Has anybody done any reading on this ? It looks like it maybe on private land
I would luv to do more homework on it
Find the areas around it and have at it. Indians probably had a fairly big camp and fighting may have been over a large area. Worth a shot...
I've been all over this since 2005!
I'm actually in the process of getting my "in" with three different property owners and hope to start hunting after New Year.
This is a prime example of the whole "never take stuff at face value" ideal...
I'll give you a few tips. Read between the lines and interpret how you please!
TIP 1.)
Typical of a lot of the Texas 1936 Centennial markers, they were often placed in locations that were sympathetic to the development of the local area. SOME markers have statements such as "half a mile south of here" or "nearby" - some markers do not have inscriptions like this, but in depth research may show otherwise. So don't always assume that a site is not able to be hunted because the marker is not always on the actual location. This is a benefit to hunters, however, because if the markers WERE always on the actual site, you couldn't hunt it BECAUSE of the markers presence!
TIP 2.)
I'll tell you straight up, I made a half dozen trips to Austin to go thru the State Archives, and numerous more hours spent in the university libraries at TSU and A&M just to acquire some more pertinent research materials in regards to this site.
Some folks laugh when they see my home library... It's full of nothing but out-of-print books, laminated historic map copies, microfilm prints, scanned journal excerpts / eyewitness accounts, etc... All broken down by subject, and all of them pertaining to "Texas 1700-1970".
My research of the Bird's Creek engagement easily added another couple of thick binders and three more maps.
TIP 3.)
When you do your research, don't forget the search terms "Little River Fort" / "Fort Milam" / "Fort Smith" and "Fort Griffin".
Military engagements throughout history always have references in regards to where the troops were coming from, and heading to. This may not seem helpful to you, but remember: this was a "Running Engagement" - meaning they covered some ground from the time of first contact until they hunkered down in that ravine. That fact alone opens up a wide area of places worth hunting! Get yourself the correct maps, ( freebie tip - it takes more than one) find the exact fort locations, plot out the detachments travel route, and compare it to today's geography!
Remember, map overlays are a great tool to compare 1839 to 2013!
TIP 4.)
I-35 completely changed the lay of a whole lot of land.
Grade had to be met, so a great amount of cut and fill work was needed. Take that misplaced dirt into account when you think you pinpointed a good spot.
TIP 5.)
Because it was a very short engagement, I'd put money on the fact that you won't be finding too many relics other than musket shot and maybe some buttons... We can assume at the Bird's Creek site that "drops" are to be found at the Rangers position and fired shot will be found at the Indians positions.
This directly relates to one of the 2 major events that happened at The Battle of Bird's Creek... Captain Bird was "felled by an arrow at a distance of 200 yards". So after you find the Ranger position, remember this and fan out your search area! There are always two sides to detecting any military engagement!
Lastly, I'd like to share a fun fact.
Buffalo Hump, the Penateka Comanche Chief that was present at the Bird's Creek engagement - is portrayed in the 'Lonesome Dove' saga and appears in both "Dead Man's Walk" and "Comanche Moon".
Blue Duck, who appears in the original "Lonesome Dove" installment, is his fictitious son.
If you don't like "Lonesome Dove", that's a character flaw on your part.
Just saying.