The story of Shanghai Rhett’s passing in Llano, Texas, marks a poignant moment in the dwindling legacy of the pioneer cow hunters. These intrepid individuals forged an industry that laid the foundation for immense fortunes and spurred the rapid settlement of the vast American West. From the rich, wild grasses of tenantless plains across Texas, New Mexico, Indian Territory, and beyond, the cattle ranch industry flourished between 1866 and 1885, transforming untamed landscapes into economic powerhouses. The era of the cow hunter was instrumental in pushing the frontier forward, altering conditions that once made farming impossible in these remote, unmapped territories dominated by hostile Native American tribes.
The Indomitable Spirit of the Texas Cow Hunters
Born and bred in Texas, the cow hunters were an extraordinary class of pioneers. Their childhoods were steeped in the realities of the frontier, where pistols and knives were less toys and more tools for survival. They were not merely skilled horsemen; they were seasoned Indian fighters, hardened by danger and hardship, yet cool and resolute in defending their lives and property. This unique combination of traits made them ideal agents for the pacification and development of the Plains, hastening occupation by at least three decades.
Establishing Ownership: Brands, Marks, and the Open Range
In post-Civil War Texas, a modest arsenal—a pony, a lariat, a six-shooter, and a branding iron—was all that was needed to amass wealth. While the pistol resolved ownership disputes and the lariat secured the cattle, the branding iron irrevocably marked property. Before the Civil War, cattle roamed freely across Texas’ unfenced landscapes, necessitating a system of distinctive “marks and brands” to signify ownership. This practice, borrowed from Mexican traditions, involved either cutting specific patterns into an animal’s ears or hide (marking) or searing the hide with a red-hot iron (branding).
Marking included techniques like the “swallow fork,” “crop,” “under-half crop,” and various “bits” or “slopes” on the ear, or even the “wattle” and “dewlap,” which created conspicuous hanging strips of skin. Branding, a more permanent solution, seared a unique design onto the hide. A small brand on a calf would enlarge significantly with the animal’s growth, lasting its lifetime. Though often a cruel practice, branding was indispensable for distinguishing thousands of individually owned cattle on the boundless open range, especially after the Civil War when vast, unbranded herds proliferated, unattended by owners preoccupied with the conflict.
Life and Peril on the Frontier
The aftermath of the Civil War presented a golden opportunity for men like Shanghai Rhett. Thousands of unmarked, unbranded cattle, wild as game, roamed Texas, offering a chance for new fortunes. Confederate veterans, adept at chasing Federal soldiers, quickly adapted to the equally exhilarating and far more profitable pursuit of wild steers. Initially, bands of companions pooled their resources, but soon, individual wealth emerged, leading to large outfits employing 10 to 50 well-mounted and armed men. These cow hunters lived a nomadic life, moving camps with minimal gear—a coffee pot, frying pan, stew kettle, and Dutch oven, often foregoing plates and cutlery, relying on their Bowie knives and slices of bread.
Conflicts and Unconventional Justice
Adventure and peril were constant companions. The cow hunters faced not only wild cattle but also fierce resistance from Native American tribes like the Comanche and Kiowa, who fiercely defended their ancestral lands. These tribes launched regular incursions, stealing horses, attacking settlements, and ambushing camps. Yet, the cow hunters, tireless on the trail and reckless in attack, were deeply feared by the Native Americans, often prevailing against overwhelming odds due to their superior weaponry and courage. Beyond external threats, internal feuds among rival cow hunter outfits over territory or cattle were common, sometimes escalating into deadly battles where a dispute over a single brindle steer could lead to a score of deaths.
The Cow Hunters’ Court at Llano
In these remote frontier settlements, formal legal systems were scarce, and courts were few and far between. Consequently, the rifle and pistol often served as the cow hunters’ court of both first and last resort. Disputes were settled with powder and lead, proving to be more effective and cheaper than attorneys’ fees. These
