The Texas Canyon Battle Where U.S. Cavalry Captured 1,400 Native Horses — Then Destroyed About 1,000 Of Them

All their supplies.

All their shelter.

In September.

With winter coming.

Why Destroy Rather Than Keep

The decision to shoot approximately 1,000 horses rather than keep them required a specific set of considerations, and it was not made lightly.

Horses were valuable.

The United States Army had its own needs for horses and mules; the costs of maintaining cavalry mounts were significant, and additional horses were not unwelcome.