Adobe Walls ia a ghost town in Hutchinson County, 17 miles 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.
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.
Establishment
In 1843, the trading firm of Bent, St. Vrain and 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 eighty-square-foot single-entrance fort, with walls that rose nine feet. 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.
By the time of the renown battles, the adobe structure was permanently abandoned, leaving only the crumbling adobe walls. In 1874, a new complex was erected north of the ruins by traders from Kansas.
The battles of Adobe Walls
First battle
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.
Second battle
On June 27, 1874, known as the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, 28 trading post civilians repelled 700 attacking native Americans led by Isa-tai and Quanah Parker.
Post battle era
Following the battles and relocation of native American tribes, buffalo hunters would still come, but the herds had thinned. The Turkey Track Ranch was established, but the population of the area remained sparse. Human remains were left scattered on the battlefields.
In 1883, civilian Medal of Honor winner Billy Dixon hired on at the Turkey Track Ranch. He filed for two sections of land at Bent Creek and erected a log house. The first school building was destroyed by fire in 1920, and Dixon made his home available as a temporary school until a new one would be erected. 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. Dixon served as postmaster until 1901, at which time Otto Anderson was appointed postmaster. The post office was in operation until 1921, when it was closed and mail service moved to Plemons.
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 Wells is a ghost town.
In 1923 the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society became owners of the remains of the 1874 trading post, and conducted archeological excavations in the 1970s.
Notable persons
Additional sourcing
References
Retrieved from :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Walls,_Texas
No comments:
Post a Comment