Battle of Stone Houses facts for kids

The Skirmish of Stone Houses was a small but fierce fight. It happened on November 10, 1837. This battle was between the Texas Rangers and a group of Kichai Indians. It took place about ten miles south of what is now Windthorst, Texas. The area was named for three stone mounds. These mounds looked like small houses to the Kichai people.

Why the Fight Started

In early October 1837, a group of Kichai raided Fort Smith, Texas. This fort was located on the Little River. A company of Texas Rangers decided to chase them. Captain William Eastland led these Rangers.

They followed the Kichai up the Colorado River. But the Rangers soon lost the trail. Captain Eastland and Lieutenant A. B. Van Benthusen then had a disagreement. Because of this, their company split up.

Lieutenant Van Benthusen took 17 men with him. They headed north and found the Kichai trail again on November 1. They kept going north towards the Brazos River.

On November 3, the Rangers found another group. This group included Cherokee and Delaware people. They had a Kichai guide with them. The Rangers immediately killed the Kichai guide. The other people were not harmed. They said they were friends with Texans. They also claimed to be enemies of the Comanches.

The Skirmish Begins

On November 10, the Rangers finally met the Kichai. The Kichai had stopped running. They were ready to fight. Some Cherokee and Delaware people were there. They tried to make peace between the two groups.

However, one of the Rangers, Felix McClusky, attacked and killed a Kichai person. This action angered the Kichai people greatly. They immediately attacked the Rangers.

The Rangers quickly left their horses. They ran to a shallow ditch for protection. The Kichai lost their leader in their first attack. They paused to choose a new leader. Then, they started fighting again.

Close Combat and Escape

The battle was very close and lasted for two hours. The Kichai then decided to set the dry grass on fire. They hoped the smoke would force the Rangers out of the ditch.

The Rangers bravely charged through the smoke. They ran past the Kichai warriors. They managed to escape into some nearby woods. Four Rangers died during the battle before the fire started. Six more were killed while they were running away.

Only eight Rangers survived the fight. They had lost all their horses and equipment. They walked the entire way back to a settlement. They reached the settlement on the Sabine River on November 27.

The place where the Skirmish of Stone Houses happened received a special historic marker in 1970.