occupation | Gambler and soldier |
| Parents |
|
Davis Kasey Tutt (born 1836 – died July 21, 1865) was an American Old West gambler and former soldier. He is mostly remembered for being killed in a famous gunfight. This event, known as the Wild Bill Hickok – Davis Tutt shootout, made Wild Bill Hickok very famous.
Early Life and Family
Davis Tutt was born in Yellville, Arkansas, in 1836. His father, Hansford Tutt, came from a powerful family in Marion County, Arkansas. When Davis was a boy, his family was involved in a conflict called the Tutt–Everett War. During this time, his father and other family members sadly lost their lives.
Soldier in the Civil War
In 1862, Davis Tutt joined the army. He fought for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. He was part of Company A, 27th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. He served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater, which was the area west of the Mississippi River.
After the war ended, Tutt decided to travel west. He stopped in Springfield, Missouri, which is where he met Wild Bill Hickok.
Friendship and a Debt
Even though Davis Tutt and Wild Bill Hickok fought on opposite sides in the war, they became friends. They often gambled together. Sometimes, Tutt would even lend money to Hickok.
Historians have different ideas about how much money Hickok owed Tutt. However, Hickok himself said he owed Tutt $25. This might not sound like a lot today, but back then it was a significant amount.
The Famous Gunfight
The friendship between Tutt and Hickok broke down because Hickok did not repay the money he owed. Things got worse when Tutt took Hickok's watch as a promise that the money would be paid back. This was very embarrassing for Hickok.
Hickok allowed Tutt to take the watch. But he warned Tutt not to wear it in public. If Tutt wore the watch, it would humiliate Hickok. However, if Tutt didn't wear it, it might make people think he was afraid of Hickok. This situation made a gunfight almost unavoidable.
The gunfight happened in the town square in Springfield. Hickok walked into the square and called out to Tutt. Tutt responded, and the two men bravely faced each other. Each man fired one shot. Tutt missed his target. But Hickok's shot hit Tutt, and he died.
Davis Tutt has largely been forgotten by history. However, the gunfight in Springfield made Wild Bill Hickok a legend. This event became one of the most famous gunfights of the Old West. It has been shown many times in Hollywood films.
