Cowboy Life in the 1800s: Primary Sources
You should appreciate these primary sources if you’ve ever wondered what cowboy life in the 1800s was like.
Cowboys are one of the most iconic folk heroes in American history. Just say the word cowboy and many people get the image in their mind of a valiant figure straddled on a well-mannered horse skylined in the setting sun. Somewhere beyond a few cattle contentedly crop the grass as they prepare to bed down for the night. Nearby, a clear stream gurgles and a campfire illuminates a chuckwagon. In the flicker fire’s light, other cowboys laugh and joke while enjoying a hot cup of coffee and well-cooked steak. After a long look into the dazzling stars of twilight, the cowboy turns his horse to the fire with only the jingle of a spur and the soft sound of horse hooves on the grass to mark his passing.
At least, that’s one way of imagining it.
Although you can imagine cowboy life in the 1800s however you would like, there were some cowboys from the time period that immortalized their experiences by writing them down. These primary sources come directly from the cowboys who lived that historic life. From these sources, you learn how the men who actually went up the trail said it was. Read them and you’ll see they definitely remembered the good times. They also plainly remembered the hardships as well. That seems to summarize cowboy life in the 1800s pretty well. It was a series of up and downs with both sunny slopes and stormclouds. However unpredictable it was, it was a life many of the young men seemed to enjoy. In fact, it was just the opportunity many of the frontier men needed in post Civil War America.
That being said, here are 18 primary sources describing various aspects of cowboy life in the 1800s.
Teachers may find this PDF helpful when analyzing the primary sources with their students.
Cowboy Character
Maybe the most lasting aspect of the time period was the kind of man it created. While in any group of people there are a variety of good and bad characters, a certain type of man emerged as a respected cowboy. Sources indicate respected hands fit a fairly common template.
“He was the best range man I ever had. He had been in the business ever since he could ride a horse - in fact he couldn’t remember when he did begin. A range man must know how to handle men; the handling of the cavvieyard is very important; and he must handle breeding cattle carefully, without loss and without leaving motherless calves. A careless foreman let the boys tear out and throw everything into the roundup. A careful man had his hands cut out weak calves with their mothers at the start of the drive.
-Charles Goodnight describing foreman John Mann
“In character their like never was or will be again. They were intensely loyal to the outfit they were working for and would fight to the death for it. They would follow their wagon boss through hell and never complain…Living that kind of life they were bound to be wild and brave. In fact there was only two things the old-time cowpuncher was afraid of, a decent woman and being set afoot.”
“Born to the soil of Texas, he knew nothing but cattle, but he knew them thoroughly….He never crossed a bridge till he reached it, was indulgent with his men, and would overlook any fault, so long as they rendered faithful service.”
-Andy Adams describing cowboss Jim Flood
“They tell a story about Johnny (Stringfellow) when he first came up from Texas with the Cody and North outfit, that shows a lot about a cowpuncher nature. He was surely a typical cowhand…When the C N outfit got up to Nebraska and turned the herd loose on the Dismal Fork of Loup River, the next thing they had to do was build houses and barns and so forth, so they put Johnny to work cutting down trees. This was a job he had never tackled before, only to get a little wood for a campfire. He got blisters on his hands and he come near cutting his foot off, and pretty soon he come around to the boss, Frank North, and said ‘Is this all you’ve got for me to do?’
North said; ‘Why yes, I’m afraid so. These buildings have got to be built.”
Johnny said; ‘All right. Then I might as well go to Ogallaly and punch out the other eye, and get me a monkey and an organ and go at this right.’ And he quit.”
Teddy Blue Abbott
Life on a Trail Drive
Life on a cattle drive. Photo via loc.gov
Perhaps the most romanticized aspect of cowboy life in the 1800s was the cattle drive. Read the sources below and you’ll see it wasn’t all cupcakes and daisies.
“I believe the worst hardship we had on the trail was loss of sleep. There was never enough sleep. Our day wouldn’t end till about nine o’clock, when we grazed the herd onto the bed ground. And after that every man in the outfit except the boss and horse wrangler and cook would have to stand two hours’ night guard…(after night guard I slept) till the cook yelled, “Roll out,” at half past three. So I would get maybe five hours’ sleep when the weather was nice and everything smooth and pretty…If it wasn’t’ so nice, you’d be lucky to sleep an hour. But the wagon rolled on in the morning just the same.”
Teddy Blue Abbot
The next few entries all come from George C. Duffield’s Diary from 1866. Duffield was one of the first recorded men to take cattle east. In fact, this particular drive of Texas cattle went all the way to Iowa. His journal perhaps shows as well as any all of the bad things that could happen on a cattle drive. Read these few days and try and imagine how tough it had to be. Talk about discouraging.
13th Big Thunder Storm last night Stampede lost 100 Beeves hunted all day found 50 all tired. Every thing discouraging.
14th Concluded to cross Brazos swam our cattle & Horses & built Raft & Rafted our provisions & blankets &c over Swam River with rope & then hauled wagon over lost Most of our Kitchen furniture such as camp Kittles Coffee Pots Cup Plates Canttens &c &c.
15th Back at River bring up wagon Hunting Oxen & other lost property. Rain poured down for one Hour. It does nothing but rain got all our traps together that was not lost & thought we were ready for off dark rainy night cattle all left us & in morning not one Beef to be seen.
16th Hunt Beeves is the word – all Hands discouraged. & are determined to go 200 Beeves out & nothing to eat.
17th No Breakfast pack & off is the order. All Hands gave the Brazos one good harty dam & started for Buchanan travelled 10 miles & camped found 50 Beeves (nothing to eat).
18th Every thing gloomey four best hands left us got to Buchanon at noon & to Rock Creek in Johnston Co distance 14 miles.
George C. Duffield - 1866
“It was a rough, hard, adventurous life, but was not without its sunny side, and when everything moved smoothly the trip was an agreeable diversion from the monotony of the range. But things did not always move smoothly. The stampede was especially guarded against during the first ten days or so of the drive…”
Charles Goodnight
“The rain ceased about ten o'clock, when the cattle bedded down easily, and the second guard took them for their watch. Wood was too scarce to afford a fire, and while our slickers had partially protected us from the rain, many of us went to bed in wet clothing that night. After another half day's drive to the west, we turned northward and traveled in that direction through a nice country, more or less broken with small hills, but well watered.”
Andy Adams
Night Herding
Night herding the cattle was another common element of cowboy life in the 1800s. Most sources indicate cattle were generally nervous at the start of a drive. As a result, more hands were needed on the night herd early on. If early on the drive was able to avoid serious spooks and stampedes the herd generally was expected to remain calmer. As the herd calmed, fewer hands were needed to night herd at the same time. Here is what a few cowboys had to say about night herding.
“The guards ride in a circle about four rods inside the sleeping cattle, and by riding in opposite directions make it impossible for any animal to make its escape without being noticed by the riders. The guards usually sing or whistle continuously, so that the sleeping herd may know that a friend and not an enemy is keeping vigil over their dreams. A sleeping herd of cattle make a pretty picture on a clear moonlight night, chewing their cuds and grunting and blowing over contented stomachs.”
Andy Adams - Log of a Cowboy
“When a drove of cattle are stopped for the night, the first thing to do is to find a suitable place to hold them until morning. A camp is usually selected where the ground is level so that all the cattle can be seen at the same time; and also where, if a stampede should occur, the cowboys would have some chance to exert their skill in stopping and rounding them up. A detail of about half a dozen men take charge of the cattle and during the entire night ride round and round the herd. If the cattle become restless, or if everything gets very quiet and the conditions appear favorable for a stampede, the cowboys on guard will sing as they ride around, hoping to hold the attention of the cattle and to dispel any idea of a stampede that they may entertain. This the cowboy calls “ singing the cattle to sleep, ” and long experience has demonstrated that it is a wise precaution.”
“It was my practice to use standing guards; the men who had first watch the first night would have it all through the drive. If you left the choice to the old hands, they invariably chose the standing guard. Ordinarily, each guard stood two hours at a time and a little over. We never had any watch to go by, but divided the time by the dipper. The last guard was the shortest, for each relief stood a little overtime to be sure they were not calling the next guard too soon…They rode around the herd facing each other, and in this way passed twice in one complete circuit.”
Charles Goodnight
The boys always sang as they rode round the herd. That was the main thing, to keep a noise going so that no sudden racket would stampede ‘em. I used to ‘odel’ (yodel) aroun’ the cattle, but I never was much of a hand to sing. I could whistle an’ make all kinds of funny rackets. I could sing “Samm Bass’ an’ ‘Bury Me Not on the Long Prairie,’ but when all the hands could ‘odel’ it sho’ was pretty singin’.
One part of night herding that seemed to be very common was singing. Cowboys sang to help keep the cattle calm. As you might imagine, at first these songs started with older hymns and songs. Over time though, the cowboys created their own unique songs that suited them and their lives. These trail drive songs are some of the roots of modern cowboy music. If you are interested, here is a great recording of “Old Paint” by a man named Jess Morris. Jess Morris learned this cowboy classic in 1884 from a black man named Charley Willis who had gone up the trail in the 70’s. When you listen to it, try and imagine a night herding cowboy riding circles for 2 hours in the dark singing it.
Working With Longhorns
Working with longhorns was dangerous work. Photo via loc.gov.
Cowboy life in the 1800s involved working with longhorn cattle. These cattle were wild, unruly, and dangerous as a result. Here is what cowboys had to say about the cattle.
“A drove of Texas cattle, when composed of all grades and kinds, including cows, calves, and beef steers, is difficult to handle, and requires considerable knowledge of the habits and disposition of the cattle to enable the drivers to successfully land the herd at the desired shipping - point. But when the herd is composed of animals five years of age or more, as was this drive, and gathered up off the range, where they ran and fed with the buffaloes; cattle as wild and fearful of the sight of man as an antelope or deer, great skill, untiring vigilance and perfect discipline are absolutely necessary, for otherwise the herd might soon be lost. But trained cowboys can manage a great drove of these wild, timid animals as easily and perhaps better than they could a drove of domestic cattle.
“By the long and constant presence of cowboys on horseback, the cattle become accustomed to them, and their fear gradually leaves; but this is true only when the cowboys are mounted and like centaurs ride into their midst. Should a man dismount in a herd of these cattle, he would be in danger of being trampled to death in the stampede that would ensue.”
M.H. Donoho - Circle Dot
“They were the long-legged, long-horned Southern cattle, pale-colored as a rule, possessed the cunning powers of a deer, and in an ordinary walk could travel with a horse.”
Andy Adams - Log of a Cowboy
“As trail cattle (longhorns) equal has never been known and never will be. Their hoofs are superior to those of any other cattle. They can go farther without water and endure more suffering than others. They can be handled on the trail for less expense…I have never handled any cattle on the trail which space themselves on march as well as they do….from my observation they have at least double the endurance, and their period of life and usefulness is also about double that of any other. They never shed their teeth from age, and most other breeds do, and all ranchmen would do well to retain their blood in the improved herds as far as practicable.”
Charles Goodnight
Dangers of Cowboy Life
Read the primary sources of cowboy life in the 1800s and you’ll undoubtedly come away with a sense that in spite of the hardships and hard work cowboys appreciated the adventure of the lifestyle. That adventure often came with the possibility of danger. Here are a few sources indicating the types of dangers cowboys faced.
“Lots of cowpunchers were killed by lightning, and that is history. I was knocked off my horse by it twice. The first time I saw a ball of fire coming toward me and felt something strike me on the head.”
Teddy Blue
31st Swimming Cattle is the order We worked all day in the River & at dusk got the last Beefe over - & am now out of Texas – This day will long be remembered by me – There was one of our party Drowned to day (Mr Carr) & Several narrow escapes & I among the no.
George C. Duffield
This video will describe a cowboy funeral in the 1800s.
”For a dismounted man, the Range cow was, under average conditions, a far more dangerous adversary than was the grizzly bear. Under those average conditions, the cow would always attack; the bear would almost always avoid a conflict. …A man on foot would be far out in the grass. A cow amid a bunch of cattle would spy him and start toward him. The other brutes would follow. The bunch, starting at a walk, would break presently into a trot, and finally would begin to move in a spiral about the victim. So far, inquisitiveness apparently had been the only stimulus. Suddenly “tails would roll,” and, with savage fury taking the place of the prior motive, the herd would quicken to a gallop and sweep over the helpless victim. Hoofs would crush out his life.”
Philip Ashton Rollins
“And that night it come up an awful storm. It took all four of us to hold the cattle and we didn’t hold them, and when morning come there was one man missing. We went back to look for him, and we found him among the prairie dog holes, beside his horse. The horse’s ribs was scraped bare of hide, and all the rest of horse and man was mashed into the ground as flat as a pancake. The only thing you could recognize was the handle of his six-shooter. We tried to think the lightning hit him, and that was what we wrote his folks down in Henrietta, Texas. But we couldn’t really believe it ourselves. I’m afraid it wasn’t the lightning. I’m afraid his horse stepped into one of them holes and they both went down before the stampede.”
Teddy Blue
Although riddled with difficulties, it’s important to realize the other side of things as well. Many of the men noticed, indicated their years on the trail were some of the best years of their lives. Perhaps, the archetype of them all, Charles Goodnight, summed it up when he said:
“All in all, my years on the trail were the happiest I have lived. There were many hardships and dangers, of course, that called on all a man had of endurance and bravery; but when all went well there was no other life so pleasant. Most of the time we were solitary adventuerers in a great land as fresh and new as a spring morning, and we were free and full of the zest of darers.”
Hopefully, these primary sources of cowboy life in the 1800s will help you better understand the realities of their lives. Like with most time periods, if you want to get past the fictionalized version of what history was like it is important to go to the primary sources. Read enough of them and it can feel like you are just sitting around the campfire listening to an old-timer tell you how it was. It wasn’t all glitz and glamour, but it wasn’t all bad either.
