Near Wesco in Gray County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Battle of North Fork of Red River

Photographed by Allen Lowrey, July 15, 2023

1. Battle of North Fork of Red River Marker

Inscription. On Sept. 29, 1872, Col. Ranald S. MacKenzie (1840-89) found in this area a 262-tepee village of Comanches defying treaties that sought to confine them on Indian Territory reservations. MacKenzie's 231 U.S. Cavalry and Infantrymen captured the village in half an hour and routed Chief Mow-Way's warriors, who made a desperate resistance from sheltering creek banks. That night the Indians succeeded in recapturing their horses from an army guard detail. This taught MacKenzie a lesson that led to his eventual victory in the 1874 campaign to subdue the Indians.

Erected 1972 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 324.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is September 29, 1872.

Location. 35° 24.941′ N, 100° 40.328′ W. Marker is near Wesco, Texas, in Gray County. It is on Ranch to Market 1321 6.3 miles east of Texas Route 273, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: RM 1321, Weslaco TX 78596, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Texas Panhandle.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rescue of Two White Girls by Lt. Frank Baldwin (approx. 7.9 miles away); Big Springs (approx.

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7.9 miles away); Site of Pampa Army Air Force Base (approx. 10.3 miles away); Eldridge Post Office (approx. 10½ miles away); Quanah Parker Trail (approx. 13.1 miles away); McLean Methodist Church (approx. 13.2 miles away); First Phillips 66 Station (approx. 13.3 miles away); Alfred Rowe (approx. 13.3 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Phillips 66 Service Station, McLean, Texas (was approx. 13.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Allen Lowrey, July 15, 2023

2. Battle of North Fork of Red River Marker

Battle of North Fork of Red River Marker area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen Lowrey, July 15, 2023

3. Battle of North Fork of Red River Marker area

Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2023, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,095 times since then and 117 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 15, 2023, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.