Blood Meridian Timeline

This is the timeline of the main events that take place in The Blood Meridian

Timeline

Chronological table

Displaying 1 - 17 of 17
Date Event Created by Associated Places
circa. The middle of the month Nov 1833 to circa. 13 Nov 1833

Birth of The Kid

When the main protagonist/narrator The Kid was born in a frontier log cabin. As stated in the novel, this was when the 1833 Leonid meteor shower occurred. this is a well-documented event, as it was one of the largest meteor showers in recorded history.

Dane Theuerkauf
circa. 1847 to circa. 1849

The Kid runs away from home, travels to St. Louis

The Kid at the age of 14 leaves his home in Tennessee, he travels by boat along the Mississippi River, making his way to St. Louis. At this time The Kid is lost, not knowing what he wants in life. His upbringing was violent, taking a lot of his anger with him, getting into many fights, and resorting to petty crime to survive. 

Dane Theuerkauf
The start of the month Spring 1849

The Kid meets Judge Holden and Toadvine in Nogasdoches, Texas

After over a year The Kid travels to Nogasdoches, Texas. There, he will meet the Judge who causes chaos at a religious revival tent. Then The Kid will meet Toadvine, where they fight over an outhouse walkway. 

Dane Theuerkauf
circa. The middle of the month Spring 1849

Captain White recruits the Kid

At San Antonio de Bexar Texas, Captain White recruits The Kid into a US military regiment.

Dane Theuerkauf
circa. The end of the month Spring 1849

Comanche Attack - massacre of Captan White's Regiment

Captain White's army regiment is attacked by a band of Comanche Native Americans, killing and scalping many in the regiment. The Kid manages to escape. This event takes place south of the Rio Grande River in Mexican territory.

Dane Theuerkauf
The start of the month Spring 1849

The Kid Taken Prisoner

After the attack The Kid is arrested by Mexican militia and is held in Chihuahua City, Mexico.

Dane Theuerkauf
circa. The middle of the month Spring 1849

Join the Gang

Days after the arrest, The Kid and Louis Toadvine join the Glanton Gang.

Dane Theuerkauf
The end of the month Spring 1849

Gang's First encounter with Apache Tribe

The Kid with the Glanton Gang has their first encounter with the Apaches, and they were unsuccessful in their ambush despite one Apache death.

Dane Theuerkauf
The end of the month Spring 1849

Successful Hunt of Gilenos

The Gang had their first successful hunt of the Gilenos Apache tribe, killing many even though one of the gang members died a few days earlier from a bear attack.

Dane Theuerkauf
The start of the month Spring 1849

Celebration in Chihuahua City

After their successful exhibition, the Gang sells their bounty of Apache scalps in Chihuahua City. There they celebrate, celebrating in the city, causing chaos and debauchery. After this, the Gang decides they don't care who they scalp, all scalps look the same. Now they hunt both Native Americans and Mexicans.

Dane Theuerkauf
The middle of the month Autumn 1849

The Glanton Gang is Hunted

After Mexican authorities discover The Glanton Gang is killing Mexican people for scalps, a bounty is placed on John Glanton, and the gang is chased out of Mexico by General Elia's army.

Dane Theuerkauf
circa. The start of the month Spring 1850

The Gang Regroups

After a long winter of the Gang being hunted by the Mexican Army, the Gang is nearly destroyed and scattered, the Kid is on his own. That is until the remaining members of the Gang meet in Tuscon, Arizona, for their next plan.

Dane Theuerkauf
The end of the month Mar 1850

The Control of the River

A short time after arriving, the Gang arrives at the Colorado River, they have a new plan of attacking and robbing those who cross the river, taking their gold. The Gang betrays and kills a group of Yuma Native Americans. This will be the future cause of their downfall.

Dane Theuerkauf
The end of the month Apr 1850

Yuma Massacre of the Glanton Gang

Weeks later after the killings, a band of Yuma Native Americans strike back, killing most of the Glanton Gang in their holdout at the Colorado River. The Kid and Tobin manage to escape. 

Dane Theuerkauf
11 Summer 1850

The Kid is Arrested

Two years after the massacre, the Kid is arrested in Los Angeles and released from prison by the Judge.

Dane Theuerkauf
circa. The middle of the month Summer 1861

Story told

Wandering alone on his jouney through the West, the Kid tells his story to a group of people.

Dane Theuerkauf
circa. Winter 1878

Death of The Man

During the Winter of 1878, The Kid is now The Man living a solitary life in the plains of north Texas. While in Fort Griffin, he meets the Judge again, where he kills The Man in an outhouse. The story ends here 

Dane Theuerkauf