Mr. Bowie With a Knife by J.R. Edmondson

Description

Occuring on September 19, 1827 on a Mississippi River sandbar just above the city of Natchez, the “Sandbar Fight” was a duel that was seemingly settled, then dissolved into a melee amongst individuals from both parties who were at odds with one another. The fight left two killed, two lightly injured and two badly injured – including James Bowie, who despite being shot and stabbed multiple times managed to disembowel his primary assailant Norris Wright with what the newspapers then called a “large butcher knife”. Bowie would go on to meet his end defending the Alamo in March of 1836, and large knives inspired by Bowie’s live on even today, as “bowie knives.”

“Mr. Bowie with a Knife” is a reprinting of a four-part article published in the October 1995 through January 1996 editions of Knife World, the predecessor to Knife Magazine (online members can read these in their original form on our website). The book begins with a description of the individuals and a detailed explanation of the circumstances that led to the Sandbar Fight. The fight itself is then covered in great detail, and it wraps up with James Bowie’s recovery from his wounds and subsequent departure for Texas.
Edmondson is a superb writer and the story is told in engaging fashion. There are few illustrations, but there’s little need for them. This is a book you can curl up with in your easy chair, and come back to again and again for reference.

Those with an interest in the Sandbar Fight and related topics are encouraged to also read James Batson’s book “James Bowie and the Sandbar Fight,” which expands the scope of coverage but may not be as much of a joy to read.