The Goodnight-Loving Trail was a cattle trail from Texas to the new populations in the West. Why was Charles Goodnight
Charles Goodnight
Charles Goodnight, also known as Charlie Goodnight, was an American cattle rancher in the American West, perhaps the best known rancher in Texas. He is sometimes known as the "father of the Texas Panhandle." Essayist and historian J. Frank Dobie said that Goodnight "approached greatness more nearly than any other cowman of history."
What was the Goodnight Loving Trail used for?
The Goodnight–Loving Trail is the westernmost on this Western cattle trail map. The Goodnight–Loving Trail was a trail used in the cattle drives of the late 1860s for the large-scale movement of Texas Longhorns. It is named after cattlemen Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving .
How did Goodnight meet loving?
Goodnight, a former Texas Ranger and Indian Scout met pioneer cowboy Oliver Loving sometime after the Civil War. At this time, the cattle markets were inadequate for the available cattle, and the two wanted to capitalize on the need for cattle at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where some 8,000 Navajo had been settled at the Bosque Redondo reservation.
Where did the Loving Trail start and end?
Ultimately the trail ran from Young County, Texas, southwest to Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River, then northwards to Fort Sumner, through Colorado, ending in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Goodnight, a former Texas Ranger and Indian Scout met pioneer cowboy Oliver Loving sometime after the Civil War.
Who is the singer of Goodnight Loving Trail?
"Goodnight-Loving Trail" is a song by country artist Utah Phillips. "Goodnight-Loving" is a song by country artist Clint Black. The Flying J Wranglers is a country and western band in Alto, New Mexico (the Goodnight–Loving Trail passed near their Flying J Ranch).
What was the Goodnight-Loving Trail?
Goodnight-Loving Trail, sometimes called Goodnight Trail, historic cattle trail that originated in Young county, western Texas, U.S. The trail ran southwest to connect with the Pecos River and thence up the river valley to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and north to the railhead at Denver, Colorado.
When did the Goodnight-Loving Trail start and end?
1866-1867. In 1866, Charles Goodnight, a former Texas Ranger, and Oliver Loving formed a partnership to drive their first herd of cattle on a new trail from Fort Belknap, Texas to Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
Where did the Goodnight-Loving Trail end?
Cheyenne, WyomingThe trail runs from Young County, Texas, southwest to Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River, then northwards to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, through Colorado and ends in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
How did Goodnight-Loving Trail get its name?
The Goodnight–Loving Trail was a trail used in the cattle drives of the late 1860s for the large-scale movement of Texas Longhorns. It is named after cattlemen Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving.
How many miles was the Goodnight-Loving Trail?
700-mileThe result was the Goodnight-Loving Trail, a 700-mile route through west Texas and New Mexico that eventually brought the cattle right into the booming mining regions of Colorado.
When did the Goodnight-Loving Trail end?
The crossing disappeared in 1936 with completion of Red Bluff Dam and Reservoir. Following U.S. 285 near the Pecos River takes you into New Mexico.
Why is Texas known for cattle?
The great Texas cattle drives started in the 1860's because we had lots of longhorn and the rest of the country wanted beef. (We get beef from cattle.) From about 1865 to the mid-1890's, our vaqueros and cowboys herded about 5 million cattle to markets up north while also becoming famous legends that made Texas proud.
Who owns the JA Ranch now?
Its headquarters area was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 for its association with Goodnight, one of the most influential cattle barons of the late 19th century. The ranch is an ongoing business, operated by Adair's descendants.
How did the Chisholm Trail get its name?
Named for Jesse Chisholm, an Indian trader, the Chisholm Trail was so named because a portion of it followed Chisholm's trade routes. Chisholm built a number of trading posts in Oklahoma Territory and became known as a trader, guide, and interpreter, but not a cattle drover.
How did the Goodnight-Loving Trail impact cattle ranchers?
Goodnight and Loving drove thousands of cattle north to the reservation to sell cattle to the starving Indians for a huge profit. This was the beginning of Goodnight's incredibly profitable cattle career. The Goodnight-Loving Trail was a cattle trail from Texas to the new populations in the West.
What marked the end of the cattle drives?
The drives continued into the 1890s with herds being driven from the Texas panhandle to Montana, but by 1895, the era of cattle drives finally ended as new homestead laws further spurred settlement.
Where did the Western trail start and end?
The trail began at Bandera, Texas and ended, most often, in Dodge City, Kansas. The entire trail extended from southern Texas to the Canadian border. Between 10 and 12 million cattle were driven north from Texas into Dodge City.
Where did the Goodnight Loving Trail start?from legendsofamerica.com
Spanning from Texas to Wyoming, the Goodnight-Loving Trail was first blazed by Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving in 1866 to sell cattle to the U.S. Government at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Ultimately the trail ran from Young County, Texas, southwest to Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River, then northwards to Fort Sumner, through Colorado, ...
Where did Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving drive their first herd of longhorn cattle?from tshaonline.org
In the spring and early summer of 1866 Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving drove their first herd of longhorn cattle over the Butterfield Overland Mail route from near Fort Belknap via the Middle Concho River and Castle Gap, to Horsehead (on some old maps marked Dead Horse) Crossing. Leaving the former mail route there, they worked up the Pecos, ...
Why did Goodnight open a new passageway through Tinchera Pass?from tshaonline.org
In order to avoid Dick Wootton's toll road, Goodnight opened a new, easier passageway through Tinchera Pass into Colorado. A Cattleman driving his cattle on the Goodnight-Loving Trail. Courtesy of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County.
Where did Charles Goodnight live?from legendsofamerica.com
Goodnight then settled down on his Texas Ranch, but cattle drivers throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado continued to utilize the trail that he and Loving had blazed, and cattle ranches stocked with Texas Longhorns sprung up across Wyoming, with several Texas companies relocating or starting subsidiaries there. Charles Goodnight.
What was the name of the wagon that Goodnight used to drive cattle to Fort Sumner?from tshaonline.org
Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. Goodnight invented the chuck wagon, which he used on his first cattle drive to Fort Sumner. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Who was Oliver Loving?from legendsofamerica.com
Goodnight, a former Texas Ranger and Indian Scout met pioneer cowboy Oliver Loving sometime after the Civil War. At this time, the cattle markets were inadequate for the available cattle, and the two wanted to capitalize on the need for cattle at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where some 8,000 Navajo had been settled at the Bosque Redondo reservation.
Where did the Santa Fe Trail run?from tshaonline.org
Initially, it ran north from Fort Sumner up the Pecos to Las Vegas, then followed the Santa Fe Trail to Raton Pass and around the base of the Rockies via Trinidad and Pueblo to Denver, Colorado. Since that was a roundabout way, Goodnight in the fall of 1867 altered the route fifty or sixty miles to the east, crossing the Gallinas valley and ...
Where did the Goodnight Loving Trail start?from legendsofamerica.com
Spanning from Texas to Wyoming, the Goodnight-Loving Trail was first blazed by Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving in 1866 to sell cattle to the U.S. Government at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Ultimately the trail ran from Young County, Texas, southwest to Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River, then northwards to Fort Sumner, through Colorado, ...
Where did Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving drive their first herd of longhorn cattle?from tshaonline.org
In the spring and early summer of 1866 Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving drove their first herd of longhorn cattle over the Butterfield Overland Mail route from near Fort Belknap via the Middle Concho River and Castle Gap, to Horsehead (on some old maps marked Dead Horse) Crossing. Leaving the former mail route there, they worked up the Pecos, ...
Why did Goodnight open a new passageway through Tinchera Pass?from tshaonline.org
In order to avoid Dick Wootton's toll road, Goodnight opened a new, easier passageway through Tinchera Pass into Colorado. A Cattleman driving his cattle on the Goodnight-Loving Trail. Courtesy of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County.
Where did Charles Goodnight live?from legendsofamerica.com
Goodnight then settled down on his Texas Ranch, but cattle drivers throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado continued to utilize the trail that he and Loving had blazed, and cattle ranches stocked with Texas Longhorns sprung up across Wyoming, with several Texas companies relocating or starting subsidiaries there. Charles Goodnight.
What happened to Oliver loving?from legendsofamerica.com
Oliver Loving. However, in the summer of 1867, when Oliver Loving went ahead of the herd to negotiate contracts, taking only one trusted scout with him, he was attacked by Comanche and seriously wounded. Though he was able to reach Fort Sumner, New Mexico, his injuries resulted in gangrene in his arm, and it had to be amputated.
What was the name of the wagon that Goodnight used to drive cattle to Fort Sumner?from tshaonline.org
Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. Goodnight invented the chuck wagon, which he used on his first cattle drive to Fort Sumner. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Who was Oliver Loving?from legendsofamerica.com
Goodnight, a former Texas Ranger and Indian Scout met pioneer cowboy Oliver Loving sometime after the Civil War. At this time, the cattle markets were inadequate for the available cattle, and the two wanted to capitalize on the need for cattle at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where some 8,000 Navajo had been settled at the Bosque Redondo reservation.
Where did the Goodnight Loving Trail start?
Spanning from Texas to Wyoming, the Goodnight-Loving Trail was first blazed by Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving in 1866 to sell cattle to the U.S. Government at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Ultimately the trail ran from Young County, Texas, southwest to Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River, then northwards to Fort Sumner, through Colorado, ...
Where did Charles Goodnight live?
Goodnight then settled down on his Texas Ranch, but cattle drivers throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado continued to utilize the trail that he and Loving had blazed, and cattle ranches stocked with Texas Longhorns sprung up across Wyoming, with several Texas companies relocating or starting subsidiaries there. Charles Goodnight.
What happened to Oliver loving?
Oliver Loving. However, in the summer of 1867, when Oliver Loving went ahead of the herd to negotiate contracts, taking only one trusted scout with him, he was attacked by Comanche and seriously wounded. Though he was able to reach Fort Sumner, New Mexico, his injuries resulted in gangrene in his arm, and it had to be amputated.
Who was Oliver Loving?
Goodnight, a former Texas Ranger and Indian Scout met pioneer cowboy Oliver Loving sometime after the Civil War. At this time, the cattle markets were inadequate for the available cattle, and the two wanted to capitalize on the need for cattle at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where some 8,000 Navajo had been settled at the Bosque Redondo reservation.
Overview
Goodnight and Loving's drive of 1866
In June 1866, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving decided to partner to drive cattle to growing western markets. They hoped that demand for beef from settlers, soldiers stationed at military outposts across New Mexico, and Navajos recently placed on reservations near Fort Sumner would make the drive profitable. With 18 cowpunchers, they brought 2,000 head of cattle to Fort Sum…
Route
The Goodnight-Loving Trail began at Fort Belknap (Texas), along part of the former route of the Butterfield Overland Mail, traveling through Central Texas across the Llano Estacado (Staked Plains) to Horsehead Crossing, north along the Pecos River and across Pope's Crossing, into New Mexico to Fort Sumner. The trail then continued north into Colorado to Denver, and was extended on into Wyoming.
Later developments
During the Drive of 1867, at Horsehead Crossing, during a heavy storm, the herd was attacked by a party of Comanches, leaving it divided and scattered. Loving and "One Arm Bill" Wilson rode ahead towards Fort Sumner to advise them of the delay. They were ambushed by Comanches, and while both managed to escape, Loving died after refusing to have an amputation. Goodnight drove herds along the route over Raton Pass again in 1868, paying the toll. In February 1868, h…
Cultural references
• "Goodnight-Loving Trail" is a song by country artist Utah Phillips.
• "Goodnight-Loving" is a song by country artist Clint Black.
• The Flying J Wranglers is a country and western band in Alto, New Mexico (the Goodnight–Loving Trail passed near their Flying J Ranch).
See also
• Bose Ikard
• Lonesome Dove series - fictionalized version of trail's history
External links
• "Old West Legends: The Goodnight-Loving Trail". Legends of America.
• "The Goodnight-Loving Trail". Texas Archive of the Moving Image.