After the Civil War, construction of the transcontinental Railroad opened the West, helped bring about the elimination of vast buffalo herds, and forced Native American Indians onto reservations where the military provided food. Leggy Texas Longhorns were driven as far north as Canada to use open range grazing and fulfill lucrative government contracts, and these routes became known collectively as the Texas Trail. One route entered Wyoming near Cheyenne, ran north past Fort Laramie, Newcastle, Upton, and into Moorcroft, then turned west to Powder River. Cowhand Bob Fudge recalled a drive in northeast Wyoming in which the stretch from the Cheyenne River to Powder River had little water, the weather was hot, and by the end of the second day the cattle suffered so badly that they ground their teeth and groaned. Drovers learned that the best herd size for a long drive was 2,500 head, stretching for a mile or more, with experienced cowboys riding point to direct the herd, others riding drag at the back, and the rest spaced at flank and swing along the sides and middle. Herds moved slowly to avoid stampede, could travel 10-15 miles a day and 300-500 miles a month, and could even gain weight if skillfully managed. Cowboys were paid at the end of the ride and usually returned home with the wagon and horses, though some stayed behind and started ranches of their own. One of them, John B. Kendrick, came to Wyoming with a Texas herd, married a cattleman's daughter, and eventually became Governor.