Many people wonder about the glory days of American cowboys, but what were the 1870s really like? Well, the job of moving large herds of cattle all across America was a challenging but rewarding task. One of the greatest jobs during this period was the Long Drive. The cowboys moved 2,000 longhorn cattle for nearly four months in a journey across America for adventures and a chance to get rich. Even though only one-third of cowboys wanted to repeat the Long Drive the following year, I would be glad to re-up because of adventures, free grasslands, and to prove that moving cattle was hard work. I believe that such a journey is a fantastic life-long experience and I would like to take this opportunity.
For me personally, the main reason is the sense of adventure. A four-month journey is physically demanding, but it allows riders to experience the beauty of American nature. Besides, it is possible to make life-long friendships with other cowboys during the Long Drive. After all, America is a land of opportunities, and the Long Drive is a fascinating experience in itself. Some people thrive on adventures instead of ordinary jobs, and I would be glad to re-up next year because of it.
The second reason concerns the lands and free grass for cattle. Many cowboys worried about the lack of food during the journey and thought that it was impossible to move cattle on such distances. However, the Indian territories provided a lot of free grass, making them, as reported by Baylis Fletcher, a “cowpuncher’s paradise”. In other words, no “angry men” would be mad at cows eating grass and crops. As a result, I would not have worried about the lack of food or spoiling the farmers’ territories and would have been glad to re-up the following year.
Lastly, the Long Drive was a chance to prove that it was a challenging job and demanded higher earnings. In the 1870s, American teachers earned $40 a month, while cowboys only earned $30. However, the Long Drive was a challenging task requiring courage, physical strength, and mental resolve. There were also countless risks and challenges, such as bad weather conditions, cattle branding, and potential food shortages. Despite the risks, the riders took the difficult job and moved the cattle across America. Therefore, I believe that cowboys should have had higher earnings in the 1870s, and the Long Drive is an opportunity to prove the difficulty of this job.
Summing up, the Long Drive is an excellent opportunity for adventure, visiting free grasslands, and proving the difficulties of the job. Making new friends on an adventure across America sounds like a fascinating experience, making me want to try the role of a cowboy in Long Drive. I also think that many risks, such as weather conditions or “angry men”, were not as scary as people described them. After all, a memorable adventure would have both ups and downs, which make it such a fantastic experience. As a result, moving cattle was a challenging but rewarding task, and I would like to re-up if I had the opportunity.