In the American west, Bass Reeves achieves renown as a rough-and-tumble African American cowboy. For his deeds, Reeves earns the position of Deputy U.S. Marshal, the first black man to hold such a position west of the Mississippi River. Reeves traverses the countryside apprehending outlaws, making over 3,000 arrests and 14 kills in his life-spanning career. Based on a true story.