Marker Inscription
Named in honor of Captain John Bird who lost his life here May 26, 1839 With only 34 Texas Rangers he met 240 Indians at this point, and routed them.
Historical Marker
Bird Creek Battlefield
The roadside stories worth pulling over for.
About this site
Bird Creek Battlefield is a historical marker in Temple, Bell County, dedicated in 1936. It is one of 226 historical markers documented in Bell County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 411 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 31.1054, -97.3589 near Temple. The nearest cataloged historic site is First Lutheran Church (historical marker), about 0.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include Immanuel Baptist Church, Bird Creek Indian Battle, and Lake Polk Park.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5027000409. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
History
The Bird's Creek Indian Fight took place on May 26, 1839, near present-day Temple, when about 34 Texas Rangers under Capt. John Bird clashed with a much larger force of Comanche, Kickapoo, and Caddo warriors. The Rangers held their ground but suffered several deaths, including Captain Bird, and the creek where the battle occurred took his name.
Sources: tshaonline.org
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Nearby in Bell County
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First Lutheran Church
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Bird Creek Indian Battle
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