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 22
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RUSK CHASES INDIANS ACROSS THE BORDER.
In a dispatch from headquarters at Fort Caddo, Dec. 1, 1838, Gen. Rusk gave account of crossing into Louisiana .. and compelling a large party of Caddo Indians to surrender : their arms to the United States Indian agent at Shreveport and agree to remain quiet until the existing danger of hos- tilities subsided.
These Indians were to be fed by the Texas government until their arms were returned to them. He said that unth after his arrival with militia and this acton had been taken by him, the people of Texas west of the border-line, believed that the Caddos intended to march through the settlements .to a junction with the prairie Indians, and there, in connection with them, turn back and murder and pillage. The white people abandoned their homes and assembled in the forte for protection.
It is difficult at this day to fully realize the excited and hostile state of the public mind in Texas in the latter pant of 1838, with regard to Indians, further than that it was · such as to wholly neutralize every fact and argument that - was adduced in favor of any of them.
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LAMAR'S REIGN.
The general election for President, Vice-President, mem- bers of Congress and other officers of the Republic occurred September 3, 1838.
Mirabeau B. Lamar, Jamos Collinsworth, Peter W. Gray- son, and Robert Wilson were rival candidates for the pres- idency. There were two well defined political parties-the Houston and Anti-Houston-that crystalized during the year.
The campaign was a very bitter one-so bitter that Gray- son shot and killed himself, at Bean's Station, Tennessee, and Collinsworth leaped from a steamer and drowned himself in Galveston Bay before the day of election.
They were too sensitive and proud to withstand the mud- singing and vilification that was indulged in as a matter of course in that day in Texas, and in the United States. La- mar received 6,995 votes and Wilson 252,-300 were scat- tering.
President Houston was not a candidate. The constitu- tion provided that the first President should hold office for two years and each of his successors for three years, and that no President should be eligible for election for the ferm next succeeding that for which he was chosen.
Mirabeau B. Lamar, as President, and David G. Bur- met, as Vice-President, were inaugurated December 9, 1838.
In his inaugural message, Lamar declared that the only means by which Indian hostilities could be brought to an ead were the extinction or total expulsion of United States Indians who were domiciled in Texas. He asked that im- mediate legislative action be taken for the establishment of a line of military posts along the frontier and the organi- zation and maintenance of a strong military force in order that the policy he declared might be given vigorous and im- radiate effect.
He declared that the boundaries of the Republic would be defined and made good by the sword; took ground against the annexation of Texas to the United States; fav-
THE CAPITAL AT AUSTIN IN 1844
SITE
HAYS' TEXAS RANGERS, 1844. COL. HAYS STANDS IN FRONT IN WHITE SHIRT SLEEVES RARE PHOTOGRAPH
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ored the establishment of a national bank; and spoke noble words in favor of popular education."
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston was appointed Secretary of war December 13, 1838, and qualified December 16.
Congress responded promptly to the recomendations of the President, as a majority of the members had been elected as advocates of the principles and policies he declared.
It passed an act, approved December 21, that provided for a mounted regiment of 840 men rank and file to protect the frontier, and for the establishment of the line of posts proposed. The men were to be enlisted for three years, to be paid $16.00 per month and be given a bounty of $30.00 in money and a certificate for land.
An act approved December 29, provided for a corps of mounted rangers, to consist of eight companies of fifty-nine men (rank and file) each .**
All spoils that were captured (except recovered property of citizens of Texas) were to be divided among the captors. Troops who were already enlisted, under act of May 15, 1838, were to proceed forthwith to the Nueces.
A few days later an act was passed and approved, that provided for a mounted regiment of 472 men to serve for six months.
Despite all measures and every effort to keep the In- dians in subjection and to prevent or intercept their hos- tile raid», depredations and murders increased to an alarm- ing extent. The clouds of despair were gathering and soon hung heavy all along the frontier. As Gen. K. H. Doug- las wrote Secretary of War Johnston, on Dec. 30, 1838, "the
*During his term fifty leagues of land were set apart for the establishment of a university and three leagues to each county for school purposes.
** The following number of men were to be stationed at the localities mentioned: At. or near. Red River. 56; At, or near, the Three Forks of the Trinity, 168; at, or near. the Brazos, 112; at, or near, the Colorado, 112; at, or near, the San Marcos, 56; at, or near. the Cibolo, 56; at, or near, the Frio, 56; and at, or near. the Nueces, 124. A strongly garri- soned post was to be established at the upper settlements on Red River. The regiments were to be divided into two battalions, one of which was to operate east of and the other west of the Colorado. A military road was to be constructed from the mouth" of the Kia- mitia to the point where the regular highway from San Antonio to the Presidio de Rio Grande crossed the Nueces.
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affairs of the Texas frontier were never in so critical a con- ,dition."
Thus the catalogue grows in volume and intensity, with tragic episodes that would extend many pages, did the lim- its of this volume permit. That which follows, and especial- ly matters transpiring within the next two years-during President Lamar's turbulent reign-presents a still darker and sadder picture of pioneer life and border trials in Tex- as. And yet, to him who can see beneath the surface of history the mighty forces that are the soul of it, the records of 1838 are full of interest and food for pleasant reflection ; of interest because it exhibits the growth of a healthy and complex social organization, and food for pleasant reflection for the reason that it justifies the belief that such growth is normal under free institutions such as the pioneers and partiot fathers of Texas established and partially developed under such confusing, adverse and painful conditions .*
* An important event affecting the affairs of the Texas Republic during this year was the death of Gen. John A. Wharton-an irreparable loss from the ranks of the great men of early Texas-a man whom Judge Burnett in a memorial oration pronounced "the keenest blade on the field of San Jacinto."
Another important matter was the creating of a navy for the Republic. Septem- ber 17, 1838, Samuel M. Williams entered into a contract for Frederick Dawson to furnish Texas with the new navy, provided for by act of November 4, 1837, Dawson to receive as payment two bonds of the Republic for $280,000 each.
This is a photograph of the pistol that Euclid M. Cox, mortally wounded in the Bat- tle Creek Fight, sent home to his wife.
CHAPTER XII.
ONDITIONS on the Indian frontier at the beginning of 1839 were particularly threat- ening. Since 1831 the United States gov- ernment had steadily pursued a policy of re- moving Indians from their ancestral homes in the "states" to the district beween the Arkansas, Red River and the False Wash- ita along the boundary line of Texas and Mexico. It was estimated that in a short time there would be concentrated on the frontiers of Texas 240,000 of these Indians, including about 45,000 warriors, some of whom would be certain to make thieving and murderous incursions unless prevented.
The Texas Indians were restless and most of them hostile. It was believed that the agricultural tribes located in the eastern part of the Republic were co-operating with the prai- rie Indians, and it was known that some sort of conspiracy was being hatched between the Mexicans and Indians to make a more united and determined effort to prevent extension of the frontiers into the Indian country and to retard settle- ment and, if possible, to make Texas untenable and undesir- able to its Anglo American inhabitants. The Comanches were at war with the Lipans and Tonkawas. . The latter circum- stance was a favorable one for the whites, as the Lipans and Tonkawas joined with them against the Comanches-the Li- pans for the most part pitching their camps within the set- tlements.
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THE MORGAN MASSACRE.
And now we will chronicle some of the events occurring in the course of border warfare history. The narrative of pathetic scenes immediately following are true as to details and not overdrawn as to extent of fiendish atrocity. The account of these atrocious crimes was prepared by John Henry Brown from data furnished by surviving participants and first published in an issue of the old Texas Almanac more than half a century ago. We follow Brown in sub- stance :
On the east side of the Brazos, near the "Falls," the Mor- gans and Marlins, somewhat intermarried, constituted sever- al families residing a few miles apart, some above and some a little below the site of the present town of Marlin. There was a considerable settlement along the river for some twenty miles, but the country beyond or above them was open to the Indians. The period to which reference is made was the winter of 1838-39.
On Sunday night, the 1st day of January, 1839, a part of the families of James Marlin and Mrs. Jones, and the family of Jackson Morgan, were together, passing the night with the family of George Morgan, at what is now called Mor- gan's Point, six miles above the town of Marlin. The remain- der of the divided families were at the house of John Marlin, seven miles lower down the river. John and James Marlin were brothers; the others of that name were their children.
A little after dark the house of George Morgan was sud- denly surrounded and attacked by Indians, who instantly rushed in upon the inmates, giving them no time for defense. Old Mr. George Morgan and wife, their grandson, Jackson Jones, Jackson Morgan's wife, and Miss Adeline Marlin, a young lady of sixteen, were all tomahawked and scalped in the house within the space of a few minutes after the first alarm. Miss Stacy Ann Marlin (afterwards the wife of Wil- liam Morgan) was severely wounded and left for dead. Three children were in the yard playing when the attack was made. One of these, Isaac Marlin, ten years of age, secreted him-
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self under the fence, and there remained until the tragedy: was over. Another child, Wesley Jones, at once ran into the house, but seeing the Indians entering and tomahawking the inmates, ran out unobserved by the murderous demons, and was followed by Mary Marlin, another child. They both es- caped together. The wounded lady retaining consciousness, feigned death, but was not scalped as all the others were. The Indians robbed the house of its contents and left. When they had gone, and silence again reigned, the heroic child first mentioned, Isaac Marlin-his name should be immortal- ized-crept from his hiding-place, and entering the house carefully and silently, examined the bodies to find which were dead. His wounded sister, supposing him to be an In- dian, remained perfectly motionless until he had gone, when she crawled out of the house. Little Isaac then took the path leading to John Marlin's, and ran the entire distance, seven miles, very quickly,-a swift messenger of death tio his kin- dred there assembled. Wesley Jones and Mary Marlin did not get in till daylight, and the wounded Miss Marlin not till noon the next day.
As soon as little Isaac arrived at John Marlin's house and narrated his pathetic story, that gentleman, his brother, James, William N. P., and Wilson Marlin, Jackson and Geo. W. Morgan, and Albert G. Gholson, immediately hastened to the scene, and found the facts identical with the child's narration. Other relief arrived next day, and the dead were consigned to their graves amid the wailings of their grief- stricken relatives and friends. 1
ATTACK ON MARLIN'S HOUSE.
Ten days later, the Indians, about seventy in num- ber attacked the house of John Marlin and his son Benjamin (whose descendants still reside in Milam coun- ty) and of Jarett Menefee and his son Thomas. This time the whites were better prepared for defense. The In- dians charged upon the four men, who made a stout and gal- lant fight, killing seven Indians and wounding others with-
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out receiving any injury themselves. Tired of that kind of reception, the savages soon withdrew, carrying off their dead and wounded. When the attack was made, Menefee's negro man, "Hinchey," was at a short distance from the house, but failing to reach it in time, he left in double-quick time for the settlements below, and made twenty-five miles in pretty fair saddle-horse time. "Hinchey" at once reported the attack, and a company was quickly gathered together, who lost no time in repairing to the scene of action, in order to relieve their besieged friends, but found the red-skins had retreated, as before stated.
BRYANT'S FIGHT AND DEFEAT.
It was determined, however, after a discussion of the matter by those present, that they must pursue and fight the Indians, or abandon their homes and fall back into the more settled parts of the country. They chose the former alternative, and made their dispositions accordingly. The ef fective force available for pursuit was forty-eight men. Benjamin Bryant (of Bryant's Station, whose surviving fam- ily still reside in Milam county) was chosen to command.
On the next morning Bryant's party took the trail of the enemy, and pursued, crossing the Brazos near Morgan's Point. On the west side they found a deserted camp with fresh signs, and about a mile ou't came upon a fresh trail. At the river they counted sixty-four fresh horse-tracks and a trail of foot Indians, which crossed the river. Seeing the prairie on fire below, they supposed it to be Marlin's house, and hastened back, without finding the enemy, and then halted' for the night. On the next morning, January 16, they started out again, and found that the Indians had been ati the deserted houses two miles above and plundered them. Thence they traveled up six miles to Morgan's Point, and suddenly discovered the enemy in the open timber near a dry branch. The noted chief, Jose Maria, who was riding in front in perfect nonchalance, halted,slipped off his gloves, and, taking deliberate aim, fired at Joseph Boren,
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who was a few feet in advance, cutting his coat-sleeve. Jose Maria then gave the signal for his men to fire, and the action commenced. Bryant ordered a charge, which was gallantly made, though the captain received a wound at the same in- stant, which accident called Ethan Stroud to the command.
The Indians fired and fell back into the ravine. Simul- taneous with the charge, David W. Campbell fired at Jose Maria, the ball striking him on the breast-bone, but failing to dismount him. Albert G. Gholson then shot the chief's horse, which died in the ravine. The Texans then charged up to the bend of the ravine and fired, when the Indians commenced retreating down the bed of the ravine towards a densely timbered bottom. Seeing this, a part of the whites rushed down below to cut them off. This caused the enemy to return to the first position and renew the defense, by which time, supposing the day to be won, our men had somewhat scattered and were acting each for himself. The result was that when the enemy reopened the fire several were wounded, and confusion and disorder at once ensued. To remedy this, the men were ordered to retreat to another point some two hundred yards distant, in order to draw the Indians from their concealment. This unfortunate order, from the prevailing confusion, was understood by some of the men to be an unqualified retreat. Panic seized some of them, which being discovered by the wily Jose Maria, he gave the command and charged in full force, making the welkin ring with hideous and exultant yells. Several of the whites fell, and the rout now became general. Without or- der, in utter confusion, and each man acting for himself, they were hotly pursued for four miles, their pursuers deal- ing death and carnage among them.
In the disaster some acts were performed which deserve mention. David W. Campbell, not at first observing the re- treat, was about being surrounded by the savages 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 Mc-
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Grew, his arm being broken at the same moment, as he was retreating. His brother William came up at this moment, mounted on a large horse, and requested him to leave the pony and ride behind him. Poor fellow ! he dismounted, but, from his broken arm and the restlessness of the horse, he was unable to mount before the Indians had rushed up and tomahawked him, his brother only leaving him just in time to save his own life. William N. P. Marlin, before the re- treat, was so severely wounded in the hip that he could not mount, and was about being left, when David Cobb ran up and threw him on his horse amid a shower of balls and arrows. Wilson Reed, a daring fellow, in the retreat was knocked from his horse by the projecting limb of a tree, the enemy being close at hand, when he sang out in a half-mirth- ful tone, "Oh, Lord, boys, Mary Ann is a widow!" but some brave fellow picked him up and carried him safely off. The loss of the whites in this fight was ten killed and five wounded. The loss of the Indians was about the same number; but they were greatly elated by their suc- cess,* and became more daring than ever until checked by that stubborn and destructive engagement, known as "Bird's Victory," in Bell county.
FATE OF THE WEBSTER FAMILY.
In January the family of James Webster and twelve men who were escorting them to their home in what is now Williamson county, were attacked by Comanches on the San Gabriel. The white men formed' their wagons in a hol- low square, and fought from sunrise until 10 o'clock a. m., when the last of them were slain. Mrs. Webster and little daughter were made captives. She escaped with her child
*Jose Maria, so long the dread of the frontier, but afterwards the most pacific and civilized Comanche chief on the government reserve, has always acknowledged that he was whipped and retreating until he observed the panic and confusion among the Texans. Jose Maria visited Bryant's Station years afterwards and offered Bryant his pipe to smoke. Bryant insisted that Jose Maria should smoke first, as he had won the fight, and the old chief proudly followed the suggestion.
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nearly two years later, and reached San Antonio a few days after the Council House fight.
During January, Ben and Henry McCulloch, Wilson Randle, David Henson and John Walfen, accompained by thirty-five Tonkawas, defeated a band af Comanches and Wacos on Peach Creek, in Gonzales county, killing five and wounding a considerable number. The only loss sus- tained by the attacking party was one Tonkawa killed.
In the same month a company of land locaters re- treated from Uvalde Canyon to avoid being surrounded by Comanches who threatened to attack them. In doing so they were opposed by a small party of Indians stationed at the mouth of the gorge, but changed and routed them, killing three or four, and returned to San Antonio without loss.
FAMOUS BIRD CREEK BATTLE.
This bloody engagement ranks as one of the notable In- dian battles of Texas, and may be well termed a model fight between Rangers and Comanches. The narrative which follows is believed to be substantially correct, having been carefully prepared from statements and notes furnish- ed by participants and others of authority.
On Sunday morning, May 27, 1839, the intrepid Cap- tain John Bird, one of the early ranger chiefs of Texas, with a company of 31 rangers, well mounted and equipped, left Fort Milam at the "Falls" of the Brazos, on a scouting ex- pedition against the depredating bands of Indians who were constantly making forays upon the unprotected settlements around Fort Griffin on Little River, which was at that time on the extreme frontier of Texas in that direction the Bry- ants, Marlins, Morgans and a few others on the Brazos be- ing their nearest neighbors. Capt. Bird arrived at Fort Grif- fin at 1 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and at once learned that Indians had been seen near the fort but a few hours before his arrival.
Without dismounting, the rangers proceeded to the point where the Indians had been seen. After a hurried
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march of some five miles upon the freshly made trail, they suddenly came upon 27 Comanches, dismounted and busy butchering buffalos. As the rangers charged down upon the unsuspecting redskins they quickly mounted and fled in different directions, the rangers following hard after the main body. After a flight of some three miles, the Indians again came together and forming in battle array, confronted their pursuers, ready for a fight. The rangers again charged upon them and after a sharp skirmish put the Indians to flight, pursuing them for several miles but without again overtaking or engaging them.
The enemy having scattered in various directions and the horses of the rangers being considerably jaded, the chase was given up. But as the rangers were returning to the fort, and just as they were emerging from a skirt of tim- ber on the south side of a small stream, since called Bird's Creek, and at a point some seven miles northeast of the present town of Belton, they were surprised and! al- most surrounded by about forty Indians, who shot their arrows at them from every direction. The rangers dashed out of the ambush and made for a ravine some 600 yards in front, where, fortunately, there was a spring, which they succeeded in reaching, despite the determined efforts made by the savages to cut them off. The Indians now retired to the crest of a hill about 300 yards distant, and where a "council' of war" was held' and "signal smokes"-the In- dian mode of telegraphing-sent up and answered from sev- eral directions. The little company of rangers now well knew the Indians would soon be reinforced and that the red devils would then swoop down upon them in large numbers. Orders were given and preprations were hurriedly made to defend their position, and, if finally overpowered with num- bers, to sell their lives as dearly as possible those must have been critical moments.
In about half an hour the rangers saw a large body of mounted warriors rapidly approaching in the direction of their confederates, and in a few minutes the hill top seemed to be
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literally alive with painted demons. Increased to about 300 in numbers, and led by the noted Comanche war chief, Buf- falo Hump, the Indians now arrayed themselves in imposing battle order, and with some semblance of military display, while the chief, bedecked with his immense and grotesque buffalo hide war bonnet surmounted with horns, rode up and down the lines, giving orders and defiantly gesticulat- ing and pointing toward the enemy. The Indians were con- fident of victory. The little band of rangers were cool and determined, but the odds were fearful.
Raising the Comanche war whoop all along their lines, the savage red warriors charged down upon the whites in the ravine, uttering the most unearthly and exultant yells that ever greeted the ears of mortals, and at the same time pouring in a regular deluge of arrows. The brave rangers were cool and steady and gave them a most deadly reception, causing a number to reel and tumble from their mounts, and the balance to retire to the hill top without carrying off their dead and wounded. Again the enemy charged, in bold order, this time advancing to within fifty yards of the rav- vine, but under the galling fire of the rangers, they were again forced to beat a retreat, leaving a number of their braves upon the field. Once more, but somewhat less exul- tant, they were led in a charge, to sustain loss and be forced back.
Thus chargined and discomfited, the maddened red war- riors retired in a body from the hill top and out of sight- to council and plan for another and more effective attack. Meanwhile the little band of dauntless rangers were busy, comforting their wounded, improving their position and pre- paring as best they could for another onslaught, which they well knew would be made.
Ere long the Indians again appeared, this time in two circling companies, and immediately bore down and around in a fiercer attack upon the rangers than ever, this time clos- ing in from either side, determined to rout the little company of whites from their position and to annihilate them at all
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