Captain Lyman's wagon train besieged in Hemphill County, Texas

Background. The Red River War was a military campaign launched by the United States Army in 1874 to displace Comanche, Kiowa, Southern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes from the Southern Plains. Army columns crisscrossed the Texas Panhandle to locate and capture nomadic bands. The conflict intensified after the June 1874 attack on Adobe Walls, leading to continued fighting throughout the fall as tribes were forced toward reservations.

Geographic Context. Hemphill County, Texas, is located in the U.S. state of Texas. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1887, meaning the 1874 event occurred in the region that would later become the county. The area was historically traversed by nomadic tribes following bison herds, and trails crossed the region following the south bank of the Canadian River.

The Engagement. On September 9, 1874, Captain Wyllys Lyman led a wagon train full of rations to Camp Supply in Indian Territory. The event is known as both the Battle of the Upper Washita River and the Battle of Lyman's Wagon Train. During the engagement, Native Americans were unprepared and did not have time to gather their horses or supplies before retreating.