USA > Texas > Shelby County > History of the regulators and moderators and the Shelby County war in 1841 and 1842, in the republic of Texas > Part 4
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on the spot; following the trail we overtook them just before sundown. We divided and came up on different sides of the encampment, when Choctaw Tom came out and told us they were there peaceably to hunt and wished to do no one harm. I answered that the Indians of the reserve were accused of horse stealing and that much of it was going on in the country. He said it was by wild Indians. I answered we did not know wild indians from tame ones and they had better get away, that I was hunting the Indians who were doing the mischief and they had shot at two men and I had tracked them to that camp. An old laughing Indian (one who laughs all the time) said he had shot at a deer and not at them. Choctaw Tom promised to take the Indians back at once to the lower reserve where they belonged. I left them and returned next morning. They left that day, but went into Palo Pinto county and stopped again. Peter Garland discovered they were there, raised a company and went against them. He went to their camp and dividing his command approached them in two divisions. One party made an immediate attack and killed several Indians; two of the attacking party were killed. The other division fired one round, retired to reload and failed to return.
CHAPTER XV.
The next difficulty was in the same year, 1857. A party of Indians came in and killed a man named Browning. They came from the upper reserve This man Browning, was in the woods below Baylor's ranch and fought the Indians alone for some time and killed one. When charged with this crime it was attributed by them to wild Indians. Jno. R. and George Baylor were then absent. On their return they determined to avenge the death of Browning, and taking four men went on the frontier to a point on the Indian trail which the Indians would pass on their return They stopped and during a consultation they saw two Indians coming, who retreated before the men could get ready to follow on horseback. One of the Indians was shot and killed, the other escaped. The white men then went to another trail where they met six Indians; fighting commenced at once and every indian was killed. One of the Indians, wounded in the beginning, protected himself behind a rock and was the last killed. After this fight and on the same day, they moved and came up in the rear of seven Indians They were accompanied by a chief who wore a wig with a wide leathern strap hanging from it to his feet, and this adorned with silver plates at intervals. Jno. R. Baylor told his party to notice him knock off one of the plates; he fired knocked off the plate and wounded the Indian. They then charged the Indians. One of the Indians jumped up behind the chief to carry him away, but was shet down. They killed three then, the chief died afterwards. The others escaped temporarily by hiding in the drift of a creek near by, but being discovered were killed, making thirteen that day. They then went to the camp of the rangers, which was in the neighborhood, as they were nearly out of ammunition. The rangers now went to look for Indians but found none; they found the body of the chief and sent the strap with the silver plates to Col. Baylor.
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Baylor. After this the country commence l organizing to whip and drive away the Indians from the upper and lower reserve. John R. Baylor and Peter Garland gathered what force, they could from Frath and Palo Pinto counties and established their head quarters at Baylor's ranch and vicinity, on the Clear Fork of Brazos, ten or twelve miles cast of the upper rezerve. John R. Baylor, Peter Garland, Henry Pugh, John Fiy and myself thon went to the lower reserve with the forces then as to our future action. Baylor remained there and sent Garland back. Pugh and I'ry went back with Garlard. At the request of Baylor I remained with him. As soon as the organiz tion was completed. Ward, with one hundred men, was sent to re-inforce Garland on the upper reserve, it being determined to destroy the Indians (Comanche=) of that reserve first. Baylor then, with his regiment, went to the un or reserve, taking part of Captain Hamner's company as advance guard. The guard met a squad of Indians who retreated to the reserve; Hamner charged upon them, but his stake rope fell off his Ferse and catching, checked him and the Indians escaped. He returned, resumed command and moved on until we got in sight of a Waco village on our left and a Caddo or Annadlako village on our right. The Indians raised the warhoop on our right; they were in the brush and Hamner making a flank movement, they ran and escaped. We were now at the lower reserve. The road ran along the edge of the village, and we moved and formed line of battle in the road. A squal of Indians from the reserve, came over the hill in sight of us, wheeled and ran back. Soon the officers of the U. S. army came and beckoning to us for a parley, our officers, Baylor and the captains of companies met them, when the officers of the U. S. army ordered them off the reserve. The line of march was then taken for the upper reserve. . On my reaching Salt Creek the principal part of the regiment had crossed. A high bluff was on the east side of the creek and we were on the west side. Two Indians on this bluff bantered us, and by all sorts of actions endeavored to provoke us into an attack upon them. Hamner's company was in the rear and ordered to reeross the creek and attack the Indians in the rear. After he had crossed and was going around the bluff, Baylor asked my opinion as to whether it was a good place to fight. I replied it was not, and called his attention to the Indians in the valley and the fact that we were still on the reserve. We recalled Hamner's company and moved on slowly. As Hamner was passing to his place in the regiment he was fired uren and his borse wounded in the hip by a bullet from a six shooter. Another man way , hot at and a tree was struck by the large ball very near the man's head. I told Baylor that we had better continue the march until we had left the re. erve and then stop and fight. We had gone but a few miles and were not yet off the reserve, when we were fired upon from a mountain on our right, and the firing was kept up for two miles, and after we had passed the Tonkaway village. Before we pas ed the village an Annadako chief made frequent demonstrations of charging on our rear, and some young men abandoned a pack hoise which was carrying th ir pro isions. Baylor went back, rescued the horse and we halted until his return. Salt ercek was on the
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east side of the village, a bluff on the west side and a pond of lasting water at the foot of the bluff on the west side Baylor halted until Captain Hamner could come up after watering his horses in the pond. He marched the length of the company in the water and when the horses had drank countermarched to the rear. We saw only one Indian, who came running through the village. He was surrounded; Hamner ran up beside him and went with him to Baylor. Baylor spoke to him in several different Indian dialects, but he exhibited no knowledge of any. The Indian was between Hamner and Baylor, each having his gun in the saddle across his lap. Baylor took the Indian's gun and spat in the pan. The Indian letting go his gun, jerked Hamner's, but he held it fast and shot the Indian with his six shooter. The Indian then started forward and was again fired upon and killed. The Indians then raised a general yell, fired a full volley at us from the mountain, started to make a charge and tried to take possession of a ravine in our front, but finding it occupied by our troops, retreated. A few miles further on, we reached a mesquit flat-a post oak ridge a mile long was on our right and we had to go around the south end of it. Baylor staying in the rear, sent me with the colors to the point of the ridge. Captain Scantland was sent across the ridge to enclose any Indians found there. After I had passed the ridge a short distance, we were fired into from the ridge by the Indians; no one hurt. I ordered a charge of the men with me. A man named Cook, close to me, ran too fast and was too close to the Indians, when he was wounded by one of our men and died next day. Afer the Indians got out in the rear of Captain Scantland, we halted at the point of the ridge until we could bring in Cook. We carried him to the house of Wm. Marlin, about half a mile off. At Marlin's a branch heads east and runs past his house and turns west, and a mountain is southeast of Marlin's. Here the regular soldiers and Indians came up behind the mountain. An Indian of the Annadako tribe was in command. I knew his voice when I heard him giving directions. We staked out our horses and prepared for fight. It was about 2 p. m .; we expected an attack before sundown. The Indians came before we expected them and raised their warhoop. We formed our lines in such positions as we thought best. Hamner's company formed near me and I fell in with that company. We marched up the west side of the branch where collected the enemy-the Indians and regulars. After marching a few hundred yards I saw a position from which I thought I could kill an Indian and placed myself near a post oak. I supposed some Indian would come down the branch to obtain some advantage and I would surprise him. A boy of the command took a similar position near me. A squad of men had advanced about two hundred yards to the top of the hill on my right and the battle was going on. Baylor came by and ordered me to take command of the squad on the hill, and on my arrival the firing ceased. The men informed me they had seen three Indians fall from their horses. In a few minutes Colonel Baylor came up to me and said: "Let's go and bring in our horses and put them under guard." I then went back, got our horses and ordered the guard to bring in all, which was done, and I returned to
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my command. As I reached it, Van Burns started towards the mountain with his gun and was gone but five minutes, when he killed an Indian and returned with his scalp. The Indian commander moved back and forth between the mountain and ravine giving orders, mounted on a fine yellow horse which once belonged to a circus, well trained and gaited, and traded at the reserve. This Indian wore a wig, filled with turkey feathers, which he delighted in making whistle through the air as he dashed backward and forward at high speed. He was repeatedly shot at. A man and boy went to the upper corner of Marlin's field to secure a shot at him When the man reached his place he was shot at by the Indians and four holes made in his shirt and a blood blister raised on his hand as he cocked his gun. He fired at the Indian on the yellow horse and cut off his wig which contained the feathers, and when they fell the Indians all raised a yell. After this he seemed to exert himself to a greater degree and press his horse to greater speed than before. When he came back again near the man and boy, it was agreed that the man shoot at the Indian and the boy at the horse. When the guns fired the Indian ceased commanding, the horse lessened his speed to a slow gallop, and a short distance over the hill fell. For fifteen or twenty minutes no command was given; then Peter Ross from around the mountain commenced giving orders. A squad of men from a house about one hundred yards below Marlin's was attracting much attention from the Indians by their close shooting. A Mr. Washburn from the corner of the chimney kept up a strong fire and was doing execution. An Indian crept up between the boy stationed near me, as before stated, and Mr. Washburn, and firing, killed Washburn. The boy then discovered the Indian and being ready with his gun, fired, the Indian fell over on some bushes and before the boy could reload, fell from that position into the ravine, out of sight. Strong evidence was afterwards found there that if not killed he had been badly wounded. The Indians com- menced retreating as soon as Ross took command and no more fighting worthy of mention was done.
CHAPTER XVI.
We remained upon the battle ground until next morning. The sun was nearly down when we ceased firing and not knowing whether another attack would be made, we kept our place, with a proper guard for our horses. The next morning I was placed on picquit guard until we could bury Washburn and carry the two wounded to Fort Belknap. Colonel Baylor desired to go at one to the upper reserve, but others contended for going with the wounded by Fort Belknap. We had no paper and therefore sent verbal dispatches to Garland and White of the fight and our coming to the upper reserve. The message was not credited, and when we reached Fort Belknap we were threatened by the United States army with a cannonade, but we remained until the next evening: as our wounded men died and we wished to and did give them the rites of burial. The next evening we marched out a few miles and camped, and then
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arose much anxiety on the part of the men lest they should call upon them- selves the anger and force of the United States. One company having ar- ranged to leave that night left their horses saddled and intended going off in small parties past the guard, mounting their horses and leaving. Other com- panies perceiving that some of the horses were left with their saddles on did the same, and during the night so much confusion resulted from the number of horses saddled and men meeting men who were not informed of the intention that the design was betrayed and no one left. In the night Baylor trebled the guard and ordered any man shot who offered to pass the lines. In the morn- ing I took the colors and called for volunteers Hamner with his company came first, and finally all came forward except Sutton's company from Weath- erford which refused to proceed further and returned home. We then moved on towards the upper reserve, when meeting with the command of Ward we halted, ate dinner and then the whole command returned to the lower reserve. Baylor went to his ranch. Garland had left with his company and gone down the east side of the Brazos river to the lower reserve where all were collecting. After the men had collected and arrangments were making for a campaign, a compromise was made and the war against the reserve Indians ceased. The Texans returned to their homes. In the last fight mentioned above the Indians lost twenty-two who were killed and died of their wounds. The Texans lost three killed. In the morning after our arrival at Baylor's ranch, eight of us having gone there, I rose very early as was my custom and went out to move my horse, he was staked low down in the field near the river, and where, un- known to me, was a ford. Dr. Barkley, Howell and Clark stopped to wash their faces before moving their horses; the others were not yet out of bed. I was returning from my horse and the three men were untying the ropes from the stakes when I heard horses moving, and looking back saw Maj. Neighbors and nineteen Indians charging upon me not distant more than fifty yards. The men commenced hellooing, "Help! help! Indians, Indians!" I had called their attention by calling to them. "Look out, boys, the Indians are coming." Baylor came out and said they are white men as they have on citizen's clothes. I replied they were Indians, when Baylor called up the men. I covered the re- treat of Howell and Clark by threatening them with my gun, but Dr. Barkley was captured. He was carried a short distance and after they had taken from him three gold dollars and his pon-knife he was permitted to return. The Uni- ted States authorities and the citizens assembled at the lower reserve agreed upon the removal of the Indians to Fort Cobb, when the people satisfied with the agreement disbanded and returned to their homes. We were then at peace with the Indians and for twelve months after but little mischief was done.
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CHAPTER XVII.
The first party which now came in killed Johnson and his negro servant in Comanche county and escaped. The next, a man living near the western end of Duffau mountain in Erath county was out stock hunting between the moun- tain and a high knob. In a ravine near by he discovered a band of Indians making arrows in a dogwood thicket. He gave the alarm at once, and in a very short time a force was raised and divided into two parties. A young man named Caldwell and three others went to Matherell's Gap and the others to where the Indians had been seen. The latter discovered the Indians, forced them out and pursued them on the north side of the mountain and ran them through the gap. The Indians came sooner than expected and Caldwell reached the gap just in time to meet them and there the fight commenced. Caldwell killed one there and the fight continued a short time and then the In- dians ran and a running fight was kept up for a short distance. The Indians left none of their number behind except the one killed. From this Indian an arm was taken, carried to the settlements, washed and proved to be that of a white man. The Indians in their flight killed and stole horses as they went and passed near my house. My son, Nathan, looking up some cows the next morn- ing found a bloody flour sack, Stair's mare killed and Ben Trimin's mare badly wounded. The next day I went to Stephensville and meeting with a returning party of citizens learned the inroad of the Indians. In 1860 four Indians came in and killed Jim Phillips on Puluxey, in Erath county. They took his two horses, scalped Phillips and wore off his hat. Nathan Middleton rode out on his mule the same evening near to where Phillips was killed and found a cow and calf, and started to drive them home. The Indians were close by and saw him but he did not see them. The cow ran across some brakes of a ravine that . ran into Kickapoo creek to get into the timber. One Indian riding a very small mule trying to cut Nathan Middleton off, ran down the bed of the ravine to its mouth. Nathan finding he could not drive the cow in the timber, and not be- ing anxious to do so, as it was Sunday, left the cow and returned home thus escaping the Indians.
J. W. White made arrangments to pursue the Indians, and came to my house. We were to start on the trail carly next morning, and the balance of the men were to come to my house to go on with us, but no one came. We two went on and trailed them to near the head of Stroud's creek, where two beeves had been killed. They tu:ned then on to Robertson creek and there we were joined by Truitt and Mckenzie, and we followed the trail to Kickapoo. We lost the trail there and circled to find where they had crossed the river. When we reached the river we turned up to Henry Maxwell's on the Weather- ford and Stephenville road. Maxwell had been out and discovered the trail a few miles above his house. The trail was found running across the river. White and Truitt swam the river and found one of Phillips' horses which they brought back. We were told by James Upton, from across the river, before the
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men swam it that the Indians had been there and captured some horses. The river was up and the Indians swam it and went on to Golconda in Palo Pinto county. There a company of cow hunters came up with them, captured seven- teen of the horses and the red skins escaped with only the horses they were riding. I went home and gathering a crowd went at once to the head of Sun- day creek valley expecting the return of the Indians. I reached the east side of the valley before sundown and took a station to watch, but I was a few minutes too late, the Indians had passed. Next morning about sunrise we struck the trail and ran the savages across the head of Puluxey creek and some distance down the Leon river We camped on the Leon, rain commenced falling and as we could not trail them we hastened back to Stephenville, and there learned that a company had met them the evening before at Duffau mountain, and that the Indians had left there and gone in the direction of my house. We hurried home and had not yet struck the trail. Tom Killen lived near the river, and in going home saw the trail but he was alone and the Indians too long gone to try to follow. In this raid the Indians were so closely pursued that they got nothing.
The horses captured from the Indians at Golconda were staked out there by the cow hunters, and the Indians on their return went by and stole them again. The next morning the cow hunters discovered their loss and gave chase immediately. They followed until their horses were jaded and then met with another party of cow hunters on fresh horses. They took the trail and followed until evening when they oveitook them seventy miles from Golconda. This pursuit was made in the part of one day. The Indians were bivouacked on the top of a mountain drying their blankets and jerking their meat in the sun. The cow men were discovered by an Indian sentinel on the side of the mountain, and the Indians mounted and started to run. A small Indian riding a very slow horse had the scalp of Phillips and wore his hat, a large Indian remained to assist him Two Indians on swift horses endeavored to divert the attention of the cow men but without success. The white men kept steadily after the small and large Indians. The small one having been killed the other ran but was caught and shot. He died soon after in the brush. The other two escaped.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Some time after this Wm. Culver was with his scouts watching for Indians on Saline creek in Palo Finto county. Two men were posted on high moun- tains to watch the Indian trail. Culver and his men were in the valley. The signal was given that the Indians were coming. Culver and Ross dashed after them. There were but two and being overtaken by Culver and Ross a hand- to-hand fight tock place. One Indian was killed, the other wounded. The wounded Indian when the other was killed jumped into the saddle upon Cul- ver's horse and made h's drape. They had dismounted to fight and Culver's
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horse was the best in the party. They trailed the Indian by his blood until night and continued the trail next morning. It was followed a mile up on the side of the mountain where they found Culver's horse tied to a tree, and search- ing they found the Indian lying dead under a shelving rock.
A short time after another party came in accompanied by a Yankee sur- geon. They went down on Robertson creek in Hood county and turned back towards Kickapoo creek. They came in contact with Jackson and Nathan Holt driving a cow and yearling and a cow and calf. The two men were sepera- ted by the cow being hard to drive, the calf not keeping up. Nathan Holt was on foot leading his mare, and he was killed and scalped. It was two days be- fore his body was found, and then one-half a mile from where he had been driving the cattle. His arms were broken.
A short time after another party of Indians came into the Duffau mountains and a party of citizens pursued them. A few miles to the north of Stephens ville they (the citizens) were met by Jesse Caroway, Matherwell and some others, who took up the trail and caught up with the Indians near the head of Bosque river and a hand-to-hand fight ensued. Caroway was wounded in the face by an arrow, Matherwell was slightly wounded. Many Indians were wounded but all escaped.
Another party of Indians came in on Puluxey, south of the Stephenville and Granbury road and stole horses. Gideon Mills gathered a crowd of boys and came up by my ranch when in answer to his question they said they were on the Indian trail and went on. I overtook them in three or four miles where they had lost the trail. The Indians were at last discovered on Weaver branch and pursued until they reached Kickapoo creek. These Indians escaped but they lost all their horses except the ones they rode, but these were the best and those that had been stolen. As usual on the return of the pursuing party the recovered horses were returned to the owners, and the captured Indian horses given to those whose horses were not recaptured.
In 1862 another party came in near Mansco's. Old man Mansco, his son Tom and a man named Cross were out stock hunting when they were attacked by the Indians. Cross was killed. The Manscos escaped by dismounting and getting to the creek, but they lost their horses. Another party came in where I lived. Pleasant Boyd was herding cattle below and starting from the herd to go to Capp's was attacked on the way. He tried to escape by running but his horse was too slow. He was armed with a six-shooter but only two barrels would fire. On the left he was headed by an Indian on a large mule, and he dismounted at a bunch of post oaks. His pistol and several guns were heard by the neighbors. Boyd was killed there and found shot in several places. The sign discovered that there were three or four Indians, and they went up on Double Mountain and thence down Kickapoo creek.
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CHAPTER XIX.
Not long after I was informed about dark of the inroad of another party of Indians. I went out by moonlight to bring in my horses and found a fine mule and a cavallado horse gone. Next day I found the trail and saw where a man had walked in his socks without shoes to where my horses had been in the prairie at the head of a ravine. Here from the sign the Indians had indulged themselves in a dance. They got away with the horses. In about a week I struck a trial and my mule track was there going west; the Indians before had gone east. In about a mile of my house I found where the mule and horse had been grazed. In eight or ten days I say the same trail going east. With Cunningham I trailed them on the range all day; we then followed the trail to the mouth of Robertson creek where it was lost by getting among loose horses. Not long before the break-up of the late civil war, Captain Jackson with his company from Missouri came by my house on the way to California,
deserting from the Confederate army. They helped themselves to horses or whatever else they wanted as they passed. They camped for dinner near my house and had with them my mule which had been stolen by the Indians. I was absent at the time and my wife claimed the mule and before she could get out of the house to go to the mule a man had mounted it and was gone, and the mule was lost. In 1863 twenty-five Indians came in on Leon. Flannagan and Smith who had been living on the head of Leon river moved to McCain's ranch on Palo Pinto creek. Flannagan sent his son and Smith back with an ox team and covered wagon after their household goods when they were at- tacked. Smith escaped on foot through the brush of the Leon, after he had been wounded in the leg by an arrow before he got out of the wagon. Flanna- gan got out of the wagon and fought until he was killed.
A man with a woman mounted on the horse behind him was riding near a house when attacked by the same band of Indians last mentioned. He would threaten with his gun, the Indians retreat the man then spur forward, and this repeated until his cries brought assistance from the house when the Indians left them. The woman received several arrows in the hips but she recovered. In 1864 I started alone to go to Stephenville riding a three-year-old colt not bridlewise. I learned in the town that the Indians were in the country again and a scout had gone in the direction of my house. I found Mart Stone who was going towards my house; he was traveling with his wagon to Hunt county and had a boy with him. A scout was preparing to leave Stephenville, but as they were slow in starting Stone, the boy and I went on. We went together about three miles, and then I went on alone. About five miles from town I saw some men sitting on their horses about half a mile from the road. I went forward and came to a place which for some distance hid me from the party. I concluded to make an examination and see who they were and rode up the bank. As I was going up I saw two Indians rise up and peer over at me. 1 turned instantly and ran towards Stephenville. The Indians were riding race
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horses belonging to Mansco and Tucker. They pursued me a mile and a quar- ter, when I met Stone. I was shot at twice before I reached him, and the ar- rows grazed me in both instances. Here we were fought by the whole party. The Indians shooting at us in all directions except the rear, and the fight con- tinued until about two hours before sundown. The boy was wounded in the thigh by an arrow, Stone was touched on the hand. We became separated, each trying to make his escape. Stone and myself reached Stephenville in safety that night. The boy hid himself in a pile of driftwood in the branch till morning. In Stephenville I obtained the assistance of four men, and armed myself with a shot-gun. We arrived at the fighting ground. trailed the Indians a little that night, followed them the next day, but they had all gone but one who was so badly wounded by Stone in the fight that he died there. The boy was found, his wounds dressed and he got well. Stone's oxen had broken away with his wagon, the fore wheels became detached and left the body, which with the contents were found uninjured except in the places struck by bullets and allows. The Indians had been to the houses of Redmond Stone and Win. Culver and would have murdered the women and children there remaining, but the scout following the trail after my fight frightened them away. Fresh tracks of their horses were all around the houses. Wm. Culver was captain of a scouting party.
CHAPTER XX.
And now when about to conclude the biography of my eventful life, I will break the thread of my story and return a little Before secession a regiment to be commanded by Col. Van Rimple was stationed by order of General Sam Houston at Double Mountain on Hubbard's creek and to keep out scouts all the time. Buck Barry, now of Bosque county, commanded a company in this regiment. I was a member and served with it until the states seceded when we were disbanded and I returned home. The regiment reorganized for the war. It was my intention to go into the Southern army, but my son Nathan volun- teered and I was then obliged to remain at home. My son was captured at Arkansas Post, carried to Camp Douglass and died there in prison. Finding I could not go and take the place of my sick son in Arkansas I went to Bayou Mason in Louisiana with Alex. MeNeil and Ben Sparks with a drove of cattle. I furnished forty steers and went as a hand at two dollars a day, holding my cattle until I got my pay. We camped fourteen miles above Delhi the night be- fore it was burned; crossed Bayou Mason and went to Joe's Bayou, was there when the first battle of Vicksburg was fought and distinctly heard the reports of the cannon. At Lake Washington we arrived in the evening with 106 beeves immediately after the Federal soldiers had left for Arkansas Post. I sold the 106 beeves there, and then went back to Joe's Bayou and sold the remainder. We then went to Delhi to take the cars but were delayed by the soldiers about five days. I then returned home.
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After my return the Indians continued troublesome, the neighbors had moved away, the health of my wife had declined and in 1867 I removed with family to Ruckers creek on the east side of the Brazos river in Hood county, and in 1869 I moved from there to my present residence in the eastern part of Hood county on Fall creek.
In 1871 my wife sickened and died. She was in all relations of life a noble woman, as wife and mother faithful, watchful and affectionate, industrious and charitable. No man's domestic life was more blessed than mine.
Two years after the death of my wife I married Jane Bosson, a favorite of my first wife, and widow of Wm. Bosson-her maiden name was Cummins. She had six children at our marriage, and we have lived together until the present time without jar or discord; her children are good and kind and we have never disagreed, which is evidence not alone of their respect for their mother and myself but of their own goodness of heart and nobility of character.
I have had during my career many personal conflicts, many chases after Indians and violators of the law which are not narrated in these pages. To have told all would have occupied more space and time than I could hope to give. After my settlement on Ruckers creek everything remained quiet and I have not since been under the necessity of taking up arms to defend myself or country. I bear upon my person the scars of many wounds and many bullets which were not extracted and still remain in my body. My left arm is useless, but my general health is good, and now at the age of 75 my mind is bright and vigorous, and I am as strong and hearty as I could have hoped or wished. Age sits lightly upon my shoulders, and I have the consolation in looking back over the past to find that there is little I could wish to change.
THE END.
The foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original pamphlet, page for page, line for line, word for word. Compared by
HARRIET SMITHER, Archivist,
Texas State Library.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 014 646 337 A
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