The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-07
Our Texas Correspondence.

IfotRa oteT me Stdias-inCiitHidl hd2tfSfDff td3
Indian D.odcuhss-cariGnr f'aas Fbray into m "a
9ionche Country, Dr., q,
some Thirty mics from san Antonio Is o,a,ea the e,pi
ishing German village o. New Braumcls an Of tn
and industry amidst desert Of genuine Texan la1ine
The main street Of the village is very wide, and ned o
either SIDE by nea, painted cttagcs with tasty grass po,
and flower gardens in front. Here you find cxcrlrn
rotol, bakery, some tine stores and NJ ess than -
wagon factories. These German settlements abound !,
educated men-Hrngarans, Poles, and even Austrisns
rivaiHg the Ge themselves IN education and refine
ment-a)l, or nearly ALL exles from the flthrran on
account OF their political opinions Az have remark Cd in
these Germans eing for Texas great
work OF civilization, gradually conyiscing the people OF
that State that industry and economy carry wealth and
prosperity along with them, and form the Foundation
Of powerful and influential community
The country between san Antonio aud Fort Clark very
scanty settled CasrovSile, twenty five miles from S,
Antonio, is the only village of any n,porances German
settlement on the Medina river, commenced in 1872 by
Henry Castro, Of Portugal Dhanis, Quhi and Uyalde
are the other villages -rrere scattered collections %
matched acals scarcely worth the title The land l.
rolling, and covered with sfck carpet OF musquito grass
Beyond Uvaide range Of loW mountains appear tho
left hand in whose wild norgss there abundance Of
game All this country ia admirably adapted for
cattle raising, but nothing else. Rain cannot b.
depended upon One gentleman who resides ncar For,
Nye informed me that he had not made crop Of fo
four years account OF the drought To stock It'll
profit person must be located creek river,
like the eona Nucccs his cattle will suffer and pcr
Laps perish, for want of water
The for trans 10 the plains nearly over
The train Of the Santa Rita Silver Aiming Company from
CIcnnati bound to Arizona, reached Fort Clark ycscr
day evening and is about the last large train that will
leave San Antonio before April next. True. trains can
ana do across from San Antonio to III taso IN miwn
ter, but they 90 it at great risk account of tho cold
wet freezing weather. ana the scarcity Of water and
aIass.
cyous letter, which to have lrft Fort Jeknap on
the 18TH has been heard from, some hunsrei miles
north q the Fort pr,gr ssng vel and driving in hume
bands Of hostile Indians. Captain James Oakcs 81
the % cavalry Is the commandment az Fort Clark whose
pioper garrison is two companies OF mounted men, On
company is away, under Major Van Dorm Captain
Cakes although one OF the youngest captains in the
ed service has attracted marke attention the War
department. account Of his and dgent service
against the Camanches, since he placed in com
nand at Fort Clark. He served with distinction, through
uut the Mexican war as Aduant of the q cavalry, and
'i'ewaras ,, 9uartermas'cr; On taSns command
quarters in wrelched condition, the former
mass Of loose sand, and the latter collection OF
taky huts lie instantly set to work and with very
med means, constructed neat and conn,oiious build
ags for the officers, and rebuilt the men quarters Lime
vas burned on the ground stone quared the FORT
md sand hauled from Fort Duncan fifty miles distant
The entire labor was performed by the soldiers greatly
the credit Of themselves and their commanding officer
They also erected stables aud proper outbudings
The group Of stone buildings which composes Fort Clark
stands the bank OF the Los Moras river directly oppo
site to collection Of novels termed Bracket City the
chef feature OF which is the house and strong stone corral
Il the San Diego Overland Mail Company. Directly in
Of the fort is los Moras mountain where the river OF
he same name takes its rise The location Of the fort
pleasant and healthy. The fort and settlement form the
portal Of the Indian country Once past Fort Clark
train is liable TO be pundcrcd by bands of rowing
samanchos, Almost every day news comes in OF some
tack, and scouting parties at sent out Two
guides kept at Fort Clark for tho express purpose
trailing Indians, and receive therefor $50 per month
Indians seldom penetrate the country lower than Fort
Clark. sometimes they 60 down between the fort and
the Rio Grande, far the mouth Of the los Moras
liver. Capt Cakes, now having only company Of
"ayalry, cannot OF course be expected 10 accomplish
much, still he furnishes escort to all trains who desire
far as tho next post Fort Hudson, Devils river
Nothing OF a military character in Texas has
been more overratcd than Captain Ford's raid into
the Camanche country. Captain Ford was, doubtless
honest in bis report but was very much deceived by tho
men under his command. AT the time be a candi.
date for the Office OF Colonel Of the Ranger regiment which
expected would he raised in Texas and IL
scnta to do something unusual 10 head OF competitors
The facts of the case which have been at trouble
to ascertain and which can be substantiacd fol-
and friendly indians surprised large camp OF hostile
Camanchcs. Captain Ford pretcnds that his command
killed seventy Indians, while the loss his side
kiiled-a statement prcpeierous upon its face. The
fight was running one, aud continued scvcra
hoarwa 1svl KEPT IP BY the friendly nsnnh
which the Camanchcs had large number
The number Of hostile Indians actually killed seven
teen according the the chiefs ~ th
friendly Indians Ford DID follow up his attack, bu
absntoned the field leaving his tent, wagons and ambu
lance besides many horses and bales OF dried buall
meat belonging 10 the savages. lie three weeks
teiing the Indian country, whereas he occupied only
about Ven days in leaving, which demonstrated stron;
desire 10 reach civilization lie s-cerained the number o.
killed on the part Of the enemy by calling w his
paraky, aud asking each how many Indians he had dis
posed OF during the combat There plenty OF
Texas who consider lords expedition humbug and
failure aud his sudden stampede from tho country posi-
tive Disgrace.
Tie ola Texan ranger has nearly disappeared from this
There q longer such n nd
Walker, Gillespie, McCulloch and Jack Hays The
plsc, o. the genuine ranger Is occupied by who 80
Indian expeditions not to defend their homes pro-
perry, but from desire 10 plumber from the ssvagrs and
pocket the liberal pay which the State general govern
mem allows II boldly asserted IN sin Antonio and
sbou bort Clarke that the who road
between the latter place and Fort Lancaster from the
Indian reservation and use the weapons supplied by
the principal agent, Major Ncghbors II said that
of tie warriors 81 the Camancbo tribe live the rescrva
permanently and visit only 10 obtain supplies
tcrvas They arc ostcnsby occupied in hunting, bot in
reality make torays into Mexico and upon the route H.
VI iaso All these outragcs charged upon the hostile
tsmanches Of the Canadian river gentleman who has
long been resident Of Texas and often visited the Upper
Rcservatonwherc Major Neghbors pretcnds have four
hundred Camanches aud actually draws ratous for that
tmbeT-dcciarcs that there than three
hundred mcn women aud children there, and That the
men chiefly tie aged aud disabled. A the lower
Reservation where u rs claimed rs the agent there
cue thousand men, women ana children there cannot be
counted hundred These statements have been
made 70 me by men Of veracity and from my know
ledge VI the manner IN which business IS carried AZ
uA~t q beltAt lhflh n' Nut4 ktprt~
scuiatons have been made the Indian Bureau wash
ipgton. and Commissioner Mn will undoubtedly send out
egei 70 investigate the charges Such az any rate,
should be- the pursued. for Nsior Neghbors IL
really guilty ~ cue quarter the abuses Of which he Is
tuscd hc deserves 60 be dismissed from oce IT, the
contrary, be J. misrepresented and beed Is but right
that he have the benefit VI full and complete cxonora
iiou
Mch has boon said in Congress and the public prints
concerning the incency Of regular roops for service in
Texas bot The real condition of affairs u little
known 10 The states An officer 50 down 10 gar
distant fort with a handful Of men, per
laIs infantry, With his ordinary details for fatigue duty
Cert, A.. cannot furnish scouting parties Ia patrol
the road Infantry are almost useless tine Indians
invariably mounted and retreat Immediately after
tuak their attacks. At time. about year Since
The garrison AZ this post reduced by details escorts
ard fatigue parties 10 four effective The officers
AM soldiers cf the regular amy entitled 60 much
credit for the patient and gallant in which they
cninrc the iagung. health destroying and dangerous
scSce 81 the frontiers. away from civilization and the
necessities ~ life, With hope 81 gaining merit the
thinks NJ their country, even for great sacrifices The
officers 81 the regular army not 10 be judged
Ny the specimens Of snobbcry sometimes