Empire Ranch Foundation

06/20/2026

BOUNTIFUL A Classic Western Flixwest was founded on a simple belief: audiences are still hungry for great American stories. We create and share films filled with drama, adventure, courage, humor, and hope—stories rooted in people, places, and values that have shaped this country. This is where you...

06/20/2026

Hislop’s Unhappiness—February 1877

Hislop was concerned about the Indians and the less than romantic hard work (2/25/1877): “Since last I wrote to you I have had far from pleasant times as the Indians have broken out again and run off all our neighbors' stock and killed several men. It is an awful country to live in, sometimes I feel quite disgusted with the whole affair, as really there is no safety for life or property. When one gets up in the morning he does not know whether he will be killed during the day or not by these murdering, plundering Apache Indians or Mexicans. At present I am glad to say they have left us and our stock alone but as we are in the midst of them, I suppose it is our turn next…”

Photo caption/credit: Empire Ranch vaqueros and their families, 1880s. ERF archives: A530-506a

06/19/2026

A huge thank you to Levi Pettigrew with Fox 10 for his Drone Zone episode on the Historic Empire Ranch. Levi, you are amazing!

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/video/fmc-20irf936xw24rzg1

06/19/2026

06/18/2026

Moving the Cattle to the Empire—February 1877

Vail describes the hardships of driving the cattle home (2/22/1877): “We were three days bringing the cattle from the San Pedro river to our ranch and a more miserable three days I never spent in my life it rained and snowed together most of the time which kept us wet to the skin which isn’t very pleasant. Then you have to stand guard over a herd of cattle half the night, and then have to roll up in wet blankets in a puddle of water. This is one of the few luxuries we have in this country, but notwithstanding the exposure I haven It had a cold for the last few months and in fact have never had a bad one since I have been in the Territory.”

Photo caption/credit: Empire Ranch cattle. ERF archives: A510-082a

06/18/2026

In around two decades, the original XIT ranch took a diverse, nondescript herd of Longhorn stock and built it into what became the largest herd of high-grade Herefords in Texas. That relentless commitment to quality and breed improvement set a standard for the entire region. Today, that same dedication drives our modern horse and cattle breeding programs.

06/18/2026

Patagonia Volunteer Fire Department is aware of the fire on Mt Wrightson. We have been advised that the Coronado National Forest is dispatching a helitanker to assist with suppression efforts.

Please avoid the area and allow emergency personnel to safely conduct operations. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Thank you for your support.

06/18/2026

Thursday, June 25th, 10:00 am to 11:00 am – at Tubac Presidio’s Old Schoolhouse – "Spain and the American Rev - Looking Back at State Secrets from 250 Years Later” a presentation by Phil Halpenny and Dan Judkins.

A fascinating part of history you may have never heard of before, including Anza collecting a “donativo” throughout New Mexico in support of the American Colonists, Franklin’s Glass Armonica musical instrument, Ben Franklin’s secret negotiations with Spain in Paris, many shiploads of military arms and equipment, and Bernardo de Gálvez.

🎟️Your $15 ticket includes all-day entrance into the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum.

🎟️Ticket link in comments.

06/18/2026

Cattle at Last and No More Sheep—January 1877

In January the partners are finally able to secure some cattle, despite a brush with a group of Apaches who had been raiding in southeastern Arizona since early December. Vail writes (1/20/1877): “I expect you will see by the papers that we have been having pretty hot times with the Apaches, I was on the San Pedro river when they first broke out they came up within 50 yards of the camp and took all the horses we had staked which left me on foot as I had only taken one horse with me which was taken with the rest of the stock. I went over to receive and help gather 800 cows which we bought from a Mr. Miller, We followed the track of the Indians the next morning into the mountains but found that they outnumbered us and had every advantage in the world over our party, so we concluded to give up the chase. The Indians after taking our horses from the San Pedro they came right over to this part of the country and took horses from all the ranches except ours they only killed three men in our neighborhood though it is reported that there where a good many killed along the Mexican line.” When purchasing the cattle from Mr. Miller they disposed of their sheep. Vail also commented on his partners: “Harvey and Hislop are both good fellows but don’t know very much about cattle. Hislop thinks he knows it all which stands in the way of his learning more.”

Photo caption/credit: Arizona Weekly Citizen, December 9, 1876

06/18/2026

In 1866 six Black regular Army regiments were formed

From Huachuca Illustrated Magazine by James P Finley

They were the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st Infantry and the 9th and 10th Cavalry. Three years later, as part of a reduction in the size of the Army, the 38th and 41st were consolidated to form the 24th Infantry and the 39th and 40th made up the new 25th
Infantry.
Officered by Whites, these regiments went on to justify the belief by Black leaders that men of their race could contribute mightily to the nation's defense.

The paths of all four of these regiments would intersect in a scenic canyon in southeastern Arizona, just twenty miles from the Mexican border. The place was called Fort Huachuca and it had played an
important part in the Apache campaigns since its establishment in 1877.
The first Black regiment to arrive at Huachuca was the 24th Infantry which sent companies there in 1892. During the next year, the entire regiment would come together at the fort. Here they remained until 1896.

Companies A and H of the 25th Infantry regiment took up residence in Huachuca Canyon in 1898, after returning from fighting in Cuba, and A Company remained there until the end of April 1899.

Troops of the 9th Cavalry joined the 25th Infantry at Fort Huachuca in 1898 and rotated its units in and out of the post until 1900. A detachment of the 9th would return briefly for a short tour in 1912.

Although the 9th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry regiments had all served briefly at Fort Huachuca during the 1890s, it wasn't until the 10th Cavalry, or the "Buffalo Soldiers," arrived there in December 1913 that the era of black soldiers began at Huachuca.
(The nickname "Buffalo Soldiers" was first given to the men of the 10th Cavalry by the Indians of the plains who likened their hair to that of the
buffalo. Over the years this name has been extended by veterans to include soldiers of all of the original Black regiments.)

Photo:Troop E, 9th Cavalry, in San Francisco in 1900 before departing for the Philippines.