The Rifle Pits — Ochiltree County

Folklore describes a frontier column — sometimes linked to Buffalo Bill Cody scouting — stranded by blizzard or supply failure along Palo Duro Creek on the High Plains. The commander supposedly cached rifles, ammunition, and provisions in rifle pits before marching out when weather cleared. The troops never returned; local ranchers reported finding pit depressions and rusted hardware decades later. Historians note Cody's documented scouting ended before the 1874 Red River War, placing the tale in legend rather than verified army records. The Rocker Box Ochiltree County list cites army rifles and gear along Palo Duro Creek banks. Coordinates approximate the creek valley in Ochiltree County near the Oklahoma line.