Markers (click on a topic to jump to that section.)
1870s Cowboy-Indian Fight | Site of Camp San Saba | Site of Brady Indian Battle | McCulloch County | McCulloch, General Ben | Ogden Home | Onion Creek Indian Fight | Soldier's Waterhole | Western Trail
Uncommemorated and Unmapped Sites
Sebe Goens' Camp
Uncommemorated Active Battle Map (Stories below are on map.)
Milburne Raid | Col. R.B. (Buck) Barry's Indian Fight in McCulloch County | Chancy Couch | James Bowie and Others Fight on the San Saba
1870s Cowboy-Indian Fight
Marker Title: 1870s Cowboy-Indian Fight
City: Calf Creek Vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1973
Marker Location: 0.5 mile southwest of Calf Creek on FM 1311 (or, from
Brady, take US 87 about 16.2 miles west to marker, just east of junction
with FM 503).
Marker Text: Near here in 1874 or 1875, 18 Indians attacked W.B. Brown
and two comrades, spooking one horse and capturing bedrolls and grub,
but sparing the men, who thankfully escaped. In the 1870s, when they
were being driven off the range, capture of supplies meant victory to
the Indians. (1973)
Site of Camp San Saba
Marker Title: Site of Camp San Saba
City: Brady vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: FM 1955, in the Camp San Saba community, 10 miles south
of Brady off US 87.
Marker Text: Here was stationed, 1862-1864, Captian W.G. O'Brien's
Company of mounted volunteers a unit of the frontier regiment organized
to protect the frontier against Indians. The regiment in 1864 became
the Forty-sixth Texas Cavalry in the Confederate Army.
Site of Indian Battle
Marker Title: Site of Indian Battle
City: Brady vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: From Brady take US 190 west about 10.9 miles to FM
1311. Follow FM 1311 south about 3.3 miles to marker.
Marker Text: On November 21, 181 James Bowie, Rezin P. Bowie, David
Buchanan, Cephas D. Hamm, Matthew Doyle, Jesse Wallace, Thomas McCaslin,
Robert Armstrong, James Coryell with two servants, Charles and Gonzales,
held at bay for a day and a night, 164 Caddos and Lipans. After 80 warriors
had been killed, the Indians withdrew.
McCulloch County
Marker Title: McCulloch County
City: Brady
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: Courthouse Square, US 87/377 at US 190.
Marker Text: Created Aug. 27, 1856. One of 128 counties formed from
Bexar County that extended from the Rio Grande to the Panhandle, and
as far west as El Paso. Named for Texas hero, Ben McCulloch, who fought
in Texas Revolution, Indian, Mexican and Civil Wars. Indian and frontier
hazards made growth slow and 20 years passed before buffalo were hunted
off and ranches established. Organized Aug. 4, 1876 with Brady, county
seat. Became ranch, farm, recreation center. Site of geographical center
of Texas and 1831 Calf Creek Battle, where James Bowie, Alamo hero,
defeated 100 Indians.
General Ben McCulloch
Marker Title: General Ben McCulloch, C.S.A. (1811-1862)
City: Brady
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: Southwest corner of courthouse square, US 337/87 at
US 190.
Marker Text: Distinguished Ranger, frontier surveyor, Indian fighter,
lawman, statesman and military commander. Born in Tennessee. Followed
David Crockett to Texas to fight in War for Independence. Commanded
one of the "Twin Sisters" cannon in the Battle of San Jacinto,
April 21, 1836. Served in the Congress of the Republic of Texas. In
1846, during war with Mexico, led Ranger company in successful scouting
mission 100 miles behind enemy lines. During 1849 California gold rush
was sheriff of Sacramento County. Home again in 1852 became U.S. Marshal,
Eastern District of Texas. Led Texas volunteers in San Antonio Feb.
16, 1861, when U.S. arsenal was surrounded and its surrender demanded--an
encounter in a charged atmosphere that could have become the first armed
conflict of the Civil War, although it ended without the firing of a
shot, and with U.S. troops leaving the state. President Jefferson Davis
offered him first General Staff Commission in the Civil War. Made a
Brigadier General on May 14, 1861, he had charge of troops in Arkansas
and Indian territory. Was the Confederate Commander in victory at Wilson
Creek, Mo., 1861. Was killed in Battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. (1964)
Ogden Home
Marker Title: Ogden Home
City: Brady vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: 10 miles south of Brady on US 377/87 in the Camp San
Saba community.
Onion Creek Indian Fight
Marker Title: Onion Creek Indian Fight
City: Brady vicinity
County: McCulloch
Year Marker Erected: 1973
Marker Location: From Brady take US 190 north about 6 miles.
Marker Text: One night in 1866, five men from Richland Springs (about
25 mi. NE) recovered stolen horses from Indians camped near here. A
metal arrow hit a Mr. Lafferty, slid halfway around his skull, was cut
out with a pocket knife, and Lafferty survived. The grave of an Indian
casualty is about 30 yards north. (1973)
Soldier's Waterhole
Marker Title: Soldier's Waterhole
City: Brady vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: From Brady take US 190 east about 5.5 miles. Take CR
412 east 2.5 miles to marker.
Marker Text: U.S. soldiers under command of Robert E. Lee used this
site while traveling the nearby military road and patrolling this area
for Indians. Westbound immigrants also camped here prior to the Civil
War; Here 27 Indians surprised and massacred 18 men, women and children
burned their wagons and stole their horses. 1850; 1869. ON THE BACK
SIDE OF THE MONUMENT: Ancient Indian Camp Ground; Erected in 1964 by
McCulloch County Historical Society.
Western Trail
Marker Title: Western Trail
City: Brady vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: From Brady take US 283 about 10 miles north to marker
at pass between "Brady Mountains".
Marker Text: Through this gap in hills called "Brady Mountains"
passed the western cattle trail, also known as "Dodge City Trail",
"Fort Griffin Trail", or "The Beef Trail". Said
to have originated in 1876, this was the last of the old-time Texas
cattle trails, those east of here having been closed by farmers. Large
numbers of cattle were driven up this trail 1876 to 1886--over 200,000
head in 1881 alone. This trail started near Brownsville and came up
to San Antonio, then northwest through or near Uvalde and Kerrville.
Skirting the Nueces River, it came over the divide, crossing headwaters
of the South Llano River, fording San Saba River at pegleg crossing,
going down river about six miles, then turning north. Near Brady, feeder
trails came from Fort McKavett and points west, and from San Saba, to
the east. After leaving Cow Gap (likely so named from Cow Creek, about
500 yds. W of this marker), it went northwest and over the Colorado
at "Beef Crossing" in Waldrip's Bend, then to Coleman, Baird,
Fort Griffin and Vernon, spanning Red River at Doan's Crossing. Northward
through Indian country it went to Dodge City, Kans., and later into
Wyoming and Montana. This trail was of great worth to the territories
it traversed. (1970)
Brady Community