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!

Transcript

The Long Drive's Texas Origins

Speaker 1 0:17

During the 1800s, feeding the expanding northeastern cities became increasingly problematic. The expanding northeastern cities became increasingly problematic, with little room to preserve cattle on the Texas plains. The Long Drive emerged to market cattle in the north After Joseph McCoy established a railhead market in Abilene, kansas. The Long Drives began in Texas where cattle roamed freely. Cowboys put together large herds of about 2,500 longhorns to escort or drive cattle over 600 miles to the railheads in Kansas. As the quarantine lines began to change over the years due to tick fever, so did the growth of the railroads, which started to expand into the interior parts of the country during the development of industrialization. This expansion created the foundation for a provocation toward an integrated national food market. Due to the overabundance of cattle in Texas, the price was low. Cattle ranchers in Texas found that the cost would increase considerably if drivers could transport the cattle to Kansas or Missouri. The need for higher-priced cattle in the north spurred cattle drives on multiple trails beginning in the 1860s to the 1890s, where groups of 12 to 15 men transported cattle to the railheads in Kansas. It could take 15 men up to three months to move a typical herd of 2,500 head of cattle to the railroads. The work of driving cattle was demanding and devitalizing. Those who worked in this industry came to this work for various reasons. The second trip up the trail in 1867 was fraught with more hardships than the first 1866 journey, and it was about this trip that Goodnight later made his first mention of Boe Sickard, after an encounter with Indians that resulted in an arrow in the neck of one of the cowboys. A terrific storm blew up on Texas plains above the clear fork of the Brazos River. Some of the herd stampeded, running around the slowly moving main herd. Substantial winds blew and by one o'clock in the morning all that could be seen through the blackness was electricity shimmering in the horse's ears. Bose Ickard, considered one of the best night riders that ever worked for Goodnight, drifted with the herd through the stormy night. Toward morning the herd began to settle and Goodnight headed to camp to wake the cook At first light. The herd again stampeded, heading straight for the camp.

Speaker 1 3:08

Goodnight told the following story to J Evitz Haley. By this time it was light enough to see. I kept going up the side of the cattle as fast as possible, wondering why Bose had not turned the front. When I had almost caught up with him, he looked back and saw me and immediately his horse shot out like lightning and he threw the leaders around. After we got them circled I asked him why he had not turned them sooner. I tell you, sir, answered the cautious Bose. I wasn't certain who had this herd till I saw you. I thought maybe the Indians had them.

Loving's Fateful Decision

Speaker 1 3:48

Other encounters with peril continued to haunt the 1867 trip up the trail. In late July, when they got underway on the Pecos Trail to Fort Sumner, loving became apprehensive about others beating them to the fort where they had only an oral agreement with one contractor. Loving suggested that he go ahead and beat the competition. Goodnight tried to dissuade him. He told Loving that the risk of Indian attacks was a danger in the area. Loving tells Goodnight he had decided to ride ahead to forego the herd's late arrival some 250 miles south of Fort Sumner. Loving continues to disagree and after much deliberation of the dangers involved, goodnight finally consents to the plan.

Speaker 1 4:36

Loving departs accompanied by the brave and lucid pioneer of the American West, WJ One-Armed Bill Wilson. The following is WJ Wilson's account of how he was asked to accompany Loving on the trip to Fort Sumner. When I returned from this cow hunt, mr Loving asked me to go to Fort Sumner, new Mexico, with him. We had a verbal contract with the people who were feeding the Indians there and we wanted to hold that contract. The distance to Fort Sumner was about 250 miles and we were supposed to travel at night to lay up in the daytime so the Indians would not attack us. The two travel by night for the first few days, but Loving, 55 years old, becomes unwavering by acknowledging business comes first, resolving to cover more ground and thwarting the potential dangers of horse riding during the day.

Speaker 1 5:37

The two lone cowboys proceed by daylight transit into New Mexico and come to the crossroads of the Black River where it flows from the west to join the Pecos. They are, however, on the west side of the Pecos River. After relaxing and refreshing the horses and themselves on the Black River, they move north to Fort Sumner. Late in the afternoon of the third day a party of Indians is encountered to the west. They reined their horses to the east for the crude cover bastion of the river and down the steep bank of a bluff. While the band of Indians was charging, wilson and Loving dismounted from their horses and extracted the guns and saddlebags.

Speaker 1 6:23

Wj Wilson provides a narrative of the Indian encounter. As we neared this mountain we discovered several Indians. They saw us about the same time and we knew we were in for trouble. Well, we reached the river all right, and I picked out a little mound next to the river where I could see all around me. Trouble. We reached the river alright, and I picked out a little mound next to the river where I could see all around me, except one little spot where the polecat brush had grown about three feet high and that brush obscured my view of the river for a distance of about 100 yards. I told Mr Loving if he would stay down at that little clump of bushes and keep the Indians from crawling up on us from the river. I would keep them off from above.

Wilson and Loving's Indian Encounter

Speaker 1 7:06

These Indians had increased their numbers until there was over a hundred of the red rascals, I think. They had been hunting south of the river and were going back to their old ground. Instantly, at least four of their horses are seized by the Indians. Then, noticing they are outnumbered, they take shelter in a small cut bank cave at the bluff side, just off the river's edge. Wilson quickly shoots one or two Indians. After a short volley of fire from their concealment, the two cowboys, while downing a few Indians detect a lull in the skirmish, loving and Wilson look out from the cave and glimpse the western plains parley. Sign To Loving's relief of detecting some peace between the warring factions, he stands up and reveals himself. A shot rings out from the unnoticed Indian, concealed from above the bluff. The bullet tears through Loving's left wrist, breaking the bone and blowing a large hole into his left side. The two duck back undercover to take refuge in their little fort where they anticipate a frontal attack from the band of Indians before them.

Speaker 1 8:17

With Loving wounded, the Indians directly endeavor to wriggle through the grass with lances at hand. As they both withdraw deeper into the confines of the cove, wilson upsets a rattlesnake and decides to retreat. Still, as fate would have it, the snake crawls toward Loving and Wilson and passes within several feet of them, both men remaining dormant. The snake eventually passes, for the good of everyone. The snake eventually passes for the good of everyone, including the snake. Loving is fearful that the wound on his side is fatal and in reality expands to a very high fever.

Speaker 1 8:56

The day progresses until the afternoon and the first indications of panic arrive. Loving feels an affliction from his side wound. They both feel the yearning to run and escape. The panic grows stronger into the evening as Wilson's faculties give way to emotions. Wilson, from Loving's condition worsening, springs up with bravery and decides to leave the confines of their makeshift stronghold. To treat Loving In the dark of night, wilson creeps to the river filling his boots with water and returns to cleanse Loving's face and bathe him. After much dispute, loving persuades Wilson to try to escape during the second night and, if possible, make his way to the trail and intercept Goodnight. It takes considerable persuasion for Wilson to leave Loving, but the boss succeeds. Wilson removes most, if not all, of his clothes and tries to swim with the rifle. Wilson advances in floating down the river a considerable distance away from the scene of the danger from the Indians. It becomes challenging for him to swim with his good arm and the remains of an arm earlier in life partially amputated. At one point he decides that he must dispose of the rifle and he positions its muzzle down into the bed of the Pecos River with its butt slightly under the surface.

Wilson's Miraculous Escape

Speaker 1 10:15

In the book Trail Drivers of Texas, wj Wilson writes the following narrative of his swim down the river after leaving Loving, leaving with him all my pistols and my rifle, I took his gun and, with a hand clasp, told him goodbye and started to the river. The river was quite sandy and difficult to swim in, so I had to pull off all my clothes except my hat, shirt and breeches. The gun nearly drowned me and I decided to get along without it. So I got out and leaned it up against the bank of the river under the water, where the Indians would not find it. Then I went down the river about a hundred yards and saw an Indian sitting on his horse out of the river with the water almost over the horse's back. He was sitting there splashing the water with his foot, just playing. I got under some smart weeds and drifted by until I got far enough below the Indian where I could get out.

Speaker 1 11:22

Wilson's escape to safety is a miraculous story of the American West. On his escape trip he finds a teepee pole to aid in walking. William Hagen tells us in his book entitled Charles Goodnight that for three days the barefoot Wilson was reminded that everything in that country has stickers on it. On the last night of this painful journey, wolves followed him. They would awaken him whenever he attempted to rest, snapping and snarling. When he reached the route the herd must follow, he found a sort of cave and waited until Goodnight and the cowboys came within hailing distance of the grotesque figure he presented, starved, sunburned and barefooted. It takes water and food to get Wilson far enough in recovery to make sense of his description of the fight and escape. But Goodnight is soon able to get the details and a location description. Wilson is laced in one of the wagons to speed his recovery and Goodnight and several cowboys make their way to the fight scene. The Indians are gone and Loving is nowhere to be discovered.

Speaker 1 12:41

Following Wilson's portrayal of his getaway through the river, goodnight can retrieve some of their clothes, his pocket knife and Loving's Henry rifle. Meanwhile Loving's fever had subsided and it appears that the wound in his side is not as mortal as he initially thought, and he makes his way to the river during the cover of darkness of the fourth night. He later remarks that possibly the Indians had departed the scene having become impatient, as they were known to be, or have thought they had killed both occupants of the little cave fort. For several days he travels, leaving his forearm broken and nothing to eat. But he successfully assembles a fire late one afternoon, roasts his leather gloves and chews them for the remaining juices, roasts his leather gloves and chews them for the remaining juices. He makes it an acceptable distance to cross a trail, encounters a group of Mexican farmers and agrees to pay them several hundred dollars if they transport him to Fort Sumner. He arrives and the army immediately begins healing his wounds.

Speaker 1 13:44

The older chief surgeon of the army is away on medical business in Las Vegas and the youngest, post-surgeon, manages Mr Loving's wounds as best as he can. The wound on his side is mending but the bullet wound in his broken left forearm has begun to cause blood poisoning. The broken bones are set but Loving's infection continues to worsen. Several days later, mr Goodnight and several cowboys arrive ahead of the herd Compelling. Solid assertions are made to the young surgeon to attempt amputation to save Loving's life. Finally persuaded, he performs the amputation. With his condition failing. Loving acknowledges he is dying and Goodnight knows it, with his condition failing. Loving acknowledges he is dying and Goodnight knows it. The two men strike an oral understanding for the partnership to be continued after his death until all obligations can be paid in full, and Goodnight keeps this agreement for the following two years. On September 25, 1867, oliver Loving passed. In February of 1868, loving's body was exhumed from a Fort Sumner grave and transported the 700 miles back to Weatherford, texas, for conclusive burial.

Reclaiming Black Cowboys' Legacy

Speaker 1 15:03

Records are unclear, but Bose-Ickard is thought to have been among the cowboys that accompanied Loving's body home. It is clear that the character of Joshua Dietz, played so well by Danny Glover in Lonesome Dove, was based on the real Bose-Ickard. This tale of the cowboy would only be complete by considering the prominent presence of African Americans on the long drives In cowboy crews and cattle towns. Black cowboys found themselves in admitting communities that esteemed skill over race. Recently, there has been an inspiration to reclaim and unveil the legacy of black cowboys within the American West. These efforts to reclaim an American lineage and diversify an American icon may help reveal that American history has always been and will always be multiracial.

Speaker 1 16:07

These stories about Nat Love and Bose-Ickard place the grandness of the West in a more expansive cultural arena. Stories about Nat Love and Bose-Ickard placed the grandness of the West in a more expansive cultural arena. As the West was resolved and formed, the exploits of these individuals became folklore and stunning stories about them were passed down to many a campfire. Over time, though, these legends have been overlooked. Now is the juncture to recall again the contributions of these vigilant and courageous African Americans. Nat Love was indeed an American hero, right along with Bo Sickard. We hope you enjoy these stories, mike, and I hope these stories will make you ask more questions about what transpired during the proliferation of the West and what influential roles other African Americans played.

Speaker 1 17:04

That's it for now. Remember to check out our Wild West podcast shows on iTunes or wildwestpodcastbuzzsproutcom. You can also catch us on Facebook at facebookcom slash wildwestpodcastbuzzsproutcom. You can also catch us on Facebook at facebookcom slash wildwestpodcast or on our YouTube channel at Wild West Podcast Mike King YouTube. So make sure you subscribe to our shows listed at the end of the description text of this podcast to receive notifications on all new episodes. Thanks for listening to our podcast and make sure you check out the Western Cattle Trail Association website at westerncattletrailassociationcom. If you have any comments or want to add to our series, please write us at wildwestpodcast at gmailcom. We will share your thoughts as they apply to future episodes. Join us next time as we dig deeper into the history of the.

Speaker 2 18:07

Cowtowns. I ride an old pain, I lead an old hand. I'm off for Montana for to throw the hula hand. They feed in the coolies, they water in the draw. Their tails are all matted and their backs are all raw. Ride around, little Oogie. Ride around, he'll score a wild shot.