The Battle Of Palo Duro Canyon
by Jon Burch Photography
Title
The Battle Of Palo Duro Canyon
Artist
Jon Burch Photography
Medium
Photograph - Digital Capture/faa Watermark Will Not Be On Your Finished Photograph.
Description
Late in the summer of 1874 Quahada Comanche, Southern Cheyenne, Arapaho and Kiowa warriors led by Lone Wolf had left their reservations and sought refuge in Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle and began stockpiling food and supplies for the winter. In one of the most significant battles of the 1874 - 75 Indian campaign, columns of U. S. Army troops converged from five directions into the canyon to harass the Indians who fled from the Texas panhandle plains.
The 4th Calvary under Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie moving north from Fort Concho had tracked a large band of Indians to their secret canyon camp. Moving silently, at dawn down a perilous path on the south canyon rim, "Bad Hand" Mackenzie's troops reached the floor before the aroused Indian camp fled.
Some of Lone Wolf's Indian warriors took up positions on the canyon walls from which they fired on the troops, seeking to give their families time to escape. Realizing his tactical disadvantage, Mackenzie ordered the Indian camp and supplies burned and withdrew his men taking along 1,400 captured horses.
The cavalry suffered no casualties in the fight and only four Indian dead were counted. Having lost half their horses as well as all their supplies and shelter, the Indians drifted back to their reservations at Fort Sill and Fort Reno.
The Battle of Palo Duro Canyon was a significant United States victory that brought about the end of the Red River War.
Some digital effects were applied to the original image after the photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition. Ordered images will not contain the FAA watermark.
Image copyright 2016 Jon Burch Photography.
Uploaded
August 4th, 2016
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