Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving made a name for themselves, moving cattle from Texas, through New Mexico, and then onwards to Colorado and Wyoming. The trail they blazed to do so, named the Goodnight-Loving Trail, was created to supply beef for rations at Bosque Redondo.
The construction of the 1,000,000-acre Bosque Redondo Reservation and Fort Sumner, the military installation that guarded it, was authorized by Congress on October 31, 1862. General James Henry Carleton then had over 9,000 Navajo and Mescalero Apaches rounded up and relocated to the reservation on what became known as the Long Walk. Carleton justified the move by claiming that the Indians were raiding white settlements near their homelands.
The construction of the 1,000,000-acre Bosque Redondo Reservation and Fort Sumner, the military installation that guarded it, was authorized by Congress on October 31, 1862. General James Henry Carleton then had over 9,000 Navajo and Mescalero Apaches rounded up and relocated to the reservation on what became known as the Long Walk. Carleton justified the move by claiming that the Indians were raiding white settlements near their homelands.
Charles GoodnightThe intention in bringing the Apaches and Navajos to Bosque Redondo was to teach them modern farm practices that would make them self-sufficient. However, the lack of water and good soil provided poor conditions for agriculture, and it became clear that the government had not planned inadequately for the number of people who were brought to the reservation. Crop failures, drought, insect infestations and other issues caused severe food shortages. The demand for new food supplies became urgent.
In June of 1866, two Texas ranchers, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, saw an opportunity in Bosque Redondo’s terrible straits. They hired 18 cowboys, rounded up 2,000 head of longhorn cattle, and took the Butterfield Overland Mail Route to Horsehead Crossing, on the Pecos River. From there, they blazed a new cattle trail up the Pecos to Fort Sumner. There they were able to sell most of their animals for 8 cents a pound, earning the pair a $12,000 profit. Goodnight took the profit back to Texas and began buying cattle from John S. Chisum’s Concho River range for a second drive to Fort Sumner later that same summer.
In June of 1866, two Texas ranchers, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, saw an opportunity in Bosque Redondo’s terrible straits. They hired 18 cowboys, rounded up 2,000 head of longhorn cattle, and took the Butterfield Overland Mail Route to Horsehead Crossing, on the Pecos River. From there, they blazed a new cattle trail up the Pecos to Fort Sumner. There they were able to sell most of their animals for 8 cents a pound, earning the pair a $12,000 profit. Goodnight took the profit back to Texas and began buying cattle from John S. Chisum’s Concho River range for a second drive to Fort Sumner later that same summer.
Chief ConniacheWhile Goodnight headed east, Loving continued north from Fort Sumner up the Pecos to Las Vegas. He then followed the Santa Fe Trail to Raton Pass and around the base of the Rockies via Trinidad and Pueblo to Denver, Colorado.
When the drive reached the Raton Pass, they were stopped by a tollgate chain. Richens Lacey Wootton, often called “Uncle Dick” Wootton, an early mountain man, trapper, and hunter had moved on from Bent’s Fort in 1866, claimed the Raton Pass for himself, and hired a group of Utes under Chief Conniache to build a toll road through it. Later, Wootton sold the road to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad for $1, a monthly stipend and grocery money for his wife for the rest of her life.
When the drive reached the Raton Pass, they were stopped by a tollgate chain. Richens Lacey Wootton, often called “Uncle Dick” Wootton, an early mountain man, trapper, and hunter had moved on from Bent’s Fort in 1866, claimed the Raton Pass for himself, and hired a group of Utes under Chief Conniache to build a toll road through it. Later, Wootton sold the road to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad for $1, a monthly stipend and grocery money for his wife for the rest of her life.
Dick Wootton's home in Raton Pass
"Uncle Dick" WoottonLoving paid Wootton 10 cents per head, then drove the cattle through Trinidad, Pueblo, and on to Denver, where he sold them to cattleman John Wesley Iliff.
Another, similar drive in 1867 did not go as well. After a heavy storm and an attack by Comanches had scattered their herd, Loving rode ahead to Fort Sumner to let them know there would be delays. On the way, Loving was attacked by Comanches. He managed to escape, but was seriously injured. The Army surgeon at Fort Sumner advised Loving amputate the injure limb, but Loving refused. He died of gangrene on September 25, 1867. Goodnight continued the drive to Colorado. When he returned, he exhumed Loving’s body and returned it to Texas, as Loving had requested before his death.
Another, similar drive in 1867 did not go as well. After a heavy storm and an attack by Comanches had scattered their herd, Loving rode ahead to Fort Sumner to let them know there would be delays. On the way, Loving was attacked by Comanches. He managed to escape, but was seriously injured. The Army surgeon at Fort Sumner advised Loving amputate the injure limb, but Loving refused. He died of gangrene on September 25, 1867. Goodnight continued the drive to Colorado. When he returned, he exhumed Loving’s body and returned it to Texas, as Loving had requested before his death.
Oliver LovingBy 1869, it was obvious that Bosque Redondo was a failure. After the Navajos were freed to return to their native lands, Fort Sumner was abandoned. Lucien Maxwell, a rich rancher and cattle baron bought the fort. He rebuilt one of the officers' quarters into a 20-room house, which is Sheriff Pat Garrett shot and killed Billy the Kid on July 14, 1881.
Maxwell's house in Fort Sumner
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/goodnight-loving-trail
http://www.sangres.com/history/uncledick.htm#.YmBT9trMIak
http://www.sangres.com/history/uncledick.htm#.YmBT9trMIak
Jennifer Bohnhoff is a retired New Mexico history teacher who lives in the mountains of central New Mexico. Her next book, Where Duty Calls, is a historical novel for middle grade readers, and is set in New Mexico during the Civil War. It will be released by Kinkajou Press in June 2022 and is now available for preorder.
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