Details for The Buffalo Soldiers and Indian Hot Springs
Historical Marker —
Atlas Number 5229005295
Data
Marker Number
5295
Atlas Number
5229005295
Marker Title
The Buffalo Soldiers and Indian Hot Springs
Index Entry
Buffalo Soldiers and Indian Hot Springs
Address
RR 1111
City
Sierra Blanca
County
Hudspeth
UTM Zone
13
UTM Easting
469650
UTM Northing
3410201
Subject Codes
African American topics; Native Americans; water topics; military topics
Marker Year
1988
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
No
Marker Location
Indian Hot Springs Ranch on private property
Private Property
Yes
Marker Condition
Access Restricted
Marker Size
27" x 42"
Marker Text
The natural hot springs in this area have been used for centuries by people seeking curative waters. Known as Indian hot Springs, they were used by generations of nomadic Indian tribes. Following the Civil War, the U.S. army established several regiments of black soldiers, including the 10th Cavalry. Called "buffalo soldiers", by their Indian adversaries, the soldiers conducted numerous scouting and mapping expeditions in this region. Pursuing raiding bands of Mescalero Apache Indians, members of the 10th Cavalry were sent to guard water holes and river crossings known to be frequented by the Indians. At dawn on October 28, 1880, soldiers of companies B and K were attacked on a ridge near this site by Apaches. Although official and contemporary accounts of the battle vary, at least five buffalo soldiers were reported slain in the attack and were buried where they fell. They were: Carter Burns, George Mills, William Backus, Jeremiah Griffin, and James Stanley. Two soldiers, Scott Graves and Thomas Rach, were reported missing. Their bodies were said to have been found and buried with their comrades weeks later. The seven graves were relocated in this vicinity in the 1960s. (1988)
