Across The Fence: Salt Creek Massacre, May 18, 1871

"When a white army battles Indians and wins, it is called a great victory, but if they lose it is called a massacre."

– Chiksika, Shawnee.

In 1871, Henry Warren had contracted with the U.S. Army to freight supplies coming from the east to military outposts in west Texas. Warren's freighters hauled supplies to Fort Richardson, Fort Griffin and Fort Concho.

On May 18, 1871, Warren's teamsters were on the Jacksboro-Belknap road more than 25 miles from Fort Richardson. As the 10-mule teams lumbered along the road, under the burden of the overloaded wagons that they pulled, the freighters were over...