One of my greatest weaknesses has always
been books. These prodigious keepers of
knowledge can open new worlds of discovery and intrigue. As an example, last week I was going through
the ranch vehicle section of our library.
In the process, I came across a first edition book I had purchased years
ago. The name of the volume is Cattle. It was published in 1930 and written by Will
C. Barnes and William MacLeod Raines.
The book is signed by Mr. Raines and includes a few other written
notations. It’s a fascinating piece with
details about the early Texas cattle industry, cowboys, trails, towns,
round-ups, wagons, outlaws, rustling, brands, and so forth.
To the point, though; what I had
forgotten is that inside this specific book is a 2-page, signed letter from one
of the authors, Will C. Barnes. It was
written to a friend, over 80 years ago, just as Cattle was being released to
the public. The letter references the
new book and outlines several of Mr. Barnes’ recollections along with news from
his recent travels to Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Panama. History has always captivated me and this
letter did even more. As I read the
through the aged correspondence, the thoughts of this roughly 72-year-old
gentleman and the fullness of his experience in the American West hit me. In 1880, Mr. Barnes was a private in the
U.S. Military. He had accomplished much
at an early age and had just been assigned as a telegrapher to Fort Apache in
Arizona. The West faced many challenges
and hostilities during this timeframe.
By August and September of 1881, there were a number of armed
engagements with Apache forces. During
one of those incidents, PVT Barnes escaped the fort to find help. Because of his exemplary record and bravery,
he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1883. Other credits among his wide-ranging attributes
include service in the Arizona Territorial Legislature, U.S. Forest Service
grazing program, and U.S. Geographic Board.
He is also recognized for helping preserve the legendary Texas Longhorn.
A lengthy but rousing report of Mr.
Barnes’ background and experiences at Ft. Apache during the early 1880’s can be
found at this U.S. Army site. While much of the account on this site offers
straight-forward and interesting details of life in the Old West, I appreciated
the stressful humor and poor luck in the following paragraph about Mr. Barnes…
“Traveling
in Arizona in 1883 was not for the weak and faint-hearted, particularly in bad
weather. For example, after reaching Holbrook and setting off for his ranch,
Barnes found what must have been the Little Colorado on a "big boom"
from the previous night's rain. In trying to cross it, his horse went under and
Barnes swam out to save himself, only to find that he was on the wrong side of
the river, whereupon he was obliged to swim back to the other side.”
One of a number of books written by Mr.
Barnes, Cattle was published during a time when, by his own admission, “…hundreds
of men are still living who followed the dust of the drag in the long
northbound treks.” † As such,
it offers a unique perspective in helping visualize the era.
So, what does all of this have to do
with western vehicles? Beyond a few
morsels of wheeled information within the book, this look into yesteryear (by
those who were there) is an additional reminder that truly appreciating western
vehicles requires a thorough understanding of the environment and times in
which they were used. After all, the
details and features of every set of wheels is a direct result of the demands
placed upon it.
Cattle paints a vivid picture of Texas
cattle drives as well as the legendary cowboy’s effect on the American
West. On a broader note, this historic
knowledge has a way of bringing folks together on even more common ground;
recognizing the struggles of people and place while honoring the challenges of
personal hardships and celebrating the overall experience of life. While there are numerous groups dedicated to
promoting this part of our western heritage, perhaps none is more focused than
the American Chuck Wagon Association.
We’re proud to be a participating member of this great group of folks
and, through our Archives, are committed to helping preserve the wheeled
history that built such a powerful legacy in America. Ultimately, it’s a story as big as our nation
and as timeless as the spirit of the West.
† Cattle, page 7
