August 12 denotes 177 years since the Battle of Plum Creek, the most daring Native American invasion into the heart of Texas to ever take place.
Tension between Texans and native tribes like the Comanche and the Kiowa had been brewing for years in the early 1800s. Raids, kidnappings and killings on both sides were a part of frontier life.
But the violence ramped up in March of 1840 in San Antonio as Texans and Native American leaders met at what was meant to be a peace conference. Both sides were meant to exchange hostages at the meeting. But it didn’t work out. And by the end, seven Texans and 35 Native Americans (12 of them Comanche chiefs) were dead. The incident is known as the Council House Fight.
By August, with hearts set on revenge, about 600 Comanche horse warriors stormed frontier settlements in Southeast Texas. Led by Comanche war chief Buffalo Hump, they stole horses and supplies and took prisoners. They burned whole towns and filled settler after settler with the points of arrows.
Within a few days of the pillage, Buffalo Hump and his warriors felt justice had been served. And they headed for Comancheria, a region of Texas and New Mexico they called home.
On the way, they were set upon by Texas Rangers and militia at Plum Creek near present day Lockhart. The fighting stretched out for miles. And although Texans were outnumbered three to one, they had better guns and managed to come out on top of the fighting.
By the end, only a handful of Texans had been killed (accounts do vary). And although many Comanches escaped, more than 80 lost their lives. The battle marked the end of Comanche presence in settled areas of Texas.
At Veteran Energy, we like digging into the past from time to time. It helps us understand where we’re all at. And it helps us understand where we’re all going. Here’s to history.
