Van der Linde Gang
A History of the Van der Linde Gang
The gang's origins go back to a chance meeting between two petty hustlers in the mid-1870s. Dutch van der Linde and Hosea Matthews, both con artists, crossed paths outside Chicago and immediately tried to scam each other. When they realized they were evenly matched in skill, they decided to join forces, laying the groundwork for the gang. During this period, Hosea also met and married a woman named Bessie.
Dutch had a grand vision: a "savage utopia" where people could live free from the oppressiveness of government and corporations. He believed the gang could make this happen by acting as modern-day Robin Hoods, robbing the wealthy to aid the poor. This idealistic philosophy served as the gang's initial moral compass, guiding their actions and drawing in new members who shared their disdain for the growing "civilized" world.
In 1877, this budding partnership expanded when Dutch and Hosea took in a fourteen-year-old orphan named Arthur Morgan, teaching him to read, write, and survive as an outlaw. Arthur became Dutch's first protégé and loyal enforcer. Around this time, Dutch also started a romantic relationship with Susan Grimshaw, another early gang member.
The gang kept growing, acting as a makeshift family. By 1885, Dutch had rescued a young John Marston from a lynching, taking him under his wing and raising him alongside Arthur. The two young men became like brothers, with Dutch filling their heads with his anarchistic ideals. They continued pulling off various heists, most notably the robbery of the Lee & Hoyt Bank in 1887, which netted them $5,000 in gold. After the robbery, they stuck to their "Robin Hood" ideals by handing out money to the poor in town.
As the years passed, the American Frontier began to close, and Dutch's idealism started to fade. He grew more disillusioned with his original beliefs, feeling the world was working against him. The gang's charitable acts became less frequent, and they adopted a more violent approach, often killing enemies. Dutch also started a blood feud with Colm O'Driscoll, the leader of a rival gang, after Dutch killed Colm's brother, and Colm responded by murdering Dutch's lover, Annabelle.
By the mid-1890s, the gang had grown significantly, including new members seeking a place in a changing world. This diverse group included Abigail Roberts, Karen Jones, Tilly Jackson, Mary-Beth Gaskill, Simon Pearson, Leopold Strauss, Josiah Trelawny, and Orville Swanson. John Marston briefly left the gang in 1896 for a year but returned in 1897, much to Arthur's disappointment.
By 1898, the gang was in Montana, recruiting more members like Charles Smith, Lenny Summers, and the outlaw Micah Bell. Micah's presence, along with Dutch's rising paranoia, would ultimately contribute to the gang's downfall.
In April 1899, the gang planned a major riverboat robbery in Blackwater, a town going through industrial growth. Despite protests from Arthur and Hosea, Dutch went ahead with the heist. The plan failed when Pinkerton agents showed up unexpectedly. In the chaos that followed, Dutch's judgment faltered, and he shot an innocent woman. The gang was forced to flee into the snowy mountains, leaving behind money and several members. This event signaled the beginning of the end for the Van der Linde gang.
Member Roster
The gang was more than just a collection of outlaws; they were a found family to one another, each with a unique role.
Leadership
@Dutch van der Linde: The gang's leader. He is an eloquent and idealistic visionary, but as the law closes in, his sanity and judgment begin to unravel. His mount is The Count, a white Arabian.
@Hosea Matthews: Dutch's co-founder and best friend. He serves as the gang's chief conman and a moral compass, often tempering Dutch's more impulsive decisions. His mount is Silver Dollar, a silver Turkoman.
Gunslingers
@Arthur Morgan: The gang's primary enforcer. He joined Dutch's gang as an orphan at the age of 14 and became Dutch's first protégé. He is a pragmatic, quiet, and deeply loyal man who believes in Dutch's ideals. His mount is Boadicea, a Bay Roan Ardennes.
@John Marston: A skilled gunslinger who struggles to reconcile his life as an outlaw with his desire for a normal family life. He was rescued and raised by Dutch at a young age, and as he gets older, his priorities shift to his family. His mount is Old Boy, a Hungarian Half-bred with a Silver Dark Bay coat.
@Javier Escuella: A gunman and former revolutionary from Mexico. He is a fiercely loyal and passionate member who often plays guitar by the campfire. He joined the gang in 1895, and his mount is a male American Paint named Boaz.
@Bill Williamson: A former U.S. Army soldier who was dishonorably discharged. He is hot-headed, aggressive, and fiercely loyal to Dutch. He joined in 1893, and his mount is Brown Jack, a Brown Roan Ardennes.
@Micah Bell: A sociopathic and opportunistic gunman. His manipulative nature and distrustful personality make him a polarizing figure within the gang, and his presence contributes to its ultimate downfall. He joined in December 1898, and his mount is a Perlino Andalusian named Baylock.
@Charles Smith: A quiet and honorable gunman and hunter of mixed Black and Native American heritage. He is a skilled tracker and fighter, and one of the most reliable members of the gang. He joined in 1898, and his mount is an Appaloosa with a Grey Snowcap Spotted coat named Taima.
@Sean MacGuire: A boisterous and cocky young Irish gunman who is always eager for action. He often overestimates his own abilities but provides a source of enthusiasm for the gang. His mount is an American Standardbred with a Silver Tail Buckskin coat named Ennis.
@Lenny Summers: An educated young gunman who fled his home after a tragic incident. He is intelligent and quick-witted, and despite his young age, he is a dedicated member of the gang. He joined in December 1898, and his mount is a Mustang with a Light Palomino coat named Maggie.
@Sadie Adler: A gunwoman who joins the gang after her ranch is destroyed by a rival group and her husband is killed. Initially a traumatized widow, she transforms into a fierce and formidable gang member. She joined in May 1899. Her mount is a Bay Roan Ardennes named Bob.
@Karen Jones: A gunwoman and handmaid. She is a skilled con artist known for her confident and brash personality, which she uses to scam and rob people with ease. Her mount is a Grey American Standardbred named Old Belle.
@Tilly Jackson: A handmaid. She is a kind and sweet-natured woman who ran away from a past with another gang after being forced to kill a man. She finds a sense of safety and family with the Van der Linde gang. Her mount is a Tennessee Walker.
@Mary-Beth Gaskill: A handmaid and thief. Beneath her seemingly harmless and kind demeanor lies a skilled pickpocket. She is a romantic who enjoys reading and finds peace within the gang's family-like dynamic. Her mount is a Tennessee Walker.
Other Members
@Uncle: A thief and the camp drunkard. He is known for his lazy and carefree demeanor, but he has a mysterious past and a close relationship with John and Abigail. His mount is a Kentucky Saddler with a Sabino coat named Nell II.
@Abigail Roberts: John's partner and the mother of Jack. A former prostitute, she is a strong-willed and independent woman who deeply loves John and her son. She seeks to escape the outlaw life for a peaceful family existence. She joined in 1894.
@Simon Pearson: The camp butcher and cook. A former U.S. Navy sailor, he was taken in by Dutch's gang to escape loan sharks. He maintains a domestic role in the camp, providing food and care for the members.
@Leopold Strauss: A bookkeeper, accountant, and loan shark. An elderly Austrian émigré, he is responsible for the gang's moneylending business, preying on the poor and desperate to profit for the gang. He is widely disliked for his cold, exploitative nature. His mounts are a Morgan and a Tennessee Walker.
@Josiah Trelawny: A professional conman and magician who is a part-time associate of the gang. He is an eccentric and well-dressed English gentleman who helps with heists and information gathering, but is not a permanent member of the camp. His mount is a Brown Leopard Appaloosa named Gwydion.
@Orville Swanson: The camp priest. A reverend who saved Dutch's life, he was given a place in the gang. He struggles with severe alcohol and morphine addiction, but still tries to provide spiritual guidance to the group.
@Kieran Duffy: A stable boy who was originally a low-ranking member of the rival O'Driscoll gang. He is captured by the Van der Linde gang and eventually tries to find a new place and sense of belonging with them. He joined in May 1899. His mount is a Flaxen Roan Tennessee Walker named Branwen.
@Molly O'Shea: Dutch's lover. An Irish woman infatuated with Dutch, she becomes increasingly distraught and isolated as Dutch's focus shifts away from her and onto the gang's deteriorating situation.
Allies and Rivalries
The Van der Linde gang's existence is defined by its conflicts and strained alliances.
Main Rivals: The Pinkerton Detective Agency, a ruthless group hired by wealthy businessman Leviticus Cornwall to hunt the gang after the Blackwater heist. The O'Driscoll gang, led by Dutch's sworn enemy Colm O'Driscoll, is also a significant threat.
Allies: While the gang's alliances are temporary, they do work with other groups, such as the Wapiti Native American tribe, to resist the encroaching federal government. The character of Josiah Trelawny, a professional con artist and associate, also provides aid to the gang on multiple occasions.