Before the Civil War, cattle were drive to Texas ports, to New Orleans, and to points in Missouri. While the war went on, no Texas cattle reached the North. During the war the North slaughtered most of its cattle and used up its meat supply. A cow worth only five dollars in Texas might be worth fifty dollars in New York. At the same time the Texas herds increased greatly in numbers. The ranching industry had spread across all of South Texas and into other parts of the state. Texas had more cattle than ever! After the war the problem was to get these cattle to northern markets. At that time the Kansas Pacific Railroad had been pushed westward into Kansas. The railroad, however, was over a thousand miles from the Texas ranching country. There was only one way to get these cattle to northern markets. They must walk to the railroad. This was why the great trail drives began in 1867.
After the spring roundup, the trail herd was organized. During the roundup the cattle that were to be driven to Kansas were cut off of the main herd and turned over to the trail captain or boss. The trail boss then chose his cowboys – one man for every 200 head of cattle. An even number of the best men on the range were selected. Sixteen to Eighteen men working in pairs could move a herd of 3,000 cattle. The herd would leave Texas early in the spring for two reasons: the green grass was then coming in and the destination had to be reached before the cold weather set in. On the trail the cattle did not move as a herd; but as a long, winding line.
