Montague County Citizens Fight Indians in Clay County During 1871

Jim Green, Cash and Clark McDonald, Elias Mackey, Mode Johnson, Jimmie Harry, Bill Freeman, Bennie Marlett, and several others struck an Indian trail about three or four miles south of Denver, in Montague County. The Indians, as usual, were passing out with a herd of stolen horses, and traveling toward the northwest. They were overtaken somewhere in Clay County, perhaps, near the west prong of Belknap, not a great distance from the Montague-Clay County line. The whites discovered the Indians, and waited until they went over a hill, and then made a charge. The Indians were close to a branch, and dug out a fortification in its banks. For two or three hours they fought. Three Indians were killed, and according to reports that came from Ft. Sill, two or three others died later. Jim Green received a mortal wound, and Bill Freeman, and Cash McDonald were also painfully wounded. Cash McDonald carried an arrow point about two years, and when it was removed by Dr. Bailey, he was asked if he wanted to be chloroformed. According to reports, McDonald replied, "No, I was not chloroformed when it went in, neither do I want to be chloroformed when it comes out."

Note: Author personally interviewed: Bob Savage; W.A. Morris; Charlie Grant; and one or two other early settlers of Montague County.

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