MAY 12, 1858

COMANCHE LEADER POHEBITS QUASHO (IRON JACKET) DIED IN BATTLE OF LITTLE ROBE CREE

Following several Comanche raids in 1858 & 1859, Captain John S. Ford led 102 Texas Rangers & 113 Tonkawa, Anadarko, and Caddo allies to confront them. At sunrise, they attacked a Comanche village near Little Robe Creek in present Ellis County, Oklahoma. Set for a 2^nd cavalry charge, Comanche warriors, giving the women & children time to escape, stood between the village and Rangers when, from the line, Chief Iron Jacket, wearing a Spanish coat of mail (hence his name), rode at the Rangers believing that his “medicine” and armor would protect him. He was killed by Anadarko and Caddo chief Jim Pockmark. After his death, the battle became a running fight between small groups and individuals before Comanches from other villages arrived leading to a standoff. Learning of a larger Comanche force amassing, the Rangers & allies retreated. The Comanches suffered 69 killed, mostly women & children. Ford’s men took body parts as trophies. Despite the losses, Comanche raids continued.

Sources:

Bob Rea, “Antelope Hills, Battle of the,” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.  Retrieved 1/16/2023, Antelope Hills, Battle of the | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (okhistory.org)

Jerry Denson, “The Battle of Little Robe Creek,” originally published in "Our Ellis County Heritage 1885-1979," reprinted with permission by The Ellis County Historical Society, November, 1999.  Retrieved 1/16/2023, The Battle of Little Robe Creek (usgennet.org)

Photo:  Pi3.124, 8/9/2018. View of the Antelope Hills battlefield, with the Antelope Hills in the background and the Canadian River the midground. The confluence with Little Robe Creek is downstream to the left. Permissive Use.