USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 11
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Bracito, east of the Rio Grande, December 25, Doniphan, with 500 men, was engaged with Ponce de Leon, who had 1,200.
Buena Vista, February 23, 1847, General Taylor, with 4,750 men, was engaged with General Santa Anna, who had 17,000. Tay- lor's loss, 746 killed, wounded and missing; Mexican, 1,500 killed and wounded.
Sacramento, Doniphan, with 900 men, secnred the surrender of Chihnahna, defended by Trias with 4,000 men.
Vera Cruz, March 12 to 27, General Win- field Scott and Commodore Connor, with 12,000 men, engaged with General Morales, who had 6,000, and secured the surrender of the city, with only a loss of 19 killed and wounded.
Cerro Gordo, April 18, Generals Scott and Twiggs, with 8,500, were engaged with Santa Anna, who had 15,000. American loss, 500 killed and wonnded; Mexican, 3,000 prisoners and 43 gnns.
Contreras, August 20. General Scott, with 4,000 men, engaged by Valencia, with 7,000. American loss, light; Mexican, the batteries,
Churubusco, August 20, General Scott, with 8,000 men, against Santa Anna with 25,000; 700 killed and wounded on each side.
Molino del Rey, September 8, General Worth, with 7,500. against Alvarez with 14,000. American loss, 787 killed and wounded; Mexican, 230 killed and wounded.
Chapultepec, September 13, General Scott, with 7,200, against Santa Anna and Bravo, with 25,000. American loss, 863 killed and wounded; Mexican, citadel and outworks.
Mexico city, September 14, General Scott, with 6,000 men, against Santa Anna. Mex- ican loss, the city.
Huamantha, October 9, General Lane, with 500 men, against Santa Anna, witlı 1,000. American loss, 34 killed and wounded; Mex- ican, not known.
In this general war the Texans took the following part: The Texas legislature ap- pointed Governor Henderson to take com- mand of the Texans who might be mustered into the service of the United States. On May 2, 1846, a requisition for two regiments of infantry and two of cavalry was made on Texas. Henderson reached the army of Gen- eral Taylor at Comargo, after the war had begun. The limited means of transportation, and uncertainty with regard to supplies, induced Taylor, while on his march against Monterey, to leave a large number of volnn- teers on garrison dnty in towns on the Rio Grande, and only the first and second regi- ments of the Texan division accompanied the main army on that memorable campaign. In the attack upon Monterey, the first regi- ment of monnted volunteers under Colonel John C. Hays, familiarly known as "Jack"
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Hays, the celebrated ranger. was detached and sent with General Worth to make a demonstration on the western side of the town, while Taylor assaulted the east side. The city, which was strongly fortified and garrisoned, was assailed by Taylor September 21, and the attack lasted three days, on the last of which Henderson led in person the second regiment of Texans, who, dismount- ing, acted as infantry. Being cut off from his command by a murderous fire, he narrow- ly escaped death.
In the meantime Worth, making a detonr, had gained the other side of the town. On the 21st lie engaged a body of Mexicans 1,500 strong; and it was mainly owing to the strategy of Hays and the deadly fire of the Texan rangers, who were in advance, that a furions cavalry charge was repulsed and a victory gained.
To the west of Monterey were two fortified heights, one on each side of the river, known by the names of La Federacion and Cerro del Obispado, and commanding the approach to the place. On the afternoon of the 21st a force of 300 men, half of them Texans, stormed and occupied La Federacion on the south side, and before daylight on the follow- ing morning 200 Texans, led by Hays and Walker, with three companies of the artillery battalion and three companies of the Eighth Infantry, scaled in two columns, under cover of a mist, the almost perpendicular height of El Obispado, and nearly reached the summit before the alarm was given. Then a volley was poured down upon them; but the work was soon taken, and as fresh troops ar- rived in support, the strong fort of El Obis- pado was assaulted and taken. The Texans, however, had to mourn the death of Captain Gillispie.
Thus the investment of the city on the west side was complete; and during the next two days the Americans so successfully pushed their way into the city that on the 24th Ain- pudia capitulated. The Texans bore a promi- nent part in the above engagement.
Indeed, all through the war the Texans characteristically exhibited their valor, ınain- taining the extraordinarily high reputation they had gained in former years. Hays' regiment, for example, of which the rangers formed the nucleus, was transferred to Scott's command, after serving in Taylor's campaign on the Rio Grande, and the efficiency of these men was marked wherever the army went. Serving equally well on foot or on horseback, they would storm a height or charge the enemy's cavalry with the same indifference, intrepidity and success. On the road they were the terror of the guerrilla bands, and in the town they were objects of dread to antag- onists and of awe to non-combatants. As Bancroft says, " their uncouth, wild, and fierce appearance, their strange garb and their reputation for contempt of every forin of danger, gained for them in Mexico the belief that they were more than hnman,-that they were beings intermediate between man and devil! In the city of Mexico, some of these brave, single-hearted and patriotic men fell beneath the knives of assassins, and the re- mains of many others lie buried in Mexican soil all the way from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico."
Mexico was forced to the terms dictated by the United States, and in the treaty of peace, signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo, Febru- ary 22, 1848, not only Texas was given up, but also what is now New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California were ceded to the United States.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
EVENTS AFTER THE WAR.
While Governor Henderson was absent in command of the Texan volunteers, his place was tilled by Lieutenant-Governor Horton. December 21, 1847, George T. Wood was inaugurated as the second governor of the State, and Joli A. Greer as lieutenant- governor.
During Wood's administration a dispute arose which made many a Texan sorry he voted for annexation. When war was de- clared between the United States and Mexico, General S. W. Kearny took possession of Santa Fe in the name of the latter govern- ment; and when, by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, New Mexico was ceded to the United States, Colonel Munroe was placed in command there. In 1848 the Texan legisla- ture sent a judge (Beard) to hold eourt there, still maintaining that that part of the coun- try was a portion of Texas, as at first de- cided by them. Colonel Munroe, however, ignored the Texan judge, and ordered the election of a Territorial delegate to the gov- ernment at Washington. The controversy grew violent, and Governor Wood threatened foree. The Washington government an- nounced that it would resist it. The matter entered into national polities as a new side issue between the North and the South, the latter sympathizing with the claims of Texas. This matter was at length "settled " by ab- sorption into another question, namely, that of the public debt of Texas, soon to be men- tioned.
The election of 1849 resulted in the choice of l'. Hansborough Bell for governor, while John A. Greer was re-elected lientenant- governor. For the next presidential terin Governor Bell was re-elected. During his administration two absorbing questions were
settled,-the boundary line and the public debt. The particulars in regard to these delicate and complicated matters are this carefully worded in I1. HI. Bancroft's His- tory:
"On the incorporation of Texas into the Union, the United States Government, of eonrse, acquired the revenue derived from the customs. These receipts, however, had been pledged by the late Republie as security for the payment of a certain portion of her debt; and when they were passed over to the Federal Government the bondholders clamor- ously maintained that the United States had become responsible for the liabilities of Texas, and pressed for a speedy settlement. That portion of the debt, however, for which the revenue from enstoms was specially pledged, amounted to only $868,000 ostensible value, or $611,784.50 par value. This matter, as well as the boundary question, was diseussed at great length in both houses, and January 29, 1850, Henry Clay introduced, among other 'compromise resolutions,' one designed to solve the perplexing questions of dispute with Texas.
" Memtime the excitement with regard to the question of ownership of that part of New Mexico lying east of the Rio Grande, inereased both in Texas and the United States. To show her serions determination not to yield her claim, a joint resolution was passed, February 11, 1850, by the legislature of the new State, asserting not only her right to the dispnted ground, bnt deelaring her in- tention to maintain the integrity of lier ter- ritory. The several resolutions of Clay's bill were slowly discussed, and Angust 5, 1850, James A. Pearce, senator from Maryland, in- trodneed a bill making definite propositions to the State of Texas relative to her bound- ary and the payment of her public debt.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
They were to this effect: Texas was to agree that her boundary on the north should com- mence at the point at which the meridian of 100° west from Greenwich is intersected by the parallel of 36° 30' north latitude, and should run from that point dne west to the meridian of 103º west from Greenwich; thence the boundary line should run dne south to the 32° of north latitude, thence on said parallel to the Rio Grande, and thence with the channel of that river to the gulf of Mexico. Texas was to cede to the United States all her clain to territory outside of these limits, and to relinquish all claim on the United States for liability for her debts, or compensation for the surrender of her ships, forts, customhouses, customhouse reve- nue, public buildings, etc. The United States, in consideration of the establishment of said boundary and relinquishment of claims, would pay to Texas $10,000,000, in stock bearing five per cent. and redeemable at the end of fourteen years. No more than $5,000,000 of said stock was to be issned until the creditors of the State of Texas had filed at the treas- ury of the United States releases of all claims against the United States on account of Texan bonds.
"This bill passed the senate Angust 7, by a vote of 30 yeas and 20 nays, and on Sep- tember 4 following passed the honse by a vote of 108 against 97. A copy of the bill, called the Boundary Act, was forwarded to Governor Bell, who forthwith called an extra session of the legislature. In his inessage Bell advised the occupancy of Santa Fe with a military force, suggesting, however, that the vacant lands of that district might be sold to the United States provided that Texas re- tained jurisdiction over it. Apart from the unwillingness to yield territory on a general principle, there was one feature in the bill
especially repulsive to the Texans, and that was the retaining of half of the $10,000,000 in the United States treasury until the ered- itors of Texas were paid. This self-protective condition imposed by the United States was regarded as a reflection on Texas, since it seemed to insinnate that she would not be disposed to meet her liabilities promptly if she obtained possession of the whole amount. Then again, agreement to tlie propositions was required to be given on or before De- cember 1, 1850,-a proviso which, taken with the general tone of the document and the nnconditional assent expected, was re- garded as a symptom of domination to which a sovereign onght not to be subject. The question having been discussed with much warmth and at great length, the propositions of the United States were finally accepted, November 25, 1850, and a law passed to that effect. By this act Texas waived her fictitious claim to about 98,380 square miles of the territory of New Mexico;" and thus it seems that all the important questions were settled regarding the evolution of Texas from an unprogressive province of Mexico to a com- plete membership in the American Union, with every prospect of prosperity and peace.
"This matter having been settled, " con- tinnes Bancroft, " the $5,000,000 was paid into the State treasury in February, 1852. The amount of the indebtedness of the late republic had been determined previously by the State. According to the report of the anditor and comptroller, dated November 12, 1851, the ostensible indebtedness of Texas was $12,436,991, including interest; but the State, in view of the low price at which a large portion of the bonds issued by the re- publican government had been sold, did not consider itself bound to pay their full face value, and in January, 1852, the legislature
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
reduced the amount of her apparent obliga- tions ($12,436,991)to nearly half ($6,827,278), over the president's veto, by a strong vote."
As soon as Texas was annexel to the United States, immigration began to increase, and in- crease more and more rapidly after peace was established. The only drawback to nninter- rupted prosperity was Indian depredations. Though the main body of each border tribe professed friendship, the ontlying settlements suffered considerable damage, especially on the western frontier. These depredations for the most part were committed by the Comanches, who generally did their mischief on return-' ing from raids into Mexico. On several oc- casions white men were killed and eaptives taken. Also the Choetaws, Chickasaws and Kickapoos made raids from the north. In the spring of 1854 a band of Kickapoos killed - the special agent, Stein, and a Mr. Lepper- man froin Ohio, near Fort Belknap. The affair was reported to the Government at Washington, and aid invoked.
INDIAN COLONIZATION, ETC.
The Indians were the more incited to pred- atory raids on account of the diminution of wild game on the approach of the white race, and they were in danger of being reduced to destitution, sinee their manner of living made them dependent upon flesh food; and they were unwilling to adopt the white man's method of raising domestic animals for a sub- sistence.
As a remedy for the evil, a system of col- onization was applied, but this system, too, was quite unwelcome, being more a white ! man's method of managing affairs than the Indians'. Means were to be provided by the United States Government to aid and instruct Indian settlers in the cultivation of land. In
carrying out this policy two Indian colonies were established in Texas in the spring of 1855, on reservations granted by the State in Young county, one of which, consisting of eight leagues of land, was located on the Brazos river, below the junction of Clear Fork, and fifteen miles from Fort Belknap. This reservation was called the Brazos agency. The other, comprising four leagues, was sit- nated on Clear fork about forty-five miles above its confluence with the main river. In the first colony were placed Anadarcoes, Cad- does, Taliwacorroes, Wacoes and Tonkawas. numbering in all 794 souls. At the other reservation were 277 northern Comanches.
At first the reports of the agents at these points held out every prospect of sueeess. The Indians of the Brazos settlement, in good behavior, morality and industry, surpassed the most sanguine expectations. They vol- untarily abstained from the use of ardent spirits. By the end of August, publie build- ings had been erected,-store rooms, houses for agents and employees, and a blacksmith's shop. Two fariners, with assistant laborers, were employed to instruet the Indians, and 295 acres of land had been plowed and planted with corn. At the other reservation the Comanches were too late in arriving for eorn- planting, but from the disposition evinced by them the agents looked forward to the suc- cess of the settlement. Within three years these settlements attained a high degree of prosperity. The Brazos Indians, however, on account of their always having had more familiar and friendly intercourse with the whites, were more apt in the new arts, and their settlement accordingly made more rapid progress in the arts of civilization. They erected comfortable dwellings, had school houses, and were accumulating a goodly num- ber of live stock by honest methods. Besides,
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
they helped in the protection of the white frontier, as they furnished from fifty to a hundred warriors for ranging service. For example, in the spring of 1858, a band of these went ont with the Texan rangers ou an expedition against the Comanches, and fought gallantly.
Bnt alas! this tender bnd of civilization was nipped by white people! The rongher ones, inconsiderate and over-zealons, continned to encroach upon them, until they were driven entirely away. In 1858 the number of these natives thus reclaimed from barbaric life was 1,483; and among this number, es- pecially of the Comanches, some were ad- dicted to horse-stealing, and sometimes would participate with the wilder tribes in general predatory inenrsions. Some white inen even assisted them in these nefarious trans- actions. The crimes of the few had to be visited on all, such is the inconsid- erateness and haste of human nature generally. In the counties adjoining the reservations many of the whites were so hasty as to believe that all, or nearly all, the depredations in their neighborhood were com- initted by the Indians at these reservations, and they accordingly determined to get rid of them some way. In 1858 several parties of these innocent Indians went linnting ont- side of their reservations, as they had often been permitted to do by the agents on former occasions, and a number of ronghs among the whites determined on a ernel massacre. In a bend of the Brazos, just above the month of Keochi creek, a party of In- dians,-men, women and children,-en- camped, for several weeks, peaceably engaged in hunting. On December 21, between forty and fifty men, mostly of Erath county, as- sembled in conclave on Bosque river to con- Built upon a general extermination policy,
They appointed a committee to organize a company, the command of which was given to Peter Garland. Then the order was given to kill any Indians found sonth of Cedar creek. The company proceeded to the Indian camp on the Brazos, which at the time con- tained eight inen, eight women and eleven children. Approaching stealthily early in the morning in December, while their victims were somd asleep, they poured into them a volley of buckshot and rifle-balls. Seven were killed ontright, of whom three were women! Three men, two women and three children were severely wounded, and nearly all the rest more or less injured. The wounded succeeded in escaping to the reservation.
This atrocity naturally caused great excite- ment. A proclamation issued by the gover- nor, denouncing the act and warning all per- sons against joining organizations for hostil- ities against the friendly Indians, had no ef- fect. The newspapers published prejudicial stories and inflammatory philippics on the subject, and the citizens at varions points held meetings and resolved that the Indians should be removed. In the adjoining coun- ties bands of armed citizens were organized, who spent mneh time scouting around the reservations. Civilized Indians found outside the reservation limits, it was said, could not be distinguished from the savage ones, and would therefore have to suffer their fate. The removal of the reservation Indians was per- emptorily demanded, under threats of ex- termination. In vain did the agents endeavor to avert the coming blow, and their efforts in this direction even gave offense to the citi- zens of the frontier, who, on April 25, 1859. boldly demanded their immediate resignation. All the agents could do then was to acqui- esce as soon as they could safely remove the Indians to a better place; but before they had
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
reasonable time for this, May 23, Captain Baylor, an ex-agent, at the head of 250 armed men, marehed to the Brazos reservation, with the avowed intention of attacking the Indians. Captain Plummer, of the First Infantry, warned him to leave the reservation, and he did so, but a skirmish oeeurred with the In- dians, and several on both sides were killed and wounded.
It was now, therefore, certain that the In- dians could not remain on the reservation they were thien ocenpying. On the represent- ations of the agents, the government ordered the removal of the Indians as soon as the erops conld be matured and gathered, but this did not satisfy the hasty frontiersmen, who demanded immediate action, and at the ur- gent request of the supervising agent, R. S. Neighbors, permission was given him to con- duct them at once beyond Red river. The evil passions of the border whites were so greatly aroused that the government had to send troops to guard the imprisoned Indians on their march to prevent massacre! Thus guarded, these unfortunate Indians were es- eorted, July 30 and August 1, to a reserva- tion on the Washita river, beyond the juris- diction of the State of Texas. The number of Indians in this exodns was 1,415, of wliom 380 were Comanches. Owing to the persist- ent perseention kept up by the whites, it was found impossible even to collect the cattle which belonged to these Indians, and they were therefore obliged to leave their stoek be- lind! As a climax to this practical illustra- tion of Laniar's principle of expulsion or ex- termination, Superintendent Neighbors, hav- ing returned to Texas in September, was way- laid on the 14th near Fort Belknap by a man unknown to him and shot! He died in twenty minutes. It was believed that this crime was committed on account of the free opinion ex-
pressed by Neighbors relative to the killing of a reserve Indian some time previously.
The last of the Alabama Indians were re- ported in existenee on the Trinity river, a few miles east of the town of Livingston in 1869, then about 200 or 300 in number, and half civilized.
CERRENT OF EVENTS.
While Elisha M. Pease was governor the financial questions between the State and the general Government were finally adjusted, and a settlement inade with the creditors of the old Republic. But many new claimants arose demanding indemnity from the United States Government for loans and losses incurred dur- ing the days of the Republic in defending the country against Indians from United States territory. The general Government offered a compromise, which was at first treated very indignantly by the creditors, and even by a majority of the citizens in a popu- lar vote on the subject. The legislature, however, in later and cooler moments, agreed to the compromise, and the creditors received a pro rata, which was abont 78 per cent. The amount thus paid was $2,750,000.
From 1852 to 1858 nine-tenths of the taxes collected were remitted to the several counties to enable them to build courthouses and jails, the remaining tenth being set apart by the constitution for the support of schools, was paid into the treasury. During this period very rapid progress was made, both in immigration and assessable wealth.
But Texan animosity toward the Mexican population did not abate. The Mexican in- habitants were mostly of the lower orders, and were charged with associating with " nig- gers," and frequently of stealing horses and negro girls, whom they would take to Mexico.
In the fall of 1856 a formidable negro con-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
1
spiracy was discovered in Colorado county, which contemplated a simultaneons insurrec- tion and the massacre of the white popnla- tion, with the exception of their young women, who were to be made captives. The slaves had systematically organized, with seeret signs and pass-words, and provided themselves with bowie-knives and a few fire- arms. Their intention scemed to be to fight their way into Mexico, which they called a " free State." On the detection of the con- spiracy, more than 200 negrocs were severely punished with the lash, two being whipped to death, and three prominent leaders were hanged September 5. It was asserted that every Mexican in the county was implicated in this intended uprising, and they were or- dered to leave and never return, under pen- alty of death. Similar incasurcs were adopted in Matagorda county.
THE CART WAR.
messages to the legislature on the matter, stating that Mexican citizens engaged in the business of teaming werc not safe without a military cscort. As the counties in which the deeds of violence werc committed did nothing to stop them, he suggested the pro- priety of legislative interferenec. The senate referred the matter to a committee, who re- ported in favor of inflicting a penalty npon those counties, but introduced no bill to that effeet, and so the matter ended. The legis- lature, However, approved the action of the governor in calling out a company of troops, which, by the way, was ineffectual in regu- lating a large section of country with the criminals scattered over it. When the road was abandoned by the Mexican cartmen and booty became scarce, they began to commit depredations on the property of the citizens. The latter, though so indifferent to the rights of the Mexicans previously, were now enraged and resorted to lynching; and in the neigh- borhood of Goliad the traveler would see many a corpse suspended from the boughs of the black oaks. The "Cart War" was thus brought to an end.
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