First Battle of Edobe Walls

After the end of the Civil War , conflicts between white settlers and Indians became more frequent, which led to armed clashes. In 1864, the Indians launched several attacks on migrant wagons along the Santa Fe Trail . General James Carleton, commander of troops in New Mexico , blamed the Comanches and the Kiow for these attacks and decided to send a punitive expedition against them.

The head of the expedition was Keith Carson , who had experience in battles with the Indians. Carson's army consisted of 14 officers , 321 soldiers and 75 Native Scouts, Hikaril warriors and Utes . On November 10, 1864, Keith Carson set out from Fort Bascom, New Mexico Territory. His squad advanced along the Kaneidian River towards the Texas ledge .

Scouts of Utes and Hikarilia discovered a 176 tipi kaiow camp near Edobe Walls. At dawn on November 25, Carson decided to attack the village. He ordered the cavalrymen to dismount and hide the horses behind the walls of Edoub Walls, and then attack the Kiow.

After the attack of the soldiers, the Kiowa warriors rushed to the horses to restrain the onslaught and give women and children shelter. In the ensuing battle, a young Kaiowa warrior dressed in old Spanish chain mail, as well as two Indian women and an old Kaiowa Apache were killed. The defenders were forced to retreat and Carson captured their camp. After that, he intended to find other villages of the hostile Indians and also attack them. The retreating Kiowa reached the nearest Allied camps, regrouped and attacked Carson themselves. The soldiers were forced to repel the attack of about a thousand Native American soldiers. The fight continued throughout the afternoon. From the side of the Indians came the sounds of an army bugle - this added confusion to the actions of the soldiers. Carson believed that this was the work of an army deserter and defector - but in fact, the leader of the Kiowa Satant blew the horn.

Due to the increasing pressure, Carson was forced to retreat. Kiowa, Comanche, and Kiowa Apache fiercely attacked, but fire from rifles and two mountain howitzers reflected their onslaught. During the retreat, Carson ordered all of the Kiowa property to be burned. According to Carson's report, 176 tipi were destroyed, food and clothing supplies were also burned, and a van belonging to the leader of the kaiov, Dohasan , was burned down.

The soldiers traveled more than 320 kilometers before reaching the nearest settlements.

The first battle of Edoub Walls was declared victorious. According to Carson, the Indians lost 60 people killed and more than 100 wounded. His own losses amounted to 6 killed (one of the dead was an Indian scout) and 25 wounded.

Carson did not manage to defeat the hostile Indians, but he completely burned the Kiow camp and left them in November deprived of tipi, food supplies and necessary utensils. His actions were considered correct. Later, in the course of further military operations against the hostile Indians of the Great Plains , many US Army officers used the experience of Carson’s expedition.

• Second Battle of Edobe Walls

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• ADOBE WALLS, FIRST BATTLE OF - The Handbook of Texas Online