when was the battle of adobe walls

What was the First Battle of adobe walls?

Also known as the First Battle of Adobe Walls (November 26, 1864), it was one of the largest battles between U. S. and Great Plains Indians.

What is the history of adobe walls?

Adobe Walls was the name of a trading post in the Texas Panhandle, just north of the Canadian River. In 1845 an adobe fort was built there to house the post, but it was blown up by traders three years later after repeated Indian attacks.

What happened to the Comanche after the Battle of adobe walls?

At the second battle of Adobe Walls, buffalo shooter Billy Dixon used his Sharps rifle to shoot a Comanche chief off his horse at about 1,000 yards. With the chief dead, especially at such extreme range, the Comanches called it quits and left. Image: June 1874 battle of Adobe Walls in the Texas Panhandle, True West Magazine by Joe Grandee

Is the 2nd Battle of adobe walls worth visiting?

They have driving instructions and a map of Adobe Walls that are very accurate and useful. It's a long way off of the beaten path, but the roads are generally good. If you're a history buff, and are familiar at all with the 2nd Battle of Adobe Walls, it's well worth the time and effort to visit this site. Read more Written March 4, 2019

What happened in the 2nd Battle of Adobe Walls?

The Second Battle of Adobe Walls was fought on June 27, 1874, between Comanche forces and a group of 28 Texan bison hunters defending the settlement of Adobe Walls, in what is now Hutchinson County, Texas....Second Battle of Adobe Walls.DateJune 27, 1874LocationAdobe Walls, Texas 35°53′37″N 101°9′43″WResultU.S. victory

When was the 1st battle at Adobe Walls?

November 25, 1864First Battle of Adobe Walls / Start dateThe first battle of Adobe Walls occurred on November 25, 1864, in the vicinity of Adobe Walls, the remains of William Bent's abandoned adobe fort near the Canadian River in what is now Hutchinson County. The battle was one of the largest engagements between Whites and American Indians on the Great Plains.

Who won the Battle of Adobe Walls?

First Battle of Adobe WallsAdobe WallsDate November 25, 1864 Location Hutchinson County, Texas 35°53′37.2588″N 101°9′43.36″W Result Native American VictoryBelligerentsUnited StatesKiowa Comanche Plains Apache8 more rows

Who lost the Battle of Adobe Walls?

This battle between buffalo hunters and approximately 700 Comanche, Kiowa, and Southern Cheyenne warriors resulted in an Indian defeat, one among several during the course of the large-scale military operation known as the Red River War of 1874-75.

Who built the Adobe Walls in Texas?

Sometime around 1846, William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain arrived with Mexican adobe makers to replace the log establishment with Fort Adobe, a structure that was 80 feet square, with nine-foot walls and only one entrance.

Can I visit Adobe Walls?

The only sign is a small state sign, 'Adobe Walls' at F road. From the entrance on F road it is 16 miles to the site. The road starts paved but turns to hard packed dirt and back along the way with numerous cattle guards.

What are Adobe Walls made of?

The adobe brick is molded from sand and clay mixed with water to a plastic consistency. Commonly, straw or grass is included as a binder. Although they do not help reinforce the bricks or give them added long-term strength, straw and grass do help the bricks shrink more uniformly while they dry.

How far was Billy Dixon shot?

1,500 yards45-90 Sharps and felt it could not reach). He knocked the Native man off his horse, killing him. Understanding how far the guns could fire, the Natives then withdrew and left the settlement alone. Dixon's shot was measured at over 1,500 yards, earning him a position on the list of longest recorded sniper kills.

Where is the Adobe Walls located?

Adobe Walls, TexasHutchinson CountySecond Battle of Adobe Walls/Location

Who tried to make Native Americans leave Texas?

Lamar demanded that the Cherokee, who had been promised title to their land if they remained neutral during the Texas War of Independence, voluntarily relinquish their lands and all their property and move to the Indian Territory of the United States.

How do you build an adobe wall?

2:1813:42How to Build an Adobe Walls for a Home - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce it's mixed you then put it on the adobe block itself using either trowel your bare handsMoreOnce it's mixed you then put it on the adobe block itself using either trowel your bare hands whatever you just get it on to the approximate thickness. And then gently place the adobe brick up on top.

When did the Comanche surrender?

June 2, 1875On June 2, 1875, the last group of reseilant Comanches surrendered at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This marked the end of the Army's Red River Campaign which began in 1868. With the surrender, the Comanches lost their identity as “Warriors”.

Where did the First Battle of Adobe Walls take place?

Adobe Walls, TexasHutchinson CountyFirst Battle of Adobe Walls/Location

Who won the battle of Palo Duro Canyon?

United States victoryBattle of Palo Duro CanyonDateSeptember 28, 1874LocationPalo Duro Canyon, Texas 34°52′40″N 101°36′20″WResultUnited States victory

Who participated in the Battle of Adobe Walls?

Th e Battle of Adobe Walls on June 26, 1874, involved an estimated 700 Comanche warriors led by chief Quanah Parker attacking the frontier town of Adobe Walls in the north Texas panhandle.

When was the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon?

September 28, 1874Battle of Palo Duro Canyon / Start date

Where was the second Battle of Adobe Walls?

On June 27, 1924, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the second Battle of Adobe Walls was held at the site in Hutchinson County. A marble shaft bearing the names of those who took part in the battle was unveiled. W.T. Coble and his wife, the owners of the Turkey Track Ranch on which the site is located, deeded five acres of land to the Panhandle Plains Historical Society in Canyon, Texas, for the permanent preservation of the historic spot. The society subsequently founded the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

What was Adobe Walls?

Adobe Walls was the name of a trading post in the Texas Panhandle, just north of the Canadian River. In 1845 an adobe fort was built there to house the post, but it was blown up by traders three years later after repeated Indian attacks. In 1864 the ruins were the site of one of the largest battles ever to take place on the Great Plains. Colonel Christopher "Kit" Carson led 335 soldiers from New Mexico and 72 Ute and Jicarilla Apache scouts against a force of more than 1000 Comanche, Kiowa and Plains Apache. The Indians forced Carson to retreat, though he was acclaimed as a hero for successfully striking a blow against the Indians and for leading his men out of the trap with minimal casualties. This is known as the First Battle of Adobe Walls .

What guns were used at Adobe Walls?

Forensic archaeologists have discovered that the guns in use at Adobe Walls included several Richards' Colt conversions, some Smith & Wesson Americans and at least one Colt .45 (then new on the frontier) pistol, along with numerous rifles in calibers . 50-70, .50-90, .44-77, .44 Henry Flat and at least one .45-70 (also very new). At the time Sharps did not use designations like . 50-90 ("Big Fifty" Sharps). Instead, it designated cartridges by bore size and case length. Technically, the "Big Fifty" was known as the .50 Sharps 2-1/2 Inch. Depending on the bullet used, the case could be loaded as any of what was later designated .50-90, .50-100 or .50-110. The .50-90 loading used the heaviest bullet and gave the best performance at relatively short ranges out to about 100 yards. The two heavier loads used relatively lighter bullets and gave better performance at extended ranges. This makes it more likely that Billy Dixon's shot was made with a .50 Sharps 2-1/2 Inch case loaded to .50-110 specification. In Sharps' nomenclature, the .50-70 was first known as the .50 Sharps 1-3/4 Inch and later as the .50 Sharps 2 Inch, and was sometimes referred to as the "Little Fifty."

What was the name of the battle that took place in 1874?

Palo Duro Canyon. Buffalo Hunters' War. Staked Plains Horror. Yellow House Canyon. The Second Battle of Adobe Walls was fought on June 27, 1874, between Comanche forces and a group of 28 U.S. bison hunters defending the settlement of Adobe Walls, in what is now Hutchinson County, Texas.

What colors were used in the Battle of the Plains?

Hundreds of warriors, the flower of the fighting men of the southwestern Plains tribes, mounted upon their finest horses, armed with guns and lances, and carrying heavy shields of thick buffalo hide, were coming like the wind. Over all was splashed the rich colors of red, vermillion and ochre, on the bodies of the men, on the bodies of the running horses. Scalps dangled from bridles, gorgeous war-bonnets fluttered their plumes, bright feathers dangled from the tails and manes of the horses, and the bronzed, halfnaked bodies of the riders glittered with ornaments of silver and brass. Behind this headlong charging host stretched the Plains, on whose horizon the rising sun was lifting its morning fires. The warriors seemed to emerge from this glowing background. : 205

When was the photograph of Adobe Walls published?

Adobe Walls photograph published 1908. On June 5, 1874, Hanrahan and his party of hunters departed Dodge City for Adobe Walls. The party encountered a band of Cheyenne Indians on June 7 at Sharp's Creek, 75 miles southwest of Dodge, who ran off all of their cattle.

Where was Billy Dixon postmaster?

His father told him about knowing Billy Dixon as postmaster in Stinnett, Texas. The men used to gather at the post office, swap stories and drink coffee, especially during the winter. People were always fascinated with the story of the 2nd Battle of Adobe Walls and would ask Billy about it.

What was the second battle of Adobe Walls?

Adobe Walls, Second Battle of. The second battle of Adobe Walls occurred on June 27, 1874, when a buffalo hunters' camp, built in the spring of that year in what is now Hutchinson County, about a mile from the adobe ruins known as Adobe Walls was attacked by a party of about 700 Plains Indians, mostly Cheyennes, Comanches, and Kiowas, under the leadership of Quanah Parker and Isa-tai. Most of the hunters at the camp were awake repairing a broken ridgepole when the Indians charged at dawn. The defenders, twenty-eight men and one woman, gathered in (Jim) Hanrahan's Saloon, (Charlie) Myers and Leonard's Store, and (Charles) Rath and Wright's Store and repelled the initial charge with a loss of only two men. One more man was lost in later charges, which continued until about noon, and a fourth man was accidentally killed by the discharge of his own gun. The Indians, who had been urged into the fight by a medicine man, Isa-tai, conducted a desultory siege for about four or five days but made no other attacks. On the second day a group of fifteen or twenty of the Cheyennes appeared on a high mesa overlooking the post. Their appearance led to the famous gunshot of William (Billy) Dixon, when Dixon, inside the stockade, shot an Indian off his horse seven-eighths of a mile away. Hunters in the vicinity were notified of the attack on Adobe Walls, and by the end of the fifth day there were more than 100 men at Adobe Walls. A rescue party arrived after the Indians had given up the fight and retired. The significance of this fight is that it led to the Red River War of 1874–75, which resulted in the final relocation of the Southern Plains Indians to reservations in what is now Oklahoma. A monument was erected in 1924 on the site of Adobe Walls by the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society.

Who shot the Indians in the Adobe Walls?

Their appearance led to the famous gunshot of William (Billy) Dixon, when Dixon, inside the stockade, shot an Indian off his horse seven-eighths of a mile away. Hunters in the vicinity were notified of the attack on Adobe Walls, and by the end of the fifth day there were more than 100 men at Adobe Walls. A rescue party arrived after the Indians had ...

How long did the Indians fight in the Battle of the Cheyennes?

The Indians, who had been urged into the fight by a medicine man, Isa-tai, conducted a desultory siege for about four or five days but made no other attacks. On the second day a group of fifteen or twenty of the Cheyennes appeared on a high mesa overlooking the post.

What was the significance of the Red River War?

The significance of this fight is that it led to the Red River War of 1874–75, which resulted in the final relocation of the Southern Plains Indians to reservations in what is now Oklahoma. A monument was erected in 1924 on the site of Adobe Walls by ...

Where is Adobe Walls?

Adobe Walls, the scene of the five-day battle, is now a small place in Hutchinson county, Texas, seventy-five miles northeast of Amarillo. At one time it was on the main route of an old cattle trail along which plains cattlemen drove their herds to market, at Dodge City, Kansas, before the railroads penetrated the great cattle ranges of the Southwest.

How many people were in Adobe Walls Camp?

With the arrival of Clinton and his vaqueros, the total population of Adobe Walls camp was twenty-eight, and it was a strange collection of men of many different types and nationalities. Almost each man was a rank stranger to the other, but all were of the plains breed whose courage was never questioned and whose daring had been proved too many times to be doubted; each had the fighting instinct of the Anglo-Saxon developed to the highest pitch by the wild condition of the frontier. There were buffalo hunters with their curious rifles, seasoned Indian fighters, soldiers on furlough, trappers, gamblers, scouts, rangers, and camp hangers on, Americans, Englishmen, Germans, Mexicans, and what not. Each man with his brace of deadly six shooters and his cherished rifle, was a fighting unit in himself.

What did the Comanches do to the walls?

The Comanches, maddened by losses and incited to frenzy by the supernatural incantations of their medicine man, raged about the Walls, vainly endeavoring to batter down the defenses. At each charge they would be met with the deadly rifle fire of the frontiersmen who were well protected by the thickness of the Walls.

Where did the Comanches fight?

The warlike Comanches were assumed to be contentedly smoking their peace pipe s on the government reservation at Anadarko, in the Indian Territory, under the watchful eye of the commandant of the reservation fort. But aroused to a fanatical pitch by an Indian medicine man, a band of five hundred of these warriors, under the leadership of their chief, Sun Boy, had eluded the government troops and started on the warpath to the northwest, where cow-camps were plentiful, where there were many possible white scalps and much plunder.

What was the first charge of the Comanche?

The alarm was sounded and all entrances quickly barricaded with boxes, barrels, and every movable thing that would offer resistance to a bullet. When the five hundred red men swept over the hill in their first charge, with the indescribable yell that has made the name of Comanche synonymous the world over for diabolical deeds, they were met with a withering fire that sent them reeling backward, but not before they had thundered to within a few feet of the Adobe Walls. This was first of many charges, usually just at dawn and at dusk, in the long five-day battle that followed.

When was the first battle of Adobe Walls?

Adobe Walls, First Battle of. The first battle of Adobe Walls occurred on November 25, 1864 , in the vicinity of Adobe Walls, the remains of William Bent's abandoned adobe fort near the Canadian River in what is now Hutchinson County. The battle was one of the largest engagements between Whites and American Indians on the Great Plains. It resulted from the determination of Gen. James H. Carleton, commander of the military units in New Mexico, to halt Comanche and Kiowa attacks on Santa Fe wagontrains; the American Indians saw the wagoners as trespassers who killed their game.

What was the first battle of the Great Plains?

Adobe Walls, First Battle of. The first battle of Adobe Walls occurred on November 25, 1864, in the vicinity of Adobe Walls, the remains of William Bent's abandoned adobe fort near the Canadian River in what is now Hutchinson County. The battle was one of the largest engagements between Whites and American Indians on the Great Plains. It resulted from the determination of Gen. James H. Carleton, commander of the military units in New Mexico, to halt Comanche and Kiowa attacks on Santa Fe wagontrains; the American Indians saw the wagoners as trespassers who killed their game.

What was the name of the Indian village that Carson attacked?

At about 8:30 A.M. Carson's cavalry attacked Dohäsan 's Kiowa village of 150 lodges, routing the old chief and most of the other inhabitants, who spread the alarm to several Comanche groups. Pushing on to Adobe Walls, Carson forted up about 10 A.M., using one corner of the ruins for a hospital. One of the several American Indian encampments in the vicinity, a Comanche village of 500 lodges, was within a mile of Adobe Walls. The Indians numbered between 3,000 and 7,000, far greater opposition than Carson had anticipated. Sporadic attacks and counterattacks continued during the day, but the American Indians were disconcerted by the howitzers, which had been strategically positioned atop a small rise. Dohäsan led many charges, ably assisted by Stumbling Bear and Satanta; indeed, Satanta was said to have sounded bugle calls back to Carson's bugler.

How many buffalo hides were there in the Adobe?

A mile to their front lay the twenty-eight Buffalo hunters at the Adobe walls, without guard or sentry. They slept in fancied security, or in that careless indifference to danger born of years of peril and excitement. The three buildings of the settlement stood in a row. On the South was the store of Rath & Wright Company, with one of the partners, James Langton, in charge. This building was thirty feet by sixty, had walls of adobe two feet thick, and a big door on the west; in its rear fifteen thousand buffalo hides were arranged in piles. Perhaps one hundred yards, or less, to the north was Hanrahan’s adobe building, eighty feet long, twenty-five feet wide and with walls of some two feet thick. Some fifty yards to the north of Hanrahan’s was the Leonard & Myers store, with Fred Leonard in charge. This structure was thirty feet by seventy-five and its wooden walls were ten inches thick; a big door opened on the east. This store stood in the northeast corner of a stockade two hundred and fifty feet by three hundred, the poles extending seven feet into the ground and from seven to thirteen feet above. There was no chinking between the poles of the stockade or corral. A mess house stood in the southwest corner of the stockade, and between the two buildings was a well.

Where were the bastions in the stockade?

At the northwest and southwest corners of the stockade were bastions. Leonard and Tyler went to the northwest one; but the Indians hope their guns through the portholes from the outside and fired. Leonard and Tyler retreated across the corral, firing as they walked. Pausing for a moment in the doorway to discharge one last volley, Tyler fell, shot through the lungs, and was quickly borne inside.

What happened to the Indians in the Shadler wagon?

Leonard, Armitage and “Dutch Henry” now quickly threw down the sacks of flour piled against the north side, punched out the chinking, and saw five Indians on their ponies by the wagon. Three rifles cracked, three Indians fell dead, and two decamped. A sixth, with the trumpet across his back and the Shadler’s canned stuff in his arms, sprang out of the wagon and ran north. This was the mysterious bugler, supposed to be a deserter from the regular colored calvary, though Hanrahan and Dixon both have an idea that he was a half-breed raised by the tribe. Charlie Armitage, a crack shot, promptly borrowed the forty-caliber rifle Leonard had made for his own especial use, and – let Bat Masterson tell the story – “plunked a big fort-caliber bullet through him, and he bugle no more that day.”

How many miles was Fort Dodge?

Fort Dodge, Dodge City and safety were one hundred and seventy-five miles to the northeast that 27 th day of June, 1874. Twelve hundred yards across, carpeted with high blue-stem, curtain by the Breaks of the Canadian, the little valley of Adobe walls furnished the Buffalo hunters an ample, sufficient and glorious amphitheater for their fight against the odds of thirty to one.

Who slept behind the barred doors at Langton's?

Riding easily, without alignment, about twenty-five abreast and deeper, the attacking party swept down on the hunters camp. Four men and the only white women in the Southwest slept behind the barred doors at Langton’s. A few yards away in his blankets on the ground was Tom Keefe, the blacksmith, and his dog. Thirteen men were sleeping in and about Leonard’s, whose big door swung invitingly open.

Who seized the blankets and pounded on the door?

Tom Keefe seized his blankets, ran to the Langton’s and pounded on the door. Jimmy Langton sprang out of bed and admitted him, yet not so quickly but that the Indians fired through the open door as they came on.

Who shot the Comanche Chief at Adobe Walls?

The Long Shot: The Battle for Texas at Adobe Walls. If you know Texas history, you know the story. At the second battle of Adobe Walls, buffalo shooter Billy Dixon used his Sharps rifle to shoot a Comanche chief off his horse at about 1,000 yards. With the chief dead, especially at such extreme range, the Comanches called it quits and left.

What happened to the Comanches?

The Comanches had been in a pitched battle against forted-up whites for three days, a condition not to their liking at all. They’d lost a lot of warriors and all they had to show for it was three scalps taken the first day, one of them from a dog. They were holding a council of war on a knoll they considered completely out of range of the white men’s rifles, deciding whether or not to continue the fight. One of the chiefs was hit with a nearly- spent bullet that knocked him off his horse but did not wound him severely. They took this as a sign it was time to quit, and they did.

What happened in 1874?

So, did it happen? We have two seemingly-related incidents: #1: Billy Dixon fires his rifle at a group of Comanches atop a knoll nearly 1,000 yards away.

Did the rounds hit on the target board?

The rounds actually struck somewhere on the target board 80% of the time. The answer to question #1, then, is yes. The rifles of the day, even a rifle of considerably less power than Dixon’s, were capable of firing and hitting something at ranges even greater than Dixon’s shot.

What was the first battle of Adobe Walls?

Main article: First Battle of Adobe Walls. In November 1864, an estimated 3,000 Kiowa, Comanche and Plains Apache repelled an attacking 372 Army troops under Kit Carson in what became known as the First Battle of Adobe Walls.

When was Adobe Walls added to the National Register of Historic Places?

On May 22, 1978 , the Adobe Walls site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas, and in 1979 recognized as a Texas state archeological landmark.

What was the name of the battle between Native Americans and settlers?

Historically, Adobe Walls is the site of two decisive battles between Native Americans and settlers. In November 1864 First Battle of Adobe Walls, Native Americans successfully repelled attacking troops led by Kit Carson. Ten years later, on June 27, 1874, known as the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, civilians at the Adobe Walls trading post ...

Who led the Comanche in the Second Battle of Adobe Walls?

Ten years later, on June 27, 1874, known as the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, civilians at the Adobe Walls trading post successfully fought off an attack by a war party of mainly Comanche and Cheyenne warriors led by the Comanche chief Quanah Parker.

When was Bent Creek built?

In 1843, the trading firm of Bent, St. Vrain & Company established a log structure trading site on what is now known as Bent Creek in Hutchinson County. In 1845, they replaced the log structure with an adobe brick 80 feet (24 m) square single-entrance fort, with walls that rose 9 feet (2.7 m). The fort was closed in 1848, due to Indian depredations. In 1849, William Bent found part of his livestock slaughtered by local Indians. He blew up the remains of the fort and departed the panhandle of Texas.

Who was the first postmaster of Adobe?

Dixon was appointed the first postmaster when Adobe Walls received its post office on August 3, 1887. Dixon ran the post office out of his home, where he and business partner S.G. Carter also had a store. He served as postmaster until 1901, at which time Otto Anderson was appointed postmaster.

Is Adobe Walls still a ghost town?

Adobe Walls was a polling site, and voting there in the 19th Century was a multi-day community event that included barbecue and accompaniments. Today, Adobe Walls is a ghost town.

When was the Battle of Adobe Walls released?

The Battle of Adobe Walls was released on March 25th, 2013.

What is the similarities between Adobe Walls and Little Bighorn?

Adobe Walls shares many similarities with Little Bighorn. The battle features a famous US leader in Kit Carson, attacking a large Indian camp along a river with a much smaller US force. He is also temporarily separated from the pack train, and the size of the Indian force was greatly underestimated.

What is the name of the game Michael Taylor made for Indian Wars of the American West?

Michael Taylor's "Indian Wars of the American West" series starts with "Volume I - The Battle of Adobe Walls" ("Vol. II - Rosebud" and "Vol. III Battle of the Little Bighorn", will both being re-released from their original DTP versions as boxed games with EasyPunch die-cut counters).

Where are Adobe walls located?

Adobe Walls is located in a very remote area of the Texas Panhandle which made it rather hard to find, but it is definitely worth the effort. On the morning of June 27, 1874, 700 Comanche, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Arapaho warriors led by Comanche Chief Quanah Parker attacked 28 white men here. 3 days after the attack started, 15 Indian chiefs and warrior leaders met for council on the side of a hill 1,538 yards from the post. Billy Dixon took aim with his Sharps and fired. 5.3 seconds later, one of the chiefs was mortally hit. The Indians decided to ride away to fight another day. Billy's shot is one of the most famous long shots ever taken. Historical markers tell the story of the site which has changed very little since that day. When we visited, we never saw another person on the way in, the hour we spent at the site, or on the way out. Very interesting. Appreciate the total quiet and take time to contemplate. Glad we decided to visit.

What is the monument to the buffalo hunter?

There is a monument to the buffalo hunter as well as the Indians who fought in the area. The area is in it's natural state, other than the markers; however, it gives you an idea of how the buffalo hunters may have felt during the siege and how the Indians fought against those in the buildings. Written July 8, 2014.

Is Adobe Walls owned by Phillips?

As a previous reviewer stated, Adobe Walls battlefield is NOT 'owned by Phillips" It is on the private, Turkey Track ranch, the gate you saw may have had Phillips signs on them because they are the operating company for some of the wells in the area.

Overview

Background

Battle and siege

Aftermath

Further reading

External links