On the morning on March 10th, 1856, a long caravan of two-wheeled careta’s pulled by oxen began moving south down the dusty road towards Tubac. The...
Bill Kirkland
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Articles
What did Cowboys Carry Behind Their Saddles?
What did cowboys carry behind their saddles? Zane Green Braintree, Essex, England Depending on the weather, cowboys usually carried a slicker or a...
The Forgotten Vendetta Rider
His name was O.C. “Harelip Charlie” Smith, and he may be the least known member of Wyatt Earp’s Vendetta Ride. But the Connecticut native—nicknamed...
Arizona’s Battle of Bull Run
When war broke out with Mexico in 1846 the prize the United States hoped to gain was California. To accomplish the mission the Army of the West was...
Buckaroo Country
Back in the 1920s, renowned Western artist Charles M. Russell, who knew a thing or two about cowboys and how cowboying got started, noted, “Texas...
Theodore Roosevelt’s Embellishments
Did Theodore Roosevelt embellish or, heaven forbid, concoct some of his exploits while ranching in North Dakota’s badlands during the 1880s? Author,...
A Rose by Any Other Name
Just what did folks call Wyatt Earp’s third wife, Sarah Josephine Marcus Earp? The movies suggest that everyone referred to her as Josie. But...
Found: Trumpeter Martin’s Carbine?
"Benteen...Come on. Big Village, Be quick, Bring Packs. P.S. Bring Pack. W. W. Cook.” This eerie last message, written by Lt. William W. Cooke on...
Building Your Western Library: Steve Friesen
Steve Friesen recently retired after 22 years as director of the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. He is the author of Buffalo Bill: Scout, Showman,...
A Pall to Bear
So the question is: Did Wyatt Earp need pallbearers at his funeral in 1929? After all, his remains were cremated. It wouldn’t take six men to carry...
A Rash Decision
Matt Rash came to Colorado’s Brown’s Park in the 1890s to start his own ranch. It ended up costing him his life. Rash ran afoul of Ora Haley, a...
Washington Steps in–Almost
Things were way out of hand in Cochise County, Arizona Territory in early 1882. Morgan Earp was assassinated by unknown gunmen while playing pool...