THE BATTLE OF BUFFALO WALLOW
Caught out in the open, Billy fights for his life.
Again.
On September 10th, 1874, Scouts Billy Dixon and Amos Chapman with four enlisted men, Sergeant Zachariah T. Woodhall, Private Peter Rath, Private John Harrington, and Private George W. Smith, left camp on McClellan Creek en route to Camp Supply in Indian Territory. They were carrying dispatches from Col. Nelson Miles concerning the delay of his supply train. Unknown to Col. Miles, Captain Lyman’s supply train was under siege by Comanche and Kiowa braves that would last until reinforcements arrived on the 14th.
By the 12th of September, warriors had begun to pull away from the siege of Captain Lyman’s supply train. Unfortunately, Billy Dixon and the detachment had the bad luck of meeting of a band of those Indian fighters near the Washita River in modern day Hemphill County, Texas.
At sunrise the morning of the 12th, Dixon and Chapman and the four Calvary soldiers found themselves surrounded by about 125 Comanche and Kiowas warriors. As the Indians had burned off the prairie grasses, the six were caught our in the open with no cover to conceal themselves. The Indians quickly attacked. The soldiers quickly dismounted, and left Private Smith in charge of the horses, as they tried to make a stand.
A Kiowa Ledger Drawing of what may be the Battle of Buffalo Wallow. Drawn by an unknown artist Ledger Drawings were named after the Ledger books readily available to Native Americans from Traders and Suppliers during the last half of the century. Easily portable, the were used to record historical events and tell a story.
Very early on in the battle, Pvt. Smith was shot in the chest and the horses, loaded with the detachments blankets, coats, canteens and other provisions, stampeded. Soon, Amos Chapman was shot in the leg, and was unable to move. Dixon and soldiers Woodhall and, Harrington were wounded. By noon, everyone except Chapman and Smith had made their way to a shallow depression where buffalo had wallowed in the dirt and mud. Working quickly, the men had used hands and knives to throw up a short bulwark of dirt and rocks around the depression. They then had scant protection, and could more effectively use their pistols and heavy caliber rifles.
Some time during the battle, Dixon was able to run to Chapman and carry him back to the Wallow.
As the day wore on, the men suffered terribly from thirst and exposure. Dixon said:
“About 3 o’clock a black cloud came up in the west, and in a short time the sky shook and blazed with thunder and lightning. Rain fell in blinding sheets, drenching us to the skin. Water gathered quickly in the buffalo wallow, and our wounded men eagerly bent forward and drank from the muddy pool. It was more than muddy—that water was red with their own blood that had flowed from their wounds and lay clotting and dry in the hot September sun.”
Life of Billy Dixon of Adobe Walls-1914
By 3 pm a rainstorm had helped slay their thirst somewhat, but the wind soon shifted to the north, bringing cold temperatures. During the lull in fighting, everyone on the prairie was cold and miserable. the Indians sat horseback wrapped in blankets out of rifle range watching the troopers, while the soldiers sat wet and shivering. Pvt. Rath made a run to retrieve Pvt. Smith rifle and ammunition, and to his surprise found Smith still alive. He had been shot through the lungs. Rath and Dixon carried Smith back to the wallow, where he died later that night. During the darkness Rath attempted to go for help, but became lost and in 2 hours was back at the Wallow.
The next morning Dixon struck out for Camp Supply, Miraculously, within a half of a mile, he soon found the Eighth Cavalry under Major Price’s command coming from the relief of Captain Lyman and the besieged Supply train. Firing his rifle to attract their attention, two soldiers rode forward to him. Dixon quickly briefed the troopers on his condition and they returned to report to Major Price, who summoned his Chief Surgeon and rode out to where Dixon was. Now another stroke of really bad luck.
In describing the meeting with Price, he must have been incredulous. Billy said:
“Major Price rode over to where I was waiting, bringing his army surgeon with him. I described the condition of my comrades, after which Major Price sent the surgeon and two soldiers to see what could be done for the wounded. I pointed out the place, which was about a mile distant, and asked the surgeon if he thought he could find it without my going along, as Major Price wanted me to tell him about the fight. The surgeon said that he could and rode away.
I was describing in detail all that had happened when I looked up and saw that the relief party was bearing too far south. I fired my gun to attract their attention, and then waved it in the direction which they were to go. By this time they were within gunshot of my comrades in the buffalo wallow. To my utter astonishment, I heard the roar of a gun and saw a puff of smoke rise from the wallow—one of the men had fired at the approaching strangers, killing a horse ridden by one of the soldiers.
I ran forward as rapidly as possible, not knowing what the men would do next. They were soon able to recognize me, and lowered their guns. When we got to them the men said that they had heard shooting—the shots I had fired to attract the attention of the troops—and supposed that the Indians had killed me and were coming for them. They were determined to take no chances, and shot at the surgeon and the two soldiers the moment they got within range.
Despite the sad plight of the wounded men, about all the surgeon did was to examine their injuries. The soldiers turned over a few pieces of hardtack and some dried beef, which happened to be tied behind their saddles. Major Price refused to leave any men with us. For this he was afterwards severely censured, and justly. He would not even provide us with firearms. Our own ammunition was exhausted and the soldiers carried guns of different make and caliber from ours. However, they said they would let General Miles know of our condition. We were sure that help would come the moment General Miles heard the news. At the time we were glad just to have seen these men and did not think much about how they treated us.”
Billy Dixon and his comrades waited until midnight of the second day after Price’s detachment had left them. Finally hearing a Bugle in the distant darkness, they fired guns to signal their location. As soon as the wounded were handed off to the Surgeon, the remaining men buried Pvt. Smith in the Buffalo Wallow. They then camped with their rescuers along the nearby creek who had built a large fire and cooked them a good meal.
Major William R. Price
The next morning the wounded went to Camp Supply. Chapman’s leg was amputated at the knee, and after a short hospital stay he was back in the saddle. Billy said of Chapman “He could handle a gun and ride as well as ever; the only difference was he had to mount his horse from the right side, Indian fashion”.
All the men recovered, and went on with the Army. Colonel Miles was so impressed with the men’s bravery, he recommended all of them for the Medal of Honor. Read about Billy Dixon’s Medal of Honor here.
The photos below show Dixon as a scout and scout Amos Chapman, older, several years after the Battle. Incidentally, the prized photo of his mother that Billy left home with, was lost during this battle. An old buffalo hunter who had been at the Adobe Walls battle with Billy reflected on Billy’s character by saying “to see Billy look at that photo of his mother, told you all you needed to know about Billy Dixon” .
“I should like once more to meet the men with whom I fought in the Buffalo Wallow Fight, but I seldom hear from them. When I last heard of Amos Chapman he was living at Seiling, Oklahoma. My last letter from Sergeant Woodhull was dated Fort Wingate, New Mexico, 1883. This was shortly after Colonel Dodge had published his book, ” Our Wild Indians,” in which he attempted to give a circumstantial account of the Buffalo Wallow Fight. Sergeant Woodhull was displeased with the statement of facts, and resented the inaccuracies.”
Billy Dixon
FROM LIFE OF “BILLY” DIXON OF ADOBE WALLS-OLIVE DIXON 1914
NEXT: THE RED RIVER WAR
