1883: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About James Dutton

10, He First Appeared In A Yellowstone Flashback

If James Dutton immediately looked familiar to fans, it was because they had actually seen him once before. The series was first revealed during two flashbacks in Season 4 of its parent series, Yellowstone where James Dutton is the main focus of the flashbacks along with his wife, Margaret. The flashbacks actually take place in 1893 – ten years after the events in the prequel – and give viewers a snapshot of how things will resolve for the homesteading family after their journey across the western frontier.

9, He Is John Dutton’s Great-Grandfather

Fans of the original Yellowstone series were excited to see which of their favorite characters’ ancestors made appearances in 1883. The series was billed as a prequel/origin story, so expectations were high for family tree backstories to emerge.

John Dutton fans can rejoice: James Dutton is the great-grandfather of the beloved Kevin Costner character who runs the Montana ranch that his ancestor established in the 20th century. In 1883, James Dutton’s son goes on to become John Dutton’s grandfather, so viewers are able to see the first two generations of the Dutton clan in this prequel.

8, He Is Traveling Westward To Escape Poverty

One of the great things about this series is the number of historical accuracies weaved throughout. One such example is the Duttons’ reason for traveling west. After the Civil War, many confederate supporters faced poverty conditions in their home states and left for greener pastures (so to speak) in the American West. The Duttons were Tennessee natives, so it was imperative for them to move out of state to seek a more comfortable life than the post-war South had to offer. Hope for this better life is what kept them going through the rough conditions on the frontier.

7, He And Shea Brennan Would Have Been Enemies

James Dutton and caravan leader Shea Brennan often butt heads on the frontier, and it’s for good reason: they were on opposite sides of history. During the Civil War, James Dutton fought as a captain in the confederate army, while Shea Brennan was a captain for the Union army. Both men are strong-willed, natural-born leaders, but their differences in ideologies have a major impact on their personalities and their ability to get along. They never directly argue the issues of the war, but it’s clear that they struggle to see eye-to-eye based on how they approach the journey west. Dutton agreed to help Brennan with the immigrants, but makes it clear time and again that the only side he’s on is his family’s.

6, He Finds Violence Unsettling

In the series premiere, James Dutton establishes himself as an expert gunslinger when he goes toe-to-toe with bandits in Fort Worth, Texas. However, he also reveals something else about himself: he has an aversion to violence.

Using force against the aggressors makes James physically ill to the point where he vomits after the altercation. His attitude toward violence is also reflected in the scenes which depict his military service: in the face of the carnage of war, James looks disgusted, bewildered, and completely overwhelmed. It’s clear that violence is a last resort for the war veteran, and he uses his skills sparingly throughout the series.

5, He Doesn’t Adhere To Traditional Gender Roles

James Dutton is a man who knows how to improvise and he puts people’s talents to good use – regardless of their gender. While his daughter, Elsa, may have lived as a traditional Southern belle in other circumstances, James Dutton readily invites her to accompany him and a band of cowboys on a quest to herd wild cattle on the plains. He also encourages his wife, Margaret, to abandon modesty for practicality when they are helping the caravan of immigrants to cross a river in Texas. She is wearing a traditional dress for the period, and James advises her that she’ll be more likely to drown/struggle to swim if she wears it. James understands that everyone on the frontier has to adapt and pull their weight in order for the whole crew to survive – and that includes the women.

4, James and Margaret Dutton Are Real-Life Husband And Wife

If James and Margaret Dutton seem like a very convincing couple, it’s because they’ve had practice. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who play James and Margaret, are married in real life and have been for twenty-five years. They also have three children together, and plenty of experience riding horses.

The couple are best known as country singers, but they have also had acting roles in several films throughout their careers. Both actors were excited to play their respective roles in the series and admired the spirit of these characters. They wanted to bring the relationship between the Duttons to life in the best way possible, and fans were more than satisfied with their portrayal of the original Dutton matriarch and patriarch.

3, He Suffers From PTSD

James Dutton was an army captain, but he is reluctant to admit it. Whereas most of the other veteran characters are open about their military history, viewers learn about James Dutton’s service in the Civil War in bits and pieces along the way. He survived the Battle of Antietam and suffered through three years of being a P.O.W. In the world of 1883, he refuses to speak of his time in the service and reacts with disgust whenever it is brought up. The Antietam scenes that occur in the series depict a clearly traumatized James Dutton stumbling across a corpse-strewn battlefield – a sight that would be difficult for anyone to forget.

2, He Has A Third Child Named Spencer

Viewers see plenty of James’ two children, Elsa and John Dutton, during the series. However, James also has another son named Spencer. The little boy’s origins aren’t 100% clear, but he is raised by Margaret and James after Elsa’s death at the end of the series.

Some fans have speculated that Spencer was actually Elsa’s son, while others have speculated that Margaret was pregnant during the series. Still, others suggest that Spencer was perhaps adopted. Whatever the case may be, James raises the boy just as he raised his other two children.

1, He Is A Natural-Born Lawman