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 27
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"The number of prisoners taken and brought into camp in small parties amounted to thirty four, seven of whom escaped during a stampede of our horses on a very dark night, besides three I left behind.
"I instituted an examination into the number slain, and from the best information, there were 48 killed upon the ground and 80 killed and drowned in the river. This num- ber is considered by the troops as being too small an esti- mate of the number actually killed and destroyed in the en- gagement. I had two men slightly wounded, Mr. Dough- erty of Colorado county, and Mr. M. F. Jones of Fayette -two horses were also wounded in the engagement.
"At 10 o'clock my troops had all returned. I then or- dered the village to be destroyed by fire, and in fifteen minutes the whole encampment, with all property of every description, including more than three hundred saddles, and a large number of skins of various kinds was in flames.
"I then ordered the troops to march, assigning a suf- ficient guard to herd and drive the immense caballado of horses which had been captured from the enemy, in number about five hundred, and then turned my course for this place, marching by the position where I had left my beef
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cattle. After herding my cattle, I marched about six miles and encamped for the night. The weather on my return was unfavorable-had to lie in camp two days on account of the north winds and rain. The distance from the city of Austin to the battle ground, I estimate at full three hun- dred miles, and from the best information I have been able to obtain from the Lipan Chief, and those of the Ser- atic tribe of Indians with whom we met, I would say that we penetrated more than half way to the city of Santa Fe. Upon my return, near the old Mission of San Saba, I fell in with a small party of Indians of the Seratic tribe, fifteen in number. After a consultation held between them and Cas- tro, the Lipan chief, I concluded to bring in two of their captains, as they appeared friendly and desirous to treat with us, and to aid us in our wars with the Comanches, with whom they are also hostile. They represent their tribe as residing in the vicinity of the Rio Grande, between Santa Fe and Chihuahua, and that they have about eight hundred warriors.
"Two sprightly Mexican youths, between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, were recaptured during the battle, whom the Comanches had made captives in the vicinity of Camargo, on the Rio Grande, about three months since.
".Great credit is due Castro and his men, seventeen in number, who acted as spies during the campaign. They proved faithful and active throughout, and the Government should be particular in retaining their friendship, for as spies, they are unsurpassed.
"In conclusion, let me remark that too much credit can- not be awarded to the officers of my command for their gal- lant and officer-like conduct and bearing during the entire campaign, and particularly during the engagement. And it affords me the greatest pleasure to inform your Department of the manner in which both officers and privates dis- charged their duties, always ready and ever willing to obey any order however arduous the performance might be.
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"My men have returned in good health and fine spirits, though much fatigued.
I have the honor to remain,
Your most obedient servant,
Jahn H. Moore, C 1840.
-Austin City Gazette, Nov. 11ol. Commanding Volunteers."
October 21, Col. A. Somerville wrote to Capt. A. Neill regarding the proposed grand expedition against the Indians in November. He said that he had been informed that Neill intended to raise a company, and requests him to muster and organize it and report with the command by November 10, at Fort Dunnington, on Brushy Creek, the rendezvous designated by Maj. Gen. Felix Huston.
Thomas G. Stubblefield, Texas government agent for the Alabamas and Cooshatties, says in a letter* dated Novem- ber 2, addressed to Secretary of State, Abner S. Lipscomb, that those Indians were on the reservation set apart for them and were well pleased; but, that the survey of the lands, while in progress, was not completed.
The Austin City Gazette of November 11, publishes a nicely worded note, signed by a number of leading citizens inviting Col. John H. Moore and men (who had returned from an Indian expedition and were camped near town) to attend a barbecue which would be given in their honor Monday, November 16; and, also, Col. Moore's reply ex- tending thanks to the committee and citizens for the invi- tation, but saying that most of his men had been away from their families for a long time and were anxious to get home and he and his command were, therefore, unable to ac- cept the invitation.
Nothing further seems to have.been.done toward launch- ing into the wilds the "grand expedition" that had been so much discussed.
* Army Archives.
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The work done by Moore and his followers was of such a thorough nature and so far reaching in its effects, that it was doubtless deemed unnecessary to go to the expense and trouble of other expeditions for awhile.
On Gilleland Creek, im Travis county, July 4, a party of Indians killed and scalped a negro girl, who belonged to Mr. Clipton. She was driving cows home and hollowed at them. Her cries attracted the attention of the Indians, who crept toward her through the tall grass unperceived and shot her without warning.
Usually Indians did not kill negro slaves, but held them for large ransoms, which they seldom, or never, failed to get. In this instance, and in some others, the love of blood was stronger with them than the love of gain. When cir- cumstances were such as to preclude the savages from hold- ing negroes for ransom, the darkies were killed, and gener- ally scalped, like other victims.
INDIAN TROUBLES ALONG RED RIVER.
Shifting the scene of conflict-the bloody warfare pe- tween the red men and whites was being waged all along the frontiers-we will give some incidents that transpired in the extreme northern part of the Republic. The follow- ing as related by that early pioneer and historian of that section, the late Judge J. P. Simpson :
"In the winter and spring of 1839 antl '40 the citizens at Fort Inglish, Warren and Preston moved home to the Fort with the determination to defend themselves and prop- erty against the forays of the Indians, the effort of the gov. ernment having proved abortive to give protection to these settlers, on account of it, lack of men and resources ad- equate for the purpose. The president was opposed to a war policy, and favoring pacific and treaty measures, instruct- ed the officers and requested the citizens to use their influ- ence and energy in collecting detached and broken tribes of Indians then scattered over the Republic, in order that they
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might be treated with, and reservations of land be granted them for settlement. Dr. D. Rowlett, congressman from this district, had collected a small part, of a tribe of Coo- shattees at his place on Red River, and had the oversight, of them until they could be provided for by the govern- ment.
"Daniel Dugan, who lived some miles southwest of War- ren, was often annoyed by the Indians. His son, Daniel, was killed by them while at work a short distance from the house. His house was attacked at night, one man killed and another wounded. The circumstances and incidents of the killing I will more minutely detail. Three young men- Green, Hoover and Gordon-were occupying one room of the house, the old man Dugan and family the other room, and G. C. Dugan (who died recently in California) and his brother, William, occupied the stable loft to guard their horses. The young men had retired to bed (the family had not re- tired) when the Indians suddenly forced open the door of the room in which the young men were sleeping, and dis- charged a number of shots into the bed, killing Green, wounding Hoover, and then rushed into the house.
Gor- don seized the door shutter and with force closed the door, throwing the Indians to the outside, where the dogs at- tacked them, and they commenced shooting the dogs, and the old man Dugan shooting at them as fast as he could, and they at him in the house with his family. During this dangerous, exciting, conflict, George and William were not idle spectators of the surroundings. The moon was shining very brightly and they had discovered an Indian who had set his gun at the door, and during the fight at the house had been working at the lock trying to get the horses out. He was in such a position, however, that those in the loft could not shoot him. After the fight was over alt the house two Indians came up to the stable with lariats on their becks, when the Dugans let them have the contents of their guns. One of the Indians fell dead and the other ran a short distance and fell, uttering savage groans in his dy- ang agonies. The Indian at the stable door then ran off,
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leaving his gun. The Indians then began to blow on their whistles and hoot like owls, as a signal to rally and get to- gether.
"Next morning the dead Indian was found to have on a calico hunting shirt which Dr. Rowlett had given him, and the gun at the door proved to belong to the Cooshattee ebief who lived at Dr. Rowlett's. Catherine, the youngest daughter of Daniel Dugan, had solemnly vowed when her brother, Daniel, was killed, scalped, and tomahawked, that she would cut off the head of the first Indian she got a chance at. She accordingly shouldered an ax and march- ing to the stable, as bold as an experienced and adroit surgeon going to dissect a subject, with a few direct blows severed the head from the body and. carried it to the house as a trophy of revenge for the mur- der of her brother. The headless body was left as food for beasts of prey. I saw the skull about the house years after.
The old lady Dugan was very smart, industrious eco- nomical, domestically inclined woman, much more so than women of today. She spun he" thread, wove her cloth and made her own wearing apparel. She found use for the In- dian skull as one of the fixtures to her loom as a quill gourd and had it attached accordingly. Catherine married a Methodist preacher, B. W. Taylor, and moved to Cali fornia."
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FATE OF A PIONEER FAMILY - OTHER TRAGEDIES.
The following incidents occurred during 1840, but the exact dates have not been preserved :
Dr. Hunter and family-consisting of his wife, nearly grown son, three daughters (aged respectively, about ten, twelve and eighteen years), and negro woman-located in the Red River valley at a point about eight miles below Old Warren and several miles from any neighbor. Subsequently his eldest daughter married William Lankford of Warren and settled at another place. Sometime thereafter Dr. Hunter
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and his son left home. During their absence his ten and twelve year old daughters were attacked at a spring, about a hundred yards from the house, and one of them killed and scalped, and the other taken prisoner by eleven Indians. The Indians crept to the house and rushed into it and killed Mrs. Hunter and the negro woman, and scalped the former, but not the latter. They then looted the premises, and were just disappearing from view, when young Hunter returned. He called to his mother, but received no reply, and running through the open doorway, stumbled over her lifeless and mangled body. The little girl was compelled by the Indians to dress her own mother's scalp. Six months, or a year, later she was sold to friendly Choctaws and, her brother learning of the fact, went to the Nation and ransomed her.
McIntyre and his family located near Shawneetown in what is now Grayson county; but being annoyed by the In- dians, moved to what is known as Mcintyre's crossing on the Choctaw, in the same county. Moody, who resided in the same region, started to Warren on business and at dusk, when opposite Mcintyre's house, was shot and killed by Indians, who scalped him, built a bon-fire and laid his body on it, and danced and yelled around the pyre all night. Mc- Intyre and his two sons, the latter aged respectively twelve and fourteen years, plainly heard the noise, and barricaded the doors of their cabin, expecting to be attacked. Some months later his sons were killed and scalped while hunting.
Two brothers, named Sewell, living at Old Warren, heard a noise in their horse lot at night and one of them went out to investigate. When near the lot, a voice called to him, saying: "Lay the gap lower." Believing that white thieves were trying to steal the stock, he exclaimed : "I've caught you !"
A moment later he was struck in the breast by an ar- row. He ran to the house, exclaiming as he passed his broth- er: "I am shot," and, staggering on a few feet further, fell dead. The Indian who killed him pursued him closely; but being confronted by the other Sewell, halted and was in the
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act of discharging an arrow at his new antagonist when he was fired on and killed by the surviving brother.
Moody, the McIntyre boys, and young Sewell were believed to have been killed by Shawnces, but the white people were not able to confirm the suspicion by proof. For their part, the Shawnees disclaimed having committed the murders, and charged them to "wild Indians."
SAVING OSBORN'S SCALP.
Claiborne and Lee Osborn, James Hamilton and several other young men separated while buffalo hunting-Claiborne Osborn and James Hamilton going in one direction and their companions in another. Indians attacked and pursued Os- born and Hamilton, badly wounding the horse of Osborn. The young men galloped from the spot toward where their comrades could be found; but had gone only a short dis- tance when Osborn's horse fell throwing him heavily to the ground. Hamilton kept on, reached the other hunters, and dashed back to the rescue with them. They arrived barely in time to save Osborn's life. Ile was lying where he fell. Indians were all around him, beating and stabbing him. and had partly removed his scalp. A fusilade from the party sent the Indians scurrying to the cedar brakes. Os- born's scalp was carefully replaced and, in time, healed. He settled near Webberville, Travis county, where he lived many years and reared a large and respectable family.
Kenney says: "From a fierce raid on Bastrop the trail of retreat led through Burleson county They (the Indians) were pursued by Gen. Burleson with a party of citi- zens, and seven Indians killed. Around Austin * * * the pre- datory incursions continued without cessation, the Wacos and Comanches chiefly dividing the responsibility."
"At Fort Inglish, # * * two boys named Cox were cap- tured. The Indians were chased, but made good their es- cape, carrying away the captives. On the way, they killed a one-armed man and cut off his remaining arm, which at night they roasted and ate, making signs to the boys that
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they would soon eat them also. But they did not, and six months afterwards the boys were purchased by traders and sent home."*
The year closed with a large portion of Texas conquer- ed from the savage foes of setticment and civilization, and further redemption of the wilderness assured. It is remark- able that so much should have been accomplished when the public treasury was empty, the Republic unable to borrow money, and the paper currency of Texas was circulated with difficulty at only a small fraction of its nominal value. The only explanation is that both government and people co-op- erated loyally for the attainment of the object in view, and looked to the future, instead of the present, for reward- a sane prescience and valiant optimism that hastened in- crease of population, wealth and security as nothing else could have done.
Casting up the account today, it can be truthfully said the price was none to great for that which it obtained for those who paid it, and for those who have come after them.
*Scarff's "Comprehensive History of Texas."
CHAPTER XIV.
T HE year 1841 has been treated by Texas historians as one practically free from In- dian atrocities and serious depredations-a fact due to their not having access to ar- chives and other sources of information that are now available. While the list of horrors perpetrated by the vanishing race-still strong enough to strike, and with hatred and sanguinary impulses inten- sified rather than diminished by what it had suffered-was not so long and gruesome as those of some former years, it was still of an extent to harrow the sympathies and make the blood run cold, and requires the year to be marked in red in the annals of the common- wealth.
The struggle for mastery was yet on, and was prose- cuted by the Anglo-Americans with a courage and a reso- lution that came down to them from Senlac, Agincourt and Crecy, and that has ever caused them to reject from the hands of Fortune anything save victory and dominion, when waging contests for supremacy. The reader will therefore find that the incidents of border warfare in Texas in 1841, are not inferior in interest to those that pre- ceded them.
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INTERNAL AFFAIRS-INDIAN HOSTILITIES.
The Fifth Congress passed a joint resolution, approved Jan. 6, 1841, providing "That the sum of $10,000.00, which was appropriated for the purpose of volunteer expeditions against the hostile Indians on the upper Brazos river be, and the same is hereby, transferred for the purpose of rais- ing and subsisting any force that the President may author- ice to be raised for said expedition."
An act of Congress, approved January 18, abolished the office of Secretary of the Navy and devolved the duties of that office on the Secretary of War, who was afterwards sometimes addressed by his former title but more often and correctly as Secretary of War and Marine. The act abol- ished, or consolidated, various other offices; required the President to reduce the number of officers holding commis- sions in the regular army, and provided that all further re- cruiting for the army should be discontinued.
The Travis Guards, a uniformed company, were incor- porated by an act approved January 23.
January 23, Capt, John T. Price, who had just complet- ed a scout to the west with his spy company, sent a des- patch* to the Secretary of War, containing such informa- tion as he could gather concerning the intention of Mexico to invade Texas-an event that was then deemed cer- tain to occur during the spring, or summer, but which was prevented by a series of fortuitous circumstances, that be- friended Texas, as it had been several times before. He said that it was reported that an army of 10,000 men was being mobilized and that it would be reinforced by each of the Mexican states furnishing 2,000 men.
The Galveston Artillery Company, a uniformed company. was incorporated by an act of Congress, approved Jan. 30.
An act, approved Feb. 1, appropriated $8,000.00 for the support of troops then on the frontier under the com- mand of Col. Wm. G. Cooke.
* Army Archives.
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An act approved February 4, 1841, authorized the set- : tlers on the frontier borders of each of the following coun- ties to organize a company of not less than twenty nor more than fifty-six minute men, rank and file: Fannin, Lamar, Red River, Bowtie. Paschal, Panola, Nacogdoches, Houston, Robertson, Milam, Travis, Bexar, Gonzales, Goliad, Victoria, Refugio, San Patricio, Montgomery and Bastrop. The com- panies were to elect their own officers and hold themselves in readiness to afford a ready and active protection to the frontier settlements. The act provided: "The members of said companies shall at all times be prepared with a good substantial horse, bridle and saddle, with other necessary ac- contrements, together with a good gun and one hundred rounds of ammunition : and in addition to this, when called into service, such number of rations as the captain. may di- rect. * * * The captains * * * may, when they deem it pru- dent, detail from their companies a number of spies, not more than five, to act upon the frontiers of their several counties. "
Members of the companies were exempted from the pay- ment of state, county and corporation poll tax and the tax assessed by law upon one saddle horse, and from the per- formance of any kind of military duty and working on the public roads.
The pay provided for each minute man was one dollar per day for service actually rendered; "provided," says the act, "that the members of the companies shall not re- ceive pay on amy one expedition for a longer period than fifteen days; and, on the several expeditions within one year after their organization, shall not receive pay for a longer period than four months in the aggregate. excepting the spies. for every year thereafter
Possibly about this time (the date is uncertain) a num- ber of settlers, who had come to Warren, Fannin county, to attend district court, which was to convene the following day, were gathered Sunday night around a stove in a tavern kept by Capt. Sowell and J. S. Scott, and were industriously
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engaged in stowing toddies and talking. They were sudden- ly startled by a commotion in the stable and horse lot of the tavern, and rushed out into the darkness and toward the spot-most of them neglecting to take their firearms with them. As they surmised they would, they found that In-
dians were attempting to steal the stock. Capt. Sowell, who was in front, fired his pistol at the marauders, without effect, and was himself shot and instantly killed, one arrow penetrating his stomach and another entering his back and coming out in front. Scott killed an Indian, and the balance of the redskins took to their heels. The district court organized, but immediately adjourned and the judge, law- yers and litigants started for home, upon a scout informing them he had discovered the trail of a large band of Indians going in the direction of Fort Inglish. Capt. Bird, - Simp- son and several others waited until night to set forth, and had gone but a short distance when they stopped for Capt. Bird to recover his hat, which had fallen off. While he was looking for it, a number of Indians ran toward the party, yelling and shooting arrows. Simpson fired bis shot gun at them and cried in a stentorian voice, as if addressing a com- pany of rangers: "Change!" The effect on the Indians was magical; they tore into woods as if Jack Hays, himself, was after them, and the travelers wended their way toward where they were going, possibly without wasting time on the hat or complimenting Simpson on his ready, resourceful wit. January 9, Judge James Smith and son, of Austin, the latter mounted behind the Judge on a horse, were pursued by Indians near the capital. Father and son were well mounted and might have escapa, but for the fact that, rid- ing under a tree they were knocked off by one of the limbs. Scrambling to their feet, they ran into a thicket; but were pursued by the Indians, who killed and scalped Judge Smith, and took the boy into captivity. On the same day a broth- er of Judge Smith was chased by Indians, but escaped by the fleetness of his horse. Ten days later Judge Smith's father-in-law, while cutting a bee-tree four miles south of Austin, was killed and scalped by Indians.
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lu a despatch dated January 10, Capt. Benjamin T. Gilliam, of the Ist Infantry, commandant at San Antonio, says that Capt. Jack Hays and his spy company were on a scout toward the Nueces and Rio Grande, andl a report was daily expected from him, and that Mexican banditti, who in- fested the Mexican border and preyed upon ranches and trad- ers, had committed thefts of horses and cattle.
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF BORDER DOINGS.
Capt. Geo. M. Dolson of Travis County Minute Men made the following report# to Secretary of War Branch T. Archer, April 2:
"I have the honor to repom that the company of minute men, under my command, was organized on the 28th ult. On the 29th I sent Lt. Newcomb and two men to reconnoitre Brushy, who returned the next day and reported a fresh trail of Indians leading towards Austin. A portion of my men were soon mounted, and accompanied by some volun- teers, went in immediate pursuit. We were unsuccessful in finding these Indians, but discovered the trail of the party who had stolen Capt. Brown's house a few nights pre- vious. We followed the trail and succeeded in gaining their vicinity, a few miles above the Perdenales river. Here I or- dered a halt for the purpose of refreshing our horses, hav- ing traveled about sixty miles in twenty-four hours over a mountainous country. I sent out my spies (mounted on the best horses) who returned, bringing into camp three of the enemy's caballado and reporting fresh signs in the Colora- do bottom. At midnight we were in our saddles and again upon their trail, with the hope of discovering their camp and attacking them at dawn; but the darkness of the night pre- venited. Having halted again for a short time, we continued our route. At daybreak we discovered their horses, and a few minutes afterwards found ourselves upon their camp. The action commenced, on the part of the Indians, by a rap-
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