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Wynn Hill 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.

Jack County, Texas

    It was about 1864 that Milton (Dock) Wynn, Buck Sanders, B.L. Henry, Thompson, Frank Lane, Luke Choate, and one or two others who were out cow-hunting near Wynn-Hill, west of Jacksboro, had a bitter engagement with the Indians. Some of theses citizens were up in a cove, in search of cattle, when charged by savages. They rushed back to the flat and joined their companions and it was here the fight occurred. The whites protected themselves behind scattered timber, and in a draw, as much as circumstances would afford. Most of the Indians, as usual, remained on their horses while most of the whites dismounted. Milton Wynn had a double-barrel shotgun, and all the rest were armed with a rifle; and from behind a stump with this weapon, he did deadly work. Milton Wynn, who remained on his horse, soon received a mortal wound, and said, "Boys, I am shot."

    His companions lifted him from his horse. He died shortly afterwards. When the Indians realized the whites could not be bluffed, they withdrew from the field, and went away. B.L. Ham was painfully wounded in the leg, and Buck Sanders received a severe wound in his elbow, causing his arm to be stiff for the rest of his life. One other man was, also, slightly wounded.

    This fight occurred about noon, and Milton Wynn, shortly afterwards was moved to the home of Tom Roberts, his brother-in-law.

    Note: Author interviewed B.L. Ham, mentioned above; Mrs. Ed Wholfforth, a sister of Buck Sanders; James Wood, A.M. Lasater, Joe Fowler, and Newt. Wood.

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

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