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Gunsight Gap Fight

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.

Stephens County, Texas

    During 1869, several wagons of corn were being hauled from near Stephenville to Fort Griffin, and were guarded by eleven soldiers. When they reached Colony Creek, in Eastland County, several deer were seen, and pursued by the cavalrymen. Since the teamsters were depending upon the soldiers, they were unarmed. So when the wagons reached Gunsight Gap, in the southern part of Stephens County, several Indians came charging freighters. The teamsters ran down the creek, for a considerable distance, crossed over the divide west, and went to the home of W.W. Ray, who then lived on Big Sandy. The Indians captured the several teams of mules, that were hitched to the wagons, and the soldiers went on to Fort Griffin. W.W. Ray hauled the teamsters to the post.

    Note: Author personally interviewed: J.M. Ray, son of W.W. Ray; W.C. McGough; List Christenson; and others.

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

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