Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-12-03
E,oo, the Portland (M, arms.
I7VI7F 0Ve 4 OF VVu7'V I11eJ z17gHo'
Exciting Skirmish with the Indians in Texas.


The Following description of the successful re-
pulse of Indians by Captain s. D. Carpenter, Of
the Army, was extracted from q letter Of the
acting surgeon of Camp Lancaster, giving an ac-
count of the 'affair, partly as ne was informed
at the time by those Immediately engaged
CAMP LANCASTER, Texas, Oct. 16, lS56.-A
few days since our camp was IN high state ol
excitement in consequence of brush with the
Indians, and the fears entertained OF the entire
loss of our party. Captain Carpenter, of the
first infantry, who commanded the post, went
out with mule team to procure some poles for
the purpose of the encanpment. The party con-
sisted only of the Captain, armed with fowl
ng-piece and o revolver, two musicians with re-
files. priyates McCulock and Demon, with mus
kets and the teamster, who was unarned. |
accompanied them, carrying my fowling pieces
loaded only with very fine shot, used for ornl,
biological purposes, in the expectation that
I.inirht come across soi:,a small BIRDS Not the
slightest danger of any attack was apprehend-
ed
/ 1t was found necessary to 60 further than had
been expected to procure poles OF the required
length; but they were at last obtained, the team
loaded, and we were on our return to the camp
the Captain, musician Beardall and myself riding
short distance in advance, not having seen a.
nything to excite the least alarm. While thus
on our homeward way, the Captain on turning
around saw that the team had come to stop
and rode back with Beardall to ascertain what
was the difficulty. kept my ground, watching
their progress, and intending to await their re-
turn On their way back they passed through
hollow; and losing sight of them | was looking
every moment or-ther re-appearance on rising
the other side, when imagine my CONSERVATION,
on seeing party of Indians, some on foot and
some on horseback, suddenly make their appear
ance between me and my friends who were no.
where to be seen.
Nv interest was intense-there was not a
shadow of doubt on my mind that the Captain
and Beardall had been cut off before they reach
ed the men and team, which were now sur
rounded and must inevitably share the same
fate. MY eyes still rvetted on the spot, one
man whom recognized as the unarlned team
ster, burst from the throng, pursued by an In
dian-the race was for life or death-it soon ter
minated, down went the man exhausted or kill
ed Horror struck. waited to see if any more
of our friends would attempt to escape, but
could see only the Indians running about, yell
ing triumphantly it was evident the whole OF
our party had been cut off without firing SIM
gle shot
dian who had run down the teamster, turned
towards me having been joined by another hell,
bird, mounted on piebald horse This reused
me from my trance; not a moment was TO be
lost, our camp was five or six miles distant; L
was stranger to the road, my horse was new
to me: had never been accustomed to hurdle
races over ravines anl through thorny bushes; {;
nv chance for escape was small, but my life was
at stake. put my horse to his utmost speed,
and he gained upon my pursuers. Having SAT,
isfied myself of his nerve, and that he was good
for the race, l turned to tako one last look at
the scene of action. Indians only were IN sight;
There was then but one courset to pursue--ind
my way, if possible back to the camp, and give
the alarm. Well did my horse do his duty;
letting him take his own way, reached the
camp in safety, and strong party was imme-
diately sent off in pursuit of the Indians to a.
yenge the death and if possible to recover the
'fdeati bodies of our friends On their route,
11nuch to their astonishment they met Captain
Carpenter, with his men and their horses, and
one of the mules, the rest of the team having
been carried off by the'Indians.
The account given by them was as follows
| On approaching the men and team, Capt. Car
Ipenter sew that they were nearly surrounded
! by from fifteen to twenty Indians, armed with
rifles and bows and arrows, some on foot and
some on horseback. When joining his men
they had their guns raised and about to lire, the
Indians then being at long rifle shot. lie lmme-
distcly ordered his men to hold their fire and to
Law down in the grass of the prairie. Their
guns once discharged, he was aware there
would be no time to reload, and, that they
would be rode down and crushed by the superb
or number of the enemy. This timely order be-
! ing observed, saved the party.
The Indians being thus defeated in the PROJECT
of stampeding our men, and not deemlng IL saie
to approach them on horseback, dismounted
and advanced on foot; and when sufficiently
near commenced fire with their rifles and
bows and arrows. This fire was continued Tor
fifteen minutes-the Indians drawing near and
nearer our men cronching in the grass, sustain
ing but little injury-the rife balls passing over
them and few of the arrows taking effect; still
thew reserved their fire. When the Indians had
approached within four rods, then the word
was given 10 fire-four were killed, and the rest
ran without stopping to look behind them.
The injury sustained on our side was the Cap
tain wounded by an arrow passing between the
fingers of his left hand; private McCullock
wounded by an arrow in his foot; the Captains
horse so badly cut with an arrow in his leg that
it was with some difficulty the blood could be
be staunched sufficiently to enable him to be
led back to the camp The mule team, which
during the affray had strayed away feeding,
had been carried off by the indians, with the ex-
ception of one which, in their preclptate retreat
they had left in the harness.
The unarmed teamster whom l saw rum
ming and thought was killed, had fallen down
the banks of O creek and escaped unhurt. You
will readily believe that tine rejoicing was great
at this meeting of our friends, whom we had
mourned as dead, and most gladly were they
welcomed back to the camp, which they reach
ed without any further disaster. l have now
seen the Simon Pure Natipe Am1erican, and l
do not much like his looks
REI1os.-It is stated that party hunting IN
Angelina county, Texas, found IN cave TWO hu-
man bodies entirely petrifed, dressed in style
neither Indian nor European The features and
dress were admirably preserved. A garment,
which must have reselnbled hunting shirt,
seemed to have been worn by each and partly
preserved by petrifcation, was distinctly visible,
especially at its seams and folds. On the waist
of one was buckle of pure gold, almost three
inches in diameter, securely embedded in the
body. The features were hot iiucn snruhKen
the eyes were partly closed, ana even traces OF
the eyebrows could be seen plainly
A MAMMOTH CLooK-It is stated that the
diaIs Of the English Parliament clock are twen-
tu1.,yo foot in diameter, and are the largest in
+Ie world with the minute hand. Every half
rnnnte tba noint of the minute hand moves
nnariv % ssven inches. The clock will 20 eight
n and half days, and strike only for seven and a
bolf co ~ 90 to indicate by its silence any neglect
in INV winding it up The mere winding of each OF
the striking parts will take two hours. The pen
InInm Is Is feet long; the wheels are of cast
IRON RON the hour bell is eight feet high and nine
,.., ,yeiohinp from fourteen In fif-