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 Horsehead Crossing, C.S.A.
N 31° 05.826 W 102° 20.260
13R E 753947 N 3443411
A state historic marker has taken a beating at an otherwise nice rest area along the US67/385 in far southwest Crane County
Waymark Code: WMV0CZ
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/01/2017
Views: 10
This historic marker has a lot of cool history - and bullet holes too. It is located at the rest area along the US 67/385 in the far southwestern corner of Crane County TX.
Marker Number: 2567
Marker Text:
(about 10 mi. NW)
One of the most important sites in the Old West. Named for skulls pointing toward crossing. Only ford for many miles where animals could enter, drink and leave Pecos River safely. Elsewhere deep banks would trap them. Ford mapped 1849 by Capt. R. B. Marcy, head of army escort for parties on way to California gold rush. Used in 1850's by frontier fighter and scout Henry Skillman, contractor for first mail route from San Antonio to El Paso. As change station, echoed with brass bugle call of Butterfield coach carrying mail from St. Louis to San Francisco, in first stage service to span continent, 1858-1861.
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, used by wagons hauling highly valuable salt scooped from bed of nearby Juan Cordona Lake, to meet Texas scarcities. Also scene of spying and counterspying of Federals and Confederates watching Overland Trail. Federals, operating out of El Paso, feared invasion by way of Horsehead. Confederates several times threw back armies that sought to enter the state in order to deploy along the old Overland Trail and conquer North and West Texas.
Later this became important crossing for cattle on Goodnight-Loving trail, mapped in 1866. (1965)
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Visit Instructions:
Please include a picture in your log. You and your GPS receiver do not need to be in the picture. We encourage additional information about your visit (comments about the surrounding area, how you ended up near the marker, etc.) in the log.
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