See Jesse James and His Gang in Missouri During the Civil War

There are very few people that have ever seen Jesse James and his notorious gang during this era. Before the days of his legendary bank and train robberies, he and members of his gang were guerrilla fighters during the Civil War and rare photos have been preserved of that time.

The State Historical Society of Missouri has done an incredible job of maintaining rare photos which now includes Jesse and Frank James plus members who would later be a part of the James-Younger Gang. Here's a photo from 1864 showing Jesse James (pictured on the right) next to Frank James (seated) and Charles Fletcher Taylor.

James Brothers and Charles Fletcher Taylor via SHSMO (Public Domain)

Here are two of the Younger brothers in a photo taken in 1861. They would later be a part of Jesse's gang participating in many bank and train robberies.

Younger Brothers via SHSMO (Public Domain)

Finally, here's a rare photo of Bob Younger that was captured shortly after the infamous Northfield Bank robbery in 1876. Notice that he does not look sorry for his crimes.

Younger, Robert Ewing "Bob" via SHSMO (Public Domain)

When did Jesse James and the Younger gang form?

Frank and Jesse James formed a core partnership with their cousins, the Younger brothers in January of 1866. On February 13, 1866, the gang committed its first major recorded robbery at the Clay County Savings Association Bank in Liberty, Missouri. The loose association of outlaws became widely known as the "James–Younger Gang" after authorities named them as suspects in the Russellville, Kentucky bank robbery in 1868. The gang effectively dissolved after a disastrous bank robbery attempt in Northfield, Minnesota, which resulted in the capture or death of most members in September of 1876.