Historical Perspective

One of the many hazards on a three month trail drive, with as many as 3000 or more cattle was a stampede. Something might frighten the skittish cattle and they would take off as one, running uncontrollably. Before they settled down they might be separated and spread over miles of prairie. Days of extra, time consuming work would be required to round them up. One of the ways to keep the cattle calm at night was intriguing. The drovers would keep two hour watches two at a time. The men would ride slowly in opposite directions, around the herd. As they did so, they would talk out loud, hum, and sing. The sound of the human voice seemed to have a calming effect on the cattle. The men might sing hymns, Civil War camp songs, dance hall ditties, etc. Some of the songs that would become part of America's historic cowboy lore were made up during these watches.

At daybreak, or before, the cowboys would rise, eat, secure a horse from the remuda, and begin their day. The riders of the "last watch" would also come in, eat, change horses, and begin the work of herding the cattle on.