The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-13
CAPTAIN VAN buren,.


II is but Just to the memory of this gallant soldier that
the particulars of his fight with greatysuperior war
party of Cumanche Indians the plains of Texas should
be made known to the country The good that do
should live after them The fidelity, the undated diligence
the devotion duty and the yaor that attest the truly
brave officer all displayed by Captain Van Buren, in
this recent conflict He MORALLY wounded His life
was pered and lost the field of duty, His bright ex-
ample and the public property of the country
Let the praise of good men, who fail to applaud hde-
ity go up TO the hearts that bowed with grief II is
poor balsam to the wounds his death has made and
yet there is consolation in the generous sympathes Of
the world.
This officer with only eleven men, took up the trail Of
these Indians the Sd of July the Las Moras in the
vicinity effort Duncan With two Lpan Indians guides
he followed the trail without rest three hundred
miles Three times the Indians crossed and recrossed the
Nueees to elude his pursuit His diligence not abated
did the keen ssgacy Of these willy Cumanches defeat
his determination that they should not escape lie often
and the river and again took up the broken
trail On the lth having pursued them three hun
drcd miles he upon them in the open plain and they
prepared receive him. The Indians dismounted,
away everything from their horses and themselves except
their ances, shields bows, and quyers They moved off
in echeon he approached Them keeping their horses be-
tween them and his front He dsmounied his men within
rifle range and delivered his first fire Before his rifles could
be reloaded the Indians vauted upon their horses and
dashed into his ranks. He mounted his men and re-
ceived them with his revolvers He discovered
the commander and their fell about him thick
and fast His first wound through the bride fore
arm entirely paralyzing that yet he continued to
manage his horse and foremost in the hand-tohand
conflict that followed lie received another
through and through the abdomen but with this mortal
wound he continued to direct cheer and animate his men,
until he had completely defeated and routed his enemy
Their head chief left dead the field four others
tally wounded left dead within five miles Five of
Captain Van Burens wounded severely but not
MORALLY His horse badly wounded and two arrows,
beside those in bis body left in his clothes and sad
die
When the Indians had retreaed he taken from his
horse drew out the that through and through
his body and faint and exhausted from bleeding prepared
die He sent the express to Fort Ewe for relief Colo
mel Roberts commanding that post with its surgeon with
delay, set out with small party and after riding fifty
hours night and day. reached the Of action Captain
Van Buren, still living but had suffered beyond ina
gnation from thirst and the excessive heat of the plains
Colonel Roberts sent him. in charge Of the surgeon Cor
pus Christi where he lived until the goth, when he died
from internal hemorrhage of the large artery that had been
touched by the
If consider this pursuit of large party Of wellap
pointed Cumanche warriors under tropical sun,
country uninhabed by living bengits hardship its
toll, and atiguen all its relations, it may be declared
of the most heroic actions in the history ofour Indian
conflicts. There nothing of the apomp and crcum-
stance of war to inspire this little band 1t h,sra
ton of that faith in duty that peril shake cir
cumstance impair