Double Mountain Gap Fight

Double Mountain Gap Fight in Palo Pinto County

About 1861 or 1862,the savages made a horse stealing raid down the Paluxy, nearly as far as the present city of Glen Rose; then crossed the divide toward Robinson Creek. When their raid became known, members of the Arrington, Powell, Chambers families, and others were soon in their saddles and riding toward the Double Mountain Gap, in Palo Pinto County, where they expected to intercept the Indians. But when this point was reached, the presence of a large number of stolen horses disclosed that the Indians were camped nearby, for it was already night. It was then agreed that the citizens move quietly and cautiously until the rangers discovered the whereabouts of the sleeping enemy; then silently charge the savages in their beds, and take them by storm. That, however, could seldom be done. For invariably, some excitable fellow had to yell too soon. So it was in this case. One of the Chambers boys cried out, "Here they are boys." This exclamation, of course, brought all savages to their feet. The Indians fired and then fled into the brush where they could not be found. But the citizens recovered the stolen horses. One of the Chambers boys lost a finger.

Ref: History of Hood County, by Thomas P. Ewell.

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