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 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
Soon after this the Indians again entered the town at night, killing Messrs. Hart and Weaver, and escaped.
A little later, some three miles east of town, Messrs. Robinson and Dollar were riving boards, when they were
259
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
surprised by fifteen Indians. Says Brown: "Each sprang upon his horse, near by, but Robinson was killed at the same moment, while Dollar was pursued and hemmed on a high bank of the river; but leaving his horse, he leaped down the bank about twenty feet, swam the Colorado and then hastened to town. Soon afterwards he started to leave the country and was never again heard of. No doubt was entertained, however, of his having been killed by In- dians."*
In the winter of this year a citizen was killed by In- dians in the streets of Bastrop. In fact scarcely a month passed that the town was not visited by some murdering band of Indians, but the details in most instances, are too meager for record.
CAPTAIN HARVEY'S ADVENTURE.
Among the early and useful pioneers, personally known to the writer, was Capt. John Harvey, who long resided at the beautiful little village of Salado in Bell county; and where he died about 1886. He was another Tenne- seean to Texas, born in 1810, and emigrating in 1834. He participated in the battle of San Jacinto, and afterwards joined several expeditions against Indians and Mexicans. Be- ing a surveyor by profession and doing much work on the frontier, he had a number of adventures and escapades. The following incident, though not resulting in tragedy, will be of thrilling interest :
Harvey, accompanied by a party of twenty men, camped in the territory traversed by the San Saba, but several miles from the stream, for the purpose of surveying lands granted to German colonists.
His companions were inexperienced and he found it im- possible to induce them to take ordinary precautions against surprise and attack by hostile Indians. The weather being sultry, the men dispersed in various directions for water, leaving Harvey in camp.
*Brown's Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas.
260
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
Becoming thirsty himself, some time after their depart- ure, he struck out down a ravine, hoping to find a pool of water. After he had proceeded for a mile or more, he was suddenly surrounded and captured by Waco Indians, who rose from behind bushes where they had been crouching and awaiting his approach.
With their prisoner they started for camp. On the way they stole a pony from a Comanche camp and be- ing very hungry, killed it and cooked and ate part of it. They then tied a hind-quarter of the animal-over one hun- dred pounds of meat-on Harvey's back and hastened on to their rendezvous. No halt was made there, but the entire band at once started on the retreat to their distant home. They traveled without pause until sunset, and then stopped for the purpose of camping for the night. Harvey had been compelled to carry his burden and keep up with them over mountains and across gulches and canyons, and was com- pletely exhausted.
A moment later the pursuing Comanches dashed upon the scene and surrounded the camp. The Wacos offered no resistance.
In obedience to the command of the Comanche chief, they produced the Waco who had stolen the pony, and he was immediately tied and staked to the ground, and given three hundred lashes on the bare back with a rawhide whip.
He then asked who was responsible for taking the white man prisoner. The Wacos indicated their chief, and the Comanches immediately seized and bound him, and gave him the same kind of flogging.
They gave Harvey a butcher knife and told him to kill the Waco chief. He refused to do so. They then urged him to cut off the chief's ears. This he also declined to do.
The Comanche chief ordered the Wacos not to further molest Harvey or his men and departed, taking him with them and started him back to his own camp. For some rea- son, it seems, they considered him and his men, as being un- der their special protection.
261
1
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS. :
KARNES' FAMOUS FIGHT.
On August 10, 1838, Capt. Henry Karnes, with twenty volunteers, was halting on the Arroya Seco, a small stream west of the Medina, when they were suddenly and unexpect- edl attacked by about' 200 armed and mounted Comanches. Quick as possible the rangers secured their horses, and im- mediately prepared-somewhat protected by a ravine and the chaparal-for defense. Ten to one, the Indians were con- fident of success, and charged with exultant yells. The Tex- ans were cool and determined, firing with deadly aim and in alternate platoons, by which one third of their guns were always loaded to meet the oft repeated attacks at close quarters. Again and again the Indians charged and were re- pulsed, till more than twenty of their warriors were slain, and as many more wounded, when they gave up the con- test, retreating with their dead. Captain Karnes, greatly ex- posed, received a severe wound, (which two years later caus- ed lhis death) besides nearly every horse belonging to his men was either killed or wounded.
This was a most gallant and successful defense against immense odds, the skill and bravery displayed, stamping ev- ery member of the little company a real hero.
CAPTURE OF MATILDA LOCKHART AND THE PUT- MAN CHILDREN.
In October, 1838, occurred the capture of Matilda Lock- hart and the Putman children, one of the notable incidents of Texas border history. The following account is from the pen of A. J. Sowell, and is believed to be substantially cor- rect :
"In the fall of 1838 there lived two families on the west bank of the Gaudalupe river, two miles below the town of Gonzales, named Putman and Lockhart. They were industri- ous, good citizens and had just begun to get things into shape again around their homes after the terrible "runaway, scrape," as it was called, and the battle of San Jacinto. Life ahead of them looked bright and cheerful, but alas for human
262
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
hopes and aspirations, how soon was their cup of sorrow to be filled to overflowing and they compelled' to drink to the bitter dregs! In the fall of the above named year Matil- da Lockhart and three of the Putman children, two girls and a boy, James, the youngest of the party, went to the river bottom for the purpose of gathering pecans. For some time they gathered the nuts which were in abundance and their merry laugh ever and anon rang out through the gloomy forest. At last it was time to go home, their vessels were full and their exentions had given them a keen appetite for their dinner the hour for which had now passed. The girls got their bonnets and buckets and the merry group emerged from the bottom to the edge of the prairie, but what a sight now met the eyes of those merry ones, the laughing voices were hushed and the cheeks which a moment ago glowed with health and gay spirits now blanched and paled with terror. There, in a few yards of them, rode a band of wild painted Comanche Indians; the scourge of the Texas frontier. Es- cape was impossible. With a wild shout the Indians circled around them and all were soon captured and carried scream- ing away on the horses of the painted demons who dashed up the valley toward their hunting grounds in the great west. When the children did not come home at the proper time the parents became uneasy and repaired to the pecan groves to search for them. No pen can describe the agony of those parents when they came to the spot where the capture had taken place. A bonnet here, an overturned buck- et there, and pecans scattered everywhere. Out in the prairie lay little Jimmie's hat. The ground was torn up by horse tracks and too well these pioneers knew what had become of their loved ones. No time was to be lost. Neighbors were notified, and soon a party was on the trail of the daring red men. Lockhart was furious and vowed vengence of the most direful nature as he spurred madly on the trail. Putman was more cautious but not lacking in courage. He had fought at San Jacinto. He advised the men to move cautiously and not rush into an ambuscade. The trail led up the river to the foot of
263
3
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
the mountains and here it was lost. The last sign of the In- dians was seen on a sand bar at the mouth of the Comal river where the town of New Braunfels now is. Andrew Sowell who was one of the trailing party says they turned back here but against the wishes of Lockhart who wanted to go on into the mountains. After the return a larger force was raised and once more went in pursuit. This time they came upon the Indians in their village in the mountains and a battle was fought which was disastrous to the settlers, as they were greatly outnumbered. Lockhart was wounded and it was with difficulty that the men could get him away as he still wanted to fight. In 1840 a treaty was made with the Comanches in which Matilda Lockhart was recovered, and later on James Putman who at that time was about 16 years of age and as wild as any; Indian. He would not sleep on a bed or in a house, nor eat with a knife and fork. The oldest Putman girl became the wife of a chief and lived and died a wild life among the Indians.
"About 30 years after the capture of the children a man named Chenault who had been an Indian agent, moved to Gonzales from Missouri, bringing a lady with him whom he had bought from the Indians several years before. He had carried her to his home in Missouri and when he came to Texas brought her with him as a member of the family. This was the youngest Putman girl. She could not remember her name but said the Guadalupe valley was strangely familiar to her. Her father, who was still alive, hearing of the circum- stance came to see her and by marks on her body identified her as his long lost child. How strange that she should be brought back almost to the very spot where she was captured thirty years before. James Putman lived for many years in Guadalupe county and died in Hays county in the early seventies. He married a widow Nash and had one daugh- ter named Sarah. He said the Indians carried him all over Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and also parts of Califor- nia. He saw them fight several battles with emigrants on the plains."
264
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALAMO - TRAGIC SCENES OF INDIAN WARFARE AROUND SAN ANTONIO.
Although the most populous and important town in the province and the Republic of Texas, San Antonio, being the extreme, and isolated, outpost of civilization in that direc- tion, was, from early times, and until a much later period than that of which we are now writing, greatly exposed to Indian forays.
After the fall of the place and expulsion of the Mexican soldiery, in December 1835, many of its Mexican residents, some of much worth and respectability, left, crossing over the Rio Grande. Thus depleted in population, but little life appeared in San Antonio from the campaigns of 1835-36 till on the eve of opening the land office and preparations for the survey of lands early in this year. These openings drew to the place various surveyors, holders of bounty warrants and head-right certificates, as well as many others, seek- ing either employment or adventure .*
At that date bands of Comanches, all professing friend- ship, frequented the vicinity-and visited the town re- newing treaties, but at the same time protesting against surveyors exploring their country, marking the trees, and running off the game. One of the first surveying par- ties to go out, while on the Rio Frio, had some of their horses stolen by the Indians camped in the vicinity. Upon discovering and demanding the animals a fight ensued in which Mr. Campbell, the surveyor, was killed and Captain Cage severely wounded by a copper arrow in his cheek, ** but narrowly escaped with his companions to town. This affair sufficiently demonstrated the necessity of larger and well armed parties in successfully prosecuting further work.
*Among others appearing at San Antonio about this time and seeking employment as a surveyor, was a young man destined to perform a most important and meritorions ser- vice in the defense of the Texas frontier and to gain much renown as a fearless border chief and partisan leader-Jack Hays, the famous Texas Ranger.
** The copper arrow-head was skillfully extracted by the carly and eminent Dr. Smithers of San Antonio-a soldier of Velasco in '32, who, with two companions, was mur- dered at the Cibola Sulphur Springs, in one of the raids of 1842.
265
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
Accordingly, on the 21st of September, 1838, John C. (Jack) Hays, in the double capacity of surveyor and com- mander, left with a force for the Leon, where they remained about a month, running three compasses and doing consider- able work without serious hindrances.
About the middle of October another, but smaller, force was organized for work closer in. On the 18th of this month while camped at the Presidio crossing on the Leon, some seven miles from town, they were surprised by Indians and two of their number, Moses Lapham a soldier at San Jacin- to, and a Mr. Jones, of Bastrop. were kliled. Mr. Earnest and others escaped on foot to town. "A Mexican named Padre Goaner (says Thrall) was scalped, but succeeded in reaching the city, where he still (1878) lives."*
At the time, District Court (Judge James W. Robinson presiding) was in session, from which cause there were more persons than usual in town.
Hendrick Arnold, a disciple of Deaf Smith, took com- mand of a few men, went out to reconnoitre, and had & slight skirmish. Others were anxious to go, but some lacked horses. Major Valentine Bennett, as quartermaster., partly supplied this want, in so far that Capt. Cage was soon enabled to leave in charge of nine others. A few more followed Cage on the Presidio road towards the scene of con- flict on the Leon. Time passed, and the house tops in town were occupied by anxious persons scanning the west (for at that day the view was uninterrupted by bushes) for indica- tions of the anticipated engagement; and while so engaged a party of Indians, in plain view, passed on the west side of town, killing a Mexican cartman and his oxen. Frightened Mexicans occasionally rushed in with wild reports and the interest{ became intense among those powerless to render sue-
""On the same day, Francisco A. Ruiz and Nicolas Flores Ruiz were taken prisoners. Francisco Ruiz was well known to the Indians and that night one of the chiefo untied him and told him to escape. He now lives on the Medina River. Flores was prob- ably killed, as be was never heard of afterwards."-Thrall's "Pictorial History of Texas" -Page 457.
266
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
cor. Among those who had gone out with Cage, or followed after, were Judge Hood,* Gen. Dunlap, (late of Tennessee) James Campbell, an Irishman, appropriately known from his wolubility as "Talking" Campbell, - Bailey, - Lee, a young merchant from Houston, - O'Boyle, Robert Patton and others whose names cannot now be given. On the way out, before reaching the Leon, the Indians appeared, the vol- unteers not yet being united, but in view of each other. Di- vided counsels prevailed. Some proposed occupying a grove not far off-others opposed. The enemy encircled them, but in doing so, Campbell, mounted on a fleet gray horse, broke for town, pursued by several Indians. Though closely pressed, he: outran his pursuers, and was the first messenger to report. Cage and O'Boyle dismounted at a tree and called on the others to do likewise; but they prefered fighting on horseback. Ifood and Bailey charged through the Indians and then back to their comrades, in which the former was wounded by an arrow. Bailey's gun then failed to fire and Hood had but one charge left. Cage and O'Boyle, on the ground, and Lee on horseback, were killed about this time, as were several others. Robert Patton was lanced in the arm and his horsc wounded. Finally the Indians opened the way towards town, and the survivors, as their only hope, seized the opportunity of a race for life. Speed was their sole reliance. As they dashed forward the enemy closed in on their flanks and rear, and the chase only ceased as the survivors entered the town. Gen. Dunlap was lanced and Miis noble bay steed severely wounded. Some were killed' as the retreat began. A Mexican, naked and terribly wound- ed, crawled in some time later.
On the 20th Capt. Carras (or Carracas), with a company of Mexicans and Americans (Wm. H. Hargis being of the party) went out, gathered up the remains of the ten un- fortunate settlers who had fallen and conveyed them in. Coffins were improvised by Major Bennett, it being a time
*Judge Hood was killed by the Comanches in the Council House hand-to-hand fight în San Antonio, in the spring of 1840.
267
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
when lumber was very scarce, and on Monday, Oct. 21, 1838, after an eloquent address by Judge James W. Robinson, the deceased heroes were committed to earth in the Ameri- can cemetery adtjoining the Campo Santo of the town.
INDIAN TROUBLES IN EAST TEXAS - FIRST STAGES OF THE "CORDOVAN REBELLION."
July 1, 1838, Capt. Seguin wrote President Houston that a messenger had just arrived in San Antonio, who reported having seen two men, a German and a Mexican, who had been killed by Comanches, and were lying by the road side four miles from town. Seguin said that he was about to start with a company in pursuit of the Indians. In conclu- sion, he urged upon the President the necessity for better armed protection for the frontier. The powerful pushing of the frontier line westward, with surveyors moving in ad- vance of it as avant couriers, was not the only cause that stirred the Indians to deadly action in 1838; another equal- ly potent one was the military policy adopted by the Mexi- can Government to keep alive its claim to Texas. It had in view the invasion and re-conquest of Texas by a Mexican army with the aid of the entire body of Texas Indians as allies.
To secure their co-operation, agents were sent among them to represent that they would be given fee simple titles to all the lands they claimed if they would begin at once and actively wage ceaseless, and murderous war upon the whites. They were told that it was folly to expect any- thing from the whites except expulsion, or extermination; and that if they stood by Mexico, it would stand by them. The white people suspected in a general way what was go- ing forward, but the conception they entertained was so far short of the truth that they w re amazed at the extent and diabolism of the actual plot when it was disclosed by papers captured in the following year, under circumstances that will be detailed' in the next chapter.
t
The following is a statement of part of the con-
268
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
tents of one of the papers: A letter written by Vicente Cordova to Manuel Flores-and inserted here, for the reason that it renders more intelligible events that follow. The date of Cordova's letter is July 19, 1838. He says that he had been commissioned by Gen. Filisola to visit the Indians and induce them to become auxillaries of the Mexican national army of invasion; and had entered on his duties by inviting a meeting of neighboring tribes. Con- tinuing, he says: "Being informed that you have been ap- pointed for the same purpose, I would like to know what preliminary action you have taken, and for you to advance, with such force as you may be able to command, as far as you may judge proper * to hold with me verbal commun-
ication in order that we may have, in our respective stations an understanding, and that you will bring the pipe, of which I understand you are in possession, in order that the Indian chiefs may smoke it, of the Cherokee and other tribes who have promised me to unite as soon as possible for action, and who have, also, agreed that, in case our plan should be discovered in the meantime, they will commence operations with the force we have in hand, it is highly de- sirable that you should approach to give us, in such case, a helping hand."
August 4, 1838, citizens of Nacogdoches who were in search of horses that had been stolen from them, found the animals in a Mexican settlement. On the way home, with their property, the white men were fired upon and one of their number killed. They pursued the murderers a short distance; but coming into a large trail, returned to town.
August 7th, Capt. John Durst reported to Maj .- Gen. Rusk, commanding the Texas militia, that one hundred or more Mexicans were under arms and encamped on the An- gelina river. Capt. Antonio Manchaca who went to the camp, reported that there were 120 Mexicans and 25 Biloxi and Ionie Indians.
Gen. Rusk issued requisition for men of the eastern
269
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
militia brigade and, while waiting for them to assemble, sta- tioned a company of sixty volunteers at the lower crossing of the Angelina. On the 8th, President Houston who was in Nacogdoches, issued a proclamation ordering the Mexicans and Indians to disperse and to return to their homes under penalty of being declared enemies of the Republic. On the 10th, it was learned that 300 Indians had joined the Mexicans. On that day President Houston, received a communication from Vicente Cordova, Nat Morris, Joshua Robertson, Juan Jose Rodriguez, C. Morales, J. Santos Coy, J. Vicente Micheli, J. Arriola and A. Corda, leaders of the insurgents, in which they refused to obey the executive or- der and made vague declaration as to their ultimate pur- pose.
During the day Cordova broke camp and marched in the direction of the Cherokee settlement. Maj. Henry W. Augustin at the head of a strong detachment, followed him, while Gen. Rusk with his main force advanced directly to- ward the Cherokee village. On reaching the Neches Saline, Gen. Rusk learned that Cordova's force had dissolved and the leader, with a few of the more desperate Cooshaties and Cherokees and some of his Mexican companions, had retreat- ed in the direction of the Kickapoo village in the north- eastern corner of Anderson county. Rusk followed him there and, forty miles further on to the Killough settlements, where he abandoned the chase, there being no hope of over- taking the fugitives.
Joined byl a few of the Kickapoos at their village, Cor- dova now made his way to the headwaters of the Trinity, where he continued his fiendish machinations.
Thus the accidental circumstance of the search for stolen horses, precipitated a series of events that spoiled his plans for 1838. No army of invasion was moving from Mexico. Not even Flores was at hand with a force to co-operate. Yet the fierce anger of his Mexican fellow conspirators at the Americans, forced him to act, and he did so boldly and called upon the Cherokees to take the warpath. Those In-
: 270
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
dians had a great deal at stake. They were, also, more than ordinarily intelligent. They saw that the emute was prema- ture, and would be a failure-they still hoped for justice from the Americans. President Houston was in Nacogdoches, and they had unbounded faith in the recititude of his inten- tions, and trusted that he had power to give effect to them, hence they refused Cordova's overtures.
DEFEAT OF THE KICKAPOOS.
In the meantime, taking advantage of the disturbed con- ditions in that section, the Kickapoos were depredating to such an extent as to call for prompt action. Accordingly, with a hastily collected company of 200 volunteers, General Rask moved against them. Leaving Fort Houston on Oct. 14th, he arrived in the vicinity of the Kickapoo town (in what is now Anderson county) and at sunset on the following day made a furious attack. After an engagement of some fif- teen minutes the enemy fled and were hotly pursued for some distance. No official report of this fight exists, but it is known that eleven warriors were left dead on the field and presumably a much larger number were wounded. Rusk had eleven men wounded but none killed .*
ROUTING THE COMANCHES.
'A few days later, on the 25th of this month, Col. John C. Neil with his force attacked a considerable party of Co- manches at the Jose Maria Village (afterwards the site of Fort Graham) in Young county. After a fierce and bloody battle, the Indians were defeated and fled, "leaving many of their warriors slain." The casualties to the Texans are not known.
Such military demonstrations and summary dealings with the savages and Mexicans, at least served to overawe and prevent them from combining in their raids.
*Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, p. 107.
€
BORDER WARS OF TEXAS.
The citizens of East Texas, with arms in their hands and emboldened, under Rusk and other brave leaders, had noth- ing to fear; welcomed a challenge by the Indians to mortal combat, and were more than a match for their hated foez. But murders, such as the Hutchison massacre; the trag- .. edies in the Eden's settlement, and other atrocious affairs, ' occurring in the eastern part of the Republic about this pe- riod, chilled their hearts, not with a coward's terror, but an - appalling one nevertheless, for thev realized that courage and superior numbers, arms and discipline, furnished no pro- : tection against their occurrence. The frontiermen did not know but that, at an unexpected moment, death in its most appalling form, would obliterate all that they held dear.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.