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Catumseh LbNA #44895

Owner:Boots Tex
Plant date:Dec 7, 2008
Location:
City:Fort Griffin
County:Throckmorton
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: Silver Eagle
Last found:Feb 17, 2012
Status:FFF
Last edited:Dec 7, 2008
Robert E. Lee was commander of Camp Cooper for 19 months in 1855-56. Near the camp was the Comanche Indian Reserve, where the Indians would come to be fed by the United States Government. When it was cold and food was scarce, they would come in; but when the grass grew in the spring and the game was fat, they would go off and become wild and savage enough to kill those who had been kind to them. The chief of the Comanches at the reservation was Catumseh. Lee thought it would be better to visit him and tell him that he would trust him as a friend as long as he behaved; but if he did not behave he would take him for a foe. Catumseh was not much pleased with Lee's speech, but gave an ugly grunt and said that, as he had six wives, he was a "big Indian." Lee had better "get more wives before he talked." This visit did not do much good. Catumseh was no doubt taking the measure of Lee's scalp, and Lee was not happy about that. In 1936, the state of Texas placed a granite marker at the site of the Indian village where the peace talks occurred. The marker now sits next to a county road on a private ranch. The road is public, so you can drive it, but the ranch is leased for hunting so you should be cautious. You will also be driving by oil well sites marked by pump jacks. The letterbox is placed at the marker. The owner of the ranch is aware of the letterbox and has signed the logbook.

Directions:
From Fort Griffin State Historic Site in Shackelford County, drive north on Hwy. 283 8.5 miles to FM 2584. Turn west and go 2 miles, where the pavement will end. Turn left onto Daws Crossing Road (at the bullet-riddled stop sign). After 2.8 miles, you should be at the fourth cattle guard and the marker you seek will be at your left. Park just off the road.

To the box:
After reading the inscription on the marker, walk to the mesquite tree directly behind it and, under a pile of rocks, you should find the letterbox. Please be careful of critters and stickers. This is a remote area and, if you are off the road, you are on private property, so please be respectful of that fact.