The Old MacKenzie Trail

The colonel whose trail the poem honors had more campaigns ahead after the Llano Estacado. In March 1875 Mackenzie took command at Fort Sill over the Comanche-Kiowa and Cheyenne-Arapaho reservations, and on June 2 Quanah Parker arrived there with 407 followers and 1,500 horses, ending the Red River War. After the Little Bighorn he commanded the District of the Black Hills, compelled Red Cloud's Lakota band back to the reservation and on November 25, 1876, defeated the Northern Cheyennes. In 1878 he returned to Fort Clark and led an expedition into Mexico.

What the plaque says

The Old MacKenzie Trail General Ranald Slidell MacKenzie The Old MacKenzie Trail by "Larry" Chittendon Stretching onward toward the sunset, o'er prairie, hill and vale, far beyond the double mountains winds the Old MacKenzie Trail. Ah, what thoughts and border memories does that dreaming trail suggest, thoughts of travelers gone forever to the twilight realms of rest. Where are now the scouts and soldiers, and those wagon trains of care, those grim men and haggard women and the echoes whisper - where? Ah, what tales of joy and sorrows could that silent trail relate: tales of loss, and wrecked ambitions, tales of hope, of love, and hate: Tales of hunger, thirst, and anguish tales of skulking Indian braves, tales of fear, and death, and danger, tales of lonely prairie graves. Where are now that trail's processions, winding westward sure and slow? Lost: ah, yes, destroyed progress, gone to realms of long ago. Nevermore shall bold MacKenzie, with his brave and dauntless band, guide the restless, roving settlers through the Texas borderland. Yes, that soldier's work is over, and the dim trail rests at last, but his name and trail still lead us through the borders of the past. The MacKenzie Trail first crossed by General Ranald Slidell MacKenzie, 4th United States Cavalry, in 1871 in quest of warring bands of Indians. Erected by the state of Texas with funds appropriated by Federal government to commemorate one hundred years of Texas independence. - 1836 - 1936

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Colonel C. C. Slaughter — steps away
• Schick Opera House — steps away
• Former Office Site of Texas Land & Development Company — steps away
• Lamar School — 0.3 mi