USA > Texas > 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 > Part 17
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The Mexican navy swept along the coast, and the In- dians met with but slight and inadequate resistance. Yoakum says, "Every day or two during the year 1837, some murdered citizen or stolen property attested the hos- tile feeling of the Indians."
On the first Monday in September an election was held, at which members of the house of Representatives and one- third of the Senators of the Second Congress were chosen. That body was convened in extra session by President Houston September 26, 1837, and enacted much important legislation-passing a land law (providing for opening the land office in 1838) and some other measures over the Pres- ident's veto. The growing opposition to President Hous- ton's "stand-pat" policy with regard to hostilities with Mex- ico, and his policy of conciliation with regard to the In- dians, became crystalized and was given expression to in the Second Congress.
During the year, rumors of an invasion of Texas by Mexico, came near producing another "runaway scrape,"
HEROIC DEFENSE OF THE TAYLOR FAMILY-PAGE 137
ERATH'S FIGHT WITH AN INDIAN-PAGE 221
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such as that of 1836. The only reason they did not, was be- cause the invasion did not occur. Texas was totally unpre- pared for not only offensive, but defensive measures.
Gen. Houston believed that if treaties of peace were en- tered into with the Indians and they were dealt with kind- ly and justly, hostilities would cease, and the two races could and would live peaceably side by side. The de- fect in his reasoning was that the points of views, the habits, aims, desires, and real interests of the Indians and the white people, were radical and necessarily antagonistic, and it was beyond diplomacy or any other human power to harmonize them. War-continuai war-ending in the sur- vival of the fittest-was inevitable and irrepressible, was perhaps, the only solution possible. Still, the motives that actuated him were philanthropic and noble. As means to the ends he had in view, he exerted himself to obtain treaties with various tribes. Congress co-operated with him to the extent of passing an act providing that commissioners to the Indians should be paid five dollars a day for their services.
September 14, 1837, Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk and Gen. K. H. Douglass issued written instructions* to Jesse Watkins to proceed, with Lewis Sanchez as interpre- ter, to the prairies and have a talk with the chiefs and head men of the Keechies, Caddos, Tonkawas and Ionies, with a view to making a treaty of amity and commerce with them. The letter of instructions directed him to tell them that "we are disposed to be at peace with all our red brethren; that we are disposed to break our long knives and bury our tomahawks with them, and to open a wide road between the house of the red and white man; that all that we shall re- quire of them will be to give up the prisoners they have of ours, to bring back all of the property they have stolen, and not to murder and steal any more, and to prevent other Indians from doing so where they may know of it-to all of which, if they will agree, you may promise them that we
*Texas Archives-State Library.
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will make a treaty of peace with them which shall last for- ever.
"These presents which are furnished you, you may distrib- ute as you may think proper, and you may make such ar- rangements about the chiefs coming in as is most satisfactory, to the Indians. We would like it well if they could be brought down to the seat of government; but, for fear that cannot be done, we will ask the President to nominate two Commissioners here who can treat with them and who will be furnished with the proper instructions. In your talk with them you will be careful not to promise them lands at any particular place; and be cautious that you make no promise, however slight, that cannot be strictly complied with."
Henry W. Karnes concluded a treaty of peace and com- merce with the Tonkawas at San Antonio, November 22, 1837, under the terms of which Nathaniel Lewis was to be trading agent among them and they were to buy articles from, and make sales to no other person.
During the latter part of the year Noah Smithwick in- duced five Comanche chiefs to go with him to Houston, where some sort of agreement was entered into with them, but it was lived up to by neither party.
Texas Indians considered themselves as the real lords of the soil under the old regime, and Spaniards and Mexi- cans as tenants at will. They regarded the Anglo-Am- ericans as intruders, who were robbing them of that which was rightfully theirs. Indians from the United States who had effected lodgment in Texas believed they had rights which were being criminally trampled under foot by the white peo- ple.
The white men on their part, did not recognize the right of savagery to pre-empt so beautiful and fertile a domain as Texas, and unflinchingly demanded and conquered it, with the design that it should afford a theatre for the development of a high and splendid civilization that would bless all who participated in it, and contribute to the happiness of man- kind.
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Furthermore, there were "bad Indians" and "bad white men" who poured wil on the flames of warfare, every time they burned low, till the last tepee crumbled to ashes and the last brave (nearly fifty years after the time cover- ed by this chapter) retreated from the confines of Texas, never more to return.
The picture of 1837 as further revealed by history, is seen not to be made up solely of sombre colors.
The seasons were remarkably propitious, and abundant cotton and food crops were raised. The cotton crop amounted to more than 50,000 bales and was sold for good prices.
The Mexican ranch owners, who formerly dwelt be- tweem the Nueces and Rio Grande, and who abandoned that region in 1836, left behind them immense herds . of cattle. People living farther east "rounded up" and appropriated this stock, which gave them a good supply for breeding and other purposes-in some instances, from two hundred to six hundred head to the cowboy .*
The sale of lots on Galveston Island, (under authority of an act of Congress) resulted in the establishment and rap- id growth of the town of Galveston. A fine line of sailing packets was established between New York, New Orleans, and Texas.
Congress, by the act of November 4, 1837, appropriated $280,000.00 for the establishment of a new Texas navy, to con- sist of six armed vessels-one ship, or brig, eighteen guns; two barques, twe've 'guns each; and three schooners, seven guns each.
New counties and towns were created. A stream of de- sirable immigration flowed steadily into Texas during the year, with augmenting volume; industrial enterprises were introduced in a small way and some of them successfully operated; the mechanism of government was adjusted and set in motion; and the commonwealth girded itself for, and
*The term "cow-boy" is said to have been first used in Texas. to designate these cat- tle bunters.
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started sturdily forward upon the high career it has since pursued.
The shadows that lay upon the land, served but to heighten the beauty and add to the cheering effects of the sunshine that was mingled with them, and that rested upon it like a benediction.
Brave hearts and true, met the dangers and difficulties of the present unflinchingly, and pressed on to the future with confidence and enthusiasm. It was not a "phantom of hope" or "delusion of fancy" that led them on, but the Spirit of Progress, which had selected them for nation builders, and nerved them for and kept them at their task.
MURDER OF THE GOTCHER FAMILY - CAPTURE OF MRS. CRAWFORD AND THREE CHILDREN.
Among the valuable and prominent accessions to Austin's Colony, was James Gotcher,* a native of Alabama, who emi- grated in 1835, settling with his family and son-in-law, Crawford, at a point on Rabb's Creek, near the present town of Giddings, in Lee county.
Erecting comfortable cabins, opening farms, and ac- cumulating ample and increasing stocks of cattle, horses and hogs, these settlers were prosperous and happy. Other families soon located in the vicinity, and for a time all went well. But alas! they, too, were destined to meet a fate-the common fate befalling so many of the brave pioneers in the settling and reclaiming of Texas.
On the same day, and by the same party of Indians who had murdered Congressman Robinson and his brother, the Gotcher home was attacked. At the time, Mr. Gotcher, with one son, and Crawford, were away, cutting and hauling wood from the bottom. The Indians approached the house in two parties, one of which came upon a little son and daughter of
*Gotler, pronounced Gotcher by Texans of that day, and so spelled in some accounts. Enroute from the lower colony, they first marked, and afterwards cut out, the trail or road since known as the "Gotcher Trace"-once much traveled.
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Mr. Gotcher near the dwelling, killing and scalping the boy, and making a prisoner of the little girl. In the house were Mrs. Nancy Gotcher, her married daughter, Mrs. Jane Crawford, and several children. Seeing that they had only to contend with women and children, the Indians disregarded their usual mode of attack ard rushed directly upon the cabin, expecting to meet with little or no resistance. They were mistaken in their calculations. Both the women in- side, seized the few guns that were there, and discharged them, one after amother, into the midst of the yelling mass of assailants. There was no time to reload. The savages burst into the room, and one of them, armed with a gun, shot and killed Mrs. Gotcher, whose body was already dotted with arrows that had been fired into it. Mrs. Crawford was overpowered and she and her two children (one of them two months old) were made captives. A little son of Mr. Gotch- er attempted to make his escape but was seized, as he turned the corner of the house, by an Indian. He caught one of the Indian's thumbs in his mouth and bit it until the warrior forced him to let go by beating him with a ramrod.
Mr. Gotcher, and his son, and Crawford, ran to the house when they heard the firing; but in the excitement of the moment forgot to bring their guns with them from the woods. They arrived upon the scene while the tragedy was being enacted. There was neither time nor opportunity for them to return for their weapons, their dear ones were be- ing murdered, or taken prisoners, and were appealing to them for succor.
They made a bold and desperate dash for the house, in- tending to secure the guns there, and make battle. The chance was not only a forlorn, but a hopeless one, and fight- ing gallantly as best they could, they soon fell beneath the fire and spear thrusts of the Indians, before going many steps. The son fought desperately, almost amputating the throat of a warrior with his teeth. Another son, after be- ing mortally wounded, crawled to a clump of trees, unob- Berved, pillowed his head on a rock, and expired. Thus the
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bloody tragedy was soon over. The Gotcher home, being somewhat isolated, the occurrence was not known for some days later when casually visited by Gen. Ed. Burleson, too late for successful pursuit of the Indians.
But the news soon spread far and near, filling every heart with indignation and horror. "This," says Wilbar- ger, who furnishes the only details of the horrible affair, "was indeed one of the bloodiest tragedies that had ever oc- curred up to that time in the settlement. A father, wife, son and son-in-law and two children, lay cold in death, and mingled together their kindred blood, where but a few hours previously, they had assembled in fancied security, within the walls of their once happy home."
But, gentle reader, the sad story stops not here. After plundering the house and mutilating their victims, the fiend- ish murderers departed, carrying as captives, Mrs. Crawford, her two children and the little daughter of Mrs. Gotcher. They suffered, as the prisoners of Indians usually did, all the hardships and indignities their barbarous captors could in- flict.
The Indians, annoyed by the crying of Mrs. Crawford's two months old babe, threw it into a deep pool, to drown. The desperate mother plunged into the water, seized the child, and swam with it to the bank. Again and again they seized and tossed it back, and as often the determined moth- er rescued her child. For a time this was sport for the cruel fiends, but tiring of their deviltry, a brave lifted the child in his hands and bending back its head, told a companion to cut its throat. As the knife was raised, and the diabolical deed about to be consummated, the frantic mother felled the fiend with a billet of wood. As the Indian lay motion- less at her feet, as a result of the blow she had dealt him, she expected only death' as her fate. But instead, the In- dians merely laughed at their fallen comrade, and expressed much admiration for her bravery, and now returned the child, saying, "Squaw too much brave. Damn you, take your papoose and carry it yourself-we will not do it."
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+
After a captivity of two or three years, during which time Mrs. Crawford was subjected to the most shameful treatment, she and the children were brought into Holland Coffee's trading house on Red River. Here Mr. Spaulding, a trader, formed an attachment for the unfortunate lady and purchased the captives-the ransom being 400 yards of cali- co, a large number of blankets, a quantity of beads, and some other articles. Mr. Spaulding married the widow and brought them all back to Bastrop county. Children born of this union yet survive in Texas.
LIEUT. WREN'S FIGHT.
Early in the spring of this year, Lieut. Wren with a de- tachment of fifteen rangers from Coleman's Fort, attacked and defeated a party of Comanche warriors near the site of the present city of Austin. They were surprised in their camp just at daylight, and one of their number killed by Joe Weeks, at the first fire. The Indians took shelter in a ra- vine and fought bravely, but the rangers rapidly moved down upon them, pouring in a heavy fire which caused the enemy to scatter and seek safety in the adjoining cedar- brakes-leaving their camp equipage and a caballado of stolen horses to the whites. But the joy of the victory was saddened by the loss of one of the rangers, Phillip Martin, who was shot in the mouth and instantly killed.
MURDER OF CONGRESSMAN ROBINSON AND HIS BROTHER.
In February of this year a party of thirty or forty Com- anche Indians came down into Fayette county on a horse stealing expedition, and on their way out, met and murdered the Hon. John G. Robinson and his youthful brother, Wal- ter .*
*Neal Robinson, of Fayette county, son of Joel W. Robinson (or Robison) says the famly have always spelled the name Robison. It appears as Robinson in the recollections of his father in Vol. 6, of the Texas Historial Association'Quarterly, and as it is more fa-
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Judge Robinson was one of Austin's colonists, coming in 1831, and settling on his headright league, on Cummings Creek within the present limits of Fayette county. He was an educated gentleman, filling valuable positions, and his death was greatly deplored. At the time of his death, he was a member of the First Congress of the Republic, which convened at Columbia, in the fall of 1836.
During the session he bought a supply of groceries and sent them to a house of a Mr. Stevens, a neighbor living some five miles south of his home.
In February, 1837, soon after his return from Columbia, Judge Robinson and his brother went with a team to bring home the supplies. They were to stay over night with Stev- ems, and no uneasiness was felt by the family till the next morning, when it became known that Indians had visited the settlement. We quote details as given by the son, Joel W. Robinson :- * * "At that time I was at my father's on a visit-my residence being at Washington on the Brazos. Very early in the morning after father left home, I started down to Mr. Breeding's about eight miles below on Cum- mings Creek, purposing to go thence to Washington. When I arrived at Breeding's, I learned that the night before, the Indians had stolom all his horses. Knowing that my father and uncle intended starting home early that morning, and that they were unarmed, I was instantly siezed with a pre- sentiment that the Indians would fall in with and murder them. I returned as speedily as possible to my mother and told the news. She was very uneasy. It was about noon. I armed myself and proceeded on the road toward Stevens'. I had scarcely gone a mile, when, in the open post oak woods I found my father's cart and oxen standing in the road. The groceries were also in the cart. But neither father nor
miliar to Texas readers in that form, it is not altered to the correct spelling in this article. Joel W. Robinson was one of the men who captured Santa Anna after the battle of Sam Jacinto, and prior to and subsequent to that time, took part in many expeditions against the Indians. Both he and his father participated in the attacks upon and capture of the Mexican fort at Valasco in 1832. He also took part in the storming and capture of San Antonio in December. 1835, under Milam and Johnson. The family came to Texas from Georgia in 1831.
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uncle were there. I had now no doubt of their fate. The conviction that they were murdered shot into my heart like a thunder bolt. Riding on a few yards further I discovered. buzzards collecting near the road. My approach scared. them away and revealed to my sight the body of my father, nude, scalped and mutilated. I dismounted and sat down by the body. After recovering a little from the shock I looked around for uncle. I found his body, also stripped, scalped. and mangled, about fifty yards from my father's remains. His body was small and light and I carried it and laid it by: the side of my father. The vultures, in black groups, were: perched on the trees around, and I knew they would quick- ly devour the bodies if I left them exposed. I covered theme with a coat and saddle blanket and piled brush upon them. I |then hurried back with the woeful news to my aged mother."". * And as this narrative closes, we leave the reader to picture the pathetic, heart-rending, scene between that sud- denly widowed mother and orphaned son.
LITTLE RIVER FORT .-- ERATH'S FAMOUS FIGHT.
Late in 1836, in accordance with a previously agreed plan looking to the special protection of Robertson's Colony, Capt ... Coleman, in command of ranger forces, proceeded to locate a block house station or log fort about the "Three Forks" of" Little River. Lieut. George B.Erath was detailed with a small force to erect the buildings and to protect that point. Of the thrilling events that soon occurred, Erath himself, tells in a graphic narrative prepared expressly for this work :. "On returning from the army after the battle of San Jacinto,. I became attached immediately to Robertson's company oper -- ating against the Indians, and in July was transfered to Capt. Hill's company operating between the Brazos and Col -- orado-participating im an engagement on the Yegua in Au- gust. On the first of October I enlisted in a corps of rangers- then commanded by Col. Coleman, serving as lieutenant un -- der Captain Barren. I may here mention that the men ins
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this service were promised 1280 acres of land, which they re- ceived, and $25.00 a month, which was paid after a time, in depreciated currency - Texas 'red backs.' The men were to be furnished with rations of every kind. This was gener- ally a failure, though the government furnished us ammuni- tion to kill game with, which was our principal support. The First Congress passed a law authorizing the raising of five companies, who were to provide their own horses and arms, but be furnished everything else. About half the men had horses, and some had very poor guns, borrowed or pressed from citizens. Those of us who had horses performed by far, the greater part of the service, but there was no distinction in pay, or in rations. .
"In the early part of November, 1836, I was placed in command of a few over twenty men detached from Barren's company, and stationed at a point on the Leon about one mile from what is known as the 'Three Forks' of Little River-having cut out, marked and measured, a road from the Falls of the Brazos to that place. Col. Coleman, who had accompanied' us with a few men, after planning for improve- ments, left, measuring and working a road to his fort on Walnut Creek, about six miles east of where Austin now stands and about eight miles above Hornsby's, the highest settlement on the Colorado.
"Settlements had been attempted in the surrounding country the winter before, and here and there patches of corn were planted in the spring, mostly without fence, and by a prolific season, some corn, not eaten by the buffalo or wild stock, matured. Thus I was enabled to procure a few bags of corn, which I issued to my men-a 'nubbin' a day ; and which had to be ground on a steel hand mill to be made into bread. For meat, we depended on wild game then plentiful-while honey was obtained from numerous 'bee trees,' and kept in rawhide or deerskin sacks, made with the hair outside. Coffee was scarce and used sparingly.
"The details of operations up to Christmas, are unimpor- tant. By that time I had up seven or eight houses, well cov-
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ered, with wooden chimneys to them; buffalo robes for car- pets or floors. One of the soldiers-Collins-having a fami- ly, had one of the cabins to himself, and Gouldsby Childers, a settler, with his family, occupied another. Thus we were not idle, besides my men had to dress deerskins to make themselves clothes, especially inoccasins.
"And now to the operations. As already alluded to, Con- gress reorganized the ranger corps. Most of the old officers were retained, new ones added, and some of the inferiors pro- ,noted. The commander, Col. Coleman, was deposed by Gen. Houston and Major Smith appointed-the effect of which took place about Christmas. Lieut. Curtis was sent to Little River Fort about that time to take command, with orders for me to hold myself in readiness at any moment to proceed (under additional special orders to be sent) to Colorado Fort (Coleman's Fort) to inaugurate the new system and notify Col. Coleman to depart. This new and special order did not arrive till the 4th of January, 1837, when it was de- livered by Lieut. McLochlin. But the information of great- est consequence he brought, was that he had seen the tracks of some dozen Indians on foot, going down the country about twelve miles from the fort, on the waters of Elm Creek. All was now excitement and bustle in quarters, as we determined to intercept and prevent these Indians reaching the settle- ment below and doing mischief. Lieut. Curtis, now proper- ly in command and ranking officer, refused to make pursuit and at first objected to the horses being used-suggesting that I proceed with eight or ten men on foot. During the night, a cold rain set in and continued with heavy down- pour through the next day. Finally, arrangements having been made, about 10 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, we left on the scout. My force consisted of fourteen men, rank and file: Sergeant McLochlin, and rangers, Lee R. Davis, Daniel Clark, (an elderly man) Empson Thompson, Jack Gross, Robert Childers, and his boy brother, Frank, Jack Houston (volunteers) John Folks, Lewis and Maurice Moore, Green McCoy-the three latter also were mere boys- and
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Leishly, a prospector. Four of our number had never been in battle before. Besides, four young men from the settle- ments below, whose parents had lived in the vicinity before the 'runaway scrape' in 1836, and who had been sent back to look after stock and other property that had been left be- hind, decided to accompany us so far as we traveled in the direction of their homes at Nashville, some sixty miles below -but my course soon deflecting they parted company and continued alone.
The trail was soon struck-"but behold!" continues Erath, "instead of a dozen Indians, signs showed nearer one hundred, all on foot and leading toward the settlements be- low. Following for two or three miles, we came to their camp of the previous day and night, and where they had constructed temporary brush and grass shelters from the
rain. The signs were fresh-the camp fires still burning. The moccasin tracks were numerous-enough to deter the
bravest, but we pushed on. Indians, and Indian hunters can tell by the cast of the moccasin soles to what tribe the wearer belongs, but not possessing that experience we were compelled to advance without knowing whether we were to encounter prairie tribes warriors with bows and lances or Caddos and other semi-civilized Indians armed with rifles- all brave and expert marksmen."
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