Where are the heroes of Lonesome Dove?

In my opinion, Lonesome Dove is a classic and Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae are two of the greatest characters ever created in American literature. I recently read Dead Man’s Walk and just finished Comanche Moon, the two novels that describe the early and middle years of the two heroes. I was anxious to read about how the two learned what they needed to know to be two of the greatest Texas Rangers that ever lived and I was also excited to read about some of the great victories they had during their primes. I was instead disappointed. The two books focus more on secondary characters and when they are discussing McCrae and Call, it appears that the two heroes are driven by the winds of chance and luck into their few successes. Furthermore, McMurtry tends to dwell on the two’s faults, seemingly to undermine the two beloved heroes. I read on and on through hundreds of pages hoping for a glimpse of the strength and courage displayed by McCrae and Call in the original Lonesome Dove, but when I reached the final page, I was only still hoping. What happened to the McCrae who charged into a camp of renegades by himself with only his Colt pistol? What happened to the Call that made his men quiver with the strength of his command? What happened to the McCrae who operated on his own knee while under attack of Indians? What happened to the Call who nearly beat an army scout to death in front of his very squadron? I did enjoy the character of Buffalo Hump that was depicted in the two books of Dead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moon, but it was a crime what happened to two of my favorite characters. I should have left their lives prior to Lonesome Dove to imagination. Since Dead Man’s Walk (1995) and Comanche Moon (1997) were written so long after the original Lonesome Dove (1985), perhaps McMurtry felt pressured into writing the books and that he undermined McCrae and Call out of spite. Did he take the money and run? I’d bet on it.