Sioux Success, Against All Odds

Sioux Success, Against All Odds

On May 28, 1868, during a U.S. Congress floor debate about an Indian appropriation bill, Montana Territory representative James M. Cavanaugh remarked, “…I will say that I like an Indian better dead than living.” On October 27, 1895, The New York Times reminded...
Conflict on the Range

Conflict on the Range

You wouldn’t know it today when you drive across Colorado and Wyoming, seeing cattle grazing with sheep herds nearby, that a century ago such juxtaposition was not only unusual, but, in many cases, very, very unwelcome—sometimes deadly. Range wars flared up for a...
Face-Off on Facebook

Face-Off on Facebook

Readers sounded off on their favorite museums on our Facebook page-—that’s right, we may be Old West maniacs, but we’re at least social-media-savvy Old West maniacs. Apparently, a lot of our “friends” agreed with our picks this year. The National Cowboy & Western...
Tragic Fight on the Devil’s Backbone

Tragic Fight on the Devil’s Backbone

January 11, 1886 Captain Emmet Crawford is on the brink of victory. Yesterday, his punitive raiding party of three officers, one medic, one interpreter and 77 Apache scouts completely surprised and captured  all the provisions and horses of Geronimo’s stronghold at a...
Was Geronimo a Terrorist?

Was Geronimo a Terrorist?

Geronimo. It is a warrior name for the ages—standing comfortably alongside the likes of Achilles, Leonidas, Genghis Khan, Patton and Rommel in its power—a storied name invoking cunning, courage, tenacity and uncompromising ferocity. On the territories of New Mexico...