The American Cowboy

In the tapestry of the American West, few figures are as iconic and enduring as the American cowboy. Emerging in the mid-19th century, this individual carved out a unique and influential role, capturing the public’s imagination and shaping the very identity of the frontier. The cowboy’s existence was intrinsically linked to the burgeoning cattle industry, a realm where skill, resilience, and a deep connection to the land were paramount.

The cowboy’s duties were varied and demanding. At times, they were tasked with patrolling vast stretches of open range, ensuring that cattle did not stray too far from their designated grazing areas. Other times, they undertook arduous cattle drives, moving immense herds across long distances from one location to another. Perhaps the most critical task was the "round-up," a large-scale operation that involved gathering dispersed cattle for branding calves and selecting those destined for market. These selected animals would then be driven to the nearest railroad station for shipment to bustling urban centers.

The skill set required to excel in this demanding profession was multifaceted. Courage was essential, as was physical alertness and the ability to withstand the harsh elements and relentless fatigue. Above all, horsemanship was paramount. A cowboy without mastery over his steed was simply not equipped to navigate the rugged terrain and manage unruly herds. Finally, proficiency with the lariat, or lasso, was indispensable for roping cattle and performing various essential tasks.

The origins of the American cowboy can be traced primarily to western and southwestern Texas. The unique circumstances of this region forged a distinct type of frontiersman. Clad in distinctive attire – armed to the teeth, adorned with boots and spurs, sporting long hair, and crowned with the broad-brimmed sombrero, the quintessential badge of their calling – the cowboy’s appearance immediately conveyed their identity.

The Texas cowboys were, by necessity, hardened frontiersmen. From their earliest childhood, they were accustomed to the constant threat of Indian raids. The section of Texas they inhabited was also frequently targeted by bandits from Mexico, who sought to plunder the herds and homes of the Texan people.

The prevalence of firearms and other deadly weapons among the cowboys was a natural consequence of this environment. Scattered across vast, sparsely populated areas, beyond the reach of effective civil law enforcement, they were compelled to become a law unto themselves.

It is perhaps unsurprising that such an occupation and environment could breed individuals who, by the standards of refined society, might be deemed rough around the edges. However, within the ranks of the Texas cowboys, there existed a core of genuinely trustworthy and courageous men. The very dangers and hardships they faced fostered generosity and heroism. Conversely, the same experiences could also unleash the worst impulses in those inclined toward vice. Some were known to resort to violence with alarming ease, taking a life with little more remorse than they would show when dispatching a wild animal.

Yet, despite their sometimes-rough exterior, the American cowboy’s particular characteristics rendered them invaluable to the public good. Their bravery, recklessness in the face of danger, unparalleled horsemanship, and mastery of firearms, coupled with the influence they exerted over their counterparts in the northern ranges, proved to be an effective deterrent against Indian uprisings. They played a crucial role in safeguarding the frontier settlements of the entire cattle-ranching region from predatory incursions and massacres by Native American tribes. This protection stemmed from the fact that the cowboys, numbering around twenty thousand strong, essentially formed a mounted scouting force across the territory. They traversed expansive ranges, forded treacherous rivers, and sought out cattle amidst the rugged mountain terrain and hidden river bottoms.

It was only about twenty years prior that the vast potential of the land between the line of settlement in Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas to the east and the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges to the west was fully realized. This area, encompassing a territory comparable in size to the entire eastern United States, proved ideal for raising cattle on the open range. Cattle could thrive here, finding food, water, and shelter without human intervention, from the moment they were born until they were ready for market. According to reliable sources, this discovery, which surpassed the significance of the gold rush in California, the silver boom in Nevada, and the oil strikes in Pennsylvania, unfolded in a rather serendipitous manner.

In the early days of December 1864, a government trader, leading a wagon train loaded with supplies drawn by oxen, was en route to Camp Douglas in the Territory of Utah. On the Laramie Plains, an unexpectedly severe snowstorm forced him to halt his journey and establish winter quarters. He released his oxen, fully expecting them to perish from exposure and starvation. However, the animals remained near the camp, and as the wind swept the snow from the highlands, they found ample forage in the dried grass. When spring arrived, the oxen were in even better condition than when they had been turned loose four months earlier. This unexpected outcome prompted the initial experimentation with herding cattle on the northern ranges.

The early years were fraught with peril. It was customary to allow Native Americans residing on reservations to roam freely during the summer months, hunting buffalo and other game to sustain themselves until winter approached, when they would return to the reservations to receive government provisions.

These expeditions were permitted on the condition that the Native Americans would maintain peaceful relations while away from the reservations. However, the temptation of easily obtainable cattle often proved too strong to resist. They frequently raided herds, stampeding them and slaughtering as many animals as they needed.

On occasion, they would even scalp stray cowboys for amusement. In some instances, entire settlements of cattle herders were massacred. Occasionally, these wards of the nation would even defy the United States, donning war paint and engaging in open conflict. The tragic massacre of General Custer and his detachment at Little Bighorn in Dakota on June 25, 1876, prompted the U.S. government to adopt a stricter policy, requiring Native Americans to remain on their reservations. In the five years following this event, the U.S. Army engaged in numerous bloody encounters with various tribes.

Eventually, the spirit of resistance was broken. Montana, Idaho, and Dakota became relatively safe for the burgeoning range cattle business, which had already taken root in Colorado and Wyoming, promising substantial wealth. As the army’s mission neared completion, the American cowboy emerged as the mounted police force of a vast area, constantly on patrol.

Even after the Native Americans were confined to their reservations, cattlemen still faced challenges. Horse and cattle thieves, seemingly an inevitable byproduct of frontier life, plagued the region. For years, the area spanning from Kansas and Colorado in the south to Montana and Dakota in the north was rife with cattle rustlers. The vastness of the land provided ample opportunities for this illicit activity.

The situation became so dire that it was uncertain whether the cattlemen or the thieves would prevail. As cattle from different owners grazed freely on the open ranges, it was relatively easy for marauders to isolate small groups of animals and drive them across mountain ranges to remote valleys where grazing was plentiful. There, they would brand the calves with their own identifying marks and alter the existing brands of mature cattle using a hot iron.

Recognizing the severity of the threat, cattle associations established a detective service, composed primarily of brave and reliable cowboys. These detectives were tasked with scouring the countryside to locate the thieves’ hideouts and monitoring railroad shipping stations for altered or fraudulent brands. Many stolen cattle were recovered, and numerous thieves were apprehended. When captured within the bounds of organized counties, the thieves were handed over to civil authorities. However, when apprehended beyond the reach of formal law enforcement, justice was often swift and decisive.

The cattlemen and cowboys themselves served as judges, jurors, witnesses, attorneys, constables, and executioners. Sometimes, a level-headed cowboy would preside over the proceedings. Cattlemen asserted that the ultimate penalty was only imposed when guilt was overwhelmingly evident. When a guilty verdict was rendered, a brief trial, a sturdy rope, and a burial without a coffin or shroud concluded the matter.

However, a significant transformation occurred. In the northern ranges, cattle theft became increasingly rare. States and territories enacted laws mandating the branding of all cattle and the recording of brands in the county clerk’s office. These brands were also published, bringing transparency to the cattle business and establishing safeguards similar to those found in organized commercial enterprises.

Initially, cattle ranching in the northern ranges was primarily undertaken by settlers with limited resources. However, entrepreneurs and investors soon recognized the potential for immense profits by establishing large herds in the north, mirroring the practices of Texas and Mexico. The expansion of railroads into the territories facilitated the transportation of cattle to major markets such as Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, with Chicago being the largest.

This venture demanded both capital and courage. Texas had long served as a prolific breeding ground for cattle. At the time, cattle in Texas were valued primarily for their hides and tallow. Two-year-old steers could be purchased in abundance for a mere $3.50 to $4.50 per head. Furthermore, Texas possessed a skilled workforce of cowboys who were familiar with the ways of the Native Americans and were prepared to defend against them. The availability of capital, cattle, and cowboys created the perfect conditions for success. With the advent of intelligent enterprise, these elements were combined, leading to a shift in the relationship with Native Americans. The Texas steer gradually replaced the buffalo, and the American cowboy became the dominant force throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and the western portions of Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. Within fifteen years, cattle interests had effectively encircled the Indian reservations, transforming the once formidable "monarch of the plains" into a peaceful presence. Generally, cattle ranching proved to be a remarkably successful enterprise under sound management. Many individuals who entered the business with modest means amassed fortunes, becoming "cattle kings" with assets worth hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars. Women, too, ventured into the field, earning the title of "cattle queens."

The market value of the surplus cattle from the range and ranch cattle area in 1884 was approximately $40,000,000, excluding local consumption. The increased value of herds during that year was estimated to be at least as much.

Cattle ranching dominated the region’s economy and spurred the development of related industries. The expansion of transcontinental railroads was a significant outcome, generating substantial local traffic. While initially conceived as primarily serving long-distance transport, the local tonnage of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1884 accounted for 95% of its total tonnage, and the Union Pacific Railroad’s local tonnage represented 43%.

The modern cowboy, especially in the northern ranges, is significantly different from the original Texas cowboys. Evolving conditions have driven this transformation. As previously mentioned, cattle ranching in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Dakota is a relatively new industry. The owners of these ranches predominantly come from states east of the Missouri River and north of the Indian Territory.

The new ranches also attracted many Englishmen, Scotsmen, Frenchmen, and Germans with considerable wealth, including titled individuals who invested heavily in the industry. Many of these individuals initially visited America as tourists or buffalo hunters but were captivated by the cattle business and became American ranchers, either formally or informally. Some members of this group even embraced the cowboy lifestyle, actively participating in ranch duties.

The new ventures in the northern ranges are characterized by organization, discipline, and order. In essence, the cattle business in this region operates according to sound business principles.

This new ownership and management style has fostered the development of a new type of cowboy. While some cowboys came from Texas, bringing with them their expertise, the majority originated from other states and territories. Some are graduates of American or European colleges. Many have taken on the role of a cowboy temporarily to learn the range cattle business, intending to eventually establish their own ranches or invest on behalf of friends.

The cowboy’s life is inherently exciting and romantic. While on the trail, they spend their waking hours in the saddle, and at night, they sleep under the open sky. The large herds driven north from Texas typically consist of 2,500 to 4,000 young cattle each. Since the practice began approximately eighteen years ago, around 4,000,000 head of cattle, worth nearly $50,000,000, have been moved. Each herd is led by a "boss," accompanied by eight to ten cowboys, a provision wagon, and a cook. Each cowboy is provided with four horses, as the work is demanding. When away from their familiar range, the cattle are wary and easily agitated, requiring careful management to prevent stampedes. At night, they are herded closely together, lying down within a relatively small area. The cowboys then take turns riding around the herd throughout the night, providing a sense of security.

The journey from southern Texas to Montana typically takes four to six months. Herds are also driven from Oregon and Washington Territory to Wyoming and eastern Montana.

It is difficult for those without firsthand experience to fully comprehend the challenges involved in driving large herds of wild cattle across mountain ranges, arid deserts with limited food and water, and rivers prone to dangerous flooding.

Much of the northern ranges falls within what meteorologist Silas Bent termed the "birthplace of the tornado." Thunder and lightning storms are common and can be terrifying to cattle. One of the most harrowing experiences for a cowboy is dealing with a thunderstorm at night. English writer William A. Bailhie Grohman described such an event from personal observation:

"On the approach of one of these violent outbursts, the whole force is ordered on duty; the spare horses, of which each man always has three, and often as many as eight or ten, are carefully fed and tethered, and the herd is rounded up, that is, collected into as small a space as possible, while the men continue to ride around the densely massed herd. Like horses, cattle derive courage from the close proximity of man. The thunder peals, and the vivid lightning flashes with amazing brilliance, as with lowered heads, the herd eagerly watches the slow, steady pace of the cow ponies and no doubt derive a comforting sense of protection from it. Sometimes, however, a wild steer cannot control his terror and dash through a convenient opening. The crisis at hand, for example, will surely be followed, and in two minutes, the whole herd of 4,000 head will have broken through the line of horsemen and be away, one surging, bellowing mass of terrifying beasts."

Imagine a pitch-black night, a torrential downpour, unfamiliar terrain with treacherous watercourses and hollows – this is the reality of cowboy duty during such a storm. They must try to intercept the leaders. Once they gain some distance, they will stampede twenty, thirty, or even forty miles, and many animals will stray from the main herd. Both the reckless rider, charging headlong across dangerous ground in the darkness, and the horses, small but remarkably hardy and willing, are acutely aware of the stakes. The heavy cowhide quirt, or whip, and the powerful spurs are used only as a last resort. Urged on by a shout, the horses race alongside the frightened steers, attempting to reach the leaders and turn them back. After much effort, the headlong rush is finally checked, and the leaders, panting and exhausted, are brought to a halt, and the herd is once again rounded up.

Throughout their time in the northern ranges, cowboys were expected to maintain sobriety, self-control, good behavior, and dedication to their duties. A noticeable improvement has also been observed among Texas cowboys. Violent acts are now rare. The overall morality of the cattle ranching industry in the United States now compares favorably to other large enterprises.

I wish I could find words to express the trueness, the bravery, the hardihood, the sense of honor, the loyalty to their trust and to each other of the old trail hands.

— Charles Goodnight