Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
Part of the Red River War, American Indian Wars
Palo Duro Canyon
Date September 28, 1874 Location Palo Duro Canyon, Texas 34°52′40″N 101°36′20″W / 34.87778°N 101.60556°W / 34.87778; -101.60556Coordinates: 34°52′40″N 101°36′20″W / 34.87778°N 101.60556°W / 34.87778; -101.60556 Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Cheyenne Comanche Kiowa
Commanders and leaders
Ranald S. Mackenzie	Poor Buffalo Lone Wolf
Strength
400 cavalry	1500 warriors
Casualties and losses
1 wounded	15 killed at Tule 50-60 killed at Palo Duro
Palo Duro Location within Texas

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 in Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle.

Late in the summer of 1874, Quahada Comanche, Southern Cheyenne, Arapaho and Kiowa warriors led by Lone Wolf left their assigned reservations and 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, departed Fort Clark, Texas on August 15, reached Fort Concho on the 21st and the mouth of Blanco Canyon on the 23rd with eight companies plus three from the 10th Infantry and one from the 11th. Mackenzie's orders from General Christopher C. Augur stated he was "at liberty to follow the Indians wherever they go, even to the Agencies."

Mackenzie formed three columns, the first column consisting of eight companies of the 4th Cavalry and two infantry companies, the second column under Lt. Col. George P. Buell consisting of five companies of the 9th Cavalry, one from the 10th, and two infantry companies, and the third column under Lt. Col. John W. Davidson consisting of eight companies of the 10th Cavalry and two infantry companies. The first column moved north along the edge of the Staked Plains, the second advanced up the Red River and the third marched from Fort Sill. By September 25, Indians began to gather around Mackenzie's troops so that on the night of September 26–27, they were attacked near Tule Canyon and Boehm's Canyon, resulting in the deaths of 15 warriors including the Kiowa chief Woman Heart.