Percy Long (1811-) was an American snake oil salesman who came to Texas as a carpetbagger following the end of the American Civil War in 1865.
Biography[]
Percy Long was born in 1811, and he made a fortune as a con man, being paid to sell fradulent tonics and medicines. Following the end of the American Civil War, he decided to travel to Texas to seek his fortune amid Reconstruction, and, during his journey, he attempted to con Josey Wales after encountering him on Sim Carstairs' ferry across the Missouri River, only to watch Wales fight off Captain Bill Terrill's pursuing Redlegs and come to fear the outlaw. They crossed paths once again in a small town in Texas where Wales had stopped during his flight to Mexico, and where Long unsuccessfully attempted to con Wales' Native American friend Lone Watie, who insisted that Long drink his own elixir. When Long spotted Wales, he alerted nearby US Army soldiers, whom Wales gunned down before shoving Long into a pile of horse manure. Long never saw Wales again.