Major Wolcott’s List
Major Wolcott’s List Firearms Used in the Johnson County, Wyoming, Cattle War of 1892
Major Wolcott’s List has embarked on a journey spanning many years. William N. Hockett delved into the history of the Johnson County War in the 1970s, prompted by a gift from his parents—the Time-Life Old West series’ volume titled “The Gunfighters.” In 1990, while serving in the US Air Force at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, South Dakota, Hockett’s proximity to the event’s locale fueled his interest in regional history. He immersed himself in Helena Huntington Smith’s “The War on Powder River,” gaining deeper insights into the conflict.
Living near Hockett in Rapid City was Keith Cochran, a renowned author and authority on regional history and Colt Single Action Army firearms. In one of Cochran’s books, he referenced the Johnson County War and provided serial numbers of Colt revolvers seized from the invaders. Unfortunately, Cochran passed away in March 1995, leaving unanswered questions about the sources of his information.
Years later, Hockett discovered that author Robert A. Murray had unearthed documents related to the Johnson County War while researching the frontier army in Wyoming’s National Archives record group 98. These documents, including a list of firearms surrendered by the invaders, shed new light on the conflict. Murray published this list in a 1967 issue of Shooting Times magazine, titled “The Arms of Wyoming’s Cattle War.”
The list, organized by owners’ names without analysis or context, presented a valuable research opportunity for Hockett, an antique firearms collector. His aim became to publish the list in a manner accessible to collectors and historians, enhancing understanding of the invasion and the weapons involved. Hockett also sought to facilitate retrieval of information from the list by owner’s name or firearm make, model, and serial number, potentially aiding collectors in identifying historical artifacts. Throughout his research for this book, Hockett consulted Winchester records housed in the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historic Center. He anticipates that this project will evolve over time as new information surfaces, remaining open to revising and expanding the book accordingly.
Major Wolcott’s List
Major Wolcott’s List Firearms Used in the Johnson County, Wyoming, Cattle War of 1892
Major Wolcott’s List has embarked on a journey spanning many years. William N. Hockett delved into the history of the Johnson County War in the 1970s, prompted by a gift from his parents—the Time-Life Old West series’ volume titled “The Gunfighters.” In 1990, while serving in the US Air Force at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, South Dakota, Hockett’s proximity to the event’s locale fueled his interest in regional history. He immersed himself in Helena Huntington Smith’s “The War on Powder River,” gaining deeper insights into the conflict.
Living near Hockett in Rapid City was Keith Cochran, a renowned author and authority on regional history and Colt Single Action Army firearms. In one of Cochran’s books, he referenced the Johnson County War and provided serial numbers of Colt revolvers seized from the invaders. Unfortunately, Cochran passed away in March 1995, leaving unanswered questions about the sources of his information.
Years later, Hockett discovered that author Robert A. Murray had unearthed documents related to the Johnson County War while researching the frontier army in Wyoming’s National Archives record group 98. These documents, including a list of firearms surrendered by the invaders, shed new light on the conflict. Murray published this list in a 1967 issue of Shooting Times magazine, titled “The Arms of Wyoming’s Cattle War.”
The list, organized by owners’ names without analysis or context, presented a valuable research opportunity for Hockett, an antique firearms collector. His aim became to publish the list in a manner accessible to collectors and historians, enhancing understanding of the invasion and the weapons involved. Hockett also sought to facilitate retrieval of information from the list by owner’s name or firearm make, model, and serial number, potentially aiding collectors in identifying historical artifacts. Throughout his research for this book, Hockett consulted Winchester records housed in the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historic Center. He anticipates that this project will evolve over time as new information surfaces, remaining open to revising and expanding the book accordingly.