Sarah A. Bowman – Camp Follower of the American West
Sarah A. Bowman, a name that echoes through the annals of the American West, was more than just a woman; she was a force of nature. Known by the moniker "The Great Western," she carved a unique path for herself as a madame, cook, businesswoman, nurse, wife, and mother. Her life was intertwined with the ebb and flow of westward expansion, primarily shadowing the encampments of soldiers. She was a woman of many names, linked to numerous marriages, and known by the surnames Boginnis, Bourdette, Bourget, Bourjette, Borginnis, Davis, Bowman, and possibly Foyle.
Early Life on the Frontier
Born as Sarah Knight around 1812 or 1813, her birthplace is believed to be Clay County, Missouri, although some accounts point to Tennessee. Raised on the rugged American frontier, Sarah’s upbringing lacked formal education. Historians believe she was illiterate, as evidenced by her use of an "X" on business and census forms. Despite this limitation, she possessed an innate intelligence and resilience that would shape her extraordinary life.
A Camp Follower Emerges
Historical records suggest that Sarah married a man named James McLin in Clay County, Missouri, in March 1841. This union marked the beginning of her journey as a camp follower. When James was assigned to fight in the Seminole War in Florida, Sarah accompanied him. At the time, Army regulations permitted wives of soldiers to follow the troops, providing essential services such as preparing meals, washing clothes, and tending to the sick and wounded. During this conflict, Sarah reportedly gained the favor of General Zachary Taylor, a pivotal figure in her life.
Physical Appearance and Nickname
Sarah Bowman was an imposing figure, standing tall at six feet and weighing around 200 pounds. She was described as a "remarkably large, well-proportioned strong woman, of strong nerves, and great physical power." Despite her size, she possessed an hourglass figure and moved with grace. Her long, dark red hair mirrored her fiery temperament, and her eyes were a piercing grey-blue. Her nickname, "The Great Western," was inspired by a British trans-Atlantic steamer, the largest ship of its time, reflecting her commanding presence.
Life at Jefferson Barracks
The fate of Sarah’s first husband remains a mystery, but by 1845, she had remarried to a soldier named Borginnis, who had enlisted at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. The first documented record of her life dates back to that same year when she signed on as a laundress at Jefferson Barracks. This position offered her food, shelter, and a salary three times higher than that of an Army private. She followed the troops as they made their way to Corpus Christi, Texas, on the eve of the Mexican-American War. By the time they arrived, she had expanded her duties to include cooking and nursing.
The Road to the Rio Grande
The army remained encamped along the Nueces River until March 1846, when they received orders to advance to the Rio Grande. Despite her husband’s illness, Sarah refused to be left behind. She purchased a wagon and mule team and followed the army, demonstrating her unwavering determination.
A Heroine Emerges
The first encounter between American and Mexican forces occurred on March 21, 1846, during the crossing of Arroyo Colorado. As the Americans approached the steep embankment, bugles blared from the opposite bank, accompanied by the warning, "Cross this stream, and you will be shot!" The Mexicans also taunted the Texans, questioning their ancestry. Sarah, enraged by their audacity, rode to the front and declared to General William Jenkins Worth, "If the general would give me a strong pair of tongs (slang for men’s trousers,) I’d wade that river and whip every scoundrel that dared show himself." Inspired by her bravado, the American troops crossed the river and routed the Mexicans.
General Taylor then led his men to the Rio Grande, where he ordered the construction of Fort Texas across from Matamoros, Mexico. The fort was manned by 500 men of the 7th Infantry, under the command of Major Jacob Brown. Sarah’s husband was stationed here, and she ran an officer’s mess.
The Siege of Fort Brown
In the early morning of May 3, 1846, while General Taylor and many of the troops were away from the fort, the Mexicans launched an attack. The women and injured were ordered to seek shelter in an underground magazine, but Sarah refused to comply. Instead, she cooked and delivered food and coffee to the soldiers and tended to the wounded. She was shot at twice but continued her duties undeterred. On the third day of the siege, the commanding officer, Major Jacob Brown, was struck down. The Mexicans seized the opportunity to attack in force, sending approximately 5,000 men forward. Sarah fought alongside the American soldiers, helping to load the cannon.
When the U.S. line began to falter, she rallied the troops, promising them that "Zack" would return soon. Fortunately, he did. Taylor’s forces arrived and defeated the Mexicans in the Battle of Palo Alto on May 8, 1856. In honor of the fallen Major Brown, the fort was renamed Fort Brown.
National Recognition
Following the siege, Sarah’s bravery came to the attention of U.S. newspapers, who dubbed her the "Heroine of Fort Brown." Stories of her exploits were published as far away as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York City, cementing her place in American folklore.
The New Orleans Delta newspaper recounted, "The Heroine of Fort Brown He said that during the whole of the bombardment, the wife of one of the soldiers whose husband was ordered to Point Isabel remained in the Fort, and though the shot and shells were constantly flying on every side, she disdained to seek shelter in the bombproof but labored the whole time in cooking and taking care of the soldiers, without the least regard for her own safety. Her bravery was the admiration of all who were in the Fort."
Business Ventures in Mexico
After the siege, Sarah briefly established a boarding house in Matamoros, Mexico, called the American House. In addition to food, lodging, and stables for soldiers’ horses, the establishment also served as a saloon and brothel. It quickly gained popularity, with one soldier describing it as "the headquarters for everyone."
However, when General Taylor moved deeper into Mexico, she followed the troops and opened a hotel in Saltillo, also named the American House. There, she became involved with Captain George Lincoln, a tall and striking man known for his bravery in battle. He was said to have been the "love of her life."
The Battle of Buena Vista
When the Battle of Buena Vista began about seven miles south of Saltillo on February 22, 1847, Sarah was once again in the thick of it, preparing food and coffee for the soldiers, reloading weapons, and carrying the wounded off the field. During the battle, she was attacked by a Mexican soldier who struck her across the face with his saber. She retaliated by shooting him dead.
On February 23, the battle ended, and Sarah discovered that Captain Lincoln had been killed. Heartbroken, she buried him, bought his horse, and arranged for the animal and his belongings to be returned to his family in New York.
Standing Up to Defeatism
After the battle, a retreating soldier ran into her restaurant, spreading rumors that Taylor had been defeated. Sarah responded by punching the private and declaring, "You damned son of a bitch, there ain’t Mexicans enough in Mexico to whip old Taylor. You just spread that report, and I’ll beat you to death."
Following her actions on the battlefield, General Winfield Scott granted Sarah a military pension.
Westward Bound
When the war ended in 1848, a detachment of troops was headed for California. Sarah asked Colonel Washington if she could accompany them. By this time, her husband was gone, either by death or abandonment. However, she was informed that only wives could accompany the troops. In response, she mounted her horse and rode the line of enlisted men, yelling, "Who wants a wife with $15,000 and the biggest leg in Mexico! Come, my beauties, don’t all speak at once – who is the lucky man?" Finally, a man named David Davis agreed to marry her, and she was mustered in as a laundress.
El Paso and the Gold Rush
By the time the troops reached El Paso, Texas, Sarah noticed the heavy traffic along the trail due to the California Gold Rush. Sensing an opportunity, she decided to stay and became the first woman to open a business in El Paso and the first recorded madam in the town. She opened a "hotel" that provided room, board, and "entertainment." While she was described as "the greatest whore in the West," she continued to use her medical skills to nurse those in need and adopted several orphaned children. Those who stayed at her hotel praised her as a tender and compassionate woman. One traveler described her as:
"A perfect Amazon… she wears a pistol about her waist and rides a mule over the plains with as much endurance as any of the stronger sex. It can’t be said that the conversation of this woman would be very pleasant to a very fastidious person…"
Later Years
In early 1850, Sarah leased her hotel in El Paso and moved to Socorro, New Mexico. There, she and her adopted children lived with a man named Juan Duran. She then met Alfred J. Bowman, a dragoon in the U.S. Army, and married him. On November 30, 1852, Bowman was discharged from the army, and the family moved to Fort Yuma, California. She opened a restaurant, becoming Yuma’s first business operator. She also cooked and did laundry for the officers of Fort Yuma while her husband prospected.
During this time, one of the fort’s soldiers noted:
"She has been with the Army twenty years and was brought up here where she keeps the officer’s mess. Among her other good qualities, she is an admirable `pimp.’ She used to be a splendid-looking woman and has done good service but is too old for that now."
Around 1856, Sarah was at Fort Buchanan, Arizona, where she set up another hotel about ten miles from the fort. By 1861, she was back working at Fort Yuma. By the mid-1860s, Sarah and Albert Bowman were no longer married.
Death and Legacy
On December 22, 1866, Sarah died from a spider bite. Following her death, she was breveted an honorary colonel and buried with military honors in the Fort Yuma cemetery on December 23, 1866. She was the first woman ever to be so honored.
In August 1890, following the decommissioning of Fort Yuma, 159 graves in the Yuma cemetery, including Sarah’s, were exhumed and reburied in the national cemetery at the Presidio in San Francisco, California.
A Complex Life
Throughout her life, Sarah Bowman was married multiple times, often without a legal record or the blessing of a priest. She never had biological children. Despite her inability to read and write, she became bilingual in her later years, with a priest noting that she was the first American woman he had met who was fluent in Spanish.
Sarah Bowman’s life was a tapestry of contradictions. She was a woman of the frontier, a businesswoman, a nurse, a soldier’s companion, and a figure of both admiration and controversy. Her story is a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and complexity of women in the American West.