The System of Driving Cattle up the Western Trail

Article by Michael King

After the cattle were herded together and branded, the cowhands separated them into herds. Initially, the cattle owners themselves drove the herds. Eventually, they hired agents to drive the cattle to the market for a fee, usually $1 per head delivered to the market. Large herds of over 2,500 cattle went up the trail to Abilene, with many smaller herds also making the journey. Each drive required a foreman, a cook, and about fifteen cowboys. Edgar Rye describes the system of driving cattle along the trail in his book, "The Quirt and the Spur."

The system of driving the cattle along the trail is exciting, especially to a tenderfoot who, for the first time, is permitted to watch the proceedings. On either side of the herd near the front rode two cowboys, called the pointers, who kept the leaders on the trail and shaped the course of the herd. The remainder of the boys, except the cook and his assistant, were busy keeping up the stragglers and cutting out the strays. The cook's assistant, the wrangler, kept the saddle ponies moving in the wake of the herd, and the cook brought up the rear with the "chuck" wagon. The cattle were driven in double column formation, like an army corps on the march, and the cowboys, riding up and down the line like so many officers, presented a novel sight. In this way, large bodies of cattle were driven over the trail.

Texas Cattle Drive to Kansas

Under the guidance of the trail boss, the operation was managed with precision. Each cowboy, equipped with three to ten horses and their own riding and camping gear, was prepared for the journey. The team was armed against wild animals, rustlers, and potential attacks from Native Americans. With the labor force, horses, chuckwagon, and food supplies, the drive could handle about 1500 cattle, potentially earning more than $50,000 once the cattle reached the stockyards in Dodge City or Abilene and were ready for sale.

The Longhorns were used to living on grass, and usually, they could find enough along the trail. However, even though the herds were forbidden, they would sometimes be stopped for a day or two to fatten on lush grass in the Indian Territory.

The herd, strung out on the trail, was a testament to the teamwork involved in cattle herding. Two trusted cowhands rode in the lead, one on each side, as pointers. Behind them, at intervals, rode the swingmen and the flank riders to keep the cattle in order. In the dusty rear were the unenvied drag men to prod the laggards. This was not just a group of individuals but a team, each member playing a crucial role in the drive's success. 

Scouts rode in front of the herd to select the best route. The path would vary depending on the availability of water and grass. It also relies on the year's season and how many herds had passed over the ground that year. Despite minor changes in the course, the herd always traveled north. Scouts also alerted the trail boss to dangers such as bad weather, hostile Native Americans, and outlaws. The trail boss had complete authority over all the cowhands and other employees on the trail. In his book Cattle Trade of the West and Southwest, Joseph McCoy describes cattle-herding along the trail in early cattle-herding along the trail. It should be noted that 1869 the chuck wagon had yet to be invented. 

A herd of one thousand cattle will stretch out from one to two miles while traveling on the trail and is a magnificent sight, inspiring the drover with enthusiasm akin to that enkindled in the breast of the military hero by the presence of marching columns of men. Confident cowboys are appointed to ride beside the leaders and control the herd, while others ride beside and behind, keeping everything in its place and moving on, the camp wagon and "cavvie yard" bringing up the rear. Their resilience and determination in the face of such a monumental task is truly inspiring. 

A large herd with several saddle horses could require 12 men or more. The trail boss, either a ranch crew member or a hired drover—organized and led the affair. He selected specific routes and rode ahead, searching for water, grass, and suitable campgrounds. The cook and his chuck wagon also moved forward of the herds to ensure the meals and "ink-black" coffee were ready when the cowboys settled in for the evening. The chuck wagon and the cook play a crucial role in the success of the drive, providing sustenance and comfort to the hardworking cowboys.

Each cowhand had specific duties. Several highly skilled cowhands, known as pointers, also called point riders or lead riders, rode at the side of the lead cattle to direct the herd. The point man who rides near the front of the herd determines the direction, controls the speed, and gives the cattle something to follow. Larger herds sometimes necessitate the use of two-point men. A privileged position on the drive, this job is reserved for more experienced hands who know the country they travel to.

Flankers, who rode beside the herd, kept the cattle from straying too far. The flank riders rode near the rear about two-thirds of the way back. Their role is to back the swing riders up and keep the cattle bunched, preventing the back of the herd from fanning out.
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Other cowhands rode in the rear, or drag position, to keep cattle from straying behind. The drag riders keep the herd moving, pushing the slower animals forward. Because of the exhausting work and insufferable dust, this unpleasant job is typically reserved for green cowboys.

Swing riders ride closely along each side of the herd, about a third back from the point rider. They are responsible for keeping the herd together and constantly looking for animals that might try to break away. They are also instrumental in backing up the point riders as the herd turns. If the point man leaves his position, a swing rider will ride until he returns.
Wranglers took care of the extra horses. Each cowhand took along several horses. The men would switch horses a few times a day to keep the horses from tiring. The wrangler cares for the driver's remuda, ensuring the horses are fed and doctored. He typically drives the horses with the wagon, as his secondary duties include helping the cook rustle firewood, unhook the team, or any other odd jobs around the camp. 

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Artistic Concept by Mary Hendrix