Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

Coordinates: 34°52′40″N 101°36′20″W / 34.87778°N 101.60556°W / 34.87778; -101.60556
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Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
Part of the
American Indian Wars

Palo Duro Canyon
DateSeptember 28, 1874
Location
Palo Duro Canyon, Texas
34°52′40″N 101°36′20″W / 34.87778°N 101.60556°W / 34.87778; -101.60556
Result United States victory
Belligerents
 United States
Tonkawa		 Cheyenne
Comanche
Kiowa
Commanders and leaders
Ranald S. Mackenzie Poor Buffalo
Lone Wolf
Strength
400 cavalry 1500 warriors
Casualties and losses
1 wounded[1]: 490  15 killed at Tule
50-60 killed at Palo Duro[1]: 494 
Palo Duro is located in Texas
Palo Duro
Palo Duro
class=notpageimage|
Location within Texas

The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon was a military confrontation and a significant

Texas Panhandle
.

Background

Late in the summer of 1874, Quahada

Agencies."[1]
: 475 

Mackenzie formed three columns, the first column consisting of eight companies of the 4th Cavalry and two infantry companies, the second column under Lt. Col.

Staked Plains, the second advanced up the Red River and the third marched from Fort Sill.[1]: 477  By September 25, Indians began to gather around Mackenzie's troops so that on the night of September 26–27, they were attacked near Tule Canyon and Boehm's Canyon, resulting in the deaths of 15 warriors including the Kiowa chief Woman Heart.[1]
: 485 and 487 

Early in September, Tonkawa[3] and Black Seminole Scouts in advance of the 4th Cavalry were ambushed by Comanche near the Staked Plains and escaped with their lives. The scouts relayed and alerted the Comanche position to Mackenzie.[4]

The battle

Tule Canyon as seen from Highway 207 north of Silverton, Texas

Early on the morning of September 28, two of Mackenzie's Tonkawa scouts found a "fresh trail" and Mackenzie resumed the march, reaching a "wide and yawning chasm" at dawn, where they could see the Indian lodges.[1]: 488  Mackenzie's cavalry dismounted and led their horses single-file along a narrow zig-zag path.[1]: 488 

Mackenzie first hit Chief Lone Wolf's Kiowa camp and routed it.[3] Chiefs Poor Buffalo and Lone Wolf and the Indians managed to get away, leaving behind their possessions and horses, climbing up both sides of the canyon.[1]: 489  The Indian warriors began firing on the troops from 800–1000 feet above, making "it so hot", it prompted one to say, "How will we ever get out of here", to which Mackenzie stated, "I brought you in, I will take you out".[1]: 491  Part of the command started a retreat up the "precipitous cliffs" from which they had descended while others pulled down the lodges, chopped up the lodge poles, and burned all of the Indian belongings in huge bonfires.[1]: 493–493  Almost 2000 horses were captured and moved from the canyon with the remaining troops by 4 PM.[1]: 493  Mackenzie's troops made it back to their supply camp in Tule Canyon on the morning of the 29th.[1]: 494 

Results

The loss of the Palo Duro camp meant the loss of the Indians' safe haven and all of their winter supplies. Some horses fled with the Indians onto the plains but Mackenzie was able to capture 1500-2000 ponies, which he slaughtered to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Indians.

Texas-Indian Wars. Col. R. S. Mackenzie recommended seven soldiers of the 4th U.S. Cavalry and Adam Payne of the Black Seminole Scouts for the Medal of Honor.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Carter, R.G., 1935, On the Border with Mackenzie, Washington D.C.: Eynon Printing Co.
  2. ^ Dillon, Richard H. (1983). North American Indian Wars
  3. ^ a b c Schilz, Thomas F. "Palo Duro Canyon, Battle of". Texas State Historical Association.
  4. ^
    ISBN 9780842025867
    .
  5. ^ "Red River War-Battles". Texas Beyond History. University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
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