At sunrise, June 27th , 1874, 28 Buffalo hunters and one woman were surrounded by nearly 700 Comanche and Kiowa warriors in the recently constructed trading camp known as “Adobe Walls”.
At sunrise June 27th , 2024, over one hundred history buffs, re-enactors and curious spectators joined with members of the Frontier Regiment of the High Plains to commemorate the three-day battle that ensued that beautiful June morning in 1874.
Members of the Frontier Regiment, dressed in period clothing, toured onlookers through the historic site, giving enlightening, educational lectures at each significant place.
Chris Larson, dressed as a buffalo hunter, was the host for the Frontier Regiment. He opened the observance standing at the Red Granite marker that was erected and dedicated to the Buffalo Hunters in 1923. He welcomed the group with a general overview of the three-day engagement.
Chuck Hartline, dressed as an 1874 Buffalo Hunter read the names of all the buffalo hunters and traders who were present during the battle.
Indian Scout and Frontier Regiment member Luke Lindsey recited Quanah Parker’s words about the famous Battle , while standing at the red granite marker erected in 1941 to honor the Native Americans of the Battle.
At the gravesite of William Olds, a shopkeeper who, tragically and accidentally, lost his life, Phoebe Hartline, outfitted in a prairie dress, told the story of Mrs. Olds, the only woman in the camp at the time of the battle.
Visitors were lead on a walking tour of the site, stopping at the locations of long-gone buildings and hearing the history of each of them.
Situated in remote Hutchison County, the site became owned by the Panhandle Plains Historical Society in 1927. Historical markers have been erected through the years commemorating the Battle and memorializing the Buffalo Hunters and Native American participants. In May of 1978 the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This observance was the opening event planned by the Frontier Regiment of the High Plains in acknowledgment of the Red River War Sesquicentennial. The Regiment joins other Panhandle Historians and Museums in acknowledging the 150 th anniversary.
History buffs will be glad to hear the Regiment will be presenting programs about other Battles of the Red River War during the next few months, and locally White Deer Land Museum in Pampa is unveiling the new Red River War wing, another important must-see display.
The Frontier Regiment of the high Plains is a nonprofit group with a mission to preserve Panhandle history and educate the public about life on the Panhandle Frontier, specializing in the Red River War era. Through the use of authentic clothing, period equipment, and unequivocal knowledge of Panhandle History these dedicated re-enactors volunteer their time and talents to present to visitors an authentic glimpse of early Panhandle life.
Their dedication to accurately portraying living history events such as this one make the Frontier Regiment of the High Plains one of the premier historical educators in our area. Find them on Facebook.
