Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I, Part 2

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel]
Number of Pages: 922

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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

almost impossible to form a true conception of the extreme desolateness of her situation.

In the midst of a region little known by whites, the only human beings she could expect to see were the savage Carancahua Indians, who might be tempted to return to their old haunts on the island, now that Lafitte had deserted the place, or other Indians who might approach from the Trinity. Whenever they came near enough to cause her to dread an attack, she had presence of mind to fire off the cannon, and give other indications that the fort was occupied by a formidable force. There were times when, not daring to go out by day, Kian would visit the beach at night, in order to get oysters, which were often their only article of food .. Great was the rejoicing when, during that severe winter of 1820-21. which converted the bay into a sheet of ice, Kian found numbers of be- mumbed or frozen fish beneath the icy surface, and, with Mrs. Long's assistance, a hole was cut, and a good supply obtained and packed in the brine of mackerel barrels. The cold was at this time so in- tense that the ice was strong enough to bear the weight of a bear which calmly pursued its way across the bay, unmolested save by the barking of Mrs. Long's dog, " Galveston."

At length the period of lonely waiting drew to a close. One day there came a Mexican from San Antonio, sent by Gen. Palacios, bearing a message; but how different were the tidings from those for which the devoted wife had fondly hoped !

The tragic manner of Gen. Long's death in the city of Mexico is well known to readers of Texas history, but none can ever know the shock which his young wife experienced at this rude awakening from her long dream of a happy reunion. Some weeks later a second messenger came, pro- vided with mules to convey her and her little family, consisting of two girls (an infant having been born during her sojourn at Bolivar) and the faithful ser- vant, to San Antonio. Here she was treated with marked distinction.by the Mexican government, as the widow of a patriot and a hero.

Her long life of widowhood, intimately bound up with the history of Texas, came to a close, at the age of eighty-two, on the 30th of December, 1880, at Richmond, Texas, where her son-in-law, Judge Sallivan, and granddaughter still reside. Her Spartan qualities became the legacy of Texians, for historians have concurred in bestowing upon her the worthy title. " The Mother of Texas."

The Cherokee Indians and Their Twelve Associate Bands - Fights with the Wacos and Tehuacanos - 1820 to 1829.

A little before 1820, dissatisfied portions of the great Cherokee tribe of Indians, who had, from the earliest knowledge we have of them, occupied a large, romantic and fertile district of country, now embraced in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina and the upper portions of South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. began emigrating west of the Mississippi. Before the close of that year a portion of them reached and halted temporarily on Red river. in the northeast corner of Texas. The larger portion located in the valley of the Arkansas. between Little Rock and Fort Smith, and there with annually increasing numbers, remained a number of years, until the main body yet remain- ing in the loved land of their fathers, under treaty stipulations with the United States, began their final removal to the magnificent territory now be-

longing to them ; a migration occupying a number of years, and not completed until 1837. In that time those along the Arkansas joined them. Those coming down to Red river also received acces- sions. for a number of years, from the different migrating bodies, including small colonies from twelve other partially civilized tribes.

Very soon, perhaps before the close of 1820, and certainly in 1821, they explored the country south of them and began locating in East Texas, in what, from that time till their expulsion in 1839, was known as "the Cherokee country," now embrac- ing the county of Cherokee and adjoining territory, where they and their twelve associate bands, grad- nally established homes, builling cabins, opening farms and raising domestic animals. Some joined them as late as 1850 and '31. In 1822 when

INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

Stephen F. Austin and Green De Witt of Missouri, Haden Edwards of Mississippi, and Robert Leftwich of Nashville, Tennessee ( the original grantee in what subsequently became Robertson's Colony), were in the eity of Mexico, seeking colonial privi- leges in Texas, three Cherokee chiefs, Bowles, Fields and Nicollet, were also there, seeking a grant, or some sort of eoneession, to the district in which they were locating, not a contract for colon- ization, as desired by the gentleman named, but a specific grant to their people in tribal capacity. But they did not succeed, receiving only polite promises of something when Mexican affairs should be more settled.

In 1826 Fields and John Dunn Hunter (both of mixed blood, Hunter possibly altogether white, but of this there is no positive knowledge, and both of good education) visited the Mexican capital on a similar mission for the Cherokces, but they also failed and returned to their people in an ill humor, just in time to sympathize with Haden Edwards and his colonists in their outrageous treatment by the Mexican Governor of the State of Coahuila and Texas, in declaring, without trial or investigation, the annulment of his contract and ordering the expulsion of himself and brother from the country. Fields and Hunter, smarting under what they con- sidered the bad faith of Mexico, induced their people to treat with and sustain the Edwards party in what received the name of the Fredonian war. But this had a brief existence. Bean, as agent of Mexico, seduced the Indiaus from their agreement and secured their support of the Mexican troops then advancing, which caused the Fredonians to yield the hopeless contest and leave the country. Not only this, but the Cherokees turned upon their two most enlightened and zealous champions. They basely assassinated both Fields and Honter. This ended that embroglio. The Cherokees claimed a promise from Bean that Mexico, in reward for their course, would grant them the lands desired. Whether so promised or not, the grant was never inade.

A band of Cherokees, en route to their people in Texas, halted on Red river. in order to raise a crop of corn. in the winter of 1828-0. An account of what followed was written and published in 1855. and is here reproduced. * * They had not been at this place very long before their villages were discovered by a party of Wacos. on a robbing expedition from the Brazos ; and these freebooters. true to their instincts from time immemorial, lay concealed till the silent midnight hour, and then, stealthily entering the herds of the sleeping Chero- kees, 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.

A council was held and the matter discussed. After the opinions of the warriors had been given, the principal war-chief rose, and in substanee said : " My brothers! the wild men of the far-off Brazos have come into our camp while the Cherokee slept !.. They have stolen our most useful property. With- out horses we are poor, and eannot make eorn. The Cherokees will hasten to plant their eorn for this spring, and while that is springing from the ground and growing under the smiles of 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 have sprung upon us."

The corn was planted, and in the month of May, 1829, a war party of fifty-five, well armed, left the Red river villages on foot in search of the Wacos. At this time the principal village of the Wacos was on the bluff where the beautiful town of Waeo now greets the eye on the west bank of the Brazos. One band of the Tehuacano (Ta-wak-a-no) Indians, who have always been more or less connected with the Waeos, 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 embank- ment three or four feet high, the remains of which still are to be seen. The principal work of this kind at the Waco village oceupicd a natural sink in the surface.

The Cherokees struck the Brazos above the vil- lage some forty miles, and traveled downward until they discovered signs of its proximity, and then secreted themselves 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 observations, the scouts reported near daylight, when the war- chief admonished them of what they had come for - revenge! 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 slumbering Wacos. Here they halted till 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 Cherokees approached the camp. But a solitary Waco had aroused and was collecting the remains of his fire of the previous night, prepara- tory to his morning repast. Ilis Indian ear caught

INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

the sound 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 Cherokee war- whoop was their morning greeting, accompanied by a shower of leaden rain. But, though surprised. the Wacos outnumbered their assailants many times - their women and children must be pro- teeted or sacrificed -their ancient home, where the bones of their fathers had been buried for ages, was assailed by unknown intruders. Their chief rallied the warriors and made a stand -- the fight became general, and as the sun rose majestically over the towering trees of the east, he beheld the red men of Tennessee and the red men of Texas in deadly strife. But the bows and arrows of the Waco could not compete with the mereiless rifle of the Cherokee. The Waeos were falling rapidly, while the Cherokees were unbarmed.

After half an hour's strife, amid yells and mutual imprecations, the Waeos signaled a retreat, and they fell baek in confusiou, taking refuge in the fortified sink-hole. Here, though hemmed in, they were quite secure, having a great advantage. In- deed, 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 eouneil, to consider what they should do. It was proposed by one hrave that they should strip to a state of uature, march iuto 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 Waeos. A half-breed uamed Smith, who was in favor of this desperate measure, as an incentive to his eomrades, stripped himself, fastened half a dozen horse-bells (which he had picked up in the eamp) round his waist, and commeueed galloping and yelling around the sink-hole, now and theu jumping on the embank- ment and then back. eursing the Wacos mnost lustily. Arrows were hurled at himu by scores, but he fell not.

Just as the Cherokee eouneil was coming to a close, at about an hour after sunrise, they heard a noise like distant thunder on the opposite side of the river and delayed a few moments to discover its eause. Very soon they discovered a large body of mounted Iudians rising the river bauk a little below them. What could it mean? they murmured one to another. The story is soon told. A mes- senger had rushed from the Wacos in the outset, for the Tehuacano village, begging help, and now two hundred Tehnaeano warriors, mounted and ready for the fray, were at hand. The whole aspeet

of the day was changed in a moment. To conquer this combined foree was impossible - to escape themselves would require prudence. The Tehua- canos, in coming up, eut off a Cherokee boy, twelve years old, killed and scalped him, and plae- ing his sealp on a lance, held it up defiantly to the view of the Cherokees. The boy was an only child, and his father behell this seene. 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?" demanded the chief. " Die with my brave boy. Die slaying the wild men who have plucked the last rose from my bosom!" The chief interceded, and told him it. was madness ; but the Cherokee listened not ; with rapid strides be rushed among the Tehuacanos, upon certain death; but ere death had seized its vietim, he had killed several and died shouting defiance in their midst.

The Tehuaeanos occupied the post oaks just below the Cherokees. and kept up a lusty shouting, but ventured uot within rifle-shot. The latter, see- ing that on an open field they could not resist such numbers - having taken fifty-five Waco sealps (equal to their own number) -having lost two men and the boy - uow fell baek into the cedar brake and remained there till night. They were convinced that their safety depended upon a eau- tious retreat, as, if surrounded on the prairies, they would be annihilated. When night came on, they crossed the river, traveled down the sand bank a inile or two, as if they were going down the eoun- try, thence, turning into the stream, waded up the edge of the water some six or seven miles (the river being low and remarkably even), and thus elnded 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 tribe was speedily ealled together for a grand war-dance. For miles around the American settlers were surprised to see such a commotion and gathering among the Indians. A gentleman, muy informant. was there visiting a . widowed sister. He rode up to the Cherokee encampment. inquired into the cause of the move- ment, was invited to alight and spend the day. He did so, and witnessed one of the grandest war- danees he ever saw. and he was an old Indian fighter. A very intelligent man, a half-breed, named Chisholm, one of the fifty-five, gave him a full history of the whole transaction. He noted it carefully, aml from him I received it in 1855.

That gentleman was Capt. Thomas H. Barron,

INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

formerly of Washington County, then residing near Waco. When he first visited Waco in 1834, he at once recognized the battle-ground and siuk-hole as

described by Chisholmn. The Cherokees did not forget the Tehuacanos, but held them to a strict account.

Cherokee and Tehuacano Fight in 1830.

After the Cherokees returned to their temporary home on Red river, from the attack on the Wacos, in 1829, they determined to take vengeance on the Tehuacanos for their interference in that engage- ment on behalf of the Wacos. It seems that early in the summer of 1830, they fitted out a war party for this purpose, numbering about one hundred and twenty fighting men.

The Tehuacanos, like the Wacos, had several principal villages, favorite places of resort, from some peculiarity, as fine springs of water, abun- dance of buffalo, etc. One of them; and perhaps their most esteemed locality, was at the sonthern point of the hills of the same name, now in the upper edge of Limestone County, and the pres- ent site of Tehuacano University. 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 Tehuacanos had erected several small in- closures of these loose stones, about three feet high, leaving occasional spaces somie two feet square re- sembling the mouths of furnaces. Over the tops they threw poles and spread buffalo-hides, and wben attacked, their women, old men, and children woukl retreat into these cells while the warriors would oppose the attacking party from withont, until too closely pressed, -when they, too, 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 within range. From the attacks of small arms such a protection, however primitive, was gen- erally quite effective.

This party of Cherokees, having been informed of the locality of this place, and the valne set upon it by the Tehuacauos, 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 aet called forth feel- ings of hostility. Guided by an Indian who had explored the country as a trapper, they reached

the place in due season. When discovered, the Tehuacanos were engaged at a play of balls around the little forts. The Cherokees stripped for action at once, while the ball-players, promptly ceasing that amusement, rushed their women and children into their 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 trecs as protection and taking the matter as a business transaction, made their ad- vances from tree to tree with prudence. Their aim, with the " rest " against the trees, told with effect, and one by one, notwithstanding their hid- eous yells and capering, to and fro, the Tehuacanos were biting the dust.

The moment one was wounded, unless a very brave fellow, he would crawl into the hiding-place among their women and children, unless, per- chance, 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 their breastworks. At this time, the Cherokees, elated by what they supposed to be a victory, charged upon the openholes, ringing their victori- ous war-whoop mnost 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 con- test for some time, uutil one of their old men advised a talk.

They withdrew a short distance, and held a con- snltation. 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

INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

the field rather than bear such tidings! " Where there's a will there's a way," is a trite old adage, and at this juneture of affairs it was verified by the Cherokees. The old man who had advised the " talk" now made a suggestion, which was sec- ouded by all. Hle proposed that a party should be sent off a short distance to ent dry grass and bring a lot; that men, loaded with this combustible material, should cautiously approach each hole in the breast-works, 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 constantly arriving), and set on fire, by which very simple process the inmates would be suffocated or com- pelled to throw off the hides and leap out, breath- less and more or less blinded through the smoke, while the Cherokees, stationed round in circles, would have an easy time in butchering their astounded red brethren. This was a rich idea, and, delighted with the anticipated fun on their part, and misery among their enemies, the Chero- kees speedily made all their arrangements and dis- posed of their fighting-men to the best advantage. The grass was placed in the required 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 exhala- tion. To endure such a torture long was beyond human power ; and in a little while a doleful howl issued fortli, followed by a significant npheaving 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 appalling, the exulting Cherokees set up a terrible

yelling, and dealt death to the doomed creatures with their guns, tomahawks, 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 suffo- cation inside the works.

And thus ended this tragic scene in the course of our Indian warfare. Comparatively few of the Tehuacanos escaped. The surviving women and children were preserved prisoners, and a consider- able number of horses, blankets, skins, and indeed the entire camp equipage, fell into the hands of the victors, who returned to their people on Red river in triumph, displaying not only their available booty but a large number of the greatest of all Indian symbols of glory, scalps.

These facts I obtained in 1842 from an old Spaniard, who composed one of the party, and I have little doubt but they were furnished by him with fidelity.

This old Spaniard, whose name was Vasquez, was a native of New Madrid, Missouri, and had passed much of his life with different Indian tribes. About 1840 he appeared at Gonzales, Texas, where I formed his acquaintance. He fought with the Texians at Salado, in September, and at Mier in December, 1842. Escaping from the latter .place he returned to Gonzales, his home being with Capt. Henry E. McCulloch, to suffer a cruel death soon after. In 1843 he was captured by Mexican banditti, west of the San Antonio, who, knowing his fidelity to Texas, suspended him to a tree by the heels, in which position he died and was a few days subsequently found.

First Settlement of Gonzales in 1825- Attack by the Indians in 1826- Murder of French Traders in 1835 at Castleman's Cabin - Battle of San Marcos - 1825 to 1835.

The settlement of Gonzales and De Witt's colony, of which it was the capital, is replete with matters of unusual interest in the pioneer history of Texas and its Indian wars. At its birth it was baptized in blood, and for twenty years a succession of bloody episodes attended its march towards peace- ful civilization.

As soon as Green De Witt, then of Ralls County.

Missouri. entered into contract with the Mexican authorities for colonizing that beautiful district of country, now embracing all of Gonzales, Caldwell, Guadalupe and De Witt counties and portions of Lavaca, Wilson and Karnes, he left for Missouri to bring out his family. At the same time. Maj. James Kerr was appointed surveyor of the colony. with authority to lay out the capital town and sub-

INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS. .

divide the dedicated four leagues of land upon which it was to be located into small farm lots to be allotted to the settlers of the town. In fulfillment of his duties, Maj. Kerr, with his negro servants and six single men, arrived on the present site of Gonzales in July, 1825, he thereby becoming the first American settler, as the head of a family, west of the Colorado river in Texas.

The six single men who accompanied him to Gonzales, and for a time remained in his service as chainmen, rodmen or hunters. were the afterwards famous Deaf Smith, Bazil Durbin, John Wight- man, -Strickland, James Musick and Gerron Ilinds.

HIis chief servants were Shade and Anise, the parents and grandparents of numerous offspring, who became widely known to the future settlers of the country and greatly esteemed for their fidelity to every trust and their patriotism in every conflict.

Soon after Maj. Kerr's settlement. Francis Berry, with a family of children and two step. children, John and Betsy Oliver, arrived and settled half a mile below him. Cabins were creeted and their new life auspieiously begun.

The little settlement remained in peace for a year, receiving occasional ealls from passing parties of Indians, professing friendship, and occasional visits from Americans' exploring the country. Among these were Elijah Stapp, from Palmyra, and Edwin Moorehouse, from Clarksville, Missouri, both of whom settled in Texas five or six years later.

Capt. Henry S. Brown. brother-in-law of Maj. Kerr, having arrived on the lower Brazos as a Mex- ican trader in December, 1824, made his first trip into Mexico in 1825, and halted his caravan for rest at the new settlement on both his outward and return trip.

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Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I, Part 2

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel] Number of Pages: 922

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel]
Number of Pages: 922