County of Site: Hutchinson County
Location of Site: CR 23, 30 miles from Stinnet
Site donated by Mr and Mrs. W.T. Coble
Site surveyed and laid out and protected by: Texas Antiquities Committee
Area is designated a Texas State Archeological Landmark
Site Maintain by The Panhandle-Plains Historical Society
Site also Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Directions to Site: from Stinnet go north 11 miles on TX 207; turn east on country road, continue for 17 miles. Will be several signs warning you "private property - do not leave road"..it is ok as long as you stay on gravel road. Many sharp turns, and many turns that look like they end, keep going down steep hill to site.
ADOBE WALLS
"Adobe Walls ia a 'National Historic Site' in Hutchinson County, 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Stinnett, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was established in 1843 as a trading post for buffalo hunters and local Indian trade in the vicinity of the Canadian River. It later became a ranching community. Historically, Adobe Walls is the site of two decisive battles between native Americans and Anglo forces. In the November of 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 successfully repelled an attack by native Americans. The second battle led to a military campaign which resulted in the relocation of native Americans to Indian Territory in Oklahoma." ~
Wikipedia
Adobe Walls Historic Site reading material: Texas On Line Western Trips Texas A&M University
1st Battle 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 the 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 300 volunteers from New Mexico against a force of thousands of Indians; the results of the battle were indecisive, though Carson 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." ~
Texas State Library
Wikipedia Entry on the First Battle: 1st Battle
Some reading on the 1st Battle:
Texas OnLine Anishinabe History Texas Historic Marker The Texas Historical Marker listed above is really located some 30 miles west of the actual Adobe Walls Site
SECOND BATTLE OF ADOBE WALLS
Several Markers here. One by "whiteman" one by "redman".
There are also four men buried here. One, William Dixon, who died a few years later as was buried here at his request, for he fought here; the other three died here.
1st Marker Erected June 27, 1924
Site Marker under the direction of Mrs. William Dixon and James H. Cator
Monument Erected by: Panhandle Historical Society
Marker Text:
ADOBE WALLS BATTLE GOUND
Here on June 27, 1874, about 700 picked warriors from the Comanche, Cheyenne and Kiowa Indian Tribes were defeated by 28 brave frontiersmen.
James Hanrahan Billy Tyler
"Bat" Masterson "Dutch" Henry
Mike Welch ------- Keeler
------- Shepherd Mike McCabe
Hiram Watson Henry Lease
Billy Ogg "Frenchy"
James McKinley James Langton
"Bermoda" Carlile George Eddy
William Dixon Thomas O;Keefe
Fred Leonard William Olds
James Campbell Sam Smith
Edward Trevor Andrew Johnson
Frank Brown Ike Shadler
Harry Armatage "Shorty" Shadler
Mrs. William Olds
Second Marker Erected by the combined Nations
Marker Text:
They Died For That Which Make Life Worth Living
INDIANS LIBERTY, FREEDOM, PEACE
On The Plains Which They Enjoyed For Generations
COMANCHES
Wild-Horse
Sa-Ta-Do
Best-Son-In-Law
Wolf-Tongue
Slue-Foot
Cheyenne
CHEYENNES
Chief-Stone-Cay-Son
Serpent-Scales
Spotted-Feather
Horse-Chief
Coyote
Stone-Tooth
Soft-Foot
IN MEMORY OF THE INDIAN WARRIORS
WHO FELL IN THE 2nd BATTLE OF ADOBE WALLS
JUNE 27, 1874
The Wikipedia listing for the second Battle is here: 2nd Battle of Adobe Walls
Tombstones on site:
1st: Billy Tyler - Ike Shadler - "Shorty" Shadler
Killed by Indians June 27, 1874
2nd: WM. OLDS
Accidently Killed by Rifle
June 27, 1874
3rd: William Dixon
Died March 1913
Military placement at grave site reads:
WILLIAM DIXON
Medal of Honor
Indian Scout 6 U.S. Cav.
Indian Wars
Sep. 25, 1850 Mar. 9, 1913
Billy Dixon gained renown as a first rate buffalo hunter. He gained fame at the Adobe Walls battle in June, 1874, for shooting an Indian that was about 5/8 of a mile away with his big buffalo rifle. He later fought off numerous Indians with another army scout and four troopers while laying in a slight depression called a buffalo wallow on open prairie. It is remembered as the Buffalo Wallow Fight, and all surviving members of that group, including Billy Dixon, were awarded an MOH. He was laid to rest at the sight of the Adobe Walls battle. William Olds who was accidentally killed during the Adobe Walls Battle when he dropped his own rifle is also buried on the grounds.
Several sources basically tell the same story, but a few have minor variances you can read them yourself:
Texas History Texas Library Skyways Missouri State Texas Escapes