Litchfield enquirer., 1833-09-12
r--:- ,I- pt;1 l9s1~r-ior Epen;nr Rost.

che Wsccoos and TaWackaniss IndiaRs iH Texas, amounting l6i, aad party of AmeEtcans-ni" n'e@ SWd two boys eleven tn number-is related by RaEin P. Bowie, Esq. Oae of that party, now !" 'hs e'y.
 On tho Sd November. 1881, we Ieft the | town of St. Antonia de Baxar for the silver l mines on the St. Saba river, the party consls- | ting of the following named persons: Razin F. Bowie, James Bowie, David Buchanan, Rob- l crt Armstrong, Jesse Wallace, Matthew 1 Doyle, Cephas R. Hamm, James Corriel, Thomas M'Caslin, Gonzales and Charles, servant boys. Nothing particular occurred 1 until the 18th, on which day, about 10. A. M.. we were Overhauled by two CRmancha h. l diaI1s and Mexican captive, who had struck our trail and followed it. They stated that they belonged to IsaOnie's party. chief Ofthe Camancha tribe, sixteen in numher, and were on their road to St. AntOnia, with drove cf horses which they had taken from the Wac coos and Tawackanies, and were about rec turning them to their owners. citizens of St. Antonia. Alter smoking and talking with them about an hour, and making them few pres enis of tobacco, powder, shot, &c., they re- turned to their party, who were waiting at the lllan0 river.
 We continued our journey until night clos ed upon us, when we encamped. The next moraing, between daylight and sunrise. the above mentioned Mexican captive returned to our camp, his hurse very much fatigned: and who. after eating and smoking, stated to us that he had been sent by his chief, TsaOnie. to inform as we were followed by 'l24 Tawack- anie and Wacco Indians, and 40 Caddoes had joined them, who were determined to have our scalps, at all risks. IsaOnie had held talk with them ali the previous afternoon, and endeavored to diss,Iade them from their pur pose; but they still persisted. and Jeff him en- ragged, and pursued our trail. As voucher for the truth of the above, the Mexican pro- duccd his chiefs silver medal, which is com mon among the natives in such cases. He fur ther stated, that his chief requested him tO say, that he had but sixteen men. badly arm ed and without ammunition; but if he would return and join him, such succour as he could give us, he would. But knowing that the en- emy lay between US and him, we deemed it more prudent to pursue our journey, and en- deavOr to reach the old fort On the St. Saba river before night, distance 30 miles. The Mexican then returned to his party, and we proceeded on. ft
 Throughout the day we encountered bad roads. being covered with rocks, and the hor- ses' feet being worn out, we were disappointed in not reaching the fort. We however made choice of the best that offered, which was a cluster of live oak trees, some thirty or forty in number, about the size of man'a bOdy.- 10 the north of them, was thicket of live oak bushes about ten feet high, forty yards in length, and twenty in breadth. To the west, at a distance q thirty-fse or forty yards, ran a stream of water.
 The surrounding country was an open pra- rie, interspersed with a few trees, rocks and broken land. The trail which we came on lay to the east of our encampment. After ta- Ming the precaation to prepare. our spot for among Inc bushes, we h06bIsd 0Hr horses and placed sentinels for the night We we,e now o'stant SIX miles from the old fort above men.
 ionsd. which was huilt by the Spaniasds in .Iox. TOT the purpose Of protecting them while wo.Ning tne silver mines. which are mile dis tant. A few years after, it was attacked by the Camancha Indians, and every soul ont to death. Since that time it has never been Oc- cupIed. Within the fort is church, which. nad we reached before night, it was our inten- Hon to have occupied. to defend ourselves a :. Sainsf the Indians. The fort surrounds about One acre 0f land, under 12 feet stone wall.
 Nothing occurred throughout the night. and we lost no time in the morning. in making preparations for continuing ourjpurney to the fort; and when in the act of starting, We dis covered the Indians on our, trail t0 the east, about two hundred yards distant, and fuot. man about two hundred yards ahead of the main bOdy. with his face t0 the ground, track ing. The cry of Indians was given, and all hands to arms. We dismounted, and both saddle and pack.horse were immediately made fast to the trees. As soon as they found we had discovered them, they gave the war whoOp. halted, and commenced stripping. preparatory tO action. A-few mounted In. dians were reconnoitering the ground 5 a- noDgst them we discovered a few Caddo h. dians by the cut Oftheir hair, who had always previously been friendly to Americans.
 Their numbers being so far greater than ours 64 to D it was agreed that Razin P. Bowie should be sent out to talk with them. and endeavor to compromise rather than at. tempt to fight. He accordingly started with David Bncllannan in company. and walked up. to within about forty yards where lhey had halted. and requested ahem, iss -ti,rir~ o,vn tongue, tosend forward their chief, as he wan tea to talk with ihen,. Their answer was-- how de do how Ge do ?"--in English, and discharge oftwelve shot at us, 0ne of which broke Bnchannans leg. Bowie returned their salutations with the contents of a double har. relied gun and pistol. He then took Buch. amman on his shoulder. and started back Id inc encampment. They then opened heavy fre upon Us, VI hich wounded Buchannan in two more places slightly, and piercing Bowi.'s hunting shirt in several places, without doing him any iljary. When they found their shut failed to bring Bowie down, eight Indians