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 6
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"The moment one was wounded, unless a very brave fel- low, he would crawl into the hiding place among the women and children, unless, perchance, on his way, a Cherokee ball brought him to the ground.
"The fight continued this way an hour or more, when, upon a signal, the whole body retired within the breastworks. At this time the Cherokees, elated by what they supposed to be a victory, charged upon the open holes, ringing their victorious war-whoop most furiously. But they were soon convinced that though concealed, the besieged were not powerless, for here they received a shower of arrows and balls from the hidden enemy which tumbled several of their braves alongside of those they killed on the other side. Yet, excited as they had become, they were not easily convinced that prudence in that case was the better part of valor. On the contrary, they maintained the unequal contest for some time, until one of their old men advised a talk.
"They withdrew a short distance and held a consulta- tion. Their leaders said they had come there for revenge and they would not relinquish their design so long as a Cherokee brave was left to fight-that to go back to their people and report a 'defeat, would disgrace them-they would die on the field rather than bear such tidings. 'Where there's a will, there's a way' is a trite old adage, and at this juncture of affairs, it was verified by the Chero- kees. The old man who had advised the 'talk,' now made
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a suggestion, which was seconded by all. He proposed that a party should be sent off a short distance to cut dry grass and bring a load; that men, loaded with this material, should cautiously approach each hole in the breastworks, from the sides, using the grass as a shield on the way; that the door holes should be stopped up with it, (with new supplies con- stantly arriving), and set on fire, by which very simple pro- cess the inmates would be suffocated or compelled to throw off the hides and leap out, breathless and more or less blinded through the smoke, while the Cherokees, stationed around in circles, would have an easy time in butchering their astonished red brethren. This was a rich idea and de- lighted with the anticipated fun on their part, and misery among their enemies, the Cherokees speedily made all their arrangements and disposed of their fighting men to the best advantage. The grass was placed in the re- quired position, and at the same moment, set on fire. For a moment or two no response was heard from within; but very soon the smoke was seen escaping through the rocks and from under the skins, proving that each little refuge was full of the strangulating exhalation. To endure such a torture long, was beyond human power; and in a little while a doleful howl issued forth, followed by a signifi- cant upheaving of the buffalo-skin roofs, and a rush of the gasping victims, blinded by smoke, leaping over the walls, they knew not where. To render the picture more appal- ling, the exulting Cherokees set up a terrible yelling, and dealt death to the doomed creatures with their guns, toma- hawks and scalping knives until all were slain, or had made their escape from the dreadful sacrifice by headlong flight. Quite a number of squaws and children, and perhaps a few men, had been unable to rise, and died from suffocation inside the works."
And thus ended this tragic scene in the course of our Indian warfare. Comparatively few of the 'Tehuacanas es- caped. The surviving women and children were preserved prisoners, and a considerable number of horses, blankets, skins, and indeed the entire camp equipage, fell into the
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hands of the victors, who returned to their people on Red River in triumph, displaying not only their booty, but large number of the greatest of all Indian symbols of glory, scalps.
While no serious troubles from Indians appear to have been committed during this and the succeeding year or two, the isolated and extreme border settlers suffered from occasional thieving forays of the Wacos and Tahuacanas.
In November, a party of eleven Wacos entered the settlements some twenty miles west of San Felipe. They were on foot, and well supplied with ropes and bridles. A party consisting of Adam Lawrence, Thomas Stevens, Abner Kuykendall, Charles Gates, B. Kuykendall, George Robinson, William Cooper and five others, were soon col- lected to intercept the Indians. Discovering them camped near the house of John Stevens, on Caney Creek, the settlers made a surprise attack at dawn.
"Favored by a gully and a dense fog, we approached within thirty feet of the Indians (part of whom had not yet risen), before they perceived us, at which moment we de- livered cur fire." As the Indians fled one of them shot William Cooper through the heart, killing him instantly. This caused considerable confusion and delay on the part of the settlers .- "Late in the morning," says Kuykendall, "the trail of the Indians was followed as far as the bottom of Caney Creek, five or six hundred yards, some red strips marked their course across the prairie and two or three conical shaped pieces of rotton wood, with which these In- dians are generally provided, to plug their wounds, were picked up on the trail, saturated with blood." The carcass of one of these Indians was found in the bottom, and from the Mexicans at Tenoxtitlan, some two weeks later, it was learned that seven of them died from their wounds before reaching their homes.
1831-Despite the prohibitory decree of the previous year and the forebodings of political troubles, the American population of Texas continued to increase-numbering about twenty thousand. The most part of these prohibited emi-
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grants came, however, under the general prvovisions of the law, on their own account, halting east of the Trinity, where they fixed homes.
Having designated their lands, these settlers were an- xious for legal possession, and, to that end, "in 1831 the Governor of the State had commmissioned Don Francisco Madero as commissioner to issue titles to the settlers on and near the region of Liberty." Justly exercising the authority of his position, and most gratifying to the people of that section, Madero created he municipatlity of Liber- ty, appointing Hugh B. Johnson as Alcalde.
But for this, the Commissioner was arrested and im- prisoned, the Alcalde removed and the municipality of "Libertad" dissolved-a new Ayuntamiento being set up by the despotic and obdurate military satrap, Bradburn, with its seat at Anahuac under his immediate surveillance. Thus far, this suffices to show the general trend of the events transpiring in, and most affecting, the colonies.
Fortunate for the otherwise vexed colonists, no serious depredations by Indians appear to have been committed at this time. However, the year 1831, says Yoakum, did not pass away without being witness to a battle, which, consid- ering the number engaged and its results, was the hardest contested field in 'Texas.
One of the early and unique pioneer characters of Tex- as; was Caiaphas K. Ham, born in the year 1803. He was an intimate friend and associate of the Bowies in Louisiana, and came to Texas in 1830, residing with Colonel James Bowie and his beautiful Spanish wife-the daughter of Vice Governor Veramendi-at the Mission of San Jose, on the San Antonio River some four miles below the city.
Soon after his arrival in Texas, Mr. Ham decided to join the Comanche Indians for the purpose of buying horses for the Louisiana market. At that time, 1830, this tribe was at peace with the Texans. "Being in San Antonio frequently," says Ham's narrative, "on almost every occa- sion I saw parties of Comanche Indians who came in to trade. My desire was to know something of them and the
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country they wandered over. Colorel Bowie at first op- posed the scheme, but finding I was determined, he assisted me in getting things in good shape. A Comanche chief named Incorroy, came in. An interpreter was employed and a treaty made. I was adopted into the chief's family, with an assurance that I could return to the whites when- ever I chose. A supply of powder, balls, butcher knives and brass rings, was laid in." The object in adverting to this freak will be seen farther on, when it will be discover- ed that this trading expedition had an important bearing upon an affair affecting Colonel Bowie.
"We left San Antonio," continues Ham's narrative, "and started for the chief's camp. I had no care on my mind; in the morning I saddled one horse and packed anoth- er-the latter being turned over to the care of my Indian mama.
"About this time a party of Wacos were encamped near us. They wanted to trade, and had good horses. In- corroy instructed me how to trade-I gave one pint of pow- der, eight balls, one plug of tobacco, one butcher knife, and two brass rings, for a horse."
After some five months, Ham received a message from Colonel Bowie advising him to return to San Antonio at once, as the Mexican Government was preparing to make war upon the Indian tribes; and that if found among the Comanches he would be killed with them. During his stay with the Indians, Ham had gained their friendship com- pletely, and had himself become attached to his red friends. When he left the chief, twenty-five warriors escorted him to San Antonio. Mr. Ham was convinced that the real mo- tive for his recall from the Indians was an intention on the part of the Bowies to re-visit the celebrated silver mine near San Saba, which had been discovered, and partially examin- ed by Bowie, it appears, some time previous to 1831.
The shaft was about eight feet deep; the bottom was reached by means of steps cut in a live oak log. Bowie used his tomahawk in getting possession of some of the ore; which he carried to New Orleans, had it assayed, and it
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"panned out" rich. He soon returned to San Antonio and quietly set about organizing a select little party to revisit and examine the mine. Mr. Ham was one of the party se- lected.
These facts are deemed permissible in this connection as shedding some light on the thrilling episode to follow.
BOWIE'S FAMOUS INDIAN FIGHT.
Perhaps the celebrated engagement known as "Bowie's Indian Fight" is without a parallel on this continent; cer- tainly a more skillful and heroic defense against such fear- ful odds was never made on Texas soil.
Organized, equipped and led by the Bowie brothers, the little exploring party consisting of Rezin P. and James Bowie, David Buchanan, Robert Armstrong, Jesse Wallace, Matthew Doyle, Thomas McCaslin, C. K. Ham, James Cor- yell, (for whom Coryell county was named), and two ser- vant boys, Charles, a negro, and Gonzales, a Mexican, set out from San Antonio on November 2, 1831, to locate and re-open the long abandoned and lost silver mines of Alma- gres, SOMEWHERE, in the vicinity of the old San Saba Mission. The secret of the location of this celebrated and rich silver mine was well guarded by the Indians, who wished to prevent another influx of miners and adventurers into their hunting grounds-a condition that brought about the fate of the San Saba Mission, when its inmates, the miners, and people there congregated, were suddenly fell upon and all massacred by the incensed Indians in 1758.
The little party traveled out and met with no adven- ture of note until the 19th, when they were overtaken by a party of friendly Comanches, who informed Bowie that a large body of hostile Indians were on his trail swearing that they would take the scalp of every white man in the party. The hostile Indians were the Tehuacanas, Wacos and Caddos, numbering 164 well armed braves. They were too strong for Bowie to risk a fight, and even when the Comarche chief offered to join Bowie with his
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band of sixteen men, the odds were so fearful that Bowie declined the generous offer and pressed forward with the intention of reaching the old fort on the San Saba before night. But the Texans soon struck a rocky road, and their horses' feet were so worn and sore that they were compelled to stop for the night in a small grove of live oaks. This grove was in an open prairie, interspersed with rocks and clumps of trees. Near it, on the west, was a stream of water, and on the north, a thicket of small trees about ten feet high. Into this thicket, and through prick- ly pears, the Texans cut a road, in order that they might be prepared for defense in case of an attack by the Indians. They then posted sentries and hobbled their horses, but they were not molested until the next morning, when they discovered Indians on their trail before they could get ready to depart for the fort. One of the Indians was some distance in advance of his comrades. He was on foot with his head to the ground, following the trail of the Texans. Bowie and his men flew to arms. The red men gave a loud warwhcop and began their preparations for an attack. While some of the bucks on horseback were reconnoitering the ground, the Texans decided, on account of the fearful odds, against them-164 to 11-to avoid, if possible, a fight so unequal and desperate. It was agreed that Rezin Bowie should go out and parley with the Indians and try to make terms of peace. He went, accompanied by David Buchan- an. They walked to within forty yards of the enemy's line and invited the Indians to send out their chief, so that they could have a talk with him. The Indians who had been addressed in their own tongue replied with a "How do! How do!" followed by a volley of rifle shots, one of which wounded Buchanan in the leg. Bowie replied with the contents of his double bar- reled shot gun, and pistol, then taking his wounded com- rade on his back, started for the camp. The Indians fired another volley, and Buchanan was wounded twice more, but not mortally. The savages then pursued with toma- hawks and were close upon Bowie and his unfortunate
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companion, when the Texans charged them with rifles, kill- ing four and putting the others to flight. Bowie and his men then returned to their positions and for five minutes all was quiet.
Then there came fierce yells from a hill red with In- dians, and so near that the 'Texans could hear the voice of the chief as he urged his men to charge. "Who is load- ed ?" cried the Texan leader. "I am," answered Cephas Ham. "Then shoot that chief," said Bowie, and Ham fired, breaking the leg of the Indian and killing his pony. As the wounded chief went hopping around his horse, four of the Texans, who had reloaded, fired, and he fell. Sev- eral of his men, who advanced to bear his body away, were killed, and the whole band fell back beyond the hill. But they soon covered the hill again, bringing up their women, and there was rapid firing on both sides. Another chief, advancing on horseback and urging his men forward, was killed by James Bowie. Meanwhile a number of the In- dians succeeded in getting under the creek bank in the rear of the Texans. They opened fire at forty yards distance and Matthew Doyle was shot through the breast, and Thom- as McCaslin, running forward to avenge him, was shot through the body. The firing then became general from all quarters and the 'Texans, finding themselves too much exposed, retreated to the thicket, where they were in point blank range of the riflemen under the creek bank and soon dislodged them.
In the thicket the Texans were not only well screen- ed, but had a clear view of the Indians on the prairie. They baffled the savages in their shots, by moving six or eight feet the moment they fired, for the only mark for the red men was the smoke of the Texans' guns, and they would immediately put a shower of balls on the spot where they saw the smoke.
After the fight had continued in this way for two hours, the Indians saw that they could not dislodge the Texans with bullets, and they resorted to fire. By this they expected to rout the little party and secure an oppor-
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tunity of carrying off their dead and wounded under cov- er of the smoke, for the rifles of the rangers had brought down several at every round. They set fire to the dry grass to the windward of the thicket. The flames soared high and rushed forward with great fury. The Texans cleared away the grass around their wounded comrades and made whatever barriers they could against the flames by piling up rock and bushes to make a flimsy breastwork. Mean- while the Indians, who had succeeded in carrying off their dead and wounded under cover of the smoke, returned again to the attack. The wind suddenly shifted to the north and the red men quick to see the advantage it gave them, seized their chance and again set fire to the grass. The flames went roaring ten feet high toward the thicket, while the shouts and yells of the savages rent the air.
This was the critical moment in the fight. The sparks began to fly so fast that no man could open his powder. horn without danger of being blown to pieces. In case the Indians should make a charge under cover of the smoke, which was expected, they could give only one effectual fire and then rely on their knives. Besides, there was great danger from the flames, but as they came to the edge of the cleared space around the wounded, those stalwart men smothered them with buffalo hides, bear skins and blank- ets.
The savages did not charge, but the fire left so little of the thicket that the 'Texans took refuge in the ring they had made around the wounded, and began raising their breast- works higher with earth and loose rocks. The Indians, who succeeded in removing their dead and wounded from the field under cover of the smoke, seeing the Texans were still alive and dangerous, became discouraged, and as night approached, retired from the field.
The Texans strengthened their breastworks and filled their vessels and skins with water and awaited the attack which they expected the following morning. All night they heard the savages wailing over their dead and at day- light they shot a chief who was mortally wounded, which
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was according to the custom of their tribe. They did not renew the attack the next morning, but went to a cave about a mile away for shelter and to bury their dead. Two of the rangers ventured out of the little fort and went to the place where the Indians had spent the night. There they counted forty-eight bloody places on the ground where the dead and wounded Indians had been laid as they were brought from the battlefield.
According to the best authorities, it is estimated that the Indians had eighty odd killed and wounded. 'The In- dians themselves admitted they had 52 killed, and half as many wounded. The Texans lost one killed and had three wounded. The little party remained in their rudely forti- fied camp for eight days after the fight, attending their wounded, and watching for an opportunity to slip away and elude pursuit. The homeward journey consumed ten days. The manner of their reception is thus pathetically told by one of their number-Mr. Ham.
"The Comanches, believing it impossible for eleven men to defend themselves successfully against the fearful odds of fifteen to one, went into San Antonio and reported the almost certain death of Bowie and his party. It was the general opinion' that the explorers had been massacred. Stephen Bowie had arrived in Texas and accepted the re- port as true. He was raising a company to avenge the sanguinary murder of his two brothers. The shades of night had fallen on the city. Sad hearts were bewailing the fate of the adventurous Americans. A party of men, mostly on foot, weary and soiled by travel, entered the streets of the Queen City of the West. Some of the men were recog- mized. A shout went up; it was repeated, it spread from street to street, from house to house. Stout men quivered with excitemeent, tears of joy dimmed bright eyes. Fear- Iess men rushed forward to grasp in friendship and admira- tion, the hands of citizens who had proved themselves heroes in a contest demanding courage, prudence, endurance and all the noble qualities adorning the soldier and the patriot. 'Bowie's party have returned! They have won
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1. WM. A. A. "BIG FOOT" WALLACE,
2. SAMUEL M. WILLIAMS
3. KAN ' FOSTER. THE HUNTER. 4. MOSES AUST'N. FATHER STEPH. F. AUSTIN
I
2
----
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1. JUDGE O. L TYLER.
3. HON. W. L. DAVIDSON
2. CAPT. JOHN HARVEY 4. COL. WM. F. HENDERSON
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a glorious victory !' was the cry. House to house was illu- minated. The people in their heart of hearts decreed them a triumph. And well they deserved it. The pages of his- tory record but few such achievements. It stands almost alone upon the scenic walls of Fame's grand temple. The valorous men who braved their breasts to the assaults of a savage enemy in overwhelming numbers, who fought with- out fear and without hope, and rolled back the tide of bar- baric aggression,* should be remembered and honored as long as civilization endures and gratitude has a place in the human heart." (Unpublished memoirs of Col. John S. Ford.)
Ere Long, nothing daunting the brave Bowies, they determined to again seek, and yet possess, the coveted treasure; and to this end, we are told, they organized and equipped a second, and more formidable expedition, of some thirty men, which was well nigh starting when the Texas war for independence opened; and, true to their patriotic promptings, the Bowie brothers were among the first to heed the call to arms. They hastened to Gonzales, led at Conception, and were among the first to respond to the cry, "Who will follow old Ben Milam into San Antonio?" Three months later James Bowie fell in the Alamo, be- queathing his name and heroism to all succeeding genera- tions of Texans; while Rezin P. Bowie, mourning the un- timely fate of his brother, and leader in all matters, of an adventurcus nature at least, retired to his home and estate in Louisiana, where he led a profitable and exemplary, but less hazardous, life, till his death in New Orleans, January 17, 1841.
And thus tragically closed the history of this famous, but, perhaps, forever lost, Almagres-since ever called the "Bowie Mine," because Bowie was the only American who ever knew the secret of its location. "His expedition be-
*The citizens of Bexar in a memorial to the general engagement, stated that within ten years-1822 to 1832-ninety seven citizens, besides soldiers killed in battles, had been murdered by hostile Indians.
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gan," says one, "under the rainbow of promise, but closed under the cloud of appalling disaster."
Since that time, eighty years ago, many other adventur- ous and enterprising parties have sought in vain to locate this mine. The treasure is yet hidden, and will likely re- main a mystery.
The following letter will throw some light on the char- acter of the Bowies, and is here appropriately inserted :
New Orleans, La. May 3, 1889.
Mr. Jas. T. DeShields, Dear Sir :-
I am, as you have been informed, connected with the Bowies, being the grand-daughter of Col. Rezin P., and grand niece of Col. James Bowie; and as such I thank you for your kind intentions in regard to them. Some "penny -a-liners" more fit to write for five cent, blood and thunder, sensational publications, than for history, have seen fit to describe them as pirates, border ruffians and characters of such ilk, simply because Grand-father originated the knife bearing his name; and that for use only as a hunting knife. The Bowies were men of honor, and gentlemen, possessing both intelligence and handsome physiques. They loved ad- venture and excitement of a legitimate nature; they never sought quarrels, for they were peaceful and amiable, but fear had no home in their souls; and combined with a just idea of their own rights, was the courage to defend them.
Not only were they heroes, but the sons of a hero, for their father, Rezin Bowie, Sr., was one of Gen. Marion's men, and their mother was of sterling worth. She met her hus- band in Georgia, during the Revolution, when with the spirit of a patriot, she was nursing back to life the defend- ers of her country.
I handled your letter to my brother, (Major John S. Moore, 167 Gravier St.) and would advise you to address him personally, he is often in receipt of such requests as yours.
My mother is living, and with my brother, she is the only living child of my grand-father. Uncle James left no
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children, his wife and two babies died previously to his death at the Alamo.
We have excellent portraits of Grandpa and Uncle James. Thanking you once more, I remain,
Respectfully yours, Mrs. Eugine Soniet de Fosset,
Old Stone Fort at Nacogdoches.
CHAPTER V.
HILE memorable in the history of Texas as the year in which the colonists first took up arms in defense of their liberties and vested rights against Mexican military usurpation and despotism, the records show but few incidents of Indian warfare in 1832 .*
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