Bandera Co., TX - Cemeteries - Bandera Pass *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Carol R. McIntyre Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** BANDERA PASS Bandera County, Texas Contributed by Carol R. McIntyre mcintyre@ktc.com Copyright © 2004 by Carol R. McIntyre All rights reserved. LOCATION: 173rd Brigade Memorial Highway (formerly State Hwy 173), between Kerrville and Bandera, just south of the Bandera-Kerr County line. As you drive down 173, you’ll see a high and narrow, V-shaped natural erosion cut in the limestone ridge, measuring roughly 100 yds. wide by 500 yds long by 50-75 ft. high. A State of Texas Historical Marker is on the west side of the highway. BATTLE OF BANDERA PASS Happened in the spring of 1841, 11:00 a.m. (some reports place Battle in 1843) at a time in history when pioneers were settling on the Texas frontier. The Republic of Texas gave Captain John Coffee Hays authority to protect Texans from Indian attacks. At Bandera Pass the Indians ambushed Hays and 40 Rangers, but the Rangers’ Colt Paterson Five-Shot Revolvers turned the attack into a bloody battle that ended in a bitter retreat for the Comanches. GRAVE SITE LOCATION - SOUTH END Grave sites are located at the lower south end of the Pass (Bandera end) near where a large water hole was at the time of burial. FOUR (4) TEXAS RANGERS, NAMES UNKNOWN TEXAS RANGER JACKSON, FIRST NAME UNKNOWN GRAVE SITE LOCATION - NORTH END Grave site is located near the upper north end of the Pass (Kerrville end), through the mountains. Rocks are covering the grave. COMANCHE CHIEF, NAME UNKNOWN UNKNOWN BURIAL SITES - WARRIORS MOVED TO OTHER LOCATION(S) 100 ± COMANCHE WARRIORS