A hot wind blows constantly across these plains and dust devils swirl red dirt circles across the roads. It lays the wheat down in long patterns and snaps the flags straight out.
We took a walk around Fort Hays today. It was established in 1865. For a while the town of Hays was the “Most lawless town on the frontier.” Fifty men rest in Boot Hill…some of them gunned down by “Wild Bill Hickock” who served for a time as a local law officer.
At various times Fort Hays served as home to the 7th U.S. Cavalry commanded by George A. Custer and the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry regiments. And while serving as an army scout the famous “Buffalo Bill Cody” spent time at the fort.
History is not just a story…Today we walked where the famous men in those ‘stories’ walked. I wonder if the dust got in their eyes and the constant wind on their nerves…the way it did mine?
A tiny herd of Buffalo, across from the fort, represents the once enormous herds of these great beasts that covered this land. Mama was NOT pleased I was so close…she’s moving her youngster.