Wild West Podcast
Welcome to the Wild West podcast, where fact and legend merge. We present the true accounts of individuals who settled in towns built out of hunger for money, regulated by fast guns, who walked on both sides of the law, patrolling, investing in, and regulating the brothels, saloons, and gambling houses. These are stories of the men who made the history of the Old West come alive - bringing with them the birth of legends, brought to order by a six-gun and laid to rest with their boots on. Join us as we take you back in history to the legends of the Wild West. You can support our show by subscribing to Exclusive access to premium content at Wild West Podcast + https://www.buzzsprout.com/64094/subscribe or just buy us a cup of coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/wildwestpodcast
Wild West Podcast
When Indians Attacked: The True Story That Inspired Lonesome Dove
The forgotten heroes who shaped the American West emerge through the harrowing tale of the 1867 cattle drive that would later inspire the beloved "Lonesome Dove" narrative. As northeastern cities expanded in the 19th century, feeding their growing populations became increasingly problematic. The solution came in the form of the Long Drive—an economic revolution where small teams of cowboys moved massive herds of Texas longhorns over 600 miles to Kansas railheads, creating the foundation for a national food market.
Behind this economic transformation were extraordinary individuals whose courage defined the frontier spirit. When Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving embarked on their second cattle drive in 1867, they faced challenges that modern Americans can hardly comprehend—from stampedes during electrical storms to deadly encounters with indigenous warriors. African American cowboy Bose Ickard emerged as "one of the best night riders" in Goodnight's crew, demonstrating remarkable skill during a dangerous nighttime stampede. His cautious response—"I wasn't certain who had this herd till I saw you. I thought maybe the Indians had them"—reveals the constant vigilance required on these perilous journeys.
The centerpiece of this episode recounts the fateful decision that would claim Oliver Loving's life. Against Goodnight's advice, Loving rode ahead to secure a business contract at Fort Sumner, accompanied only by the remarkable "One-Armed Bill" Wilson. Their subsequent battle with over a hundred Indians, Wilson's miraculous escape swimming down the Pecos River, and Loving's tragic death reveal the extraordinary human cost behind the economic development of the West. Perhaps most compelling is how these historical events inspired fictional characters like Joshua Deets in "Lonesome Dove," based on the real-life Bose Ickard—a testament to how African American cowboys found respect in communities that valued skill over race. Join us as we reclaim these overlooked stories and discover how the American West has always been more diverse than popular culture suggests. Subscribe to our podcast for more untold tales that shaped our nation's history!
"Edward Masterson and the Texas Cowboys," penned by Michael King, takes readers on an exhilarating ride through the American West, focusing on the lively and gritty cattle town of Dodge City, Kansas. This thrilling dime novel plunges into the action-packed year of Ed Masterson's life as a lawman, set against the backdrop of the chaotic cattle trade, filled with fierce conflicts, shifting loyalties, and rampant lawlessness. You can order the book on Amazon.
