Fiction: Jaudon – An American Family (a novel) [5]

Click image for more of the saga

Chapter 5. Guadalupe River

By the time the U.S. Army decided to address the Indian problem, the 200-300 Comanches had stolen a reported 3,100 head of cattle in New Mexico. Many had been stolen from Mexicans and were never reported, so the count could be much higher. But there is no way of telling how many cattle crossed the Texas border.

Fiction: Jaudon – An American Family (a novel) [4]

Click image for more of the saga

Chapter 4. San Antonio

1866. On March 13, the United States Congress overwhelmingly passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the first federal legislation to protect the rights of African-Americans.
    On March 27, U.S. President Andrew Johnson vetoes the bill.
    On April 9, Congress overrides the veto.
    That year, the first big cattle drive takes place over the Chisholm Trail. Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving round up wild longhorn cattle and, with other ranchers, drive them to Kansas.

The Jaudon party rode into San Antonio with high expectations. James and Rafael led the wagon this time and were prepared for trouble. This was their last stop before heading into the backcountry.