Texas had millions of cattle, and transporting them to eastern markets was a challenge. The nearest railroad station was in Sedalia, Missouri, over 1,000 kilometers away. In early 1866, some Texas cattle ranchers drove tens of thousands of cattle toward Sedalia. The journey passed through desolate countryside, where grass and water were sometimes scarce. Bandits and Native Americans sometimes followed the herds, stealing cattle. Many cattle were lost or died along the way, but the experience proved that long-distance cattle drives to the railroads were feasible.

Ranchers encouraged the railroad companies to extend tracks westward to Abilene, Kansas. Over the next four years, more than 1.5 million cattle traveled north along the Chisholm Trail into Kansas. As the railroad extended further west, more suitable cattle trails were discovered. Each herd usually consisted of 2,500 to 5,000 cattle, managed by 12 to 20 cowboys. Cowboys worked tirelessly day and night to ensure the cattle were safe from bandits or Native American attacks.

Cattle could not be driven too fast, or they would lose weight. Cowboys could only drive 20–30 kilometers per day. Each morning, the cattle were allowed to graze overnight. In areas with abundant grass and water, cowboys would let the herd move slowly, grazing as they went, to fatten the cattle.

By the early 1870s, cattle were worth $50 each, and many ranchers became wealthy. An initial investment of $5,000 could yield $45,000 within four years.

However, harsh winters and droughts sometimes caused disaster. In two winters, hundreds of thousands of cattle froze to death. In another year, a severe drought killed many more cattle. Ranching almost collapsed. Conflicts also arose with farmers and sheep herders. Western settlers claimed land ownership, fencing it off for crops, while sheep grazed on land cattle once used. Often, sheep won the battle for grass, leaving little for the cattle.

Violence occasionally broke out. Ranchers had to mark and fence their lands, reducing cattle numbers and ending the free-range grazing era on public lands.

By the late 19th century, the cowboy era was drawing to a close. Yet the stories of cowboys and their hard lives remained unforgettable. Today, cowboys continue to appear in movies, TV shows, and books.

Cowboy Stories

When people think of the “Wild West”, they usually do not consider the railroad workers who opened the way west, the settlers who fenced land and farmed, or the laborers who slowly advanced westward. The classic image of the Wild West is the cowboy. Stories of cowboys struggling to protect herds along long drives are thrilling and memorable. Cowboys feared night attacks by thieves, which could scatter the herd. They took turns keeping watch, often sacrificing sleep, and many writers captured these adventures, some having been cowboys themselves. These works gave countless people a glimpse of Western life and cowboy culture.

Cowboy Culture

Cowboys told their stories through songs and ballads, riding horses and singing during the day while herding cattle, and around campfires at night. They sang about horses, cattle, danger, and death, recounting experiences on cattle drives. A classic song, “Get Along Little Dogie”, tells of young cowboys guiding stray calves to keep them with the herd. Cowboys felt sorrow as the calves would soon be sold and slaughtered, but the calves’ fate was beyond their control—they could only continue singing and herding.

The Chisholm Trail is another famous cowboy ballad. Cowboys were proud of their horses as much as their riding skills. The song “I Ride an Old Paint” expresses this sentiment. Driving a herd to market required weeks of care, regardless of weather, across desolate plains. At night, the howls of wolves and fierce winds created a sense of fear and isolation.

In the early days of Western settlement, in the unknown wilderness, death could strike at any moment. This sadness is captured in the song “The Dying Cowboy”, where a dying cowboy, unable to be buried elsewhere, is laid to rest alone in the wilderness.