The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-19
:. .Viucente Cordova.

little son into the most horrible captivity, and
the border settlers, deeply incensed at the cruel
outrage, with gen. Burleson at their head, had
been SO long on their trail, as to have travelled
to great distance into that delightful wilder
ness which lies to the north-eas of the CITY of
Austin, and contains inits natural condition, all
that is pleasing to the eye, or agreeable to the
imagination of man. Owing to a slight fall of
rain. the footsteps of the sayages had become
SO dim, that they could only be followed BY di-
viding our company of volunteers into small
squads, and it was after a wealisome days
search and when nearly half starved, although
constantly passing amidst thousands of game,
that the various parties, with their Tonkuahua
guides, were seen entering from dozen differ
ent points upon beautiful and very extensive
prairie lawn, which lay between continuation
of wood clad highlands on the east, and pre-
cipitous range of white rocky cliffs on the Vest
whose base was. followed by the main arm of
the river San Gabriel, and upon which we had
contemplated pitching our camp for the ight
Instantly bent on revenge, not shout had been
uttered, and although the herds of buffalo and
deer appeared entirely to disregard our ap-
proach, yet not single rifle was discharged to
send its warning echoes to the ears of the re-
treating foe. = --c ~aT srz
The last struggling squad had united with our
leader, and each party had impaired to his ear
nest enquiries such incidents as had occurred
and the observations that had been made upon
our devious route, when an exclamation of sur
prise fell from8the lips of Placidore, the head
chief OF the Tonkuahuas, whose watchful eye
still swept the varying outline of each distant
landscape, and the next moment solitary
horseman dashed along the lofty eminence
which rose beyond the stream in our front, t,and
the loud neighing of his noble steed was an
swered by a thousand wild voices from the
surrounding cliffs and distant hillocks
"Now for sport, my boys, joyfully cried our
chief, and the spirit of hope seemed to brighten
in every eye. ....ay- ....-.. -..-z ...-s
But the old savage smiled mptuously,
and pointing to an eagle which rose from the
intervening cliffs and went screaming through
the air, in broken Spanish he said. "It is no
Indian that you see, but it is the Mexican leader
of the hostile tribes. His horse is too fresh
and too fleet, while ours are jaded and slow,
and therefore it would be as vain to follow him,
as to attempt to capture that gallant bird, -
which was still soaring along the meandering
channel of the stream
| ''Heedless, however, alike of the remarks
of our guide, and of the consequences that
might follow, the company dashed across the
valley plunged into the San Gabriel, and scram-
bled as best we could up its precipitous bluff,
to the place where had been standing the dar-
ing spy. But when we reached the spot, where
his charger had pawned up the fresh earth and
crushed the sweet and delicate flowers beneath
bis unshod hoofs, we bebeld him farm distance
and as he wended his way towards the setting
sun, across the undulating hills, and amidst
the deep green grass, that gently waved be-
meath the evening breeze, he more resembled
a fearless prairie upon the restless pillows of a
troubled sea, than "a bold and gallant horseman
as be was. returning to a horde of fends who
were ever ready to execute his hellsh deeds
We were far above the narrow belts Of timber
that grew along the margin of the stream and
entirely overlooked the groves on the eastern
hills, there was nothing but a few small
shrubs, or widely scattered trees to obstruct the
view in every direction from the elevated posi-
ton which we occupied, and although disap-
pontment, vexation and astonishment were
deeply felt by US all, still there was novel va
riety within the. vast expanse around, well cal
culated to give scope to the most extravagant
operations Of fancy.
The scene but just before so reposed, had
been suddenly changed into tumultuous wilder
ness. The herds of deer and buffalo, that had
so quietly browsed on our approach, stood awed
wifi wonder or ran, wild with terror FROM the
pans-and while gangs Of antelopes and mus
tangs dashed with furious swiftness from the
departing horseman on his painless route, yet
some continued to Craze amongst luxrious val
leys, and others pursued their wanton gambols
on the distant glades, entirely unconscious of
the presence Of foe. Finding the predictions
of old Plaeedore too true, we again descended
the bluffs, and about twilight encamped imme
diately upon the east bank Of the San Gabriel,
where after spending the night without moles
taton or mouthful to eat, and finding our
horses almost entirely worn down, we reluct-
antly gave up the pursuit, and returned togetb
er to the settlements. ...
But who was this solitary horseman? whence
came he? and whittier did he go? 1t was the
celebrated Vincente Cordova, the bold brigand,
the desperate adventurer, the inverate and re-
vengeful pirate of the prailies Born Of Cas-
tllian parentage in the ancient villageo of Nacog-
doches, educated under the influence of Indian
superstitions and Mexican prejudices, and reared
from his cradle to the meridian Of manhood
amongst the constant strife and threatening war
fare, for which the vicinity Of his birthplace
has been SO Justly distinguished, it is not to be
wondered, that at the commencement of the
revolution, he should be found exciting his ma
tive countrymen to orebelion, against the estab-
lishment Of the enlightened government Of the
Texans, under the banner of the bright and
solitary star. Bold, willy and sagacious,it was
with no ordinary degree Of success, that he adj
dressed himself to theinterests and the jealous
les of those with whomit was his policy to act.
With but few exceptions, the Mexcans We're
speedily gathered around his standard, and it
was with equal alacrty, that the neighboring
and discontented tribes of Indians, as we'll as
those in open hostility, consented to assist him
in resisting the advances of a people against
whom they cherished an innate feeling of the
deepest revenge, and before whose superiority
they well knew, that at no distant period they
would be all compelled to retreat beyond the
mountain of the west. A
Failing, however, in such efforts as would
have won him Immortality in a better cause,
and soured by the taunts and the expressions
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