Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-11-07


And smiled at thy innocent glee.
CHEROKEE AND WACO BATTLE IN
1920.
In the winter of 1889, largo band
of Cherokee Indians, looking forward to
a settlement in the territory Of Texas, ar
rived at Red River, on their way South.
Here they called halt, and determined
to pitch their tents for year or two, raise
corn and "spy out the land, before they
came further. They settled in two prin~
cipal villages, three or four miles apart,
with small parties around in every direc,
ton for few miles. Some Of their men
had, it is supposed, visited the wild tribes
as far west as the Brazos, before this.
They had not been at this place very
long before their villages were discovered
by party Of Wacos, on a robbing expe-
dition from the Brazos and these free
booters, true TO their instincts from time
mmemorial, lay concealed till the silent
midnight hour, and then stealthily enter.
ing the herds of the sleeping Cherokees,
stampeded their horses, driving off large
number. To follow them was labor in
vain-but to quietly forget the desd was
not a maxim among the sons of Tennes-
see.
A council was held and the matter dis
cussed. After the opinions Of the Warri,
ors had been given, the principal war
chief arose, and in Substance said :" My
brothers, the wild men of the far off Bra
EOS, have come into our camps, while the
Cherokees slept! They have stolen our
most useful property. Without horses
we are poor, and cannot make corn. The
Cherokees will hasten to plant their corn
for this spring, and while that is springing
from the ground and growing under the
smiles of the Great Spirit. and shall be
waving around our women and children
we viii leave some old men to watch it.,
and the Cherokee braves will spring upon
the cunning WacOs, of the Brazos, as
they have sprung upon US"
The corn was planted, and in the month
OF April, 1899, n war party Of City five,
we'll armed, left the village on foot, in
search of the Wacos. At this time Che
principal village of the WaCOs, was on
the bluff where the beautiful town ofWs-
cos now greets the eye, on the west bank
of the Brazos. The Tahucanco Ta-
wax k.a-no) Indians, who have always been
more or less, connected with tho Wscos,
were living on the east bank ofthe river,
three miles below. Both bands had erect
ed rude Notifications by scooping up the
earth in various places, and throwing up
circular enbankment, three or four feet
high, the remains OF which are still TO be
seen. The principal work Of this kind at
the Wacos village occupied natural sink
of the surface.
The Cherokees struck the Brsads above
the village some forty miles and Travelled
downwards till they discovered signs of
its proximity, and chen secreted them
selves in the CEDAR brakes till night. The
greater portion Of the nightwas employed
in examining the position, through expe>
rieuc scouts. Having made the necessa~
ry observations, the scouts reported near
| daylight, when the war chief admonish-
ed them of what they had come fOr-re-
ivenge! WacOs scalps horses land
led Them forth from their hiding-plece
under the bank Of the river, to point ol
about 400 yards from the WigWams oi
the slumbring Wacos. Here they halted
till rays of light, on that lovely May
morning, began to gid the Eastern Horf-
zon. The time Of action had come
Moving with the noiseless, elastic step
peculiar to. the sens OF the forest, the
Cherokees approached the camp. But 8
solitary Waco had aroused, and was col,
lectipg Che remains Of his Ere of the pre-.
Gus night, preparatory to his tnorniDg re.
past. His Indian ear cought the sount
of footsteps on the brpsh-a glance of bil
Ilynx-eye revealed The apiso ching foe
a single, shriIl ellfrom him, which echo
! ed fsrand near through the Brazos for
lest, brought every Waco to his feet
a, terrible Cherokee Ear-Whop was thei
Emorning greeting, accompanied by |
rEslioBe leadened rain. But, thougl
lrpTised the Waeos ontnumbersd thei
ssailants many times. Their HoiDel
ana children Iau5t ected or sapTii
4 Gead -tkeif are hon where ~