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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02553 9187
Gc 976.4 D45b De Shields, James T. Border wars of Texas
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/borderwarsoftexa00desh 2
ROSS' FAMOUS FIGHT WITH COMANCHE CHIEF, BIG FOOT
Border Wars of Texas
Being an Authentic and Popular Account, in Chronological Order, of the Long and Bitter Conflict waged Between Savage Indian Tribes and the Pioneer Settlers of Texas.
Wresting of a Fair Land From Savage Rule A Red Record of Fierce Strife
Profusely Illustrated with Spirited Battle Scenes by Spe- cial Artists. Rare Portraits of Famous Rangers, Indian Fighters and Pioneers, Maps, Etc.
By JAMES T. DE SHIELDS
Member Texas Historical Association
Author of "Frontier Sketches," "Texas Border Tales," "Cynthia Ann Parker, the Story of Her Capture," "Life of Jack Hays." "Stephen Fuller Austin," "Sam Hous- ton and Texas," "Siege of the Alamo," Etc.
BLACK GOLD
MATT BRADLEY Revising Editor and Publisher.
1912 THE HERALD COMPANY TIOGA, TEXAS
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
Copyrighted 1912 By MATT BRADLEY, TIOGA, TEXAS
1218394
DEDICATED TO
The Sons and Daughters of Those Noble Pioneer Fathers and Mothers
Who, boldly entering the savage-infested wilderness, battled so bravely for supremacy; and which finally obtaining, made possible all the glorious blessings that have followed. Dangers and hardships they endured, the in- estimable heritage bequeathed, we now enjoy. All honor to the pioneers of Texas, than whom there were none more courageous and in- domitable.
THE AUTHOR.
MATT BRADLEY, EDITOR
JAMES T. DESHIELDS, AUTHOR
FOREWORD
-
The present volume is the progressed efforts of the au- thor's long cherished design to prepare a popular and reli- able narrative of border warfare and Texas frontier history, no satisfactory account in connected form having ever be- fore appeared; indeed it is the first serious attempt in that direction, and the author's purpose will have been accom- plished if it should prove of value and be handed down to posterity with increasing interest to each generation, which is but natural as we recede further and further from that dark era of fearful strife so long waged between the red men and their white conquerors.
Let the reader remember that this work has been put forth and executed through great labor and painstaking re- search for data, and a judicious sifting of the wheat from the chaff, that the story might conform to truth, and thus possess a positive value, a mine of historical wealth which will prove the most wholesome of mental pabulum; though the story be told with lack of facileness; with more regard for exactness of statement than ornateness of style or grandiloquence.
The complete story in all its thrilling details will never be told, from the lack of reliable data and because of the vastness of such an undertaking-as so fittingly expressed by the versatile J. H. Beadle, as he crossed Red River into Texas on his tour of the "Western Wilds":
"Here we enter the land of border romance. Hence to the Rio Grande southwest, and to the Rocky Ridge west and
6
FOREWORD
northwest, every grove, canyon and valley has been the scene of some romantic and daring incident; but should I at- tempt to repeat all that are told here, the world' itself, to borrow a simile from Scripture, would not contain the books that should be written."
Very properly the narrative opens with the arrival of the first American settlers within the game preserves of the native and ferocious Caranchua tribe-the present volume chronicling the bitter strife down through the colonial and revolutionary periods, and closing with the last days of the Texas Republic; a second volume covering the era of state- hood and ending with the last conflict between red and white men on Texas soil, in comparatively recent years.
Along this line our State's history has been sadly defi- cient, and tradition only has preserved much of deep inter- est for the pen of the faithful historian. The present work, however, does not aspire to the dignity of a State's history, but rather as an urn in which are gathered the fragments, sifted, and shorn of fiction; and which may serve the con- scientious and capable historian to weave a more complete chronicle of a matchless and incomparable history.
For more than a third of a century the writer has util- ized his spare moments in the gathering of materials for this work; narratives of Indian hostilities to the early set- tlers and subsequently against the frontier settlers; verify- ing reports of engagements by interviews with many of the actors and eye witnesses of the actions and events related, and by untiring and voluminous correspondence with oth- ers and with those best informed on the early history of settlements and affairs of the frontier; of course carefully consulting all published histories, and especially files of our early newspapers-the most profitable source of all- no efforts having been spared in any direction to attain a completeness of facts, and henee I may confidently say that no other history has been written that has been so carefully collated from original sources of information upon the subject to which it relates, and I might, perhaps, also say that none will ever be. The early settlers are not only
7
FOREWORD
passing away, but have passed. The recollections of the few who remain can add but little, either of narrative or correction, to the defective record as a whole, of Indian hostilities.
Historians have often regretted that the reader cam be but imperfectly introduced to the private and domestic life of the people. The dignity of councils, the parade of camps and armies, prevent the historiam from attempting the "short and simple annals of the poor." The history of In- dian hostilities, in some measure incidentally supplies this defect, affording a glimpse of the people as they were, viv- id and faithful as a photograph.
I can say that the impartial truth of history has been strictly adhered to in the pages now before the reader.
Of whatever value of importance this history may be to present or future times, the events which it relates are, and always will be, the beginning of Texas history. The Indians will always appear in the opening chapters, and their wild, uncouth figures will be defined on the horizon to which at- tention will be first directed, while their opposers and final conquerors, the equally courageous and dauntless pioneers and border troopers will stride boldly forth in the great pa- geant and mingle freely in every page of the fiery and blood-neeking border history.
The scenes here recounted, the deeds of prowess, acts of heroism, tales of adventure, cruel sufferings and harrowing events portrayed, will never again be enacted; there are no more frontiers to be defended, the day and usefulness of the pioneer is past; the Indian, as a foe, is forever gone; there will never be more border wars.
JAMES T. DeSHIELDS.
San Marcos, Texas, October, 1912.
Editor's Note
In presenting this volume of Texas Border History to the public, the editor does so with positive faith and con- fidence in the author's ability, courage and strict adher- ence to the truth. As a Texas historian his works are ac- cepted as authority by the best educators of the land; while his unflinching regard for authenticated facts, in the face of popular but fictitious traditions, is unquestioned. His selec- tion, over many competitors, by the Alamo Heroes' Monu- ment Association, to write the "Story of the Siege of the Alamo", shows the undoubted merit of his writings on nota- ble Texas events, and gives added weight to this work.
While the labor of the editor has been stupendous and long continued, he feels that the results attained more than compensates the arduous toil.
He sends forth this volume with much confidence that it will fill a long felt want in Texas history.
MATT BRADLEY, Tioga, Texas.
November, 1912.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
1819-23-Early Conditions-First Fight - Austin's In- fant Colony-Skull Creek Encounters-Horse Thieves-The Famous Canoe Fight-Fight 'in the Cane Brake - Austin Leads Expedition Against Caranchuas-Last of the Caran- chuas.
CHAPTER II.
1824-25-Caranchua Depredations-Early Trials of De- Witt's Colonists-Edwards' Colony and the Fredonian War -Austin's Letter-Rebellion Ends.
CHAPTER III.
1826-29-Hostility of Wild Tribes-War Againt Them- Fight Near Old Cabin-The San Saba Expedition-Early Border Chiefs-Abner Kuykendall-Henry S. Brown-Mur- der of Elijah Roark.
CHAPTER IV.
1830-Internal Affairs-Wacos and Cherokees Fight -Cherokee and Tehuacana Fight-Sundry Engagements - 1831-Bowie's Famous Fight.
CHAPTER V.
1832-Shawnees and Comanches-Battle of Velasco- Ad Lawrence's Leap.
CHAPTER VI.
1833-Internal Matters-Memorial to Congress-Scalp- ing of Wilbarger-Other Depredations-Madden Massacre.
10
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VII.
1834-Summary of Internal and Other Events-Murder of Judge Gabriel N. Martin-Corrected History of Event- Recovery of Son-Frontier Troubles.
CHAPTER VIII.
1835-Massacre of the Traders-Fight on the S'an Mar- cos-Battle on the Blanco-Murder of Canoma-Routing of Keechis - Coleman's Fight-Moore's Expedition - Heroic Defense of the Taylor Family-Trials of Early Emigrants -Murder of the Rancheros-Fate of Peter Mercer-Other Encounters.
CHAPTER IX.
1836-Birth of the Lone Star Republic-Failure of Beale's Colony-The Sad Sequel-Murder of the Douglas and Daugherty Families Pioneer Times in Robertson's Colony-Killing of Crouch and Davidson-Capt. Hill's Scrap -Murder and Capture of the McLennans-Fall of Parker's Fort-Cynthia Ann Parker and John Parker-Chief Quanah Parker-Death of McSherry and Stinnett-Killing of Hib- bins and Creath-The Harvey Massacre-Capture of Mrs. Yeargin and Children- Fate of the Reeds-Killing of Ed- wards-Troubles in the Hornsby Settlement-Davidson Let- ter.
CHAPTER X.
1837-Internal Affairs-Murder of Gotcher Family- Capture of Mrs. Crawford and three Children-Lieut. Wren's Fight-Murder of Congressman Robinson and Brother-Lit- tle River Fort-Erath's Famous Fight-Killing of the Faul- kenburys and Anderson-Death of James Coryell-Capture of Warren Lyons-Indians Ambush Three Settlers-The "Stone House" Fight-Murder of Kellough Families-Kill- ing of McCullom and Capt. Rogers-Post Oak Springs Mas- sacre-Gen. John B. Hood's Brilliant Victory.
CHAPTER XI.
1838-Progress and Prosperity-Treaties with the In- dians-Battle Creek Fight-Other Surveying Expeditions- Pioneer Mothers of Texas-Early Days of Bastrop-Captain
11
CONTENTS
Harvey's Adventure-Karnes' Famous Fight-Capture of Ma- tilda Lockhart and the Putnam Children-Incidents Around San Antonio-Beginning of Cordova's Rebellion-Defeat of the Kickapoos-Routing the Comanches-Lamar's Reign.
CHAPTER XII.
1839-The Morgan Massacre-Attack on Marlin's House -Bryant's Fight and Defeat-Fate of the Websters-Bird Creek Battle-Col. Moore's San Saba Fight-Murder of Cap- tain Coleman's Family-The Cordova Rebellion-Expulsion of the Cherokees Rights of the Cherokees-Locating the Capital at Austin-Capt. Howard's Skirmish-Death of "The Bowl" and "The Egg".
CHAPTER XIII.
1840-Famous Council House Fight-The Great Coman- che Raid-Sacking of Linville and Victoria-Battle at Plum Creek-Huston's Official Report-Attack on Kinney's Fort -Jack Hays Fights War Party-Captain Erath's Services- Beginning of San Marcos-Moore's Great Victory-Indian Troubles Along Red River-Fate of a Pioneer Family-Oth- er Tragedies-Saving Osborne's Scalp.
CHAPTER XIV.
1841-Internal Affairs-Indian Hostilities-Official Re- ports of Border Doings-Ben Mccullough Routs Indians- Services of Chandler's Rangers-Bird's Fort-Gen. Tarrant's Expedition-Village Creek Fight-Death of Denton-Other Expeditions Against Indians-The Santa Fe Expedition- Battle in Canon De Uvalde-Border Banditti-Capt. Erath's Fight-Death of Major Heard.
CHAPTER XV.
1842-45-Peace or War-Houston's Indian Talks-Hous- ton's Indian Pow Wow-Houston's Indian Treaty-Death of Chief Big Foot-The Hand to Hand Struggle-Fate of the Gilleland Family-Story of the Heroine-Last Raid into An- derson County-Capture of the Simpson Children-Murder of Capt. Kemper-The Later Colonies-The Republic of Tex- as Is No More-The End.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Ross' Fight with Chief Big Foot-Frontispiece Facing Page The Author and the Editor 5
Long's Fight on Galveston Island 16
"O Lord Mary Ann's A Widow," and "Gone to Burnham's.' 17
The Canoe Fight'and Fate of the Bee Tree Hunters 32 The Lurking Foe and "Take it D-n You" 33 Stephen F. Austin. 48
Sam Houston
49
Mirabeau B. Lamar.
64
Albert Sidney Johnston 65
80
Tyler. Harvey, Davidson and Henderson
Bowie's Famous Fight
81 88 89
James and Rezin P. Bowie.
Lane, Anglin, Edwards and Robertson
DeWitt, Sylvester. Robinson and Thompson
Scalping of Wilbarger
The Cherokee's Revenge
Massacre of the Traders
Ad Lawrence's Famous Leap.
Henry and Ben McCulloch. Jack Hays.
The Parkers.
Bryan, Erath, Jones and Coleman
176 177 208
Defense of the Taylor Family
Erath's Fight with an Indian 209 Walter P. Lane rescues Euclid M. Cox 224
Robinett Killing Chief Buffalo Hump. 225
Davis, Wilbarger, Mckinney and Anglin.
256 Monument to Battle Creek Heroes 257
The Capital at Austin in 1844. 272
Hays' Texas Rangers in 1844. 273
Scene at Parker's Fort Massacre 304
Famous Couneil House Fight. 305
Battle at Plum Creek.
320
Death of Denton 321 Charging the Village. 368
Houston's Indian Pow Wow. 369
Map of Texas, Showing Colonies 384
Map of Texas, Showing Roads and Rivers 385
160 161
Ross, Brown, Stout and Highsmith
96 97 112 113 128 129
Wallace, Williams, Fosterland Moses Austin
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS
T HE history of that period in which the Spaniards occupied Texas-1690 to the Mexican rev- olution in 1820-and not inap- propriately called "The Mission Era," has much to do with the native and migrated tribes who had occupied the country from earliest times. But no system- atic account of the Indian trou- bles of this period has ever been attempted; and indeed the ma- terials for such a narrative are yet to be searched out and trans- lated from the documents and archives of that time. Enough, however, is known to war- rant the assertion that the bold Apaches and Comanches in their perennial raids and depredations were the dread and scourge of the western frontier under both Spanish and Mexican rule.
Being in fact the rightful owners of the country, to which a native tribe gave name*, by priority of occupa- tion at least, these brave and warlike tribes held all intrud- ers as vassals to their powerful confederacy. The following
* From an old tradition we learn, and are inclined to believe, that "Texas" is an In- dian name, derived from the word "Tehas," and signified, paradise; and applied to the country in the gorgeous beauty of its virgin existence, was certainly an appropriate name.
16
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
statement by historian Kennedy will serve to illustrate the conditions in that section during the time referred to:
"In the destruction of the Missions, the Comanches were the principal agents. Encouraged by the passive sub- mission of the Mexicans of mixed blood, they carried their insolence so far as to ride into Bexar, and alight in the public square, leaving their horses to be caught and pastured by the obsequious soldiers of the garrison, on pain of chastisement. To raise a contribution, they would en- ter the town with a drove of Mexican horses, stolen by themselves, and under pretense of having rescued the cabal- lado from hostile Indians, would exact a reward for their honesty! They openly carried off herds of cattle and horses from the settlements east of the Rio Grande, sparing the lives of the herdsmen, not from motives of humanity, but because they deemed it impolitic to kill those who were so useful in raising horses and mules for the benefit of the Comanches."
Thus we see the lordly Comanches were more than a match for the Spaniards and Mexicans, and after more than a century of untiring effort to conciliate and christiamize these Indians, and to people the territory of Texas, Mexi- co * was willing to give up in despair. But a new era dawned in the history of Texas, henceforward the red men must deal with a more formidable intruder-that invincible vanguard of western civilization-the American pioneer.
* "The leading object of the Mexican Government in allowing the colonization of Texas," says Newell, "was undoubtedly the protection of her frontiers from the hostile invasion of the Indians. The Comanches and other tribes had waged a constant and ruinous warfare against the Spanish settlements at Bexar and Goliad, on the western limits of Texas and extended their ravages also beyond the Rio Grande. Mexico, even under the govern- ment of old Spain, had been unable to subdue or restrain them, and she would have had to abandon Texas altogether, if not other parts of her territory, had she not found a peo- ple, willing, for the sake of a small portion of her soil, to go in and subdue them." (Histo- ry of the Texas revolution, pages 14-15) -- "And yet," adds Yoakum, "the colonists have been charged with ingratitude. Wherein? They were invited to a desert. They came, and found it inhabited by Indians and those of such audacity, that even in San Antonio, where the Mexicans mostly lived, they compelled the citizens and soldiers in the place to hold their horses while they paraded about the town; these savages the colonists had to subdue at their own expense and on their own account. Mexico gave them nothing-the lands only were valuable because they made them so. They were determined to keep it free, not only from Indian cruelty, but Mexican tyranny." (Texas, Vol. 1, Pages 245-246.)
L Enth
11.
LONG'S FIGHT ON GALVESTON ISLAND
"O. LORD. MARY ANN'S A WIDOW"
"GONE TO BURNHAM'S"
17
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
FIRST FIGHT.
The first conflict between Anglo-Americans and Texas Indians occurred on Galveston Island late in the fall of 1819, antedating more than a year the arrival of Moses Austin at San Antonio de Bexar, seeking permission to establish a colony in the province of Texas.
At that time the patriotic but unfortunate General James Long, venturing a second expedition into Texas, was fortified with fifty-odd of his followers at Bolivar Point, opposite the east end of Galveston Island. A French sloop, freighted with Mexican supplies, wines, etc., and bound for Cassano, stranded near the present city of Galveston. The Caranchua Indians, to the number of 200 warriors, were en- camped in the immediate vicinity, and at once attacked and butchered all on board the luckless craft, destroying the cargo, and indulging in a drunken carousal and war dance.
Long determined to avenge this outrage, and after night- fall, with thirty men, crossed over in small boats to the is- land; and while the orgies were at their height, made a vig- orous attack upon the unsuspecting and jubilant savages. Quickly rallying from their surprise and confusion, the Indians secured their weapons, and yelling furiously, met their assailants with determined courage. Superior in num- bers, they were a full match for the whites. A desperate hand to hand fight of doubtful issue, now ensued; but Long effected a timely retreat to his boats, leaving thirty two Indians killed, and many wounded; three of his own men were killed and two (George Early and another) bad- ly, besides several slightly, wounded. Two Indian boys were taken prisoners and retained by the whites, one being ac- cidentally killed some time afterwards.
*Prior to this engagement, in 1818, while Galveston Island was occupied by Jean La- Fitte, the celebrated pirate chief, some of his men kidnapped a young Caranchua squaw Through revenge, the Indians crossed over to the island and discovering a party of the pirates out hunting, ambushed and killed four of them; whereupon LaFitte, with 200 men and two small pieces of artillery attacked some 300 of the tribe then encamped at a place since locally known as the"Three Trees," and after a desperate fight, in which some thirty warriors were slain and a much larger number wounded, forced them to disperse to the mainland. None of LaFitte's men were killed, but a number were badly wounded with arrows.
18
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
In 1821, after LaFitte was forced to abandon his "lit- tle kingdom" by the United States naval authorities, a Dr. Parnell, with a party of about twenty men, visited the is- land to search for supposed buried treasures. Encountering about 100 Caranchuas at their favorite camp, the "Three Trees," the Americans again attacked and defeated the In- dians, who left the island, forever, it is said, carrying off sev- eral dead and wounded, and leaving one of their children prisoner. The only casualty to the whites was the slight wourding of Dr. Parnell-an arrow pinning his cap to the skin of his head, which he failed to notice till after the fight.
"It was these attacks," suggests historian Yoakum, "that made the Caranchuas so hostile to Austin's colonists in af- ter years."
AUSTIN'S INFANT COLONY.
A new era had dawned in the history of Texas. The fair land was not destined to remain an unsettled and sav- age infested land-civilization was rapidly advancing to the Southwest, the American pioneer was coming as the courier and advance guard. Austin and his first colo- nists had boldly entered the wilderness, and were determined to maintain a foothold, though they did so under difficulties, and suffering great privations. The first settlers arrived on the Brazos River during the last days of December, 1821, and the dawn of New Year's day. 1822, marks the date of the first permanent Anglo-American settlement in Texas.
Austin's colony soon attracted the attention of home- seekers throughout the whole Southwest, and other settlers. continued to arrive overland and by water. In June, 1822, the schooner, "Only Son," with upward of ninety emi- grants (among them Horatio Chrisman, who became the noted surveyor and Indian fighter of Austin's Colony) and supplies for the new colony, anchored in Matagorda Bay. A few days later another vessel, from New Orleans, enter-
19
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
ed the mouth of the Colorado. Among the passengers aboard the vessel, from New Orleans, was Samuel M. Williams, af- terwards the famous secretary of Austin's Colony. The pas- sengers from both vessels were landed on the west bank of the Colorado, at a point three miles above its mouth, where they went into camp and erected temporary storage for their goods. Before leaving for the interior, a treaty of friendship was formed with the Indians, and four young men were left to guard their property, while six of their number, including Helm and Clare, were dispatched to La Bahia for means of transportation. On returning with Mexican carts, they found the camp had been attacked, guards murdered, and the supplies all destroyed or carried away by the faithless and fiendish savages. This was a most serious loss to the emigrants, and caused them much suffer- ing for lack of provisions, and other necessities.
The sad news reaching the settlement, a party of colo- nists were soon collected, armed, and in pursuit. Locating the camp of the enemy, the settlers made a surprise attack, re- covering a remnant of their supplies, and routing the In- dians with some loss.
Thus hostilities commenced, and, with brief intervals, was carried on for years, resulting in the loss of many valua- ble lives and the final extermination of this once powerful and formidable coast tribe. With savage stealth, the Indians often lay in ambush till the men would leave their cabins, when, without warning, they would rush upon the unpro- tected and helpless women and children, who pleaded for mercy in vain. On one occassion, only one child out of a large family, was found alive, but it was mortally wound- ed by an ugly arrow. * The whites may not have been so wantonly cruel and bloodthirsty; they were equally stub- born and determined. The conflict was inevitable, irresis- tible-one of expulsion and extermination. Scores of trage- dies were enacted between the emigrants in Austin's Colony and the Aborigines during the first years of its feeble exist-
* Mrs. Helm's "Scrap of Early Texas History," Page 36.
20
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
ence-the particulars of which, alas! were never recorded. Such reliable notes as we have been able to gather, mostly from the "Kuykendall Reminiscences," will be given in the order of their occurrence.
SKULL CREEK ENCOUNTERS.
During the spring of 1823 a severe drouth prevailed, and but a scant crop of corn was made that season in the colony. In the summer three young men were ascending the Colorado River with a canoe load of corn, which they had raised on the cane lands below the settlements .* Near the mouth of Skull Creek, a few miles from the present town of Columbus, in Colorado county, they were waylaid and fired upon by the Indians, Loy and Alley being killed. John C. Clark, however, with seven severe wounds, swam to the opposite shore, and, by secreting himself in a dense thicket, escaped, and recovered -- to live many years and ac- cumulate immense wealth. He died in 1861.
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