Why did the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon was a military confrontation and a significant United States victory during the Red River War. The battle occurred on September 28, 1874 when several U.S. Army regiments under Ranald S. Mackenzie attacked a large encampment of Plains Indians i…
What happened at the Battle of Palo Duro?
Battle of Palo Duro The Red River War between the U.S. Army and southern Plains Indians lasted from June 1874 to spring 1875. A decisive battle occurred in the canyon on Sept. 28, 1874. Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie led the 4 th U.S. Cavalry in a surprise attack at dawn on a camp of Comanches, Kiowas and Cheyennes.
How did Palo Duro Canyon get its name?
Early Spanish explorers probably discovered the canyon, naming it Palo Duro, Spanish for hard wood. The Red River War between the U.S. Army and southern Plains Indians lasted from June 1874 to spring 1875.
How many Indian villages were hidden in Palo Duro Canyon?
On the morning of September 28, Mackenzie’s scouts followed the Indian trail to the edge of Palo Duro Canyon and then descended the steep slopes to the valley floor 700 feet below. Here at least five Indian villages were hidden.
What is Texas at Palo Duro Canyon?
Palo Duro Canyon is the site of an outdoor historical and musical drama, titled Texas, presented annually each summer by actors, singers, dancers, and artists of the Texas Panhandle region. The spectacle, created by playwright Paul Eliot Green, premiered on July 1, 1966, at the newly constructed Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
When did the battle of Palo Duro happen?
September 28, 1874Battle of Palo Duro Canyon / Start dateBattle of Palo Duro A decisive battle occurred in the canyon on Sept. 28, 1874. Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie led the 4th U.S. Cavalry in a surprise attack at dawn on a camp of Comanches, Kiowas and Cheyennes.
What happened at the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon?
Some of the warriors fought back, sniping at the soldiers, but their resistance was insufficient, and by nightfall Mackenzie's soldiers and Tonkawa scouts had captured the Indians' villages and most of their possessions. The Indian losses at Palo Duro Canyon amounted to three warriors dead. One white was killed.
What is the history of Palo Duro Canyon?
Palo Duro Canyon was carved into the eastern Caprock escarpment of the High Plains during the past ninety million years by the headwaters of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and by attendant weathering.
When did the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon end?
September 28, 1874Battle of Palo Duro Canyon / End dateThe Battle of Palo Duro Canyon was a military confrontation and a significant United States victory during the Red River War. The battle occurred on September 28, 1874, when several U.S. Army regiments under Ranald S. Mackenzie attacked a large encampment of Plains Indians in Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle.
What was the bloodiest battle in Mexican history?
Battle of CelayaBattle of Celaya, (April 1915), decisive military engagement in the wars between revolutionary factions during the Mexican Revoluion of 1910–20. One of the largest and bloodiest battles in Mexican history, it was fought at Celaya, Guanajuato state, between the forces of Álvaro Obregón and Pancho Villa.
What is Palo Duro Canyon known for?
Palo Duro Canyon (from the Spanish meaning "hard stick") has been named "The Grand Canyon of Texas" both for its size and for its dramatic geological features, including the multicolored layers of rock and steep mesa walls, which are similar to those in the Grand Canyon.
Were any movies filmed in Palo Duro Canyon?
Filming Location Matching "Palo Duro Canyon State Park - 11450 Park Road 5, Canyon, Texas, USA" (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)The Sundowners (1950) Approved | 83 min | Western. 5.6. ... Panhandle (1948) Approved | 85 min | Western. 6.2. ... Story of a Family (1960 TV Movie) 53 min | Documentary, Drama. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X.
What is the deepest canyon in Texas?
Palo Duro Canyon is known as the 'Texas Grand Canyon' RoamRight.com lists the Grand Canyon's depth at around 6,000 feet while Palo Duro is roughly 800 feet deep.
Can you swim in Palo Duro Canyon?
Yet, there's one canyon in particular near Palo Duro Canyon State Park that is actually filled with beautiful blue waters that are known as Lake Mackenzie, and visitors can take a dip in the almost clear pool.
Who named Palo Duro?
In the 1500s, Spanish explorers — including Francisco Coronado and his expedition — traveled through the region. They named the canyon Palo Duro, Spanish for hard wood, because of its numerous juniper trees, a contrast to the nearby plains.
Where was the Battle of Palo Duro?
TexasPalo Duro Canyon State ParkTexas PanhandleBattle of Palo Duro Canyon/Locations
What was the last Battle of Texas?
The Battle of San JacintoThe Battle of San Jacinto (Spanish: Batalla de San Jacinto), fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day La Porte and Pasadena, Texas, was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution.
Who fought in the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon?
A battle between Kiowas, Comanches, Cheyennes, and 400 troopers of Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie's Fourth U.S. Cavalry took place early on the morning of Monday, September 28, 1874, deep in this great canyon of the Red River, 1,000 feet below the level plains of the Texas Panhandle.
How many Mexicans died in the Battle of Palo Alto?
Lt. George Meade, who interrogated captured Mexican officers, concluded that Mexican losses numbered 400 men. The American army, which totaled over 2,200 soldiers, reported five dead and forty-three wounded.
Was Quanah Parker at the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon?
Quanah Not in Battle of Palo Duro Canyon; Horses Killed in Tule Canyon.
Where was the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon?
TexasPalo Duro Canyon State ParkTexas PanhandleBattle of Palo Duro Canyon/Locations
Why was the Battle of Palo Duro important?
Though the loss of life on both sides was remarkably small, the battle of Palo Duro Canyon is significant because it represented the southern Plains Indians' last effort at military resistance against ...
Why did the Indians fight in the canyon?
Because their camps were scattered over a large area on the canyon floor, the Indians were unable to assemble a united defense; the soldiers fought a series of skirmishes against a number of war parties who lacked the individual strength to defeat them.
What was the name of the Indian battle in the Red River War?
Palo Duro Canyon, Battle of. The battle of Palo Duro Canyon was the major battle of the Red River War, which ended in the confinement of southern Plains Indians (Comanches, Kiowas, Kiowa Apaches, Cheyennes, and Arapahos) to the reservations in the Indian Territory. By late September 1874 the warring Indians had camped in the protection of Palo Duro Canyon, where a Kiowa shaman, Maman-ti, promised them they would be safe. Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie led his Fourth United States Cavalry from the south in a plan to trap the Indians in their refuge. His soldiers pursued several small Comanche bands into Tule Canyon and defeated them. Mackenzie reached the edge of Palo Duro Canyon on September 28, 1874, guided by the Tonkawa chief Johnson, and ordered his scouts to locate a path to the canyon floor, which they quickly did. Although Mackenzie's attack on the large Indian encampment at sunrise on September 28 was designed to be a surprise, the Indians were warned by the Comanche leader Red Warbonnet, who discovered the soldiers and fired a warning shot. He was then killed by the Tonkawas. The leadership of the several Indian bands fell to the Cheyenne chief Iron Shirt, Comanche leader Poor Buffalo, and the Kiowa chief Lone Wolf. Because their camps were scattered over a large area on the canyon floor, the Indians were unable to assemble a united defense; the soldiers fought a series of skirmishes against a number of war parties who lacked the individual strength to defeat them.
What did the Indians abandon?
Many Indians abandoned their belongings and even their horses and fled the canyon for the open plains. Some of the warriors fought back, sniping at the soldiers, but their resistance was insufficient, and by nightfall Mackenzie's soldiers and Tonkawa scouts had captured the Indians' villages and most of their possessions.
Who guided Mackenzie to Palo Duro?
Mackenzie reached the edge of Palo Duro Canyon on September 28, 1874, guided by the Tonkawa chief Johnson, and ordered his scouts to locate a path to the canyon floor, which they quickly did. Although Mackenzie's attack on the large Indian encampment at sunrise on September 28 was designed to be a surprise, the Indians were warned by ...
What did Mackenzie's soldiers and scouts do to the Comanche?
Mackenzie's soldiers and scouts initially destroyed Red Warbonnet's village, an act that spread panic among the other Indian villages in the canyon. The Tonkawa scouts, accompanied by their women, were responsible for most of the destruction of Comanche property and also gathered an enormous amount of loot.
What people lived in Palo Duro Canyon?
Canyon of plenty. People have inhabited Palo Duro Canyon for about 12,000 years. The Clovis and Folsom peoples first lived in the canyon and hunted large herds of mammoth and giant bison. Other cultures, such as the Apache, Comanche and Kiowa, used the canyon’s plentiful resources more recently.
What to do if you find an artifact in Palo Duro Canyon?
Palo Duro Canyon State Park has a rich and colorful history. If you find an artifact (an item from the past) leave it in place and tell park staff. Please respect the park’s historic structures, too. Pick up trash, and do not harass or feed wildlife. This is their home, also.
What did the men build in the canyon?
First, they built a camp for their home base, and then they set to work in the immense canyon. The men built the winding road to the canyon floor. Until it was finished, they hiked in and out of the canyon on what is now the CCC Trail.
When did the Red River War happen?
The Red River War between the U.S. Army and southern Plains Indians lasted from June 1874 to spring 1875. A decisive battle occurred in the canyon on Sept. 28, 1874.
Who was the rancher who drove cattle to the canyon?
Ranch era. JA Ranch chuckwagon, ca. 1907. Charles Goodnight, a former Texas Ranger, drove 1,600 Longhorn cattle to the canyon in 1876. He and his partner John Adair, an English aristocrat, founded the JA Ranch in 1877.
What did the early civilizations leave behind?
These early cultures left behind rock art and bedrock mortars, where they ground mesquite beans and roots for food. Preserve the past by looking at but not touching any artifacts that you see.
Who was the leader of the 4th Cavalry at the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon?
Battle of Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. On September 28, 1874, Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie at the head of the Fourth U.S. Cavalry attacked and destroyed a large Indian encampment in Palo Duro Canyon. Late in the summer of 1874, a number of Comanche, Southern Cheyenne, Arapaho and Kiowa warriors led by Lone Wolf had left their assigned reservations ...
How many horses were captured in the Red River War?
They also captured more than 1,100 horses that were later slaughtered to prevent recapture. Although few Indians or soldiers were killed, the unrelenting pursuit of the troopers and the cold weather ultimately forced the Indians to surrender, thus bringing to a close the Red River War.
Background
Ever since the summer of 1874 the Comanche, Cheyenne and Kiowa had sought refuge in Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas panhandle. There they had been stockpiling food and supplies for the winter. Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, leading the 4th U.S. Cavalry, moved up from the south intending to trap the whole force in their Palo Duro Canyon holdout.
The battle
Early in the morning of September 28, one of Mackenzie's scouts found the Indian camp and notified the colonel. Mackenzie brought the whole regiment to the edge of the canyon and planned a surprise attack. Mackenzie's troopers were unable to find a suitable path down, so instead plunged straight down the steep canyon cliffs.
Results
The loss of the Palo Duro camp meant the loss of the Indians' safe haven and all their winter supplies. Some horses fled with the Indians onto the plains but Mackenzie was able to capture 1,400 ponies. The horses Mackenzie did not need were slaughtered to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Indians.
Why was Palo Duro Canyon important?
The battle of Palo Duro Canyon is important because it was the Southern Plains Indians’ desperate final, but futile effort at military resistance against the encroaching Anglo settlers who were moving further and further west into their territory.
What was the saving grace of the Battle of the Southern Plains?
The only saving grace of the battle was the low casualty count — three Indians and one cavalry trooper died.
Who led the Kiowas?
Indian women and children fled up the canyon, the men remained behind, standing their ground and engaging the soldiers in combat to allow their families to reach safety. The Kiowas were led by Mamanti ; the Comanches by O-ha-ma-tai, and a small band of Cheyennes were commanded by Iron Shirt.
How was Palo Duro Canyon formed?
Palo Duro Canyon Geologic map. The canyon was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, which initially winds along the level surface of the Llano Estacado of West Texas, then suddenly and dramatically runs off the Caprock Escarpment. Water erosion over the millennia has shaped the canyon's geological formations.
What are the features of Palo Duro Canyon?
Notable canyon formations include caves and hoodoos. One of the best-known and the major signature feature of the canyon is the Lighthouse Rock. A multiple-use, 6 mi (10 km) round-trip loop trail is dedicated to the formation. The Lighthouse. Palo Duro Canyon was downcut by the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, during the Pleistocene, ...
How big is Palo Duro Canyon?
The upper section of the canyon was purchased by the State of Texas in 1934 and turned into the 20,000-acre (8,100 ha) Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Amarillo is the largest city near Palo Duro Canyon State Park, but the smaller city of Canyon is nearer. In 1976, Palo Duro Canyon State Park was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.
How long has the canyon been inhabited?
The first evidence of human habitation of the canyon dates back about 10,000–15,000 years , and it is believed to have been continuously inhabited to the present day. Native Americans were attracted to the water of the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, as well as the consequent ample game, edible plants, and protection from the weather the canyon provided.
What period did the canyons form?
Most of the strata visible in the canyon were deposited during the Permian and Triassic periods. From oldest to youngest, and each separated by an unconformity, the formations are: The Quartermaster Formation is Permian in age, and forms the red, lower slopes of the Canyon.
Who painted Palo Duro?
The painter Georgia O'Keeffe, who lived in nearby Amarillo and Canyon in the early 20th century, wrote of the Palo Duro: "It is a burning, seething cauldron, filled with dramatic light and color." She made paintings of Palo Duro Canyon between 1916 and 1918, when she was an instructor and head of the art department at West Texas State Normal College.
How many units of the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the park?
Seven units of the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the park from 1933 until 1937. Four groups of veterans, two groups of African Americans, and one junior group, took part in various construction projects, starting with the construction of Park Road 5, a two-lane road from the rim to the floor of the canyon.
