Bandera Pass is a noted gap in the chain of mountains about len miles a little west of north of the town of Bandera. This pass was named for General Bandera, a Spaniard, who, in 1733 defeated there a large body of Apaches, who made these mountains their rendezvous for attacks on the Spanish missionaries around San Antonio.
Several battles have been fought at Bandera Pass, probably the most noteworthy being the desperate fight there in 1843 when Col. Jack Hays and his rangers defeated a large party of Cmnanches. In this fight the Indian chief was killed, and his grave is yet to be seen at the north end of the Pass. Hays' force numbered altogether about 40 men, among them being Ben McCulloch, Kit Ackland, Sam Walker, George Neill, Ad. Gillespie, Sam Luckey. James Dunn, P. H. Bell, Mike Chevelier, Ben Highsmith, Lee Jackson, Tom Galbreth and Creed Taylor. Five rangers were killed in tills fight, and six wounded. Lee Jackson Was one the rangers who lost his life. It was a very desperate encounter, being fought hand-to-hand, and the Indians outnumbering the white men more than five to one. Many Indians were wounded and slain. They finally withdrew to the north end of thc pass and the rangers came back on the south side and there buried their dead at a water hole. The exact location of the graves of these men Is unknown at this time. Tom Galbreth, one of the men wounded in this fight , has a son living at Devine.
Some of the men above named became famous in the history of our state.