A tale of Texas range warfare

Ozona—Out in the rugged, rolling hills of Edwards County Texas during the late 19th century, a dramatic chapter erupted that epitomized the struggles over land and livestock in post-Civil War America. This story revolves around the growing tensions between cattle ranchers and sheep herders, culminating in an event known as the "Battle of Green Lake." Here, we examine the socio-economic dynamics, the clash of old and new practices, and the human stories that led to and followed this notorious confrontation.

By the mid-1870s, Texas was transitioning from the turmoil of reconstruction back to state governance under Democratic leadership. The economic landscape was dominated by agriculture, particularly the livestock industry, which was experiencing rapid growth. Cattle drives along routes to the railheads in Kansas and Chicago, like the Great Western and the Goodnight-Loving cattle trails, had become economic lifelines. However, the introduction of sheep into these vast rangelands introduced new and prickly tensions. Sheep, requiring more care and herders, were seen by cattle ranchers as competitors for the same grazing lands, aggravating ongoing conflicts.

As Texas moved toward privatization or fencing of its vast public lands, figures like Captain Charles Schreiner, Confederate veteran William Leslie Black, and Boston investor W.P. Wentworth began amassing large tracts of land. This transition from open range to fenced land was pivotal. The advent of barbed wire, patented by Joseph F. Glidden in 1873, revolutionized land ownership but also sparked significant disputes. Land barons could now control vast areas, but this often came at the expense of smaller operators and public access.

The act of fence cutting became a form of protest against the rapid fencing of the range. It was not just about access to land or water but also represented a broader resistance to change. Groups like the "North and South Llano Fence Cutters Association" emerged, often accused of being backed by those who opposed the large landowners' domination of the range. These nocturnal operations led to considerable damage with losses estimated at $20 million dollars by 1883.

Amidst this backdrop, the Greer brothers, Green Berry and William Joseph, homesteaded at Green Lake, a vital water source. Their decision to fence this area during a drought sparked direct conflict with cattlemen who relied on the lake for their herds. The tension boiled over in October 1883 when their fence was cut, leading to a series of confrontations.

The climax came on July 29, 1884, when tensions erupted into gunfire. The Greer brothers, supported by Texas Rangers, faced off against local cattlemen led by Mark Hemphill. The Rangers, under Corporal Philip C. Baird, had been dispatched to quell the fence cutting, leading to a dramatic shootout where one of the fence cutters, John Bailey (alias John Mason), was killed, and Ranger W.W. Baker was wounded.

In the immediate aftermath, legal actions were initiated against the shootout survivors. However, the legal outcomes were surprisingly lenient, perhaps due to the widespread sympathy for the plight of small ranchers and the lawlessness of the time. The Greer brothers were eventually given the legal right to carry arms, symbolizing their protection under the law against further aggression. 

The incident at Green Lake was emblematic of the broader changes in Texas. The drought that plagued the region highlighted the fragility of the cattle industry, while the introduction of sheep and the fencing of land signaled a shift towards more controlled and sustainable land use practices. The transition from open range to fenced ranches changed the physical landscape and the social structure, moving from a community-based grazing system to individual land ownership.

Though a minor skirmish in the grand scope of American history, the Battle of Green Lake reflects deep-seated issues of territory, resource control, and the clash between old customs and new laws. The Greer brothers' persistence and the involvement of the Texas Rangers illustrate the complex interplay of law enforcement, local justice, and the struggle for economic survival on a rapidly changing frontier.

Today, the story of Green Lake serves as a historical lesson on the challenges of land management and community relations. It's a reminder of how quickly economic interests can escalate into violence, and how the law, often slow to address changing societal shifts, must adapt to maintain order and justice in evolving landscapes. The descendants of the Greer brothers, still owning land at Green Lake, continue to remind us of a time when Texas was not just a state but a battleground for its very identity.