Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-01-20
MISCELL n EOUS.
COL. HAYS GREAT INDIAN FIGHT.

COL. HAYS GREAT INDIAN FIGHT.
The annexed account of Col. Jack Hays
celebrated fight with the Comanche Indians,
is extracted from the "Scouling Erpedition
Of Nc Culzoch's ran Rangers" an inte-
resting work by Samuel c. Reid, Esq, late
of the Texan Rangers and member of the
Bar of Louisiana:
1t was some time in the month Of July,
1914, that Hays was engaged in one Of the
most remarkable Indian fights perhaps on
record. Remarkable, not for the numbers
engaged, nor the duration of the conflict, but
from the fearful odds against the Rangers.
AT the time we speak of, Hays was surroun-
ded by as gallant lille band of noble and
brave men, numbering only fourteen, as ever
fought Cor the liberty of any land. Among
the Spartan band were the names of Giles
pie, a Walker, and Chevaier, whose no.
BILE deeds have since made them known to
the world. On this occasion, Hays had
gone on. with his men some eighty miles
from San Antonio, towards the river PIerde-
males, for the purpose of ascerlaining the
position Of the Indians, and TO watch their
movements. On arriving near the river,
they discovered some ten or fifteen Conan
che warriors, well mounted, who immedi-
alely made demonstrations of fight As the
Rangers advanced upon them, however, they
would retreat, and thus endeavored TO lead
the Texans towards ridge of thick under
growth. But Hays was too we'll acquaint-
ed with the Indian character to be caught
by their snares; and he Immediately Judged
by their maneuvring, that an ambuscade
had been laid for him, and with officially
restrained the impe,upsi,y of his "boys"
from advancing to the attack He then
marched around The copse, where he sup.
posed the Indians to be concealed, and drew
upon another ge, separated from their
position by deep ravine He had occupi-
ed this situation bu, short time when the
Indians discovered who he was, and know
ing their man, gave up the hope Of catching
him by slratagem. The Indians then show
ed themselves TO the number of seventy-fve,
and challenged him to the contest.
Hays accepted the challenge, and signi-
fed to them that he would meet them, and
Immediately started down the hill with his
men, towards the Indians, moving at the
same time in the slowest possible pace, un-
til reaching the bottom of the hill upon
which they were formed. Then turning al
full speed down The ravine, followed by his
little troop, he turned the point of The ridge,
came up in the rear of the enemy, and charg-
ed their column, when every eye Of the In
dian phalanx was looking in momen,ary
expectations of seeing HIM rise the hill in
their front! His frs, fire upon them was
with short rifles, which being deadly, threw
them into utter confusion. The Wells, i'm
precautions, and war-whoops, that filled the
air after the report of the rifles would have
blanched many cheek as it echoed wildly
over The plain. But there stood Hays and
his gallant men as firm and undaunled as
the rock.
The indians seeing their great superiori-
ty in numbers, soon rallied, when the Ran
ger ordered his men to throw down their
rifles, and prepare with their five shooters
to receive the charge of HE enemy. In or
der to resist the attack on all sides, as the
Indians were surrounding them, HAYS form
ed them in circle, fronting outwarGs, being
still mounted on their horses, and for fifteen
or twenty minutes maintained their position,
never firing shot until the Indians came
within the length Of their lances of them
Their aim was sure, and every fire brought
down warrior. Some twenty-one Of the
red men were killed on the spot, before they
desisted, and then the Rangers, changing
their ground, charged in their turn. The
fight lasted nearly an hour, the two parties
alternately charging each other. By this
time the Texans had exhausted the loads in
their five shooting pistols, and the chief was
again lallying his warriors for one more
desperate struggle.
Hays number was now reduced, and the
crisis was an awful one. He saw his only
salvation was to kill the Indian chief, and
demanded of his men, if any one had
charge left. The lamented Capt. Gillespie
replied that he had reserved his rifle
"Dismount, them" says Hays, s'and make
sure of that chief"
Although speared through the body, the