How many cowboys did it take to drive a herd of longhorns from Texas to the Kansas railheads?
By: Marshall Trimble 05/01/2009
Q
How many cowboys did it take to drive a herd of longhorns from Texas to the Kansas railheads?
Rick Fritz
Trinity, North Carolina
A
A herd headed up the Long Trail from Texas to Dodge City, Kansas, usually numbered from 2,000 to 2,500 head. It worked out to about one man per 250 cows. The trail boss rode in the lead, located river crossings and looked for a place to camp and bed down the herd for the night. The point riders, the most experienced, kept the herd on the trail and were the first to swim across a river. Swing riders got the bunched herd to string out; flank riders, on either side of the herd, kept the cows from wandering off. In the back were the drag riders, whose job was to push the herd forward. Bringing up the rear was the chuckwagon. The wrangler drove the extra wagon and was also responsible for the 70-100 saddle horses (geldings) in the remuda.
Comments (1)
The Chuck Wagons were in the front of the cattle drives. This way they wouldn't suck up so much dust, which could get in the food supplies.
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