Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-05-28
From the United Service Magazine.
A Record OF Indian Warfare.
CHAPTER 1.-The Deserted Village.
BY PERCY B. ST JOHN.

CHAPTER 1.-The Deserted Village.
Some few years previous to my visit TO the new
republic Of Texas, smaltribe of Wacco Indians
had descended from their usual haunts to seek a
new hunting ground. and avoid the attacks of lhei.
enemies, the Camlnches with whom they had
long had deadly feud. With great taste and Judge
ment, the Wacco had selected the junction of a
small stream with D,ckenson's Bayou, Galveston
county, Texas for the site of their encampmen',
it having the double advantage of being picturesq
uely situated and also easily defended. as well as
that it insured them constant supply OF good
water, aud lay close to The high road from Gal
veslon 10 Houston, by way of Virginia Point.
The district being very thlniy peoped, vast herds
of deer and buff o abounded IN the woods and pra-
ries, especially near The rivers, where they con-
veniently wafer. The Wacc,'s being, as they
said Informed BY dreams that in these parts the
greatest plenty of game WAS TO be found, and wish
ing also to be near the settlements OF the while
men, with whom they desired 10 trade for blankets.
liquor &C., built small village towards the head
of Dicks Creek, and resided there for some time.
The serious effects, however usually attendant on
the establishment of an Indian camp a hunting.
gro ind, soon became evident here in other pla-
ces, and game began to grow scarce. The aciIv-
ity and perseverance, of the aborgines in the pur-
suit of game is not easily dumped. They are equ-
ally sagacious in 6udIng their prey and in the
means they use to destroy it. They can discern
the footsteps of the beast they in chase of, al
though imperccpble TO every other eye, and can
follow them with certainty through the painless
forest. They generally so to hun, fasting, word
which they do not understand in the European
sense of eating unusual dauties particular days,
but actually as sigifying not to eat at all-aud
r., ~,
ger after their prey, neither Ihickes, ditches pools,
nor rivers, stopping lhcm Il is not, therefore. TO
be wondered at, il the buffalo and deer gradually
began to disappear from around in addition to
which, the white men settling themselves the
border of the river, certain disagreements arose,
which induced the Wacos the mure rapidly to-
change their residence, and take up their domi-
Gle in some more favored spot, where the animals,
which offered them alike food, clothing and amuse-
meDt, were to be found in greater plenty. The
Indians, on breaking up their Camp, for reasons
hereafter will be explained, did not destroy their
houses.
As you approach the sources Of Dickenson's
Bayou, small creek bordered on each side by
narrow strip of forest, falls nto the former river.
leaving between the two small triangular prairie.
Jo this spot, where the deserted Indian village
stood, took my way when hunting III that part
of the country, in order TO .rjoy the pleasure be-
ing for brief space wi hin the wigwams Of the red
men. Crossing Tods Creek Ia limpid pure
stream, which supplied the log huts in which
they resided with waler) by natural bridge.
sauntered along the narrow path. through pine
grove, and soon reached tho open prairie. he
morning was exquisilely lovely; already tit was
March) the prairie sent forth delicious odors from
numerous varieties of wild flowers, the air was hl-
led with sweet perfume, the DEVELOPS sparkled
vel from the trees, while thousands ofbeccaicoes
or rice birds, and the elegant red bird. few around
me- mingllng their notes with others even more
harmonious. A pracing walk oftwo miles brought
me suddenly upon one Of those lovely spots which
forcibly remind one of minor Swiss and Italian
scenery, By skirting the edge Of the timber had
reached the bank of Dickenson's Creek at spot
where one of Its numerous tributaries fell IN aud
swelled its waters. The river here ran in a mar
row channel. some twenty feet below the surface
of the prairie; not so the tributary bayou, which,
taking its rise few miles distant IN the plain,
aad being much enlarged by recent rains, came
tumbliDg from height Of fifteen feet into the water
below. Across the cascade hung The boughs OF
several bushy trees, and Immediately at the edge
of the water, thrown across in the form of bridge
was huge pine log placed there. no doubt, by
the Indians who formerly inhabited these districts
Knowing that the deserted village lay on the 9TH
er side, and impatient to gaze even upon the rem
nauts of anything Iudian, prepared to cross the
stream. Singing my gun behind me. SO as to
leave both hands free, and aiding myself BY the
branches which hung overhead, / commenced my
ascent for, be it known, the bank of the stream
49, ~ 6 : -a