In June 1874, a small band of buffalo hunters at Adobe Walls in Texas faced hundreds of Comanche, Kiowa, and Cheyenne warriors. Among the attackers was Quanah Parker, the fierce young Comanche leader. Outnumbered and pinned inside a trading post, the hunters fought desperately for survival.
It was then that Billy Dixon, a seasoned marksman, tried something almost unthinkable. With his heavy Sharps rifle and simple iron sights—no scope, no spotter—he steadied his aim at a distant rider nearly a mile across the plains.
His first shot missed. His second, too. But the third struck true. Surveyors later measured the distance: 1,538 yards. Nearly a mile.
The tribes, stunned at the range, believed the hunters wielded uncanny power. The attack wavered. And in that moment, the tide of battle shifted.
For settlers, Dixon’s “mile shot” became a legend of frontier grit. For the tribes, it marked another chapter in the struggle against relentless encroachment. Whatever side of history one sees, the truth remains: a single pull of a trigger turned into one of the most famous shots ever fired in the American West.
Thanks Old Photo Club
The buffalo hunters (one of whom was Bat Masterson, no mean shot himself) had been keeping the Indians at bay with their Sharps rifles, but Billy was getting tired of it. He also helped save the day when he and 5 others carrying Army dispatches were jumped by over 100 Indians in what became known as the Buffalo Wallow Fight. For that, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
ReplyDeleteYou'd have thought Hollyweird would have done something about his exploits.
edutcher, and who'd a thunk, Gene Barry would have played him while carrying a cane.
DeleteA cane chambered in 45-70 gov?
DeleteBat didn't need the cane until his Dodge City days. Gunshot to the hip left him with a permanent, though slight, limp. Also handy when the cowboy needed only a tap on the head.
DeleteUnclezip, OK?
Deleteedutcher, You are the man! You keep learning me..
DeleteBill Dixon. Legend.
ReplyDeleteElmo, indeed.
DeleteThe Indians had been told that if they painted their bodies yellow, they would be immune to bullets. This shot convinced them otherwise. Bat Masterson was not the only bad ass in that group, there were many others, the Indians picked the wrong group.
ReplyDeleteAnon, they sure did pick the wrong group.
Deleteyou should take a look at a palma match 1000 yards, iron sights, single shot.
ReplyDeleteAnon, OK
DeleteThe one resident of Quanah, TX I queried about the town name seemed pleased that the town was named for the ancient warrior.
ReplyDeleteThe conflict between European descendents and then-current inhabitants was inevitable. Thomas Sowell's book about Conquest and Culture speaks at length on that topic.
MarkInKansas, good name good name.
DeleteI remember reading a shooting magazine in the early '90s where they replicated the event by going back to Adobe Walls with a replica Sharps and shooting at a full sized horse and rider target.
ReplyDeleteA couple of corrections are in order, Billy Dixon fired three shots at a group of fifteen riders and the first two shots missed.
Here's what I found on the 'net - https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/the-hero-of-adobe-walls/327859
Al_in_Ottawa
Al_in_Ottawa, thanks..
Delete