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Sierra Diablo

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.

Part of our in-depth series exploring the forts of Comancheria

29 January 1881; Salt Flat, Texas: A number of survivors from Victorio's decimated Apache band-12 warriors, 4 women, and 4 children-came back into Texas in January 1881 and attacked a stage in Quitman Canyon, killing the driver, named Morgan, and a passenger named Crenshaw. Capt. George W. Baylor left Ysleta with 15 Texas Rangers and some Pueblo Indian scouts to trail them.

At the Eagle Mountains, the Rangers lost the trail, but about a dozen more Rangers, under Lt. C.L. Nevill from Fort Davis, picked it up. It led north from Eagle Springs to the edge of the Sierra Diablo. On the morning of 29 January, 19 Rangers crept up on the raiders' sleeping camp, and just as the sun rose they opened fire. The Apaches ran, according to Baylor, "like a herd of deer." The fight was over in a short time.

With no losses of their own, the Rangers killed four warriors, two women, and two children. One woman and two children were captured.

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