DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Indian raids brought General Miles and his men to Texas in 1874 — and friend, when the U.S. Army comes calling with a pincer's tactic and a dugout post for a headquarters, you know somebody means serious business.
Twelve infantry and cavalry units fanned out across the Panhandle, with supply camps set along the Canadian, the Red, and the Washita rivers. Not exactly the kind of accommodations you'd brag about back home, but that was the post, right here in what is now Hemphill County. Now, the winter of 1874 into 1875 was not a quiet one.
Eight Indian battles were fought during that season alone. But tucked inside all that hard campaigning is a moment that stops you cold. On November 8, 1874, General Miles' troops recovered two captive sisters — Addie and Julia German.
Two older sisters, Catherine and Sophia German, were still out there. The waiting must have been something. Then, on February 28, 1875, Catherine and Sophia were freed.
All four sisters, accounted for at last. And it was here, at this very dugout headquarters, that General Miles did something that echoes across the years. He nominated several of his men for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Among them — a man who would go on to become a renowned Panhandle settler — Billy Dixon. The frontier didn't stand still, though. In 1875, Fort Elliott opened at Old Mobeetie, taking up the work of frontier protection and carrying it forward.
A pincer's tactic, a dugout in the Texas earth, four sisters brought home — and a nomination that would follow Billy Dixon's name for the rest of his days. That's what happened, right here.
What the marker says
Indian raids brought General Miles' men to Texas in 1874 as part of U.S. Army pincer's tactic operating from a dugout post. The twelve infantry and cavalry units had supply camps on the Canadian, Red and Washita rivers. On November 8, 1874, Gen. Miles' troops recovered two captive sisters, Addie and Julia German. Two older sisters, Catherine and Sophia German, were freed February 28, 1875. Eight Indian battles were fought during that winter. At this post, General Miles nominated several of his men for the Congressional Medal of Honor, among them renowned Panhandle settler Billy Dixon. In 1875, Fort Elliott opened at Old Mobeetie to continue frontier protection. (1967)