Company E of the 8th US Cavalry was active in the Big Lake area in the late 1870s, during the Indian Wars and frontier pacification efforts going on here.
This limestone monument recalls this unit's service in this area near San Angelo as follows:
"CO. E
US CAVALRY
Nov 1879"
From the Center of Military History, we found a very detailed history of the US Army's 8th Cavalry during the Indian Wars. The whole thing can be read here: (
visit link)
From that website, we are excerpting the entries about Company E only, as follows:
"The Eighth Cavalry, organized in 1866, is one of the four cavalry regiments by which the military peace establishment was increased under an Act of Congress of July 28th of that year.
By G. O. No. 92, A. G. O., 1866, the field officers who had accepted appointments were Colonel John I. Gregg, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas C. Devin, Majors William Gamble and William R. Price. Colonel Gregg joined for duty at Camp Whipple, Arizona, in December, 1866, assuming command of the regiment and the District of Prescott, Arizona,—Lieut. Colonel Devin and Major Price in January 1867,—Major Gamble never joined.
The first troop, A, was organized at the Presidio of San Francisco, September 19, 1866, 1st Lieut. James H. Lord, 2d Artillery, being assigned to command. Troop B, 85 men, at the same place October 23, 1866; 2d Lieut. S. A. Porter, 14th Infantry, assigned to command. Troops C, D, E, F, G and H, 49 and 50 men each, at Angel Island, California, October 27, 1866 . . .
The officers assigned to the regiment were all veterans of the War of the Rebellion, and came to duty with the experience which that involved.
During December, 1867, and January, 1868, the headquarters was en route from Camp Whipple, Arizona, to Churchhill Barracks, Nevada, which became the headquarters of the District of Nevada, Colonel Gregg commanding. In May, headquarters was moved to Camp Halleck, Nevada, where it remained till May 5, 1870, when it was moved to Fort Union, New Mexico, by rail, via Cheyenne and St. Louis, Mo. The several troops took stations at Forts Union, Craig, Selden, Wingate, Bascom, Stanton, in New Mexico, and Fort Garland, in Colorado Territory. The duties during this period were of almost continuous field service by troops or detachments, scouting after Indian depredators, furnishing guards, escorts, etc. Some of the details of service performed will be given under the headings of the different troops.
The regiment remained in New Mexico, then far beyond railroad communications, performing the same duties till July, 1875, when it marched to Texas by battalion, headquarters taking station at Fort Clark, Texas, January 8, 1876. During the period between 1875 and 1888, the regiment
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remained in Texas, troops at different times being stationed at posts and camps from Fort Brown, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, to Fort Hancock, near El Paso. In May of the latter year the regiment was concentrated at Fort Concho, Texas, and made a march to Dakota, arriving at Fort Meade, Regimental Headquarters, September 3d, having made a continuous march of 1800 miles, while some of the troops in reaching their stations marched over 2000 miles. To give a complete account of the scouts and marches of each troop, which would be necessary to a full history of the regiment, would be a mere repetition of details, so that only the most important will be noted. . . .
TROOP E.—In December, 1868, a detachment of 30 men of Troops E and K, under command of Major Price, surprised a large rancheria consisting of 20 lodges near Walker Springs, A. T., killing 3 Indians, wounding several, capturing some squaws and children, and destroying their provisions and camp equipage. Three days later another rancheria was surprised by the same command. Eight Indians were killed and 14 captured. A large quantity of supplies was destroyed.
In 1869 a detachment of Troops E and K under Captain Young, left Camp Whipple on January 19th. While scouting in Juniper Mountains, 5 rancherias, located in a deep and large cañon, were destroyed. While encamped in this cañon the camp was at 4 A. M. attacked by Indians. The horses had been fastened to a strong picket line and were soon in hand, but the burros of the pack train, being hobbled, were stampeded and secured by the Indians. Corporal Parker, Troop K was severely wounded. At daybreak the trails of the Indians, with the burros which had been taken off by twos and threes in different directions, were followed by detachments and many of them recovered. The detachment left in camp was surrounded and harassed by another party of Indians all day. This command returned to its post, Camp Whipple, on the 13th of February, having suffered greatly through the inclemency of the weather, and from the difficult country through which it was necessary to travel. It rained or snowed every day except five during the month.
Lieutenant Carrick, with detachment of 23 men of Troops E, F and K,
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between the Aqua Frio and Rio Verde, near Toll Gate, A. T., encountered a band of Indians on the 25th of August, 1869, and engaged them, killing 6, wounding several, capturing 1, and destroying a large amount of property, On the 26th a rancheria was surprised and 2 Indians killed. This detachment was attacked by a party of about 100 Indians, seven miles from Toll Gate. Private Eberhard was killed. Two Indians were killed and the remainder, after a severe fight, were driven off and scattered.
On September 2, 1874, Captain Kauffman with 11 men captured 2 horses and 13 mules from Apaches at Ojo Caliente, N. M.
From 1875 to 1888, the troop was stationed on the lower Rio Grande in Texas, at Forts Clark and Duncan. It marched from the latter post in May, joined the regiment at Fort Concho, marched with it to Fort Meade, and thence to Fort Buford, N. D., a distance of over 2000 miles."