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Mythbuster: Cattle Kate

Oct 29th, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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Virago is a noun meaning a loud woman, one who displays strength and courage, and Ella Watson was just that [1]. An inspiring woman died on the fateful day of July 20, 1889. “Cattle Kate”, as she became nicknamed, was not known for her feminine touches, and was the first and the only woman hanged in the state of Wyoming. A woman in western history who made her mark as her body swung from a rope tied to branch of an oak tree, “…was the equal of any man on the range. Of robust physique she was a daredevil in the saddle, handy with a six-shooter and adept with the lariat and branding iron. She rode straddle, always had a vicious bronco for a mount…” [1] She made herself a name before the incident even happened, but left her mark on the world.

So why did this woman’s death make such an impact? It’s legality that stood in the way. “It now seems certain that the Association gave instructions to the Leader’s reporter Edward Towse to lay down an editorial smoke screen to accomplish the impossible–to justify the shocking and unprovoked lynchings of two homesteaders, a man and a woman. Over the next several days and months, Towse, and subsequently the editors of the other Cheyenne papers, composed many ficticious articles to obscure the truth… “[2] So the story says that George Henderson, a cattle driver and local resident of Wyoming, receives a telegram. He not only receives the telegram, but so do the members of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association informing them of the paired murder, the hanging of Ella Watson and James Averill. Henderson quickly goes to the Leader and relays the message to Edward Towse, and his creativity took the story from there. This fictitious article states that the two lawbreakers were ordered to leave the country a few times, but they never followed orders. They were apparently hustled at their house, confronted by cattle owners that the thieves had stolen from, and Averill cowardly blamed his mistress, Watson, aka Cattle Kate. As the pair resisted in being taken away from their hideout, the article reports that Watson’s foul language followed long after the kicking and screaming was no longer present. [2] Ella Watson, or “Cattle Kate,” hence got her nickname from this incident, and after became a star in the Wyoming newspapers.

The fact that Ella died under a tacky nickname was a historical event, but for the wrong reasons. Not only was the story supplementing her death a lie, but so were the comments and stories after the event that formulated to justify it, “If one of them had not been a woman, the whole matter would have been forgotten long ago!” [2] Watson was in fact the only woman to be hanged for cattle rustling, and she certainly did not go down without a fight. Other newspapers said more than that with, “In deeming her a prostitute, a charge often leveled at women living alone in the West, the Sun helped legitimize the violence directed against her and Averell.” [3] A prejudice was encouraged against women with a sexual lifestyle, one that they made a business out of, to survive off, and hence brought out the ugly side to the job. No record deems Ella of being accountable because witnesses were either driven off or too scared to reveal the truth of Watson’s unfair hanging. [4] A shame for Watson, but thankfully her justice has been reinstated and the truth came out.

Ella Watson’s hanging can best be described as being framed. A woman who led an alternative lifestyle that suffered unjustly for crimes she did not commit, she was an original. As her name is given justice today, she reminds us all the tough lifestyle not only a woman held through society in 1889, but being a prostitute as well. Her strength and persistence led her to the end, and remains long after her time ran out.

Author: Kim Whiting

Bibliography

[1] “Virago definition.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus. 2009. Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus Online. 20 Oct. 2009. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virago

[2] Hufsmith, George W. The Wyoming Lynching of Cattle Kate, 1889. High Plains Press, 1993.

[3] Johnson, Marilynn S. Violence in the West. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008.

[4] “1889: “Cattle Kate” Ella Watson Lynched. 20 July 2009. Executed Today.com. 20 Oct. 2009. http://www.executedtoday.com/2009/07/20/1889-cattle-kate-ella-watson-lynched/

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Mythbuster – The Art, Legacy and Mythology of Frederic Remington

Oct 21st, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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“History owes something, and art something less, to Frederic Remington.” – Author A. B. Guthrie Jr.

If the current American image of the West can be attributed to a single person, it is undoubtedly Frederic Remington. Seemingly inexhaustible, Remington fashioned nearly “3,000 drawings and paintings, 25 sculptures, and eight volumes of writings throughout his career.” [1] Although George Caitlin is “generally recognized as the first artist to devote himself seriously and single-mindedly to a visual life in the Western Territories” [2], it is Remington who has emerged as the more noteworthy artistic historian. While stylized in realism, Remington’s West is not entirely realistic, often fabricated on masculine biases which have been perpetually replicated. By deconstructing Remington’s depiction of the West, predominantly through his construction of the cowboy and the role the cowboy played in film, we can recognize the inherent preconceptions which cloud and have shaped our own view of the West and understand the myth in which they exist.

Remington Fall

Frederic Remington’s art is a reflection of “an era that glorified the strenuous life and the cultivation of personal character, an attitude appealing to turn-of-the-century Americans”, [4] and no persona reflected this sentiment more appropriately than the cowboy. The cowboy had existed long before Frederic Remington, ranging “across the Texas plains as early as the 1820’s (and Hispanic caballeros much earlier).” By the 1860’s, “the image of the cowboy as a diligent worker came to predominate”, and by the 1880’s “an anti-image of the cowboy developed and the public perception of the cowboy turned from that of a loyal worker to one of murderous thug.” [3] Remington, recognizing the magnitude of the cowboy’s place in frontier history, tailored his own version of the cowboy with four essential modifications: re-establishing the cowboy as an icon of masculinity, strengthening the cowboys association with the horse, suiting the cowboy with the coarseness and strength of the frontier personality and placing the cowboy within the context of social Darwinism. [3] The paintings The Fall of the Cowboy (1895) (pictured here) and Cracker Cowboys of Florida (1895), as well as the bronze sculpture Bronco Buster (1895), are quite revealing in this context, all representing the absolute masculinity and strength of Remington’s cowboy and as expected, each cowboy is accompanied by his finest companion, a horse.

Remington’s historical timing as an artist, having been the successor to the recent invention of the photograph, was rather significant in itself as it birthed an ideological shift in painting styles ultimately leading to a noteworthy impact in the film industry and the Western genre. [1] Early photography was bulky, expensive and limited in its capabilities. Because of cameras long exposure time, photos were best suited for landscape shots, creating what Remington perceived as an opportunity to create realistic action paintings (e.g. The Prairie Hunter, 1852; A Fantasy from the Pony War Dance, 1891). By the 1900’s, “just at the moment when cinema was ready to gather up into itself so many of the era’s popular forms of entertainment…painting had created a taste for dramatic narrative and highly-charged scenes of physical action.” [1] Acclaimed director John Ford based the film “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949) on the “style and movement” of Remington paintings. Remington’s cowboys infiltrated the silver screen and true to Remington’s masculine form, “of all film genres, the Western is the one where women have the most marginal positions.” [1]

Because of its realism, Remington’s art was used as a form of “photo” journalism. Contrarily, he was quite deliberate in his subjectivity looked to style a reality of independent, rugged masculinity. From “No Country for Old Men” (2007) to the Marlboro Man, Remington’s influence is still palpable. Undeniably our modern perception of the west is steeped in his folklore.

Author: Paul Deane

Bibliography

[1] Buscombe, Edward. “Painting the Legend: Frederic Remington and the Western.” Cinema Journal 23.4 (Summer 1984): 12-27.

[2] “Frederic Remington.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 18. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 344-46.

[3] Logan, L. “The Geographical Imagination of Frederic Remington: the Invention of the Cowboy West.” Journal of Historical Geography 18.1 (1992): 75-90.

[4] Rose, Cynthia, ed. “Art of Frederic Remington.” American Decades Primary Sources 1: 1900-1909 (2004): 12-17.

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Mythbuster – General Custer and the Little Bighorn: Hero or Glory-hound?

Oct 21st, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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Throughout history heroes are born, whether it is through bravery, courage, or even myth. Certain men and women stand out in historical significance as a result of their heroism. General Custer is no different, as many of his feats have been portrayed in a way which most people consider heroic. Rough on the edges, and unorthodox in his tactics, Custer rose to historical significance by fighting fearlessly and accomplishing a plethora of accomplishments throughout his military career. Although many people consider Custer a great American war hero, was he indeed a hero? A look at the Battle of Little Big Horn could perhaps shed some light on the brave yet unconventional valor of the late 19th century General.

General George Armstrong Custer was member of the United States military, serving in the Civil War and was an active participant in the U.S. war against Native Americans. He was not regarded as a top student while attending the prestigious West Point Academy [1], but his role in the Civil War would help mold the man who became to be thought of as a hero. During the year following the Civil War, Custer was eventually suspended by the Army but later reinstated to lead a campaign against the Cheyenne Indians. Although he was recognized for his feats during the fight against the South, Custer had the highest number of casualties amongst Union commanders [4]. Some argue this could have been due to his unorthodox battlefield tactics, while others conclude that his arrogance often got in the way. Custer’s reckless abandon on the battle field played a large part in what would later become known as one of the worst military disasters in United States History.

During this point in time in American History, the United States was still young in its process towards expansion, both economically and geographically. The American Government had put many Indian tribes on reservations or sent them to Indian Territory (what is now Oklahoma.) Various Sioux and Cheyenne tribes were among the Native who were oppressed onto reservations. The idea of living on a confined plot of land did not sit well with many Indians, particularly the Sioux and Cheyennes. These two groups of Indians would eventually leave the reservations (to the objection of the American Government) and gather in Montana with the great Sioux leader, Sitting Bull. Not long after, an American attempt would be made to force the Indians back onto the reservation at the Big Horn River in Montana.

Upon arriving at the site of the joint Indian encampment, General Custer falsely determined that he will easily be able to take on the Natives. Custer then devised a plan which would split up his regiment into several coordinated attacks. One group was to hold the upper valley of the Little Big Horn River, while another group was to attack the by crossing the river and heading directly into the village [2]. With this strategy, Custer hoped to somewhat surround the Indians so there would be no easy way for them to escape. Against better judgment, Custer ordered the attack, which did not go as planned. The divided forces soon found out they were outnumbered, as well as slowed down by unforgiving terrain. The bluffs and ravines slowed down the men, and created a disorganized charge which the Indians took advantage of and charged Custer’s men. The Indians began the onslaught, and Custer’s men began taking massive casualties. Men were even ordered to kill their own horses to provide barriers from the swarms of bullets and arrows shot by the Indians ([2]. The Indians easily overtook their attackers, and began to kill and mutilate Custer’s men at will. In less than one hour, one of the worst American military disasters was over [3].

Although Custer made poor assumptions and which would later prove to be disastrous, he was still regarded as a “tragic” war hero. One of the biggest reasons why Custer maintained such a pristine image in American households was his grip on the media [4]. He understood the importance of public relations, and several times would personally bring out a news correspondent to accompany him on assignment. Although his commanding officers were disenchanted with Custer’s tactics on the battle field, they knew there was not much that could be done because he was such an icon [4]. Not to discredit General Custer, because he was indeed a brave man, but we can even relate today how a tight grip on the media can manipulate the persona and view the public eye has on certain figures. It can be concluded that the media contributed to a huge misinterpretation of fact and myth in American history.

Author: Anthony Tokarz

Works Cited

1. Mallery, Garrick. “Archives of the West”. PBS. 10/1/2009 <http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/six/bighorn.htm>.

2. Gray, John S. Custer’s Last Campaign: Mitch Boyer and the Little Bighorn Reconstructed. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1991.

3. “Battle of the Little Bighorn.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 15 Oct. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/343981/Battle-of-the-Little-Bighorn>.

4. Urwin, Gregory J. W. Custer Victorious: The Civil War Battles of General George Armstrong Custer. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1990.

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Mythbuster: Wild Bill Hickok

Oct 21st, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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James Butler Hickok was born on May 27th 1837 and was later known as “Wild Bill” Hickok. He is a legend of the old American west and was known for being a scout, a great marksman, and a lawman. In his later years he became a professional gambler, drank a lot and often got into brawls over card games. This is what would lead to his death. Hickok was playing poker in a Dakota Territory saloon and was shot in the back of the head by Jack McCall. McCall’s reasoning for killing Hickok was because of a dispute over $50.00. “Wild Bill” is a legend of folklore and has been featured in many dime novels of his time. Though he had adventures and was known for killing hundreds, how much of the story is fact?
Wild Bill Hickok

An article written by George Nichols appeared in Harpers Weekly in February, 1867. Nichols wrote an exaggerated story about “Wild Bill” and how he was known for killing hundreds of men. Nichols tells the story of Hickok fighting a man named Dave Tutt over a game of cards. It was stated that both Bill and Dave walked into the square of town and drew their weapons, whereupon of their fates would be sealed. “Bill never shoots twice at the same man, and his ball went through Dave’s heart.” [1] Bill was known for his great marksmanship and was not afraid to kill.

“Wild Bill” was portrayed as a hero, and an amazing marksman, his legend was that he had killed and had sworn that he killed over 100 men, either in self defense or in a performance of official duty. Though he proclaimed his murders, it is clear that 20 to 30 killings seem more reasonable. Only seven killings have been confirmed by Joseph G. Rosa, who has written 3 books on “Wild Bill”. Rosa writes, “His reputation as a man-killer has been grossly magnified…at this date the record shows seven known victims and several probables.” [3] Rosa has invested time in to researching all he could on James Hickok and has only found documents to confirm seven killings by Hickok.

James Hickok was known to be a man peaceful, mild-mannered, and courteous man. Because Hickok was a generally nice, peaceful person to be around, it gave others reason to doubt that “Wild Bill” was a real man. They focused more on his adventures and stories than on the man he really was. He was actually very popular with the ladies as well; he was a tall thin man, with broad shoulders and attracted attention from many. Hickok’s name spread and was known because of the “dime novel”. He was ultimately knows as one of the first dime novel hero’s. The adventures that were portrayed through the dime novels made Hickok seem heroic, untouchable, someone children could look up to. The stories told were highly exaggerated by Hickok. The writers printed stories that the public wanted to hear.

James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok was a man who traveled the west, got into brawls, and played professional poker. He was gentle and nice, yet was known for shoot outs and for being a great marksman. Though many wanted to believe in the folklore and the stories told, about “Wild Bill”, the exaggeration of the truth leaves us with fantasy. It is not fully denied that “Wild Bill” has killed hundreds, yet not all 100 killings can be accounted for, and may never be accounted for. Was “Wild Bill” a ruthless killer? Just how exaggerated are the stories? What we do know is that he was a man who was loved by many, a man who killed for reason, not fun.

Author: Andrea Punch

Works Cited

[1] George Ward Nichols and the Legend of Wild Bill Hickok Author(s): Joseph G. Rosa Source: Arizona and the West, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Summer, 1977), pp. 135-162 Published by: Journal of the Southwest. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40168620

[2] Hart, Louis. “WILD BILL HICKOK HAD A WAY WITH SIX-SHOOTERS, AND A PAIR OF IVORY-HANDLED NAVY COLTS SUITED HIM BEST.” Academic search complete. Weider History Group, Apr. 2000. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. .

[3] Rosa, Joseph G. They called him Wild Bill: The Life and Adventures of James Butler Hickok. Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1974.

[4] “Wild Bill Hickok.” “Wild Bill” Hickok. Web. 08 Oct. 2009. <http://www.abacom.com/~jkrause/hickok.html>.

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Everything I Know About the Alamo I Learned From John Wayne: Busting the Myth of Hollywood’s Alamo

Oct 21st, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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One event in our American history often shrouded by myth and legend, is the 1836 siege of the Alamo Misión San Antonio de Valero, most commonly known as just the Alamo. On February 23rd, the Mexican army under the command of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, had laid siege to the Alamo and the defenders inside. 13 days later the Mexican army overran the defenses, taking the Alamo and killing almost everyone inside.[1] Many of the defenders of the Alamo would go on living in myths and legends, created years after the events, this makes research into what really happened a difficult venture. One of the creators of the Alamo myth is The Alamo, a film directed by and starring John Wayne.[2] Here many of the famous legends and blatant inaccuracies surrounding the Alamo are depicted on the big screen. By looking at scholarly works and historical resources we can debunk these myths about the siege of the Alamo. The particular myths I wish to focus on here are the number of people present at the Alamo and the manner in which James Bowie and David Crockett, two of the most famous of the Alamo defenders, had died.

It’s all in the numbers

150 Texians defending against 7000 battle hardened Mexican soldiers. This scenario sounds like Texas’s own version of Thermopylae. Yet these being the numbers of combatants given by James Bowie in the Alamo. But how many people really fought and died during the siege, and were there really any survivors? In The Alamo besides illustrating the hundreds upon hundreds of casualties for the Mexicans. It also showed that everyone defending the Alamo were completely wiped out, with the exception of 3 civilian survivors. Original counts given by General Santa Anna to the United States put the number of deaths at 60 Mexicans and 500 Texians.[3] Both the film and Santa Anna’s account may be just an over exaggeration, since modern historians estimated Santa Anna assaulted the Alamo with just close to 2,000 Mexican Soldiers while the Texians possessed almost 200 defenders, with also 25 non combatants, during the siege.[1][4] New estimates, along with reports from Santa Anna’s secretary of war Ramon Caro, have also put the Mexican casualties at 600 dead and wounded, this number appears high, but considering the fact Santa Anna commanded a full scale assault, in the taking of a fortified structure, with defenders armed with Kentucky rifles and cannons, it is easy to see the high casualty rate on the Mexican side.[5][6] Research has also agreed that although roughly all of the 200 Texian defenders were killed, there were at least 15 civilian survivors, who were actually shown mercy by Santa Anna and escorted away from the Alamo.[7]

The Death of Heroes

One debate between historians involving the Alamo, concerns the death of 2 of its most prolific defenders, James Bowie and David Crockett. Both men already legends in their own time, their fame only grew more so after the events of the Alamo. According to the film, James Bowie had became bed ridden after suffering a leg injury by a cannonball. While the Mexican army swarmed into the Alamo during the final assault, Bowie heroically defended himself with his pistols, then his famed knife, right before being stabbed to death by multiple bayonets. Davy Crockett also heroically managed to defend himself by using his rifle as a club, then with a cannon torch, before being stabbed by Mexican soldiers, in his final moments he dived into the powder store, exploding part of the Alamo. Historically this portrayal of Crockett’s death could not be further from the truth. Historians agree that James Bowie was bed ridden through the battle, except it was caused by disease, from either tuberculosis or pneumonia rather than injury. But whether he was able defended himself with his pistols, then his famed knife is a matter of debate.[6][7] Mexican eyewitnesses reported that Bowie was to sick to defend himself, so he was executed while still in bed. Even a fellow Texan, who escaped the Alamo before the siege started , agreed that Bowie was sick and “unable to lift his head or be able to defend himself”. This story is corroborated by Bowie’s nurse who said he was too ill to lift his head or even fire a shot, when the siege started.[7] The death of David Crockett can be considered just as non heroic by Hollywood Standards. Even though Crockett’s death is still considered a mystery, eyewitness accounts put the way David Crockett died into two categories. First he was either killed on the walls of the Alamo as the siege started or he was caught by Mexican soldiers and executed. Alamo survivor Susannah Hanning told the Adjutant General of Texas in 1876, that Crockett came during the siege and “was killed before the final assault”.[ 9] And if someone was to accept the Mexican side as an eyewitness account, then we have evidence that David Crockett was captured as a prisoner of war and executed as a criminal. The most famous and controversial source of this account, is the diary of Mexican colonial Jose Enrique de la Peña. In this account Colonel de la Peña describes how they found a group of 6 men hiding in one of the buildings inside the Alamo, soon they brought the prisoners to Santa Anna who immediately ordered them to be executed. Colonel de la Peña would go on to identify one of the prisoners as David Crockett.[1][7][9]. Also a Texas sergeant by the name of George Dolson, a Spanish interpreter, who wrote a letter to his brother in 1836, put in one section of his letter he the story of David Crockett’s death, which he supposedly heard from one of Santa Anna‘s men. In his letter he wrote how Mexican soldiers led by one of Santa Anna’s generals, found 6 men at the back of a building. He then brought the men before Santa Anna, where his translator identified David Crockett as one of the prisoners. Soon Santa Anna ordered that they be executed by firing squad.[10] These sources can be further corroborated by Santa Anna’s secretary of War Ramon Caro, who wrote claims a year later that he had also witnessed the execution of David Crockett, by the hands of Santa Anna’s men at the end of the siege.[7]

The siege of the Alamo was a legendary event, even to the people of the same period. But the myth of the Alamo was only further escalated by the storytellers of Hollywood. Only by accepting these American heroes as just human, we can see the Alamo as an event in our past, with historical context, and not just a story of myths and legends.

Author: Michael Baker

Works Cited

[1] Hardin, Stephen L., and Angus McBride. The Alamo 1836. Osprey Publishing, 2001.

[2] Wayne, John. The Alamo. VHS. MGM (Video), 1960.

[3] New-Hampshire Sentinel. May 12, 1836

[4] Haythornthwaite, Philip J. The Alamo and the War of Texan Independence 1835-36. Osprey Publishing, 1986.

[5] Callcott, Wilfrid Hardy. Santa Anna: The Story of an Enigma Who Once Was Mexico. Archon Books, 1936.

[6] Hardin, Stephen L. “ALAMO, BATTLE OF THE.” http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/AA/qea2.html.

[7] McWilliams, Perry. “The Alamo Story: From Fact to Fable.” Journal of the Folklore Institute 15, no. 3 (December 1978): 221-233.

[8] Loewen, James W. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. Touchstone, 2007.
[9] Harrigan, Stephen. “Davy Crockett and the Alamo: Thoughts on Truth, Fiction, and Smelling a Rat.” Montana: The Magazine of Western History 50, no. 3 (Autumn 2000): 58-65.

[10] Connelly, Thomas Lawrence. “Did David Crockett Surrender at the Alamo? A Contemporary Letter.” The Journal of Southern History 26, no. 3 (August 1960): 368-376.

[11] “Myths and Misconceptions.” http://www.thealamo.org/myths.html.

[12] “Unsolved History- Military: David Crockett : Video : The Military Channel.” http://military.discovery.com/videos/unsolved-history-military-david-crockett.html.

[13] “Unsolved History- Military: Shattering the Myth : Video : The Military Channel.” http://military.discovery.com/videos/unsolved-history-military-shattering-the-myth.html.

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Mythbuster – The Winchester 73

Oct 21st, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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The Winchester repeating rifle model 1873 has been billed for years as “the rifle which won the west”. But what was left to be won by the year 1873? The transcontinental railroad had connected the coasts and divided the continent in twain [1], the great bison herd had been divided and the great Indians tribes were shadows of their former selves. The mystique revolving around this mythical firearm has grown throughout the years; the embers stoked by user testimonials, Hollywood and brilliant advertisement campaigns. Was the Winchester 73 the gun that won the west? Did Lewis and Clark carry the Winchester 73 on their expedition? Or perhaps at least the buffalo hunters used its impressive magazine capacity to cut the herds down in their prime? The firearm technology of the day progressed and adapted with the changing technology and needs of the time. The gun used for hunting buffalo at 500 yards would be different than the one used during a running gun battle against hostile forces. There were hundreds of different gunsmiths producing their unique firearms, and to document each unique example would take a lifetime. However, there are distinct classes of weapons which helped truly win the west.

When discussing the guns which were carried by the men and women who settled the West, the importance of the muzzle loading rifle or shotgun cannot be underplayed. A muzzleloader was in the hands of the revolutionary way fighters all the way through to the civil war. The muzzleloader was the standard from the earliest days until it was replaced by the self contained cartridge. The matchlock was replaced by the flint lock and by the early 1800s the cap lock had replaced the flint lock. [2] Muzzle loaders were simple to produce and simple to use, by the end of their lives they had evolved into a product which was accurate and reliable; however, throughout most of its use the muzzleloader was inaccurate and unreliable weapon.

Arguing the West could not have been won without multiple shot revolving pistols can be controversial. The repeating pistol is not used to put food on the table, or reliably accurate at distances beyond a couple of yards; it does however provide a niche. The pistol is designed to kill man in close combat and sadly this was a large part of conquering the west: brutal close combat. For a long time the man to beat concerning these weapons were Colt and the firearms which bore his name; he could outsell and out produce his competitors. His first truly successful model, the Walker Colt Revolver [3], came out in 1847. Only 1100 of these pistols were made, and almost all went to the newly formed Texas rangers. That set off a succession of models, culminating in the 1873 Peacemaker revolver which has been the staple of every cowboy actor since the early days of the silver screen.

The Winchester 73 itself did not spring like Athena from the skull of Zeus, fully formed and ready to grace the world with its presence. Different models were issued in 1860 and then in 1866, each model improved upon the next Henry and then finally it seemed all the bugs were worked out and what was left was a near perfect rifle in the Winchester 1873. This “perfection” in the hand of men like Buffalo Bill[(5] is what helped the Winchester become “the Rifle that won the west” The rifle utilized the self-contained cartridge, tubular magazine and rugged construction which made it useful for everything from a military excursion to putting entertaining crowds of thousands all over the country.

The Winchester 73 earned its reputation for excellence and by most accounts would be considered a fine weapon. The Winchester 73 however, cannot be considered the gun which won the west. To be best at killing large game, a powerful heavy bullet was needed; to kill small game a shotgun was the most versatile route; for close combat a pistol was the weapon of choice. The Winchester rifles filled its own niche in the middle range medium powered high capacity firearms and were often chambered in the 44-40 cartridge, a popular chambering for the Colt Peacemaker.[4] The benefit was that one would only have to carry one kind of ammunition for both but derived greater accuracy distance when fired out of the rifle. For some the west was won for others stolen but in the end the west gave way to western civilization. The firearm played as pivotal a role in this expansion as any treaty or locomotive.

Author: Joshua Soojian

Works Cited

[1] The Last Spikes .” Golden Spike National Historic Site . Web. 2 Oct 2009. <http://www.nps.gov/archive/gosp/history/spike.html>.

[2] Rosa, Joseph, and Robin May. An Illustrated History of Guns and Small Arms. Peerage Books, 1984.

[3]Sam Colt. Sam Colt’s Own Record 1847. Wolfe Publishing Company, 1992.

[4] Kirkland, K.D. American Gunmakers: Colt. New York: Exeter Books.

[5] Valerie A. Peters, . “The Wild West.” (1997): n. pag. Web. 2 Oct 2009. <http://www.winchester.com/companyinfo/history/wildwest.aspx>.

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Unit 4 (10/21 – 11/4): Hollywood’s West

Oct 19th, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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In this unit we’ll explore Western films from the silent era to the mid-1960s. What makes a movie a Western? What are the important or iconic elements? We will also listen in to popular radio Westerns from radio’s golden age (the 1930s and 1940s) – how does the fictional portrayal of the West change when the landscape is unseen? Our main text in this unit is Jane Tompkins, West of Everything (WOE), and you should bring it to class on the days we have readings from it.

20. Wed 10/21 You Know You’re in a Western When…
Reading: WOE, Intro and Lee Clark Mitchell, “A Man Being Beaten” in Western: Making the Man in Fiction and Film [pdf]

21. Fri 10/23 Early and Silent Westerns
Reading: WOE, CH 1-6 “Elements of the Western”

22. Mon 10/26 In-class screening of Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939)
Reading: same as #21, plus handout about this film

23. Wed 10/28 Imagining the West on Radio
Reading (Actually, Listening): listen to 3 Western radio program episodes of your choice. They can be from any series. Find them free online at:
RadioLovers.Com
OldTimeRadio.net (browse titles, the Westerns are obvious)

24. Fri 10/30 From Shane (George Stevens, 1953) to The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (Sergio Leone, 1966)
Reading: Patrick McGee, “Why Shane Never Comes Back,” in From Shane to Kill Bill: Rethinking the Western [pdf]

25. Mon 11/2 In-class screening of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (Sergio Leone, 1966)
Reading: McGee, “Death’s Landscape,” in From Shane to Kill Bill: Rethinking the Western [pdf]

26. Wed 11/4 Unit 4 Test

Posted in: Unit 4, Units.

Overland Trails Map (in color)

Oct 14th, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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Overland Trails map

Source: TrailsWest

Posted in: Notices, Unit 3, Units.

Mythbuster – Cowboys: Are They More than Rodeo Entertainers and Gun Slingers?

Oct 5th, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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When most people hear the term cowboy, the first thing that pops into their mind is rodeos. If that is not the case then they think of old western movies, notorious for gun fights, with Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid or Doc Holiday. Cowboys were more than rodeo participants, and more often than not, they didn’t have to fire their gun unless they were on a hunting trip. Here I will discuss what the true cowboy was and why people have this misconception. All of this is done with disregard to the few exceptions that there always are in legends and myths.

First the word “cowboy,” it was intended for the men who had to brand, castrate, vaccinate and manage all animals on western ranches.[2] Some cowboys ended up on ranches as jobs going from one to another as time passed, while others were tied into the land by social forces, such as being born into the life and land. It was not just a job for white men either, black and Spanish men also were cowboys, and they shared the same skills. The larger ranches required teams of cowboys that were quite busy throughout the year, putting up fencing, handling livestock operations such as cattle drives, and roundups. Cattle drives are when a team of cowboys keep a heard of cattle together as they move them from ranch to ranch. Sometimes this takes up to a couple days or a week.

To put this into perspective on how large these ranches and cattle operations were, a ranch of 1,200 cattle was not as big as the ones in the true west and needed a small crew of cowboys.[2] A cowboy would have to know how to do almost everything alone. Although they more often had a crew it was their thinking that they had to help themselves before they asked for helped. Many of the cowboys never settled down and had families until later on in the early 20th century as ranches began to downsize.

As far as gun shootouts with Native Americans or outlaws, as seen in the movies, cowboys barely had enough time to keep up with their daily work, never mind getting involved with violent acts. It is an important job and a way of life, and most cowboys were not going to risk getting injured because they can’t do their job as well when they are wounded.

When rodeos began, it was a way to showcase the talent of the cowboy to the public. It soon turned into a competition for athletes and the wealthy. People would purchase expensive clothes and equipment, and train to do just those competitions in the rodeo. This would make them able to do what cowboy’s do, but it doesn’t make them a true cowboy. This is a major misconception to the public. When this type of cowboy participated in the rodeo, it leads to the true cowboys rarely winning. They spend their time doing maintaining the ranch, not training to win a prize in the rodeo.[1]

After researching about how the cowboy really was and spent his life I honestly think that they would be offended by what the majority of people assume they were. They were hard workers for 365 days a year, not just competitors for the weekends at the rodeos. They were important for the farming and cattle industry not western tough guys who liked shooting their guns. It is my belief that I can say this myth is busted and that the life of a cowboy should be known by everyone to straighten out the myth.

Author: Todd Zoppo

Bibliography

[1] McDowell, Bart. The American Cowboy in Life and Legend. (city of publication NA). The National Geographic Society. 1972

[2] Rector, Margaret; Graves, John. Life on the Texas Plains. Austin, Texas. Texas A&M University Press. 1982

[3]Wheeler, Keith. The Old West: The Townsmen. New York. Time-Life Books. 1975

Posted in: Mythbusters.
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Mythbuster: Johnny Appleseed

Oct 5th, 2009
by Prof. Hangen.
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The myth and legend of Johnny Appleseed is one that most children growing up in the US have learned. Johnny Appleseed was supposedly a man who wandered the lands west of the 13 colonies planting apple trees all around. Johnny could talk to animals and have them help him on his journeys. Johnny wandered the Midwest wearing a sack and a tin pot for a hat. He was a selfless man who lived a poor, but happy life in harmony with all of nature’s gifts. For a “raw” version of the myth, see the end of this essay for a link to “applejuice.org”’s version of Johnny Appleseed. As wild and truly mythical this man’s life sounds, it is surprising how much of it is based on truth.
Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed or John Chapman was thought to be born on Saturday, September 26th, 1774 in Massachusetts.[1] In his early life John studied to be a nurseryman, which is where his famous ability to plant apple orchards was first learned. During his life, the great migration of settlers to the west had begun. The territories to the west were being settled and land grants were given out by the government. Chapman collected seeds from cider presses in Pennsylvania to plant and sell on the frontier.[4] As selfless and not materialistic as the myth makes him out to be, John Chapman was a clever business man who carefully planned out his apple orchard planting. Swedenborg.org’s biography of John Chapman states, “The record on Johnny Appleseed reveals him to be a careful, organized and strategic businessman who, over a period of several decades, bought and sold many dozen tracts of land in advance of the frontier expansion, and who developed countless thousands of productive apple trees throughout the upper Midwest.” [2] Chapman took advantage of the migration to the west by settlers and emigrants by moving ahead of them and planting nurseries. When the settlers and frontiersmen would come by years later, Chapman would return to his nurseries and sell the settlers trees, apples, or seeds, depending on their needs. The more selfless side of Chapman’s history may come from his business relations. Because of his way of life, Chapman could not always collect the debts settlers owed him. He charged the passerby’s whatever they could pay at the time, and if they couldn’t pay him, he would take a note. “He had unusual ideas about charging for his trees and collecting for them. He would take a reasonable price in money, some cast-off clothing, a bit of food, or nothing at all, according to the circumstances of his customer.” [2]

His seemingly selfless demeanor and history may come from his very religious background. Chapman was a Swedenborg Christian man who sometimes thought of himself as a preacher or healer to those on the frontier. His business venture not only supplied him with a means of income, but also a means to help spread his religious beliefs throughout the Midwest. An article in the Boston globe refers to a story of Chapman spreading medicinal herbs and preaching Swedenborg to passing settlers. [3] Swedenborg.org’s biography of Chapman also explains his missionary like lifestyle on the frontier, “In the Mohican country, Johnny visited every cabin religiously, feeling that he had been commissioned to preach, to heal diseases, to warn of danger-in short, to help God take care of the settlers.”[2] Chapman was a gracious man who traveled the frontier to spread his faith in God and to make a living from selling apple trees. Although it is obvious that Chapman could not talk to animals, he was a man of the wilderness that did not hunt for food. It is noted that he often rescued old, abandoned horses and paid famers he came across to take care of them. [2] Chapman carried few things with him on his journeys, but is often cited carrying his tin pot for cooking.

The toughest part of this myth to bust is most definitely the garb of John Chapman. Unfortunately, no real “primary source” documentation could be found detailing an encounter with Chapman first hand. It is impossible to prove or disprove this part of the legend of Jonny Appleseed without some kind of first-hand account. Overall, it seems many facets of the Johnny Appleseed legend are based on fact, perhaps exaggerated a bit. John Chapman is truly a legend in American history who lived a peculiar life. A short biographical podcast on John Chapman by Profile America said, “Some of his(Chapman’s) trees are still bearing fruit. And Americans do like apples. We each eat nearly 18 pounds of them a year.” John Chapman is a legend who will live in American history long after we finish eating the apples he planted.

Author: Brandon Smith

Works Cited:

[1] “Johnny Appleseed.(Brief biography)(Podcast).” Profile America (US Census Bureau Podcasts) (Sept 26, 2009): NA. General OneFile. Gale. Boston Public Library. 1 Oct. 2009

[2] Johnny Appleseed & Co History. Swedenborg.org, Web. 29 Sep. 2009 <http://www.swedenborg.org/jappleseed/history.html>

[3] Page, Marian. “Jonny Appleseed” Boston Daily Globe 15 May 1912. Pg. 12. Web. 1 Oct. 2009

[4] “Chapman, John.” The Great American History Fact-Finder. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Credo Reference. Web. 29 Sep. 2009

“Raw Myth” : http://www.applejuice.org/johnnyappleseed.html

Posted in: Mythbusters.
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