Approximately 170 Comanche warriors and their families led by Quohadi chief Black Horse or Tu-ukumah (unknown–ca.

In February, 1877, they, and their Apache allies, began attacking buffalo hunters' camps in the Red River country of the Texas Panhandle, killing or wounding several.

[citation needed] Forty-five hunters, led by Hank Campbell, Jim Smith, and Joe Freed, and guided by Jose Tafoya, left Rath City, a trading post on the Double Mountain Fork Brazos River.

Smoky Hill Thompson remained behind to lead the defense of the trading post.

The hunters were repulsed and the natives escaped, including white captive Herman Lehmann, who was wounded in the battle.