Horsehead Crossing, C.S.A.

(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 Federal and Confederates watching Overland Trail. Federal, 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)

Horsehead Crossing, C.S.A. is a historical marker in Crane, Crane County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 8 historical markers documented in Crane County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 10 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.0972, -102.3376 near Crane. The nearest cataloged historic site is Crane Memorial Gardens (cemetery), about 20 miles away. Others within a short drive include Curry, Charles Boothe, Crane County Courthouse, and Cordona Lake, Juan.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5103002567. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.