10 November 1837

[Craig Tx]

From the Texas State Historical Association "Texas Day By Day"

On this day in 1837, eighteen Texas Rangers fought 150 to 180 Kichai Indians in present-day Archer County in a conflict called the battle of Stone Houses.

In mid-October 1837, a ranger company pursued the raiding Kichais up the Colorado River. Lt. A. B. Van Benthusen and seventeen men split from the main group and headed north to the Brazos. Eventually, they found the Kichais. Cherokee and Delaware Indians who were present attempted to act as peace agents, but when one ranger killed an Indian and took a plug of tobacco from the dead man’s body the infuriated Kichais attacked.

The rangers sought cover in a shallow ravine, but after fierce fighting, the Kichais set fire to the prairie and smoked them out. In the ensuing chaos, some rangers escaped into the woods. Eight rangers survived the battle, which was so named after three stone mounds that looked like houses to the Indians.

Craig

[Uncle Russ]

Craig, that Ranger should have never taken that fellers plug of 'baccer....leaves a really bad impression.

Thanks a bunch for these "not often enough" little tid-bits from the Texas Historical Society.
Personally, I enjoy reading them, but I suspect this also may have a bit to do with the fact that I spent half my life in El Paso....family and friends are still there.

Uncle Russ...

[Craig Tx]

Yup, not the way to win friends and influence people...

You're quite welcome Unca Russ.  I'm glad to do it.

Craig