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 5
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the present city of Waco is located. His companions, sup- posing that he fell dead, traveled all the first night, and concealed themselves in thickets during the day. In this manner they traveled until they reached .the settlements, where they reported the death of Brown and their great loss of property.
"Simultaneously with this expedition, was Capt. Brown's first trip to Mexico, but fortunately with much better suc- cess, as he returned in a few months with a large number of horses and mules for the Louisiana and Mississippi trade, and a considerable amount of Mexican coin. On reaching San Felipe, he heard of the sad fate of his brother, but had a presentiment that he still lived, and resolved upon his rescue. In a short time after his arrival, he started with forty-one volunteers in search of his brother. On arriv- ing at the Waco village, he found them hostile, and at- tacked them. After some resistance, and killing several of their number, they fled, and nine of them were shot while crossing the river. Heavy rains prevented further pursuit, and in fact gave much difficulty in returning home, owing to the boggy condition of the country through which they passed, now embracing the counties of Milam, Burleson and Lee.
"While halting on the Medina River, he was attacked by twelve Tehuacana Indians who had followed, and intend- ed robbing him. In the fight he killed several, and the oth- ers fled.
"Resuming his vocation, Captain Brown made a second trip into Mexico, and returned in the fall of 1826 with sev- eral hundred horses.
"While halting at San Felipe, a man was discovered ap- proaching rapidly from the west. He seemed to be an In- dian riding on horseback. Dashing up, he suddenly reined his horse, dismounted and sprang toward Capt. Brown, ex- claiming, 'Brother Henry, don't you know me?' He was the lost and mourned brother. Briefly he explained his eighteen months' captivity ; how he had tried every means of escape until he had succeeded while with a company of
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seventeen on Cummings Creek, now in Fayette County- the bard having come down to rob and kill the settlers. Now was the opportunity-with his own well armed party and a few volunteers, about 20 in all, Capt. Brown rode all night and at daylight the following morning, surprised the Indians killing all except one who escaped to carry tidings of the fate of his comrades to his people on the Brazos."
With varying success Capt. Brown continued his busi- ness as a trader, making frequent trips to and from Mexi- co. The sequel to one of his return trips is thus given by his son and biographer-John Henry Brown-"In the month of December, 1828, Capt. Brown was returning from a trading expedition to Mexico, having as the proceeds of his venture, about 500 horses and a considerable amount of
silver in rawhide wrappers. He had with him nine Mexi- can ranchers, a faithful Cherokee Indian, named Luke, and two or three Americans. At night on the road between San Antonio ard Gonzales, his animals were stampeded and driven off ly a party of hostile Indians, leaving a portion of his men on foot. He repaired to Gonzales and increased his force to twenty nine men. With these he moved leisure- ly up the country through the mountains, and finally cross- ed the Colorado a little above the mouth of Pecan Bayou, into the present territory of Brown County, hoping to sur- prise an Indian village, and recover his own or an equal number of horses and mules.
"He suddenly came upon an encampment almost desti- tute of horses, and scarcely any women or children. Quite a fight ensued, the defiant Indians, killing one of Brown's Mexicans, besides wounding several of his men slightly. But several Indians falling, the balance suddenly fled into the creek bottom.
"Capt. Brown, still anxious to find the object of his search, traveled westerly till night, and encamped. Dur- ing the night some of the guard discovered a camp fire apparently about two miles distant. As day dawned the party mounted, and moving cautiously, struck the village just as it was light enough to see. Six of the Mexicans, un-
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der prior instructions, stampeded the Indians' horses. The other twenty three men covered the rear, and prepared for battle. Forty or fifty mounted Indians made pursuit and heavy skirmishing ensued, until four or five warriors had been tumbled from their horses. They drew off until re- enforced by about as many more who, however, made no attack, but traveled parallel with the retreating party, oc- casionally showing themselves, till the sun went down. But all this time the horses had been pushed in a gallop, and rendered too tired to be easily stampeded at night- the forlorn hope of the enemy."
Thus the retreat continued by day and night, till the party arrived at Gonzales in January, 1829, with the booty -some 500 head of horses-which were equally divided among the captors.
Capt. Brown died at Columbia, Texas, July 26, 1834, and rests from his toils within a few feet of Josiah H. Bell, and the once noted Capt. Bird Lockhart.
MURDER OF ELIJAH ROARK.
Among other early and worthy colonists on the Brazos was Elijah Roark, a native of North Carolina, who removed with his family "in a large wagon drawn by six mules" and settled on Oyster Creek, in 1824.
Frugal and industrious, his efforts were scon rewarded with crop yields and an increasing stock of cattle, hogs, etc. At that time San Antonio, some 230 miles distant, with but two small settlements en route,-at the crossing of the Colorado, and at Gonzales,-was the nearest and in fact, the only market in Texas. About the 10th. of December, 1829, Mr. Roark, with one man and his little son, Leo, left on his annual market trip with about 100 fat hogs and a wag- on load of butter, cheese, bacon, lard, soap, candles and va- rious other things, which they expected to exchange for dry goods, coffee, sugar, salt and other family supplies.
Traveling slow to avoid; fatigue of the porkers, the lit- tle party reached the "Forty Mile Water Hole" -- that dis- tance short of San Antonio-where they camped for the
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night of Dec. 24, little thinking of the fate that was so soon to befall them. After supper and a pleasant converse on former Yule-tide pleasures, the usual preparations were made for the night-intending an early morning start. We give the sad sequel as told by Leo Roark himself: "One man was to keep guard while the other two slept. Father kept the first watch, and the other man the second. I went on guard about two o'clock, putting on my shoes and hat. The weather had been very warm, but while I was sitting by the camp fire, the wind began to blow from the north. It was getting cold, so I put on my coat, teck my gun and knife, and walked a short distance. There was a large log near the road about 100 yards from the camp. Father told me I must walk past the log ard turn back. I got to the log and was afraid to pass it. I thought I would go back and wake Father. The mules were staked near, and they were so restless I knew there was something wrong. Be- fore I got back the Indians surrounded the camp. I shot at them and this woke the men. They did not get on their feet before they were murdered. I tried to catch a mule that was tied to a stake, but could not get near the mule. I laid down my gun and tried to cut the rope, but could not as the Indians were so near I had to run. I lost my hat, knife and gun. I was west of the camp and knew the way to San Antonio. Leaving the road, I ran into the mes- quite thickets and did not look back ror stop to rest till daylight. Being very thirsty I could find no water, but ate mesquite beans. I traveled all day and late in the evening found water. Here I rested a few moments, but was afraid to lay down as I was so tired and sleepy. With much ef- fort I continued my journey and arrived in San Antonio late in the night. The Mexicans were celebrating Christ- mas. Next day I got assistance and returned to bury my father. Arriving at the camp it was a horrblie sight, both men stripped and scalped, the wagon burned, the mules carried off, and everything taken or destroyed.
"After burying the dead, we built a log pen over the graves to prevent the wolves from digging them up-the
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burning of the wagon scared the wolves away, or they would have devoured the bodies."
It was three months before Leo returned home-with a company of Mexican soldiers on their way to Nacog- doches. The family did not hear of the death of Mr. Roark and companion till then. The news was a great shock, and a source of sorrow to all the neighborhood.
Brown's narrative of this affair-History of
Texas, Vol. 1, pp. 159-61-while supplying some important details, is difficult to reconcile with the above absolutely reliable account, and is evidently erroneous. Leo Roark's state- ment, which we have followed, was copied from the journal of Dr. Pleasant W. Rose, as written therein under date of January, 1834. Dr Rose's daughter, Mrs. Dilue Harris, in her reminiscences, based on this journal, says : "Mrs. Roark was a widow four years, and had a large family, two grown sons, twin daughters, one daughter grown, two lit- tle children, a boy named Andrew, and a girl born several months after the death of the father. Ilived by the Roarks three years, and went to school with the two brothers, Jack- son and Leo. Mrs. Roark could not talk about the death of her husband, but her son, Leo, often spoke about it; re- membering the horrible scene he passed through during that eventful Christmas."
Brown's narrative cannot be correct. He says Robert Spears and Andrew Cox were killed, and that David Mc- Cormick escaped ard rode with Leo to San Antonio. Bea- son was from the Colorado, and was killed by Indians-per- haps about the same time Roark was murdered. McCormick was probably in San Aatonio when Leo arrived there. At that time it was almost impossible to get correct news. It would be months before events happening near San Anto- rio would be heard at Brazoria.
Beason's father settled where the town of Columbia now stands. The place was called Beason's Ferry. Santa Anna with his forces crossed the Colorado at Beason's in 1836.
Of the brave boy, Leo, it may be said he lived to parti-
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cipate in several Indian fights, and other stirring events of our history; the affair at Anahuac in 1832; the battles around San Antonio in 1835, and in the battle of San Ja- cinto. He married a Miss Pevyhouse, and reared a large and respectable family. In 1893, sixty three years after the awful tragedy of that eventful Christmas night, this venerable pioneer died in Ellis County, Texas, full of years and of honors.
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CHAPTER IV.
HE year 1830 marks the beginning of an important era in the political history of Texas. Heretofore, during the first years of colonial existence, the American set- tlers had been left undisturbed save by the hostile tribes of Indians who had constant- ly harassed them on all sides, as we have seen. But much vigilance had been exer- cised by Austin and other empresarios in repelling and punishing the savages; and now that the population of the several colonies and settle- ments were rapidly increasing, they were better able to cope with the common foe.
But now it was that another and most serious draw- back to the colonies occurred. Ever jealous of their grasp- ing neighbors on the north, and presumably fearing a too rapid increase in the American population of coveted Tex- as, on April the 6th. of this year, the Mexican Government, now dictated by the arrogant, unprincipled and liberty hating military chieftain, President Anastasia Bustamente, is- sued the famous and infamous decree-the eleventh article of which virtually prohibited further immigration into Tex- as from the United States.
MIRABEAU B. LAMAR
ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON
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As might have been expected, this act spread gloom over the colonists, many of whom, coming in advance, had been industriously occupied in making preparations for the arrival, and, to sorve degree, the comfort of others- in many instances the wife and children; and coming thus without previous notice or intimation, there was no time to turn back or to warn those who were on the eve of moving, (having perhaps, sacrificed home ard property), of the fate that awaited them on their arrival at the border line- garrisoned with Mexican troops to prevent their further progress.
To humiliate and further annoy the colonists, more than a thousand soldiers were sent to the province, and distrib- uted at such points as their services might be needed The greater portion of these soldiers, it is said, were discharged convicts and enlisted vagabonds, who were to be support- ed by the money collected from duties and by colonial tax- ation. Piedras, as ranking officer, with 320 men, was sta- tioned at Nacogdoches, to prevent further emigration from the United States; and this, too, at the time when Robert- son's Colony was settling and many families were enroute ; Bradburn, with a force of 150 at Anahuac; Ugarteches, 120 at Velasco; Col. Bean, with a force at Fort Ter- an on the Neches, as Indian agent to the central govern- ment-besides the forces at San Antonio and Goliad.
Bradburn was the first to manifest a direct hostile spirit. Says 'Thomas Jefferson Chambers: "He introduc- ed martial law for the citizens; he took from them their property without their consent and without consideration; he had many of them arrested and imprisoned in the fort of Anahuac; and his troops, who were guilty of robbing and stealing, were by him protected from punishment." But it is not our purpose to enter into a discussion or review of the transpiring and approaching events of our political his- tory at this period, interesting and important as the sub- ject may be, and reference is made thus far somewhat in- cidentally.
Fortunately for the colonists, while occupied with their
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internal affairs, the Indians at this date appear to have been less troublesome-overawed for the time perhaps, by the expeditions of Kuykendall and Brown, the previous year. Then, too, the Cherokees, Wacos and Tehuacanas bad become involved in a serious strife among themselves.
The trouble encountered by one of these bands, enroute to their people in Texas, and while temporarily halting on Red River in the winter of 1828-29, is graphically narrated by John Henry Brown, in the only reliable account of this af fair-written and published more than half a century ago: "They had not been at this place very long before their village was discovered by a party of Wacos, on a robbing expedition from the Brazos; and these freebooters, true to their instincts from time immemmorial, lay concealed till the silent midnight hour, and then, stealthily entering the herds of the sleeping Cherokees, stampeded their horses, driving off a large number. To follow them was labor in vain-but to quietly forget the deed was not the maxim among the red sons of Tennessee.
RED WARRIORS IN DEADLY STRIFE.
"A council was held and the matter discussed. After the opinions of the warriors had been given, the principal war chief rose, and in substance said: 'My brothers. The wild men of the far off Brazos have come into our camp while the Cherokees slept. They have stolen our most useful property. Without horses we are poor, and cannot make corn. The Cherokees will hasten to plant their corn for this spring, and while that is springing from the ground, and growing under the Great Spirit, and shall be waving around our women and children, we will leave some old men and women to watch it, and the Cherokee braves will spring upon the cunning Wacos of the Brazos as they sprang upon us.'
"The corn was planted, and in the month of May, 1829, war party of fifty-five, well armed, left the village on
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foot in search of the Wacos. `At this time the principal vil- lage of the Wacos, was on the bluff where the beautiful city of Waco now greets the eye on the west bank of the Brazos. One band of the Tehuacana ( Ta-wak-a-na ) In- dians, who have always been more or less connected with the Wacos, were living on the east bank of the river, three miles below. Both bands had erected rude fortifications, by scooping up the earth in various places and throwing up a circular embankment three or four feet high, the remains of which still are to be seen. 'The principal work of this kind at the Waco village occupied a natural sink in the surface. "The Cherokees struck the Brazos above the village some forty miles, and traveled downwards until they dis- covered signs of the proximity, and then secreted them- selves in the cedar brake till night. The greater portion of the night was spent in examining the position, through experienced scouts. Having made the necessary obser- vations, the scouts reported near daylight, when the war chief admonished them of what they had come for-re- venge! Waco scalps! horses! and led them forth from their hiding place, under the bank of the river, to a point about four hundred yards from the wigwams of the slumber- ing Wacos. Here they halted till the rays of light, on that lovely May morning, began to gild the eastern horizon.
The time for action had come. Moving with the noiseless, elastic step peculiar to the sons of the forest, the Chero- kees approached the camp. But a solitary Waco was aroused, ard was collecting the remains of his fire of the previous night, preparatory to his morning repast. His Indian ear caught the sounds of footsteps on the brush, a glance of his lynx eye revealed the approaching foe. A single shrill yell from him, which echoed far and near through the Brazos forest, brought every Waco to his feet. The terrible Chero- kee war-whoop was their morning greeting, accompanied by a shower of leaden rain. But though surprised, the Wacos out numbered their assailants many times, their wo- men and children must be protected or sacrificed, their ancient home, where the bones of their fathers had been
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buried for ages, was assailed by unknown intruders. The chief rallied the warriors, and made a stand, the fight be- came general, and as the sun arose majestically over the towering trees of the east, he beheld the red men of Tennes- see and the red men of Texas in deadly strife. But the bows and arrows of the Wacos could not compete with the unerring rifles of the Cherokees. The Waccs were falling rapidly, while the Cherokees were unharmed.
"After half an hour's strife, amid yells and mutual imprecations, the Wacos signalled a retreat, and they fell back in confusion, taking refuge in the fortified sinkhole. Here, though hemmed in, they were quite secure, having a great advantage. Indeed they could kill every Cherokee who might peradventure, risk his person too near the brink. "The Cherokees had already killed many, and now held a council, to consider what they should do. It was proposed by one brave that they should strip to a state of nature, march into the sink-hole in a body, fire their pieces, then drop them, and with tomahawks alone endeavor to kill every man, woman and child among the Wacos. A half breed named Smith, who was in favor of this desperate measure, as an incentive to his comrades, stripped himself, fastened a dozen horsebells (which he had picked up in camp) around his waist, and commenced galloping and yell- ing around the sink-hole, now and then jumping on the em- bankment and then cursing the Wacos lustily. The arrows were hurled at him by the score, but he fell not.
"Just as the Cherokee council was coming to a close, at about an hour after sunrise, they heard a noise like dis- tant thunder on the opposite side of the river, and delayed a few moments to discover its cause. Very soon they dis- covered a large body of mounted Indians rising the river banks a little below them. What could it mean? they murmured one to another. The story is soon told. A messenger had rushed from the Waccs in the outset, for the 'Tehuacana village, begging help, and now two hundred Tehuacana warriors, mounted and ready for the fray, were at hard. The whole aspect of the day was changed in a
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moment. To conquer this combined force was impossible- to escape themselves would require prudence. The Tehua- caras, in coming up, cut off a Cherokee boy, twelve years old, killed and scalped him, and placed his scalp, and held it up defiantly to the view of the Cherokees. The boy was an only child, and his father beheld this scene. The brave man's eye glared with fury. Without a word he threw from his body every piece of his apparel, seized a knife in one hand, a tomahawk in the other. 'What will you?' de- manded the chief. 'Die with my brave boy. Die slaying the wild men who have plucked the last rose from my bos- om!' The chief interceded and told him it was madness; the Cherokee listened not; with rapid strides he rushed among the Tehuacanas, upon certain death; but ere death Ład seized its victim, he had killed several and died shout- ing defiance in their midst.
"The Tehuacanas occupied the post oaks just below the Cherokees, and kept up a lusty shouting, but ventured not within rifle shot. The latter seeing that on an open field they could not resist such numbers having taken fifty-five Waco scalps, (equal to their own number) and having lost two men and the boy-now fell back into the cedar brake and remained there till night. They were convinced that their safety depended upon a cautious retreat, for if sur- rounded on the prairie, they would be annihilated. When right came on they crossed the river, traveling down the sard bank a mile or two, as if they were going down the country, thence, turning up the stream, waded up the edge of the water some six or seven miles, (the river being low and remarkably even), and thus eluded pursuit. In due time they reached their Red River villages, without the
thousand horses they anticipated, but with fifty-five Waco scalps-glory enough in their estimation. The entire band was now speedily collected and amid much rejoicing and with great noise, it is said, indulged in one of the grandest war dances ever witnessed in Texas."
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THE CHEROKEE AND TEHUACANA FIGHT.
"The Cherokees, it seems, did not forget the Tehuacanas, but held them to strict account-determined to take re- venge on them for their interference in the engagement with the Wacos-as the sequel will show. 'To this end it ap- pears, early in the summer of 1830, they armed and equipped one hundred and twenty of their bravest and best fighters, who marched upon one of the principal villages of the enemy.
"The 'Tehuacanas, like the Wacos, had several princi- pal villages, favorite resorts, from some peculiarity, as fine springs of water, abundance of buffalo, etc. One of them, and perhaps their most esteemed locality, was at the south- ern point of the hills of the same name, now in the upper edge of Limestone County. Around these springs there is a large amount of loose limestone on the surface, as well as in the hills, and the whole surrounding country is one of rare beauty and loveliness.
"The Tehuacanas had erected several small enclosures of these loose stones, about three feet high, leaving occas- ional spaces some two feet square, resembling the mouths of furnaces. Over the tops they threw poles and spread buffalo hides, and when attacked, their women, old men and children, would seek refuge in the same, and lying flat on the ground, would send their arrows and bullets through these apertures whenever an enemy came in range. From the attacks of small arms, such a protection, however primi- tive, was generally quite effective.
"This party of Cherokees, having been informed of the locality of this place, and the value set upon it by the Te- huacanas, and knowing that it was a considerable distance from the Wacos, determined to seek it out and there wreak vengeance upon those who had by their own act called forth feelings of hostility. Guided by an Indian who had explored the country as a trappper, they reached the place in due season. When discovered, the Tehuacanas were en- gaged at a play of ball around the little fort. The Chero-
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kees stripped for action at once, while the ball players, promptly ceased that amusement, rushed their women and children into the retreats, and prepared for defense. They had quite a large village, and outnumbered the Cherokees in fighting men.
"A random fight commenced, the Cherokees using the surrounding trees as protection, and taking the matter as a business transaction, made their advances from tree to tree with prudence. Their aim, with the 'rest' against the trees, told with effect, and one by one, notwithstanding their hideous yells and capering to and fro, the Tehuaca- nas were biting the dust.
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