Stories left behind tell the history of a culture
After the Civil War, the West received a large increase in population. At the same time, the demand for beef in the East and thus the cattle industry was born.
It took a lot of men to work the herds that were trailed to the railheads for shipment back East.
As a result, these “cowboys” spent months on the trail, but they still needed to eat. A Texas pioneer rancher, Charles Goodnight, has the distinction of inventing the Chuck Wagon. And the boss of the Chuck Wagon was “The ol’ camp cook!”
Stories we have read, or movies and TV shows about the cattle drives usually depict the chuck wagon cook as a gruff and cantankerous sort. He was second in command to the trail boss and demanded the respect of the men. Even the trail boss was careful not to rile him.
The cook was the most important member of the crew and as a result, he was paid more than the others. The men on the cattle drive crew depended on the cook to provide their meals, but he was also the doctor, dentist, banker, barber, as well as mediator for settling dispute among the crew. Also, he was expected to make coffee so strong that it would float a horseshoe.
The crew knew they’d best not get crossways with the cook if they planned to eat well!
The camp cook was normally called “Cookie” or sometimes “Coosie” which was short for the Mexican term Cocinera. His duties included setting up and breaking down camp.
He would start the cookfire and have a meal prepared when the trail crew reached camp. His last chore before turning in for the night was to point the wagon tongue north which was used as a reference for directing the herd next morning.
His first job of the day was to rise early enough to have coffee, strong and hot, and breakfast started as the crew rolled out of their bedrolls before dawn. Cookie insisted on certain behaviors in his domain at the chuck wagon.
One did not ride up wind of the wagon because that could stir up dust that would get into the food. There would be no scuffling in the vicinity of the chuck wagon for obvious reasons. No one ate until Cookie sang out “Come an’ get it!”
No one took the last serving unless they were the last one to eat and when you finished your meal, you scraped your plate and put it in the “wreck pan.”
If you got up to refill your coffee cup and someone yells, “Man at the pot!” it fell your duty to refill everyone’s cup. Cowboys went out of their way to stay on the chuckwagon camp cook’s good side because they depended on him in so many ways.
The Ol’ Camp Cook
He was a cantankerous ol’ cuss,
Would give you the “look!”
For nothing at all, he’d put up a fuss,
But Mister, he could cook!
Now the boys give him plenty of room,
His cook space was taboo,
Kickin’ up a dust would be certain doom,
An’ I’m tellin’ you true!
Yeah, he was as onery as a dang mule,
So you best just leave him alone,
In cow country that’s sort of an unwritten rule,
Mister, that’s how camp cooks are known
So the fellers give him plenty of space,
Tried not to rile him none,
You see, a good cook is hard to replace,
Best we take care of this one.
‘Cuz as sour as he was he shore could cook,
For hurts, he had a doctorin’ kit,
An’ at funerals an’ Sundays he’d read from the Book,
Need advice?, he’d give it.
He could whip up a batch of biscuits an’ scorch a steak,
His dried apple pie was the best,
But when he cooked chili, make no mistake,
It topped ‘em all from east to west.
He’d chunk up his meat, an’ sear it plumb thru,
Some canned termaters as you should,
Onions an’ garlic with Chili Pequins too,
His chili was lip smackin’ good!
Hold on there, what about the beans you say,
He could boil them by the pot!
An’ mighty good they were, but in chili…NO WAY!
In Texas, that’s how we are taught!
When he hollers, “come an’ get it,” don’t be slow,
Get there by hook or crook,
Elbow in!... He might beller at you though,
He’s crusty, but Mister, he shore can cook!
© Jim Cathey
If you are in the neighborhood Sunday, drop by the First Baptist Church on Coleman Street here in Marlin. Pastor Chip preaches a whole lot better than that cantankerous ol’ Camp Cook!
God Bless each one of you and God Bless America!