The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-18
TIL E REPU BLIC.
lcoMMusIoArEp.l
lCOMhUkICATED.I
THE INDIANS OF THE PLAINs-TExAs.


WAsHNGroN, June Is, l649.
To the Editors oftle Republic:
GENTLEMEN: | was much gratifed at seeing, il
your paper of yesterday letter from G. w. Ken
dali, esq, and your remarks In connection there
with, upon the subject of Indian Affairs in Texas
graufed that our old friend, though far away, hai
not forgotten those (the frontiersmen of Texas
amongst whom he has spent so many happy day.
of adventure and excitement in the chase and in til,
Rangers camp, and amongst whom he has also suf
fered not few hardships and privatons.
MIR. Kendall has had good opportunity to judge
OF the character of the prairie Indians of Texas
who operate entirely on horseback, and his views
IN relation to them and to the kind of troops ne
cessary at present to control and hold them in check
are entirely correct
But a citizen of Texas, who has served upon
the frontier of that State for twelve years
Ranger and who has no other desire than TO pro-
mote her best interests, must beg leave 10 differ
with much esteemed friend and others who
would urge the Government to call out number
of companies of Rangers for the protection of that
frontier. 1t is not by waging indscrlmlnate war
fare upon the Indians that peace is TO be brought
about and maintained; and believing that the char
acter of the Indians in Texas and of the country in
which they range is not fully understood here, or
by officers of the army in Texas, beg leave,
through the medium of your paper, to make few
measures, if adopted, will tend most to secure the
end desired-peace with the Indians and security to
the frontier settlers of Texas.
But IN order TO make my propositions intelligi-
ble il will be necessary that the character of the
several bands and tribes of Indians and of the
try over which they range should be understood,
There are two classes Of Indians in Texas sepa-
rate and distinct from each other, occupying differ
ent portions of the country and entirely different in
their modes of carrying their acts of aggression,
and requiring an entirely different system and a
different class of troops for their management and
control.
The first class are those who act principally on
foot. They live in the country Red river, and
range along the line of settlements from that stream
TO the Colorado. They sally forth from their hid
ing places in parties of from three to ten, and APP
preaching stealthiy foot through the timber rough
mountains and along the river bottoms, they reach
the settlements undiscovered. Not unfrequently,
under cover of the night and thick woods they pass
the outer settlements 80 or 60 miles, and reach more
thickly Inhabited nelghborhoods, where there are
more horses. They take nothing with them but
their bows and arrows and small Buffalo hair
rope, to be used as a halter After reaching the
settlements, they lay by during the day, and prow
about at night until they discover where they can
make a good haul They accomplish this at as
early AN hour of the night possible, and leaving
immediately they get several hours start before the
citizens are aware of what has been done Before
the alarm can be spread, and party can be IN pur-
SUIT they are already out of reach for once mount
ed the Indian does not spare his horse, and they
generally take off sufficient number to give them
a frequent change on the route. have known but
few instances where Indians who have stolen horses
have been overtaken and the horses recovered, and
never where they supposed they were pursued.
So daring and expert are those Indians, that they
have frequently come into the frontier towns and
taken horses out of the streets and stables have
known instances of their having gone into stables
where race horses were being kept, and taken them
out from amongst their keepers. They think no.
thing of crawling into an encampment of soldiers
under of dark night, and cutting their horses
loose from their pickeungs.
Ii would be as easy for on foot TO catch a
wild deer in the pralries, or 10 keep wolf from
proving through the woods at night, 10 prevent
those Indians from slipping IN and stealing, by
simply keeping a force OF any sort stationed upon
the Immediate frontier
Let the causes which have led to the present diff
hcutes, and of which the proper department OF the
Government is informed be removed and, instead
of keeping the troops irihin the settlements, scat
tered around frontier of 900 miles, let them be
thrown out advance of the settlements, and con-
centrated upon line of not more than $50 miles
instead Of 900. This done, with the aid of an In
dian agent who will give his hearty cooperation,
all trouble with this first class will be over.
The troops best calculated, in my opinion, to
govern and hold in check those Indians, regular
infantry and dragons. Our regular officers have
been accustomed 70 deal with foot Indians, and bes
understand their management Those Indians would
be more easily governed by regular force, If uD'
der the command q efkoishs and aIsc--,t officers.
The second ela-s. isng those who act entirely OF
horseback. arr a., Csfu.anf hes and Lipans. They
operafe almost ertfr,s, 49, soriion Of the eoun
try about San Autsnio. San pstricio, and Corpus
Christi, and upon the Rio Crande They pas
down from the plains upon the Upper Colorado
Brazos, and Red river, through The passes OF th'
mountains to the west Of the Colorado, and, slip
ping between the posts which are scattered along a
the foot of the mountains, pass TO the settlement
below They are generally in parties OF from D
10 300 or 300 They pass the line Of posts in small
parties, and concentrate below they rarely Kill Of
steal on their way down. They avoid every thing
that can lead to discovery Of their having passed
All that part Of the country from San Antonio Il
the Rio Grande being generally dry and firm, they
are enabled TO pass without leaving much sign; and
being mostly covered witha thick chaparral, and en-
tirely unsettled, they but little risk of being dis
covered.
When arrived in the neighborhood Of the place
where they expect TO make their haul, they spy
around until the stock is turned upon the pralrle
10 Craze, and then getting near as they can, un
discovered they make their dash at full speed
stock or they viii sometimes dash boldly up to I
ranch, where they know there are none 70 oppos
them but a few cowardly Mexcans, Kill the mel
and old women, and carry off the young womeT
and children. Sometimes, when they think Their
may be danger, they approach under the gulse 0
friendship, lounge around until the residents are OF
their guard. when suddenly they shoot or spea
those men vino may be in their reach, take captive
the women and children, and carry of all the pro
perty they can find.
If they desire TO attack party whom they hn'
travelling through the country, and are apprehen
sive that they may meet resistance, they either ap
proach as friends, and taking advantage OF tn
creduty or indscreton Of the travellers, attack ant
Kill them or watching opportunity, when tn
party Of travellers may be scattered or otherwis
exposed, they make sudden and rapid attack, &C
companied by the most hideous yells, intended &
frighten and II possible TO scatter them Woe u
the individual who attempts TO gain safety by Hight
unless he has not only superior horse, but Is ais
a good woodsman, and well understands the man
ner Of chase practsed by these savages. The bes
horsemen in the world, always well mounted, an
knowing well every path and pass IN the country
they are hard 10 be oyertaken, even by the mos
energetic and expert Rangers; and If oyertaken b.
party too strong 20 be driven back or held at bay