USA > Texas > A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879. Embracing the periods of missions, colonization, the revolution the republic, and the state; also, a topographical description of the country together with its Indian tribes and their wars, and biographical sketches of hundreds of its leading historical characters. Also, a list of the countries, with historical and topical notes, and descriptions of the public institutions of the state > Part 30
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ATTACK ON MARLIN'S HOUSE.
charged up to the bank of the ravine and fired, when the Indians commenced retreating down its bed toward the bottom. Seeing this, several of our sharp-shooters rushed below them to hold them in check. This caused the enemy to return to the first position and renew the defense; by which time, supposing the day had been won, our men had somewhat scattered and were acting each for himself. The consequence was, that, when the enemy re-opened the fire, several were wounded and confusion and disorder ensued, to remedy which the men were ordered to retreat to another point somne two hundred yards distant, to draw the Indians from their conceal- ment. This order, from the prevailing confusion, was understood by many to be for an unqualified retreat ; panic seized some of the men, which being discovered by the wily Jose Maria, he charged in full force, making the welkin ring with hideous and exulting yells. Several of our men fell, and the rout became general. Without order, in utter confusion, and each man acting for himself, they were hotly pursued for four miles, their pursu- ers dealing death and carnage among them.
In this charge and retreat, the ten first named in the preceding list were killed, and the next five were wounded. All who were killed fell within one and a half miles of the battle-ground, the most of them within half a mile, being overtaken on foot. Plummer, Ward and Barton were killed at the ravine. In the disaster some acts were performed which deserve men- tion. David W. Campbell, not observing the retreat, was about being surrounded by the enemy, when the brave Captain Eli Chandler, already mounted, rushed to his relief and took him up behind him. Young Jackson Powers, missing his horse, mounted on a pony behind William McGrew, his arm being broken at the same moment, and was retreating. His brother Williamn, however, came by on a large horse, and requested him to leave the pony and ride behind him. He dismounted, but from his broken arm and the restlessness of the horse he was unable to mount, till, the Indians rushing upon him, his brother only left him as the poor boy fell under the tomahawk. William N. P. Marlin, before the retreat, was so severely wounded in the hip that he could not mount, and was about being left, when David Cobb ran to him and threw him on his horse. Wilson Reed, a daring fellow, in the retreat was knocked from his horse by a tree, the enemy being close upon them, when he sang out in a half-mirthful tone: "O, Lord ! boys, Mary Ann is a widow !" But some brave fellow picked him up and carried him safely away.
1839 .- In January, Colonel John H. Moore, with sixty-three white vol- unteers and sixteen Lipan Indians, went on a scout to the Upper Colorado. They reached the neighborhood of a Comanche village on the 14th of Feb- ruary. The next day the village was partially destroyed, the warriors retreating to a strong position in a bend of the creek. The Texans had also retired a short distance, to reload, when they were vigorously attacked by a large body of warriors. The fight was not very decisive. Colonel Moore had one man killed, and three wounded. On the 20th of April, Mrs. Coleman, widow of Colonel R. M. Coleman, and her son were killed near Webberville. Jacob Burleson raised a small company and pursued the Indians, who were found in force and strongly posted on Brushy creek. The next day General Ed. Burleson arrived with reinforcements, when a
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severe battle was fought, in which it was said twenty Indians were killed. General Burleson's brother, Jacob, and James Gilleland, John Watters, and Edward Blakie were killed. A number of others were wounded. On the 27th of May, Captain John Bird left Fort Miram, at the Falls of the Brazos, for a general scout. Indians were found and severely dealt with, on Little river. In this engagement the whites lost four killed, including Captain Bird. About the same time, a Mr. Webster started from Austin to settle on his head-right league of land on the North Gabriel. Ile had fourteen men, his wife, three children and a negro woman. He found a large body of Comanches encamped on his land, and attempted to retreat; encamping that night on Brushy creek. For fear of an attack, Mr. Webster formed a. kind of barricade with his wagons, and prepared for defence. The next morning they were assaulted. The fight continued until all the men were killed, when Mrs. Webster and two of her children, and the negro woman, were taken prisoners.
EXPULSION OF THE CHEROKEES .- President Lamair's policy was to expel all Indians from Texas. He believed the civilized tribes were intruders, and that their presence retarded the settlement of the country. He there- fore resolved upon their expulsion. It was said these Indians had com- mitted many depredations, especially that they had murdered the Killough family, of whom some sixteen or eighteen had been killed. The Cherokees, however disclaimed all responsibility for these murders, and laid the blame on wild Indians. Vice-President Burnet and General A. S. Johnston, Sec- retary of War, were sent to the Indian village, on the Angelina river, to induce the Indians to peacefully withdraw to their Territory. These Com- missioners were authorized to pay the Cherokees for their improvements. The Indians utterly refused to give up their homes. In anticipation of such refusal, three regiments of volunteers had been collected and sent to the neighborhoed, under Colonels Burleson, Rusk and Landrum, all under the command of General Douglass. All negotiations having been unavailing to induce the Indians to leave, they were attacked on the 15th of July. After losing eighteen of their number they retreated to the Neches river. They were followed the next day by the Texans, and another severe battle was fought. In this the Indians lost about one hundred in killed and wounded. In the first day's fight the Texans lost three killed and five wounded; on the second day they lost five killed and seventeen wounded. After this disastrous defeat the Indians abandoned their fine lands and homes to the whites.
In October, Captain Thomas B. Howard inflicted a severe chastisement upon a party of Indians on Little river. The year 1839 closed with a fight between Colonel Burleson and a party of Indians found on Cherokee creek, San Saba county. In this fight six Indians were killed, and some women and children taken prisoners. Among these were the wife and children of the celebrated Cherokee chief, Bowles, who had been killed when his people were driven from East Texas.
1840 .- FIGHT IN COUNCIL HOUSE, SAN ANTONIO .- Early in 1840 some Comanche chiefs sent in word to Captain Karnes that they wished to come in and make peace. They were told to come in and bring with them all the
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BATTLE CREEK FIGHT, NAVARRO CO .- 1838%
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COMANCHE INVASION.
prisoners they held. When they arrived they brought but one little girl, a Miss Lockhart. They were known to have others, especially a Mrs. Webster and child, taken from the neighborhood of Georgetown a few weeks previ- ously. During the confusion after the battle, this lady escaped, and, after nearly perishing for water, finally with her child reached the city. On the 19th of March, twelve chiefs entered the building used as a court-house ; where they met the Commissioners appointed by President Lamar, with the interpreter. The Indians were upbraided for not bringing more captives held by them. They said the one brought was all they held ; this was said in a defiant tone. In the meantime a company of Texas Rangers came on the ground, Captain Howard and some of his men entering the house. The interpreter was told to inform them that they would be held as hostages, until the other prisoners were brought in. The interpreter at first refused to tell them, as he said they would instantly fight. But the Commissioners insisted, and placing himself near the door, he told them and left. As he had said, the chiefs immediately drew their bows and knives. One started toward the door in which Captain Howard was standing. The captain received a severe cut with a knife, but killed the Indian. A general fight ensued, in which Indians, men and women, participated. A powerful chief attacked Colonel M. Caldwell, who was not armed. IIe defended himself with rocks until a soldier shot the savage. In an adjoining room, Mr. Morgan was attacked by two Indians, and killed both of them. Lieutenant Dunnington was killed by a squaw, who shot an arrow through his body. Judge Thompson was in the yard, amusing himself by setting up pieces of money for the little Indians to knock out. He was killed by an arrow, before he suspected danger. Judge Hood was killed in the council-house. Colonel Lysander Wells rode into the plaza just as the fight commenced. A powerful savage vaulted on behind him, and first attempted to unhorse him. Failing in this, he tried to guide the horse out of the plaza. The colonel, held fast as he was, found himself unable to draw his pistol. Fnally, after passing two or three times around the plaza, the Indian was shot by a soldier, and Wells relieved from his awkward predicament. The melee lasted until all the warriors (thirty) were killed. Two Indian women and three children were also killed. The loss of the Texans was seven killed and eight wounded.
COMANCHE INVASION .- On the 4th of August some four hundred Com- anche warriors crossed Plum creek, in Caldwell county, going down the country. They reached Victoria on the 6th, and after burning part of the town and committing other depredations, they descended to Linnville, a trading point on Lavaca Bay, entering that place carly on the morning of the 8th. Most of the men of the village were absent, and the savages pro- ceeded to pillage and burn the place. Three families took refuge on a small sail vessel in the harbor. While Major Watts, Collector of Customs, was trying to reach the vessel, he was shot down, and his wife taken prisoner. Fromn Linnville the Indians hastily withdrew with their valuable booty. As the news of this raid spread through the settlements, the people rallied under their favorite leaders to intercept them. Plum creek was the place of rendezvous. Here were concentrated the companies of Captains Ben
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McCulloch, Clarke L. Owen, Ed. Burleson, M. Caldwell, Thos. W. Ward, W. J. E. Wallace, Monroe Hardiman, and others, all under the command of General Felix Huston. On the morning of August 18th the Indians had just started their pack mules, and were preparing to follow, when they were attacked by the Texans. The Indians hastily retreated. As they could not carry off their prisoners, they shot them. Mrs. Crosby, taken near Victoria, was killed. Mrs. Watts was found with an arrow in her breast. Tho arrow was withdrawn, and she recovered, and died in 1878, while keeping the San Antonio House, in Port Lavaca. During the invasion twenty-one whites had been killed, though none fell in the fight. The Indians lost twenty-seven killed and more wounded.
On the 5th of October, Colonel John Moore, with ninety Texans and twelve Lipans started on a scout to the upper Colorado. When about three hundred miles above Austin, a Comanche village was discovered. This was October 23d. Early the next morning the village was attacked. The Indians were completely surprised, and the village destroyed. Forty-eight Indians were killed in the village. As they were retreating to the river, Captain Owen was sent forward to intercept their flight. In this he was successful. Eighty more men, women and children were either shot or drowned in the stream. Thirty-four prisoners were taken. In the village the Texans found goods taken the previous summer from Linnville. Moore had two men wounded ; none killed.
1841 .- Comparatively little fighting was done this year. General E. H. Tarrant destroyed an Indian village on the Trinity river, above Dallas. There were some skirmishes, especially in northern Texas, in one of which John B. Denton was killed, on a creek that bears his name, in Denton county.
1842 .- During Houston's second administration, the Indians were com- paratively quiet. He pursued his well-known pacific policy. There were, however, occasional raids. In March a small band visited Austin, killing a Mr. Ward and Mr. Hadley. In the same month a party visited Carlos' ranch, on the San Antonio river, and killed Mr. Gilleland and his wife, and took their children, a little girl and her younger brother, prisoners. The children were subsequently recovered by a company of rangers under Cap- tain Ain (Mustang) Gray. At this present writing, Mr. Gilleland and his sister, wife of Rev. Dr. Fisher, live in Austin.
1844 .- The Indians continued to be peaceable. Thomas I. Smith and John C. Nail, as commissioners on the part of Texas, met at Tehuacana creek, in Limestone county, representatives of the Comanches, Keechies, Wacoes, Caddoes, Anadaquas, Delawares, Cherokees, Lipans and Tonka- was, and entered into treaties with them. The "Indian question " has always been troublesome and expensive. In a speech in the United States Senate, July 14, 1854, General Rusk stated that Texas had, during the ten years of the republic, expended $3,815,011 in protecting her citizens against the Indians.
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CHAPTER IV ..
NUMBER OF INDIANS IN THE STATE AT ANNEXATION-INDIAN RESEVES-PROSPEROUS BUT SOON BROKEN UP-DOVE CREEK FIGHT-SCALPING OF MRS. FRIEND-TEXAS NOW FREE FROM INDIAN RAIDS.
HE last time any considerable number of hostile Indians penetrated the settlements was in the summer of 1848. About two hundred Li- pans passed down the Cibolo creek, and out towards the Rio Grande, committing some murders and thefts.
1849 .- By the treaty of annexation the Indians were placed under the the control of the United States. Major Neighbors was Indian agent. He estimated their numbers at 29,500, distributed as follows: Comanches, 20,000; Kiowas, 1,500; Caddoes, 1,400; Lipans, 500; Keechies, 300; Wa- coes, etc., 1,000; Delawares, 650; Tonkawas, 650; Apaches, 3,500.
In January, 1851, a committee of the Legislature reported that during the year 1849 the Indians had, in Texas, killed 171 persons, wounded seven and taken twenty-five into captivity, and had stolen 6,000 horses, and prop- erty valued at $100,000.
In 1853 the Forester family was killed, on the Medina river, twenty-five miles from San Antonio. It is supposed the Tonkawas did the killing, though this tribe always professed to maintain friendly relations with the whites.
INDIAN RESERVES .- It was thought the native tribes of Indians were entitled to a domicil in the State, and, in 1854, the Legislature passed a bill giving temporary control to the United States of two tracts of land, in what was then Young district, for Indian reserves. We transfer from the Texas Almanac of 1850 the following account of these reserves:
The State of Texas, by Act of the Legislature, set apart twelve leagues of land, upon which the Texas Indians were to be settled by the United States Government. Said twelve leagues, or 55,728 acres of land, to be reserved to the United States for the use and benefit of the Texas Indians exclusively. Under the supervision of Major R. S. Neighbors, eight leagues of land were located on the Brazos river, below the junction of the Clear Fork and Main Brazos, and about fifteen miles below Fort Belknap. This reservation is called the Brazos Agency, and contains about eleven hundred souls, con- sisting of Caddoes, Anadahkoes, Wacoes, Tahwacanoes and Tonkahuas. There are other Indians than those named, but they are enumerated as Caddoes chiefly. On this reserve there are six hundred acres of land in successful cultivation in wheat and corn. The mode of culture is the same, or similar to that of the Americans. These Brazos Reserve Indians have made extraordinary progress in civilization, since their settle- ment in 1853; and are very honest, trustworthy and industrious. They have a school, under the charge of Mr. Ellis Combes. Mr. C. reports fifty scholars in regular attend-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
ance; and, judging from the interest taken in this educational enterprise by the old Indians, he is inclined to the opinion that good results will come of it. On this Reser- vation there are several good houses, built expressly for the transaction of all and any business connected with the Indians. These buildings are situated near the centre of the Reserve, in a very pretty mesquit valley, the approach to which affords a most lovely and sightly landscape. Captain S. P. Ross, an old Texan and a worthy man, is the Special Agent of the United States Government, in charge of the Brazos Agency Captain Ross' long experience on the frontier, and superior knowledge of the Indian character, eminently fit him for the position he occupies. His salary is $1,500 per annum.
The Comanche Reserve is about sixty miles distant from the Brazos Agency, and is located on the Clear Fork of the Brazos river, forty-five miles above its confluence with the main Brazos. Their Reserve extends over four leagues of land, and contains four hundred souls-all Comanches, known as the Southern band of that tribe. Their head chief is a good man, and lias been a valuable auxiliary in the reclamation of these Indians from savage life. He is known by the name of Ketemesie. The Comanches have not made the same progress as the Brazos Reserve Indians-not that they are any more indolent or lazy, but because of their total estrangement heretofore from the manners and customs of the white man. The Indians on the Brazos Reserve have always lived near, and frequently among the white settlers, while the Comanches have been outside of all intercourse of a friendly nature. This agency is furnished with all necessary buildings, and, like the Brazos Agency, is supplied with competent and trust- worthy farmers and artisans. The Comanches have a good crop this year, and will, most probably, make sufficient to bread themselves. Colonel M. Leeper is their Agent, at a salary of $1,500 per annum.
The United States Government has been very liberal in its appropriations for the benefit of the reclaimed savage, and has spared neither trouble or expense in the fur- therance of the peace-policy-a policy which is now beginning to show its good effects. It does justice to the Indian-is due to the cause of humanity, and reflects great credit upon the originators thereof.
Major R. S. Neighbors is the Supervising Agent of the Government for all the Texas Indians, at a salary of $2,000 per annum. The Major is too well known throughout the country for any attempt to be made here eulogistic of his public services. To him, more than any other, should be ascribed the success of the Indian-feeding policy in Texas. The duties appertaining to the office of Supervising Agent are very onerous and responsible, and not unfrequently hazardous. His course towards the Indians must be scrupulously correct and straightforward; there cannot be one jot or tittle of devia- tion at all from the line of policy marked out. The Indian is liberal in extending his confidence, but it must be carefully cherished. His memory is the rock of ages; there is no " two ways " about it. Major Neighbors disburses annually about $80,000 for the use of the Texas Indians.
Texas has wisely granted jurisdiction to the United States over ten miles adjoining each Reserve. This is to prevent the sale or traffic in intoxicating liquors. The civil authority has jurisdiction in all criminal cases, on both Reserves; as well have the In- dians police regulations, of the strictest sort, for their own government. Their imme- diate agents are constituted magistrates, before whom all or any offenders arc brought for trial. There is less theft or disturbance, of any kind, among these people, than there is among the same population of Americans. Suffice it that the Feeding or Peace- Policy in Texas is a success. It has demonstrated, beyond a doubt, that Indians can be civilized and reclaimed. The Brazos Reserve Indians have tended their own crops, which will compare favorably with any in the State; and have also kept from fifty to one hundred men on ranging service during the season, and have been great protection to the frontier.
Charles E. Barnard, Esq., is the authorized Government Indian Trader for both Reserves. Mr. B. has been trading with the Indians on the frontier for a period of fifteen years or more. He is welf known to all the Indians in Texas, and enjoys their
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entire confidence. It is nothing but justice to Mr. Barnard to say that his services have been invaluable to the Indian Agents in carrying out the views of the Federal Govern- ment. The trading with the Indians is not so profitable now as it was some years past, when the Indians depended upon their hunting for means of support. The trade in skins and peltries is entirely stopped, and the Indians now look to the products of their farms and stock-raising for support. They have generally good stocks of hogs, cattle and horses, and are doing well with them.
In 1858 there were reported on these reserves: Tonkawas, 250; Tehua. canas,, 204; Wacoes, 171; Comanches, 380; Anadaquas, 235; Caddoes, etc., 249; total, 1,489. They had schools, and a missionary preached to them occasionally. But the same reasons which required the removal of the Cherokees from East Texas, rendered it imperative to remove the reserve Indians from Texas. After some disturbances between the Indians and the citizens, Major George H. Thomas, of the U. S. Army, in August, 1859, transferred the Indians to the Indian Territory.
The census tables for 1860 report only 403 Indians as residents in Texas. These were the Alabamas, etc., in Polk county.
During the civil war the Indians were comparatively quiet. Being within the Federal lines, many of them enlisted in the Union army. Some, how- ever, came to the Confederates, and others remained neutral. Among these were the Kickapoos. To avoid the necessity of taking any part in the contest, about one thousand of this tribe determined to remove to Mexico, and started through Texas for the Rio Grande. When camped on Dove creek, a tributary of the Concho, they were discovered by the Texans, who were in pursuit of them with about four hundred Confederate soldiers and militia. The Indians were in a dense thicket. The Texans, with great gallantry, charged the thicket; but they were met with such a hot reception that they were compelled to fall back. The charge was renewed, time and again, but without dislodging the Indians. At night the assailants with- drew, having lost seventeen killed and twenty-five wounded. They
intended the next morning to renew the fight, but a rain having set in, they returned to Camp Colorado and reported having killed fifty-three Indians, including two women and two children. The Indians, when they arrived at Piedras Negras, said that when they were discovered by the Texans they sent a flag of truce to let the Texans know that they only desired peaceably to pass to their new homes in Mexico. The flag was fired upon, (so they said) and their encampment, with the women and children, attacked. . They reported that in the fight fourteen of their warriors were killed and eight wounded. For some years after this fight, the Kickapoos were troublesome, crossing the Rio Grande and committing depredations in Texas. Finally, in 1874-5, the United States Commissioners removed the most of them back to their former homes in the Indian Territory.
A report made to the Legislature, after a careful investigation by a com- mittee, states that in the two years immediately after the close of the war, 162 persons had been killed in Texas by the Indians; forty-three had been carried into captivity and stolen. A volume might be written, detailing the particulars of these raids and murders.
For ten years after the close of the war, almost every month, with the full moon, came an Indian raid into some part of the frontier. Newspapers
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
were full of the harrowing details. It is not possible to give all these inci- dents. We give one taken from one of the newspaper accounts at the time it occurred. We knew the parties in former years. Mrs. Friend, the lady scalped, was a daughter of Rev. Joseph Dancer, one of the earliest preach- ers on the frontier. He was killed by the Indians a year before the raid described below. The little boy, who was carried into captivity, was finally recovered by his grandfather, Rev. Leonard S. Friend:
LLANO, LLANO CO., TEXAS, Feb. 11th, 1868.
" The most horrible Indian depredations were committed in this county, commencing on the evening of the 6th inst.
" The Indians, numbering twelve or fifteen, attacked the house of Mr. John S. Friend, about sixteen miles from this place, in Legion Valley. When first discovered by Mrs. Friend, (the only living witness of the awful scene), the Indians were in the yard, and directly commenced tearing down the house. The only resistance made was by Mrs. Friend, who contended as bravely as any woman that ever lived. The Indians succeeded in getting into the house. Mrs. Friend attempted to shoot one, but the gun was wrested from her hands; the Indian attempting to shoot her, she knocked the gun out of his hands with a chair. She afterwards knocked the Indian down with a smoothing iron. Mrs. Friend was then shot in the breast with an arrow, and fell, perhaps fainted. She was also badly cut across the hand, and shot through one arm. The shots were with an arrow. She was then scalped and left for dead. Fortunately she recovered sufficiently to watch the Indians start off. But one barbarous wretch, thinking there was possibly life remaining in his victim, returned and gave the arrow, sticking in her breast, several severe jerks backward and forward, to see if she would flinch. Mrs. Friend noticing the Indian returning, placed herself in exactly the position she was while being scalped, and remained as if lifeless during all this torture. She then saw the Indians take off as prisoners Mrs. Boy Johnson and child, Mrs. Babe Johnson and child, Miss Townsend, a little girl named - Cordle, and Mrs. Friend's little son- seven in all. After Mrs. Friend recovered slightly, she started to the widow Johnson's house, distant one and-a-half miles, where a Mr. Bradford and family were staying. Mr. Bradford pulled the arrow out of her breast, placed a cloth over her head and then fled to the woods, leaving her alone sitting before the fire, in which condition she remained until next morning. The attack was made before sun-down. Twenty-four hours passed before the physician at this place was called; at the same time word was received here of the affair. Every man that could possibly go, started immediately -a part going to the scene of the late fatal occurrence. Arriving in the night, we had to wait until morning to see the trail, which was thirty-six hours after the occurrence.
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