Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-07-27
THE TEXANS AND THE INDIANS,

'lIays, with his small hut daring band, had !
been high up on the Plerlenais to ascertain |
whether there was any encam rnent Of indians
IN that section, and was returning after an sn-
successful search, when being encamped about |
four miles east of the Pinto Trace, at point !
nearly equi-distant from Bexar, Gonzales and !
Austin, the guard stationed in his rear to watch !
ont on his trail discovered about ten Indians !
following it, and Immediately reported the fact (
to Hays. They were seen about the same time
by the Indians, who fell back into some brush
with scattering timber lntermixed. The Tex
ans snddled up and advanced towards this place
OF concealment when three or four Indians
made their appearance, and as If for the first
time perceiving the white men, fed with grest
precipitation and apparent alarm. Hays, how
ever, was too old an Indian fighter to be caught
by each traps, end made no effort at pursuit
As soon as the Indians saw this stratagem was
ct no avail they came out of the timber, and
displayed their whole force in line, some IS
in number. Greatly superior as was their force,
Hays at once determined 10 attack them. His
men were highly disciplined, of tried courage,
their horses well broke, and the average num-
ber of shots to each man about eight. The
face Of the country in that section is broken
and rocky with growth of shrubby live oaks
and black jacks, with an underground of brush.
A short distance in the rear of the Indians was
steep hill, from the summit OF which stretch
ed prairie plain, its sides rocky and covered
with brushwood. The Texans advanced slow
iy, the Indians falling back until they crown
ed the hill, where they dismountcd, formed in
line, and secure in the strength o: their posi-
lion. called to Hays, as he approached, Charge,
charger When the Texans reached the foot
OF the hill, from the nature ofthe ground, they
were concealed from the view of the Indians
At that point Hays wheeled his little band at
full speed some two or three hundred yards a.
reand the base of the hill, assembled 1t at the
same place, gained the level ground above, and
flank of the Indians, in the direction in which
they little expected TO see him. They at once
Icaped upon their horses, and before they were
we'll prepared to receive him he was in their
midst.
The Indian line gave way when the shock
nfthe charge struck it, but wheeling on each
flank they charged the Texans with wild yels,
secure Of their prey, since on horseback they
deem themselves invincibie Yet never before
had they encountered anything like discipline.
Back to back the Texans received them, and
the close and deadly fire of their pistols and
yaugers emptied many a saddle. Thus, hand
20 hand, the fight lasted scme fifteen minutes,
the Iadlans using their spears and arrows aud
the Texans their repeating" pistols. Scarce
" man of the little band that was not grs zcd
by spear or arrow; their gun stocks, knife han
dies and saddles perforated in many places
Walker aud Gillespie, two of Hays band, were
speared through and through, and several were
wounded. 1t was too hot to last. The Indians
fell back, closely pressed by the whites. Again
and again were they rallied by their chief, whose
voice, after the first onset was alone heard
directing their movements, only again TO be
routed, losing in each we'll contested conic,
some of their bravest warriors The pursuit
had now been pressed for nearly two miles
The Texans had loaded their arms in detail
some haltng for that purpose, whilst the other
hung on the rear of the enemy. The indiana
had made their last rally, reduced in numbe
to about thirty-fve, and were driven back will
great loss, when the voice of the chief again ros
high, eXhorting them to turn once more, willis
he dashed backwards and forwards amongst hi
men, to bring them back to the charge. Tn
Texans had exhausted nearly all their shots
Hays called out to know which of the me
had loaded gun. Gillespie rode forward an
answered that he was charged. "Dsmour
and shoot the Chief was the order. AT tn
distance Of thirty steps the ball did its Office
Madly dashing a few yards, the gallant Ind
an fell, to rise no more, and in wild affrigt
at the loss of their leader, the Others scattere
In every direction in the brushwood.
Thus ended battle, which is almost witho'
parallel IN border warfare. 1t was a ia
's,and up fight" and the Indians never eyinc,
greater bravery. Twenty-three OF them wei
counted dead upon the field, and as many mo
are known to have been wounded, many
them mortally. No shot was fired at distant
OF more than eight or Ten steps, with the exec
ton of the last, tact which shows the despe
alton OF the conflict. OF Col Hays men, Pet
Fox was shot through the head, and died on &
spot Il. A. Gillespie and Samuel Walker we
dangerously wounded with lances, the latt