Buffalo Wallow Fight

[Elwood]

Ran across this on a youtube piece, then looked it up online.  What a story.   I had heard the name Billy Dixon before, he made an incredible shot at the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, I had read about that engagement.   Was not familiar with the Buffalo Wallow fight.   Panhandle of Texas, 1874, 2 army scouts and 4 soldiers run across a band of about 125 Comanches.   A desperate fight ensued, over-confident Indians perhaps but no quit in the scouts/soldiers.   They didn't come much tougher than the Comanches.    Maybe the fight should have been required reading for the 7th.   If you are not familiar with the Battle of Adobe Walls, look into that also.   Great story.  Evidently there were 2 of those, I am more familiar with the one involving the buffalo hunters including Billy Dixon, usually referred to as the 2nd Battle of AW.    

www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/buffalo-wallow-fight

[quincannon]

There is a Remmington painting that seems to fit that story, if my memory on this cold night serves me well. I will look it up and find the title of it. Probably not accurate as to the story but I recall several riflemen in a circular disposition firing from a depression in the ground.

Now that I think about it I believe the painting is entitled "Defending the Waterhole"

[Elwood]

Nov 24, 2023 1:42:04 GMT quincannon said:

Now that I think about it I believe the painting is entitled "Defending the Waterhole"

Yes, I think I've seen that one too.   Well the Buffalo Wallow would be similar in shape, just enough for the men to get a decent amount of cover.   Taking on Comanches in open prairie, horseless would usually be a death sentence I'd figure.

Here is a link to the 2nd Battle of Adobe Walls, fascinating story.  Billy Dixon's shot, story of the Comanche medicine man, Quanah Parker etc.  The last paragraph is an advertisement, I apologize, still an excellent article.   


texashillcountry.com/shot-century-billy-dixon-history/

[quincannon]

Looked it up. The correct title is "Fight for the Waterhole" I would suspect Remington was inspired by the Buffalo Wallow fight in doing this one. In the Remington though the horses are in the center of the depression, which does not follow the Wallow story. Excellent painting though.

I think some of Remington's best art work was done in Cuba June/July 1898. My favorites at least.

[miker]

That painting reminds me of the final fight of Henry Fonda in Fort Apache, where they were all killed. Watching the movie I always tell him (as I do George Picket in Gettysburg) don't do it colonel. DON'T DO IT.

EDIT:  Napoleon.  DON'T GO. DON'T. Rent or buy Waterloo with Rod Steiger  and Christopher Plummer. 

[quincannon]

That movie looked like a loser from jump street. Agree on the earlier Steiger/Plumber flic.

Better yet read Sharpe's "Waterloo" by Cornwell. Cornwell has an exceptional non-fiction book on Waterloo as well. Best rendition I have ever read. Very easy to follow all the action. Highly recommended.

Don't do it is exactly what my father said when I told him I was joining the Army at 18. Then when I told him I was going into the Infantry he said - Are you frigging nuts? On those cold lonely nights when I was freezing my butt off and my hands were shaking uncontrollably, the snot dripping from my nose, all the while feeling a case of diarrhea coming on quickly, I decided that yes, I probably was.

[Elwood]

Nov 24, 2023 16:13:26 GMT quincannon said:

I think some of Remington's best art work was done in Cuba June/July 1898. My favorites at least.

An American Master. Who did the picture of the cowboys fleeing Indians, one steadying another who’d been hit and the black horse in the middle staring straight at the viewer?

My Granddad had that in his house for years.

[quincannon]

It's called "Dash For Timber" and it is a Remington. Your grandfather had exceptional taste.  As western art goes it is one of his best known and most beloved works. The original is in Texas, Dallas I think.

Visited Remington's home on the Saint Lawrence River many years ago. Could have spent a fortune in prints they had for sale. I was a Fort Drum at the time, and was afraid I would get them damaged on the ride to home station, which would have been in a tactical vehicle. Settled on one depicting the 4th Cavalry. My battalion owned one of his original etchings. Seems like the cavalry troop, which my battalion descended from, had a commander who was a personal friend of his. The troop commander was by the name of Shirley, and I think the story was that they had met in Cuba. Can't really recall the details. It depicted cavalry in the riding hall at Fort Myer, Virginia. Cavalry in those days, the turn of the 20th Century did the same job as the 1st Battalion (Reinforced) 3rd Infantry "The Old Guard" does now.  Only viewed it once. Loved it. The picture though should still be in the Baltimore Museum of Art. My battalion was disbanded more than 30 years ago. 

[Elwood]

Nov 24, 2023 21:22:13 GMT quincannon said:

It's called "Dash For Timber" and it is a Remington. Your grandfather had exceptional taste.  As western art goes it is one of his best known and most beloved works. The original is in Texas, Dallas I think.. 

Close. I understand that the original is in Ft. Worth. Amon Carter museum.

[deadwoodgultch]

There was actually a fight at the Divide where Custer sent Benteen left, in 1874. Roughly 100 scouts and gold seekers attempting to stir up trouble for a railroad fought a thousand or so of the same Indians who whacked Custer. Herendeen was actually there. Part of the reason Gibbon hired him. These folks fought from dugouts around their camp, This fight is covered in "Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Gold, and Guns" by Col. French L. MacLean.