Search

Indian Fight South of Millsap in 1868

Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Parker County, Texas

    During 1868, R.W. Littlefield, Ed Ross, and Wright Jones, had just finished killing a beef, about two miles south of the present town of Millsap, and placed it on a pack horse, when R.W. Littlefield saw an Indian on a little hill about one hundred and fifty yards away. The Indian was traveling east. Ed Ross and Wright Jones, who had been on the frontier only a short time, were anxious to pursue the savage, but R.W. Littlefield, who understood their intrigues, told the boys the Indian had set a trap, and this savage was trying to decoy them into a larger bunch of Indians. But Ross said, "Let's get him, boys." So the three took after the savage. They had only gone about two hundred yards, however, when the lone warrior threw in with about fourteen others concealed over the hill. The citizens dismounted and several shots were fired. The Indians retreated, but not until after Ross was wounded in the hip. Littlefield's horse was also wounded.

    Ross was moved to the home of Wright Jones, about two miles west and a messenger sent to Weatherford for a doctor. The wounded horse was released, but again stolen that night, evidently by the same band of Indians. This animal was later found dead near the present city of Mineral Wells.

    Note: Author interviewed Bud and Dave Littlefield.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.

Join the discussion

Further reading

Recent Comments