The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-09-12

handsome fire was opened; the Indian
chiefs cayorting around in splendid style,
on front and flank, finely mounted, and
dressed in all the splendors of Cumanche
warfare, a. this lime several indians fell
from their horses. and we had three or four.
men wounded. Finding that the Indians
were disposed to keep at distance, and
that large body were assembled in the
woods, l ordered colonel Burleson, with
the right wing, to move round the point of
woods, and captain Caldwell, with the
left wing, to charge into the woods; which
movements were executed in gallant style.
The Indians did not stand the charge, and
fled, at nll points; from that time there
was a warm and spirited pursuit for Is
miles; the Indians scattered, mostly aban-
doning their horses and taking TO thickets.
Nothing could exceed the: animation Of
the men, and The cool and steady manner
il, which they would dismount and deliver
their fire. Upwards of forty Indians were
killed-,wo prisoners IA squaw and a
child) taken; and we have taken upwards
two hundred horses and mules, many OF
them packed with the plunder of Linn
vile and the lower country. There is
still large amount Of good horses and
mules which are not gathered in. Of the
cap,ives taken by the Indians below, We
have beenonly able to ,retake one, Mrs.
Watts, of Linnv;lls, and she was woun-
ded by the Indians with an arrow when
they fed. Mrs. Crosby was spared, and
we understand that all the others were
killed. We have lost one killed and se-
ven wounded-one mortally. / cannot
speaktoo highly Of The Colorado, G,lada.
loupe, and Lavacca militia, assembled so
hastily together, and without organization.
was assisted by Major 1zod, Col. Bell,
Capt. Inward, and Captain Neill as yo-
lunteer aids, all of whom rendered essen
tial service. Col. BurIeson acted with
that cool, deliberate and prompt courage
and conduct which he has so often and SO
gallanlly displayed in almost every Indian
and Mexican battle since lhe war COM
menced. Capt. Caldwell, also tried In
dian fighter, led on his wing to The charge
with bold front and chearful heart. Col.
Jones, Lieut.. Col. Wallace, Major Har-
dinlan, and each Of the captains comman-
ding companies, acted with the, utmost
courage and frmness.
To conclude, believe we have given
the Cumanches lesson which they will
long remember; near four hundred Of
their Bravest warriors have been defeated
by half their number, and I hope and
trust that this will be the last of then de-
predations Of our frontier.
On tomorrow contemplate embodying
as many men as l can, and if we have a
sufficient number of good horses, pursue
the Indians. in the hopes that we may
overtake them before they reach the noun
tains. Colonel Moore joined US this eve.
ning with about 10 men, horses very hard
ridden.
I have the honor to be
Your most obed't seIv't,
FELIX HUSTON,
Major.General T. M.
A few moments after the arrival Of the
Express bringing the letter from General
Felix Huston. an express came, in from the
Border Guards. bringing with them a~Pri.
soner, who processes to be Caddo Indian.
The Border Guards had skirmish. with
the Indians, and no. being strong enough
to fight lhems fell back till they met with
Col. Seguin, and the party of Federalists
under his command, they Joined their
force and Immediately pursued after the
Indians. The Border Guards deserve
much credit for the promptitude with
which they acted on this occasion.
Captain Cooke, Of the Border Guards,
and six others were missing at the time the
express left, but it is to be hoped that they
have not been killed. Mr.. De Wolf is the
only man known to be killed In the several
which our troops had with
the Indians.
The Indians have already suffered great
ly, but we anticipate that they will be ell
tirely destroyed. At tthe last accounts,
the Indians had abandoned their horses
and baggage, and there were near 800
men in close pursuit. The impression ap-
peared to be, that the Indian families were
secreted at no great distance from the bat
tie ground; should that be the case, the
Cumanches will be annihilated.
Captain Fell. who brought in the first
express from Gen: Huston. informs usthat
the Texans pursued the Indians fifteen
miles in hot action, and returned to the