Cattle War Sculptures
South edge of downtown Buffalo on Main Street

Plaques

Living on the Edge
Sculptor: D. Michael Thomas
An independent cowboy, or small rancher, brands a calf on the open range. Surprised at his work, he turns to see a rider from a large cattle outfit galloping threateningly toward him.

Small ranchers, like this cowboy, rode south from Buffalo on the morning of April 11, 1892, to confront “The Invaders” at the TA Ranch. Sheriff Red Angus, citizens of Buffalo, and small ranchers laid siege to the gunmen. Three days later, troops from Fort McKinney, near Buffalo, arrived on the scene. The invaders surrendered and were escorted to the fort, then sent to Cheyenne. They were never brought to trial.

Ridin’ for the Brand
Sculptor: D. Michael Thomas
In the late 1800s, independent Johnson County ranchers began branding calves before the spring and fall roundups. The practice angered larger ranchers of the day, who resented this infringement on the open range. So began the Johnson County Cattle War.

The conflict peaked on April 6, 1892, when a group of large ranchers and hired guns rode north from Casper toward Buffalo, “the invaders” carried with them a black list of alleged rustlers, two of whom they killed near present day Kaycee. On April 10th they fortified and spent the night at the TA Ranch 13 miles south of Buffalo. The stage was set for one of the most notable confrontations in frontier history.

This bronze portrays a rider for one of the big outfits challenging a homesteader branding a “maverick” calf.