The Old MacKenzie Trail
Historical marker location:General Ranald Slidell MacKenzie
The Old MacKenzie Trail by "Larry" Chittendon
Stretching onward toward the sunset,
o'er prairie, hill and vale,
far beyond the double mountains
winds the Old MacKenzie Trail.
Ah, what thoughts and border memories
does that dreaming trail suggest,
thoughts of travelers gone forever
to the twilight realms of rest.
Where are now the scouts and soldiers,
and those wagon trains of care,
those grim men and haggard women
and the echoes whisper - where?
Ah, what tales of joy and sorrows
could that silent trail relate:
tales of loss, and wrecked ambitions,
tales of hope, of love, and hate:
Tales of hunger, thirst, and anguish
tales of skulking Indian braves,
tales of fear, and death, and danger,
tales of lonely prairie graves.
Where are now that trail's processions,
winding westward sure and slow?
Lost: ah, yes, destroyed progress,
gone to realms of long ago.
Nevermore shall bold MacKenzie,
with his brave and dauntless band,
guide the restless, roving settlers
through the Texas borderland.
Yes, that soldier's work is over,
and the dim trail rests at last,
but his name and trail still lead us
through the borders of the past.
The MacKenzie Trail first crossed by General Ranald Slidell MacKenzie, 4th United States Cavalry, in 1871 in quest of warring bands of Indians.
Erected by the state of Texas with funds appropriated by Federal government to commemorate one hundred years of Texas independence. - 1836 - 1936.