EDUCATORS ’ PERSPECTIVE
Wild West Finance : The Johnson County Range War ( Part 3 )
By Brian Grinder and Dan Cooper
The Johnson County Range War erupted in the spring of 1892 when tensions between large cattle ranchers and small struggling homesteaders came to a head . Investors from the East Coast and Europe poured money into open range cattle ranches because of the promise of riskless but substantial returns . These investors soon learned the timeless lesson that a “ sure thing ” almost always disappoints . The brutal winter of 1886 – 1887 coupled with overgrazing on the open range took the wind out of their sails , and many withdrew from the cattle industry after “ The Great Die-up .”
The actions of homesteaders and rustlers in Johnson County led members of the Wyoming Stock Grower ’ s Association to embark on an ill-advised secret invasion of Buffalo where they planned to eliminate all opposition — real or imagined . However , bad weather along with an ill-advised decision to pause near Kaycee and shoot it out with Johnson County rebel Nate Champion ruined any chances of a surprise attack against the good citizens of Buffalo . Trapped at the TA Ranch 14 miles south of Buffalo and surrounded by hundreds of angry Johnson County residents led by Sheriff Red Angus , the invaders finally came to the realization that they were in grave danger .
The invaders ’ three well-stocked supply wagons had fallen behind the main group and were soon captured by Johnson County defenders . To their delight , they found food , provisions and ammunition , along with two cases of dynamite . Despite the loss of their supply wagons , the wellarmed invaders dug in to defend the TA Ranch house and the surrounding environs . As night fell , they took stock of their situation and realized that they needed help , but the telegraph line was down , and they were surrounded .
Davis reports that , “ A young man named Dowling stepped forward and offered to
An insurrection exists in Johnson County in the State of Wyoming , in the immediate vicinity of Fort McKinney , against the government of said state . The legislature is not in session and cannot be convened in time to afford any relief whatever or to take any action thereon . Open hostilities exist and large bodies of armed men are engaged in battle . A company of state militia is located at the city of Buffalo near the scene of said action , but its continued presence in that city is absolutely required for the purpose of protecting life and property therein . The scene of action is 125 miles from the nearest railroad point from which other portions of the state militia could be sent . No relief can be afforded by the state militia and the civil authorities are wholly unable to afford any relief whatever . United States troops are located at Fort McKinney , which is 13 miles from the scene of action , which is known as the TA Ranch . I apply to you on behalf of the state of Wyoming to direct the United States troops at Fort McKinney to assist in suppressing this insurrection . Lives of a large number of persons are in imminent danger .
— Ambiguously worded telegram from Acting Governor Amos Barber to President Benjamin Harrison , April 12 , 1892
try to get through the lines around the ranch to Buffalo .” Dowling made it to Buffalo , but since the telegraph line was still down , he was forced to ride more than 100 miles south to Douglas where he was able to wire Governor Barber .
Meanwhile back at the ranch , the number of defenders continued to grow as people from as far away as Sheridan made their way to the TA Ranch . No one thought it was wise to storm the well-armed , welldefended position of the regulators , and although frequent gunfire erupted , neither party made much progress . On the second night , the cattlemen and their hired Texas gunmen considered a breakout attempt but decided against it since the moon was shining bright . The next morning , Johnson County defenders modified one of the captured supply wagons and loaded it with the captured dynamite . The idea was to push the wagon , dubbed the “ ark of safety ” or the “ go-devil ,” as close as possible to the ranch house and detonate it .
In the meantime , Governor Barber finally received news of the invaders ’ precarious condition and sent several unanswered telegrams to President Benjamin Harrison . In desperation , he telegraphed Wyoming Senators Carey and Warren . Warren , a friend of Harrison , went to the White House with Carey and Assistant War Secretary Lewis Grant in the middle of the night and urged the President to act immediately . In response , Harrison telegrammed an order to send federal troops to rescue the hapless raiders .
He then telegraphed Barber , informing him , “ I have , in compliance with your call for aid of the United States forces to protect the state of Wyoming against domestic violence , ordered the Secretary of War to concentrate a sufficient force at the scene of the disturbance …”
“ The rest ,” writes Smith , “ was like the ending of a B-grade motion picture …” US Cavalry troops from Fort McKinney arrived early the next morning and
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