On The Trail

Life on the trail drive was hard. Cowboys spent up to 16 hours a day in the saddle for months at a time, herding cattle to the trains that would carry them to the expanding new cities.

The Trail Drive Crew

The trail boss had to have a good knowledge of the country, be an excellent tracker, and be able to make sign with Indians. The point riders kept the leading cattle in a point or arrowhead shape and kept them moving in the right direction. The swing riders moved along with the herd and made sure the cattle did not spread out too far. The flank riders would watch out for strays and bring them into line. The drag riders, or tailers, had the worst job of all, riding for hours through thick clouds of choking dust. They moved along the stragglers at the rear of the herd and protected them from being picked off by cattle thieves or “rustlers.” The cook, known as “Cookie,” would drive the chuck wagon and move on ahead of the herd if the trail was well known. If not, he would drive up alongside them, followed by the wrangler, the cowboy in charge of the spare horses that were kept in a group of up to a hundred strong called remuda.

Cowboys known as cowpunchers would travel with the cattle on the trains, prodding or punching them with poles to save weak and helpless animals from being crushed. The cattle would be slaughtered and refrigerated at the end of the line in Chicago. A few cowboys volunteered to drive the horses and wagons back along the trail to the ranch. Other cowboys vowed never to return.