VIDEO HERE (18:40 minutes)
The battle that took place proved to be the critical final blow in the US Government’s decades long war against the tribes of the Southern Plains.
Not because of a massive loss of warriors or territory. But because of what happened after the battle.
Once the Comanche and their allies had fled the site of their village, Colonel MacKenzie would order his men to select the finest horses from the Comanche’s expansive herd for use by the Army’s Cavalry.
MacKenzie then ordered the rest of the horses, well over 1,000 animals, to be rounded up and slaughtered. For the entirety of the afternoon, until the sun had nearly set, the men of the 4th Cavalry chased the horses into smaller redoubts throughout the canyon, and shot them down one by one.
Many of the soldiers would be forever haunted by their actions that day. And, while the killing of the enemy’s means of transport and survival was an arguably brilliant tactical move, the horrors of Palo Duro canyon would haunt both the legacy and the psyche of Colonel MacKenzie until his dying day.
It needed to haunt him. Gregb
ReplyDeleteWar is hell. No one should enjoy it. I believe that MacKenzie saw what needed to be done and sacrificed his peaceful sleep for the rest of his life to achieve a faster end to the conflict. Even the though of the hundreds of saved lives would not erase the memory of what he ordered, but it had to be done to live up to his oath.
DeleteDestroying an enemy air force on the ground is the modern equivalent, but the Comanch' were such legendary horsemen, giving them back to the Indians in effect, would mean the war would go on. Custer did the same at the Washita.
ReplyDeleteThe American Indians are the ones deserving reparations!
ReplyDeleteYou sound like my ex wife (a Comanche Indian) who got pissed as hell every time I pointed out that we didn't steal their land, we beat their ass and took it from them just like the Comanches did to those that were there before them.
DeleteWhy, what's so special about them ????
DeleteLike Kenny mentioned land belonged to the ones that could capture and keep it for hundreds of years before white people even walked that ground.
JD
The American Indians deserve to have their lands deeded to them, each individual getting their own property and unrestricted deeds and allowed to live their lives ad not be controlled by the reservation system. They are being used just as African Americans are being used by their leaders for the personal gain of their leaders. End the reservation system. All Indians in the U.S. are citizens and should be treated equally and free to seek their own happiness'.
DeletePalo Duro canyon is the second largest canyon in North America located SE of Amarillo, TX. It is a Texas state park and well worth the visit...
ReplyDeleteMy home country.
Deletemaybe posting a story of such horror on September 11, the day after an upstanding Christian conservative orator was assassinated, was not such a great idea. I am sick and tired hearing, reading and seeing nothing but death and destruction for the last few days. OK the world is not full of rainbows and unicorns, but give it a rest.
ReplyDeleteUm, it was posted at 12:01 Central time on 9/12, not 9/11. I don't know how to tell you this but I pre-schedule most if not all my posts days in advance because after all, I have a fucking life too.
DeleteSorry that your visit here this morning/last night wasn't up to your satisfaction but I learned a long time ago that I can't please everybody.
On the other hand I'm from Amarillo and I really appreciate an article which covers my local history. I cant imagine how self centered one would have have to be in-order to complain that someone posted an article that most would consider a distraction from this crappy week we have all had to endure.
DeleteThere is the option of not coming in here. When I don't like the movie I leave. Keep em coming Kenny. I enjoy your material.
DeleteI second all the responses to the original comment.
DeleteHistory is messy and not always pleasant but it is what it is.. Instead of complaining maybe just stop reading it when it gets to be too messy for you.
JD
Anon at 5:55 am ... If I were you, I'd demand my money back on the price of admission to this terribly insensitive hive of scum and villainy. Hit ya right in the pussy hat, did it?
ReplyDeleteMG
Anon@5:55 contacted me directly via email and we had a civil conversation about the comment. He's a regular reader who has in fact contributed both material to post and monetary funds when I was accepting donations. So please, no more shitty comments.
Delete