The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-11-09
INDIAN FIGHTS IN TEXAS.

Notwithstanding his inadequate force Gen. p. f. Smith
adopting the most efficient to suppress the out
RACES and depredaons OF the indians our southwest
ern frontiers 1t will be from the following letter
which we find in the New Orleans Pcayune that the gal
liant mounted riHemen have been giving the sayages
touch Of their quality quite in keeping with the character
of their previous heroic achievements
FoRr CLARKE, Texas, Oct. ls, 1854
Eos Pc; We have just In express from Gen. smith,
who was, the 10th Instant at be mpia the place Sc
ected by him post to be occupied by the 9th infantry
Capt Walker with party of the regiment OF mounted rifles
who went the general had fight with the
Indians killed ten of them and lost man. besides Lieut.
Carr receiving an srrog wound in the stomach.
On the lth the Lpsns drove off all the animals from the
camp Live Oak Creek temporarily occupied by com
pany of the LIST infantry under command Of Captain Arthur
The soldiers killed two Indians.
Ia this engagement Captain Walker could not have had
more than iarty men under his command. With this
small force he attacked about hundred and fifty we'll
armed Indians and after action of two hours drove
them from their village with considerable less In letter
to distinguished officer of the army in tais city
Gen. Smith gives many interesting details of the fight
appears that Gen Smith detached Capt Walker, with
part only his escort probably thirty men, pursue what
supposed to be party of maxaadipg Indians who
had stolen sixty seventy head of cattle from Caor-
mia party. Capt Walker however fell upon village OF
the Apaches in the mountains and engaged upwards of $50
warriors The fight continued two hours when he
drove them from their Businesses destroyed their town.
killed the principal chief and six other warriors Lieut.
Carr of the rifles having been badly wounded the pursuit
not continued, and he returned 10 camp with his
wounded 1t is thought Lieut. Carrs wouIds are not
mortal.
In this engagement the enemy suffered greatly and is
gratifying to learn from the report Of Capt Walker that
young Armstrong 1.-THE step-son of Gen Smith and nephew
of the late Gen. Robert Armstrong, of the Unon)
volunteer and greatly distinguished himself by his gallant
ry and courage He has not disappointed the expectations
of his friends They only awaited occasion like this to
illustrate the purity of the blood of his sres, it flows in
the younger veins of family that has always been
distinguished for its valor and fidelity.
1t is but just to the rifle regiment to bring to public
notice its services the Texan frontier the past
In small detached commands, it has repeatedly engaged
the disappointed warriors of the plains and every
cason has defeated them with great loss We regard the
fight Of Captain Van Buren, and this of Captain Walker,
among the besconducted and the successful
gaeements in the history of Indian battles from
tiers With small numbers they engaged large and we'll
appointed bands of selected warriors and defeated them
with great damage and loss.
We grated to hear that General Smith impyov-
ing. His health much mended and these little incidents
of Indian fights to bring Orchard" into the field
once In all this news the efficiency of skeleton
army has commentary above al praise If the report of
the present energetic Secretary of the War Department had
received from Congress that attention demanded by Its
ability and argument largely increased military force
would at this hour have been frontiers with the
ability to pursue such Victories sad bring of
peace the predatory bands that disturb their anet and
destroy their prosperity 1t is time for the country to speak
out on this subject The army must be increased