The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-16
INDIAN FIGHT.

The Houston Star contains the following letter,
describing desperate fight between fifteen Texans
and body Of Indians, numbering over seventy-tve
men, in which the latter We're defeated:
SIR: Captain Hays arrived in town on Yesterday,
and from him have learned the details of the late
action between the Texans, (ffteen in number
commanded by himself, and large body Of Indians.
He had been high up on the PerdensIs to ascertain
whether there was any encampment of Indians in
that section and was returning after Unsuccessful
search, when, being encamped about four miles
OF the PntotTsce, at point nearly equdistant from
Bear Gonzales and ustin, the guard stationed in
the rear TO watch out on his trail discovered about
ten Indians following 1t, and Immediately reported
the facts to Hays They seen about the same
time by the Indians who fell back into some brush
with scattering timber intermiIed. The Texans
saddIed up, and advanced towards this place of con-
ceament, when three four Indians made their ap-
pearance and, as If for the fist time perceivng the
white men, fled with great precipitation and alarm
Hays, however, being too old an =" Indian fighter
TO be caught by such traps, mdae effort pursuit
As Don as the Indians saw that tins strsagem was
Of avail they came out of the timber and dis
played their whole force in line some seventy five
IN number Greatly superior 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 number of shots
TO each man about eight. The face Of the country
in that section is broken and rocky, with a growth
OF sorubby live oaks and black Jacks with some I'M
Gergrowth Of brush A short distance in the rear
OF the Indians steep hill, from the summit of
which stretched prairie PLAN, its sides rocky and
covered with brushwood, a above described The
Texans advanced slowly, the Indians falling back.
until they crowned the hill where they dismounted
formed in line, and secure in the strength of their no.
stIon, called to Hays, as he approached, charge,
charge"
when the Texans reached the foot of the hill
(ro he ,C 10 ,
from the view Of the Indians. At that point HAYS
wheeled his little band at full speed some two or
three hundred yards, around the base of the hill
assembled II at the pace, gained the level ground
above, and made his appearance at full charge on the
flank OF the Indians, IN the direction in which thew
little expected to see M They at once leaned on
their horses and before they were well prepared 20
receive him, he was in their midst. The Indian line
gave way when the shock of the charge struok IL
but wheeling them on each flank they charged on
the Texans with loud yells. secure of their nrey
SINCE horseback they deem themselves inyinrihl.
But never before had they encountered any thing 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 10
hand, the fight lasted some fifteen minutes, the In.
dams using their spears and arrows, the Texans
their repeating pistols. Scarcely a man of The
little band that was not grszed BY spear or arrow:
their gun stocks knife-bandes and saddles. were
perforated IN many places. Walker and Gillespie
were speared through and through and several were
wounded.
II 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 move
ments only again TO be routed, losing in each we'll
contested conflict some Of their brsvest warriors
The pursuit bad now been pressed for nearly two
miles. The Texans had loaded their arms in de-
TAIL some hatng for that purpose whilst the Others
hung on the rear Of the enemy.
The Indians who had made their last rally. re-.
duced in numbers to about thirty five, were driven
back with great loss, when the voice of their chief
again rose high, exhortng them to turn once more
whilst he dashed backwards and forwards AMONGST
his men TO bring them back TO the charge. The
Texans had exhausted nearly all their shots Uays
called out to know which Of the men had loaded
gun. Gillespie rode forward and answered thai be
was charged +" Drsmouut and shoot the chiefl,,
was the order At distance Of thirty steps the ball
did its office mady dsshing few yards, the gssn,
Indian fell to rise more and in wild sTe,gb, a,
the loss Of their leader the Others scattered in every
direction in the brushwood