Historian Answers Wild West Questions | Tech Support | WIRED

Notorious Outlaws of the Old West

• John Wesley Hardin is considered one of the most dangerous outlaws in the Old West, having possibly killed up to two dozen men, including a man for snoring. However, Jesse and Frank James are noted as potentially more dangerous due to their violent history during the Civil War and their ruthless behavior in robberies. (12s)
• The term "49er" refers to the thousands of gold seekers who traveled to California in 1849 following the discovery of gold in 1848. (1m6s)

The California Gold Rush

• The film "Wyatt Earp" is considered more accurate in depicting the OK Corral gunfight, with gunfighters being much closer together, as the actual site was very compact. Both "Wyatt Earp" and "Tombstone" films used historical dialogue from witness testimonies. (1m28s)

The OK Corral Gunfight in Film and Reality

• During the time of the OK Corral gunfight, it was common for people to have tailor-made pistol pockets in their coats, and Wyatt Earp's pocket was lined with canvas to facilitate drawing a revolver. (2m10s)

Gunfighter's Gear

• The term "dogie" in the song "Get Along Little Dogies" refers to an orphan calf with a distended belly from eating coarse grass, derived from "dough belly" or "dough guts." (3m27s)

The Meaning of "Dogie"

• The Old West had strict gun laws, requiring people to check their guns when entering a city. (4m15s)

Gun Laws in the Old West

• Towns like Tombstone, Wichita, and Dodge City were major cattle towns where cowboys, who were often armed, would drive large herds of cattle. These towns had ordinances that prohibited carrying guns within city limits, requiring cowboys to check their firearms at designated locations. Only lawmen were allowed to carry guns, making it a dangerous job to disarm intoxicated cowboys. (4m28s)

Cattle Towns and Gun Control

• Old West saloons in boom towns such as Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone offered a variety of drinks beyond whiskey and beer, including wine, champagne, brandy, and gin. A book published in 1874, "The Bartender's Guide," provided recipes for various cocktails, indicating that more elaborate bars could make a wide range of drinks. (5m8s)

Drinks in Old West Saloons

• The most famous hat maker of the Wild West era was John B. Stetson, who developed the "trail boss" hat in the 1860s. This hat featured a flat crown and wide brim and was well-made, gaining popularity among cowboys who could afford it. Another popular hat style was the Derby or bowler hat, famously worn by outlaws like Butch Cassidy. Wearing certain hats could draw attention, as seen in Tombstone, Arizona, where newcomers wearing top hats were often teased. (5m40s)

Hats of the Wild West

• The end of the Old West is debated, with some suggesting it ended when buffalo were no longer free-ranging or when barbed wire fences ended cattle drives. Others believe it ended when automobiles replaced horses, possibly in the 1930s or 1940s, marking the disappearance of horses from streets. (6m57s)

Debates on the End of the Old West

• Before the introduction of horses to North America by the Spanish, it is estimated that 28 to 30 million buffalo roamed the Great Plains. In the early 19th century, the robe trade was significant, with Native Americans hunting buffalo and tanning their hides for use in the East and Europe. The best robes came from cows or calves, which were easier to work with. (7m27s)

The Buffalo and the Robe Trade

• In 1860, it was reported that approximately 800,000 buffalo were slaughtered annually, with passengers on steam trains often shooting at herds as they traveled. By 1884, the buffalo population in the United States had dwindled to an estimated 324. Buffalo Bill Cody earned his name by hunting buffalo to provide meat for railroad crews and later started a Wild West exhibition featuring figures like Annie Oakley. (8m1s)

The Slaughter of the Buffalo

• Annie Oakley was a real person and an excellent markswoman known for her sharpshooting skills, such as shooting a cigarette from her partner's lips using a mirror. She was a prominent figure in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show, which traveled globally and included staged recreations of events like buffalo hunts and Indian attacks. (8m45s)

Annie Oakley: Sharpshooter of the Wild West

• The only authenticated photo of Billy the Kid is a tintype made at Fort Sumner by an unknown traveling photographer. Tintypes are reverse images, leading to the misconception that Billy the Kid was left-handed. The photo was identified as authentic during his lifetime and sold at auction for $2.3 million, sparking interest in finding other images of him. (9m36s)

The Authenticated Photo of Billy the Kid

• Black cowboys did exist in the Old West, comprising up to 25% of cowboys. After the Civil War, many freed African-Americans sought opportunities in the American West, with some joining the US Army as Buffalo Soldiers. (11m25s)

Black Cowboys in the Old West

• The ninth and 10th Cavalry were African-American units, and a notable African-American lawman in the West was Bass Reeves, who was known for his numerous arrests and gunfights. Some believe he inspired the character of the Lone Ranger, as he worked with Indian Scouts. (11m46s)

African-American Lawmen and Soldiers

• Branding of livestock dates back to ancient Egypt, but in North America, it began with the arrival of the Spaniards, who brought cattle, sheep, and livestock management practices. The first cowboys, known as "vaqueros," emerged from this culture, and branding became a key method for identifying livestock. Mexican or Spanish brands are distinguished by serifs on the letters. (12m14s)

Branding Livestock

• The 10-gauge shotgun was popular in the Wild West, particularly for stagecoach guards known as shotgun messengers, who needed a wide shot pattern to deter robbers. Other popular firearms included the Winchester repeater and the Colt Single Action Army revolver, also known as the Peacemaker. Cowboys and lawmen often kept the hammer of their revolvers on an empty chamber to prevent accidental discharge. (13m15s)

Firearms of the Wild West

• The video game Red Dead Redemption is considered to be as accurate as an average to good Western film. However, it inaccurately depicts gun holsters as being worn low on the hips for a fast draw, whereas in the actual Old West, holsters were worn higher for practicality, especially when riding horses. (14m33s)

Accuracy of Red Dead Redemption

• People in the Wild West generally knew how to read and write, including some famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James, who wrote letters and were subjects of dime novels. These novels often portrayed outlaws as folk heroes, contributing to the myth of the Wild West. (15m23s)

Literacy in the Wild West

• Commercially manufactured toilet paper existed from the 1850s, but in remote areas, people used alternatives like dry corn cobs, catalogs, or pulp novels. An example involves Wyatt Earp tracking stage robbers who used pages from a dime novel as toilet paper. (16m40s)

Toilet Paper Alternatives

• Outhouses in the Wild West were used for both sanitation and trash disposal. Archaeologists and bottle hunters find valuable historical artifacts by excavating these sites, which are marked on old insurance maps. (17m44s)

Outhouses and Archaeology

• Contrary to Hollywood depictions, gunfights in the Wild West were not standoffs; they involved ambushes or quick shots to avoid giving opponents a chance to retaliate. An example is Pat Garrett not allowing Billy the Kid an opportunity to draw his gun. (18m19s)

Reality of Gunfights

• Pat Garrett recognized Billy the Kid's voice, opened fire, and killed him with a shot to the chest. The only classic standoff in the Wild West was at the O.K. Corral. (18m47s)

The Death of Billy the Kid

• Contrary to the belief that food in the Old West was limited to pork and beans, boom towns and cattle towns offered fine dining, including oyster saloons in Dodge City during the 1870s. Cowboys on cattle drives had access to fresh beef and stored foods like beans, flour, and cornbread. (19m3s)

Food in the Old West

• Wild Bill Hickok was known for his distinctive appearance and style, but Doc Holliday, a dentist and heavy drinker who saved Wyatt Earp's life, is considered a more intriguing figure. (20m4s)

Wild Bill Hickok and Doc Holliday

• Saloons in the Wild West offered various activities beyond drinking, such as dining, reading, and gambling. Some saloons had lunch counters, and establishments like the Oriental in Tombstone featured luxurious decor. Prostitution was common, and Wyatt Earp worked as a bouncer and possibly a pimp in a brothel in Peoria, Illinois. (20m39s)

Activities in Old West Saloons

• There were multiple individuals known as "Billy the Kid," including one in Tombstone, Arizona, during the time of the O.K. Corral. The name was a common nickname among outlaws. (21m45s)

Multiple "Billy the Kids"

• James was very superstitious and claimed to see a ball of light, which he considered an omen of significant events. He reportedly saw this light before the Northfield raid, where his gang was defeated, and before his assassination by the Ford Brothers. (22m14s)

Jesse James' Superstitions

• The iconic swinging saloon doors often associated with the Old West are likely a Hollywood invention, as historical photographs typically show regular doors. These doors were convenient for filmmakers to depict characters entering and exiting. (22m35s)

Swinging Saloon Doors: Fact or Fiction?

• Some figures from the Old West participated in early Hollywood films, serving as advisors and even appearing in background scenes. (23m10s)

Old West Figures in Early Hollywood

• Various Native American tribes were formidable opponents to the U.S. government, including the Apaches in the southwest, the Cheyenne and Arapaho on the central plains, the Comanche in Texas and the Southern Plains, and the Crow and Lakota on the Northern Plains. The Crow allied with the U.S. military, while leaders like Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull resisted treaties, leading to conflicts with figures like George Armstrong Custer. (23m29s)

Native American Resistance

• The defeat of Custer's troops at the Battle of Little Bighorn was due to strategic errors by Custer, who divided his regiment into three battalions. This allowed the Native American forces, who were defending their village and families, to attack the divided troops piecemeal, ultimately leading to the decimation of Custer's forces and his death at what is now known as Last Stand Hill. (24m20s)

The Battle of Little Bighorn

• Navajo blankets, known for their tight weave and craftsmanship, have been made since the 1600s, with the Navajo learning the skill from the Pueblo Indians. They eventually raised their own sheep for wool, creating an industry that continues today. (25m55s)

Navajo Blankets

• The North American Plains Indians were part of a global market economy, trading buffalo robes for items like glass beads from Italy, brass kettles, and firearms, indicating their integration into worldwide trade networks. (26m31s)

Global Trade Networks

• The Old West is considered to have started at various points, including the Lewis and Clark expedition (1803-1806), which explored the Louisiana Purchase and introduced indigenous populations to the United States. (26m59s)

The Beginning of the Old West

• Another significant event marking the beginning of the Old West is the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, through which the United States acquired the American Southwest from Mexico. (27m40s)

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• The end of the Civil War and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad are also seen as pivotal moments in the history of the Old West, facilitating migration and embodying the concept of Manifest Destiny. (28m1s)