Dalton Defenders

On October 5, 1892, the notorious Dalton Gang attempted their most audacious heist yet—robbing two banks at the same time in Coffeyville, Kansas. But instead of escaping with riches, they met their bloody end. In this episode, we dive deep into the rise and fall of the Dalton brothers, the chaotic gunfight that unfolded in the streets of Coffeyville, and the town’s courageous stand against some of the Old West’s most infamous outlaws. Join us as we recount the legendary raid, its aftermath, and the legacy of the Dalton Gang.

Perfect for history buffs and Old West enthusiasts, this episode brings the last stand of the Dalton Gang to life in vivid detail.

On a crisp autumn morning in Coffeyville, Kansas, October 5, 1892, the Dalton Gang made their bold and, ultimately, fatal move. This wasn’t just any run-of-the-mill heist—it was an ambitious, almost foolhardy attempt to rob two banks simultaneously in broad daylight. It would become the infamous Coffeyville Raid, a defining moment in Old West lore. The story of the Daltons and their last stand is one of greed, ambition, and spectacular miscalculation.

The Dalton brothers—Frank, Bob, Grat, and Emmett—didn’t start off on the wrong side of the law. In fact, they followed a more respectable path in the beginning, working as lawmen, just like their older brother Frank Dalton, a deputy U.S. marshal. But things took a tragic turn in 1887 when Frank was killed in the line of duty. His death deeply affected the family, especially his younger brothers. By the early 1890s, the remaining Daltons had shifted from upholding the law to breaking it.

Led by Bob Dalton, the gang became notorious for robbing trains and banks. Bob had a dangerous ambition—he wanted to outshine the legacy of the Jesse James Gang, and in Bob’s mind, robbing two banks at once was the surefire way to do it. The Coffeyville job would be different from their earlier heists; it wasn’t just about quick cash—it was about making a name for themselves.

The Daltons didn’t just stroll into town one morning with guns blazing. They spent days planning their attack, scoping out Coffeyville and familiarizing themselves with the layout. Bob had a specific strategy in mind: the gang would split into two groups, hit the C.M. Condon & Co. Bank and the First National Bank at the same time, and ride out with bags full of cash before anyone could organize a response.

Bob, Grat, and Emmett Dalton, along with Bill Power and Dick Broadwell, rode into town in the early morning hours of October 5. They tried to disguise themselves, wearing long coats and false beards, hoping they wouldn’t be recognized. But the problem was—they were infamous, and Coffeyville wasn’t a place where strangers went unnoticed. Despite their attempts to hide their identities, sharp-eyed locals quickly grew suspicious.

The gang split up and entered both banks, sticking to their plan. In the Condon Bank, Bob Dalton demanded the cash, while in the First National Bank, Grat Dalton did the same. But outside, things were quickly falling apart. Coffeyville was a small, tight-knit community, and it didn’t take long for word to spread that the Daltons were in town. In fact, one of the town’s citizens, a man named Aleck McKenna, had spotted the gang as they rode in. Recognizing them despite their poor disguises, he raised the alarm.

What happened next was the stuff of legend. Townspeople, refusing to let their town be terrorized, armed themselves with rifles and pistols. Coffeyville wasn’t going to go down without a fight. As the gang tried to make their getaway, they found themselves in the middle of a full-blown firefight with the citizens of Coffeyville.

By the time the Dalton Gang emerged from the banks with sacks of stolen money, the streets of Coffeyville were swarming with armed citizens. The gang’s horses had been moved, and they were forced to find cover and shoot their way out. What followed was a chaotic, brutal gunfight that claimed lives on both sides. Bullets flew from all directions as the Daltons tried to fight their way out of the deadly ambush.

Bob and Grat Dalton were gunned down almost immediately. Bill Power and Dick Broadwell were also killed in the gunfight, though not before wounding several townsfolk. Emmett Dalton, the youngest of the brothers, was hit multiple times but somehow survived. He was dragged away, barely alive, after the smoke cleared.

Marshal Charles T. Connelly, one of the local heroes, was killed in the shootout, along with four other brave citizens. It wasn’t a victory without loss for Coffeyville, but they had stood their ground.

The Coffeyville raid marked the bloody end of the Dalton Gang. The audacity of trying to rob two banks at once had backfired spectacularly, leaving all but one of the gang dead in the streets. Emmett Dalton, riddled with gunshot wounds, was taken into custody and would later stand trial. He was sentenced to life in prison, though he was paroled after serving 14 years. His survival is one of the more remarkable aspects of the story—he lived to tell the tale, even writing about it later in life.

For Coffeyville, the raid left a deep mark. The bravery of its citizens became a source of pride, and the town itself became part of the mythos of the Old West. Today, the Dalton Defenders Museum in Coffeyville commemorates that day, with relics from the raid and annual reenactments honoring the townspeople who stood their ground.

The Coffeyville raid is remembered not just for the sheer boldness of the Dalton Gang but for the defiant spirit of the town that refused to be victimized. It’s one of those quintessential stories of the Old West, where outlaws sought fortune and fame, only to meet their end in a dusty gunfight.

Bob Dalton’s ambition to outdo Jesse James came crashing down in Coffeyville. What he hoped would be his gang’s crowning achievement turned into their graveyard. In the end, the Dalton Gang’s last stand was not about the money; it was about making a name—and ironically, they did, but for their spectacular failure rather than their success.

Coffeyville, Kansas, forever etched its name into Western history on that October day in 1892, when ordinary citizens stood up to the most notorious outlaws of the time. In doing so, they cemented the legacy of both the town and the Dalton Gang in the legends of the American West.