Taovayo Victory over Spain; Site of the 1759

Col. Diego Ortiz Parilla, a commandant of Presidio San Saba (near the later site of Menard) had grave Indian problems in 1759. Priests and others were killed in Comanche attacks on Mission San Saba. Comanches and their friends were allied to Frenchmen, who were trading deep in Spanish domain. Parilla wished to whip the Comanches and expel the French. With 380 soldiers and Indian support to a total of 600 men, he left San Antonio in August. A victory over some Tonkawas on the Brazos as he marched north gave him false confidence. When he arrived at this site in October, he saw Red River forming a moat around a fort. His Apaches tried in vain to span the river and invade the fortified Taovaya village. He saw 14 or more Frenchmen; a French flag was flying. Indians played drum and fife and had plenty of guns and ammunition. He bombarded the fort with cannons, but after losing 52 men in a 4-hour battle he was glad that nightfall gave him a chance to withdraw. He was pursued for many days as he retreated to Presidio San Saba, which he reached on Oct. 25, 1759. The Taovaya Indians were later known as Wichitas, and continued to resist white men until the 1870s. (1976)

Taovayo Victory over Spain; Site of the 1759 is a historical marker in Saint Jo, Montague County, dedicated in 1976. It is one of 38 historical markers documented in Montague County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 65 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.9454, -97.6165 near Saint Jo. The nearest cataloged historic site is Spanish Fort (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Valley View Baptist Church, Liberty Chapel Cemetery, and North Nocona Oil Field.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5337004922. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.