The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon was a significant military confrontation and United States victory during the Red River War. The fighting occurred on 28 September 1874 when several US Army regiments under Ranald S. Mackenzie attacked the large Indian Plains encampment at Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle.
Video Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
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In late summer 1874, Quahada Comanche, South Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa warriors led by Lone Wolf left their reservations and sought refuge at Palo Duro Canyon in Texas Panhandle. There they stock up food and supplies for the winter. Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, leading the 4th US Cavalry, departed Fort Clark, Texas on August 15, reached Fort Concho on the 21st and Blanco Canyon's mouth on the 23rd with eight companies plus three from the 10th Infantry and one from 11. Mackenzie's order from General Christopher C. Augur stated he was "free to follow Indians wherever they went, even to the Agency."
Mackenzie formed three columns, the first column consisting of eight companies from the 4th Cavalry and two infantry companies, the second column under Lieutenant Colonel George P. Buell consisting of five firms from the 9th Cavalry, one in 10, and two infantry company, and the third column under Lieutenant Colonel John W. Davidson consisting of eight companies from the 10th Cavalry and two infantry companies. The first column moves north along the edge of the Staked Plains, the second up into the Red River and the third lined up from Fort Sill. On September 25, Indians began gathering around Mackenzie troops so that on the night of 26-27 September, they were attacked near Tule Canyon and Boehm's Canyon, resulting in the deaths of 15 soldiers including the head of Kiowa, Woman Heart.
Maps Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
Battle
On the morning of September 28, two scouts of Tonkawa Mackenzie found a "new trail" and Mackenzie continued on, reaching "a wide and wide gap" at dawn, where they could see Indian lodges. The Mackenzie cavalry descended and led their horses along a narrow zigzag path.
Mackenzie first hit Lowa Wolf's Kiowa camp and directed it. Chiefs Poor Buffalo and Lone Wolf and the Indians managed to escape, leaving their treasures and horses, climbing both sides of the canyon. The Indian soldiers started firing on troops from 800-1000 feet above, making "so hot", it prompted someone to say, "How can we get out of here", which Mackenzie states, "I brought you in. I'll take you out ". Part of the command started the retreat up the "steep cliffs" from which they descended while others lowered the huts, chopped up the cottage masts, and burned all the Indian stuff in the big bonfire. Nearly 2,000 horses were captured and moved from the canyon with the remaining troops at 4 pm. Mackenzie troops managed to return to their supply camp at Tule Canyon on the morning of the 29th.
Results
The loss of Palo Duro camp means the loss of Indian sanctuaries and all their winter supplies. Some horses fled with the Indians to the plains, but Mackenzie was able to catch the 1500-2000 horses, who were slaughtered to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Indians. The victims were very mild in engagement because it was a complete defeat, but without sufficient mounts or stocks the tribes could not survive during the winter and many returned to the Fort Sill reservation in November 1874; Kiowas Lone Wolf did not return until February 1875. The battle marked the last major involvement of the Red River War and was one of the last battles of the Texas-Indian War.
See also
- The Battle of Blanco Canyon
- Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River
- Llano Estacado
- Caprock Escarpment
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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