Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-15

Indian Affairs in Texas-A SkirmlSh.

Indian Affairs i'll Texas-A skirmlsh
The State of Texas ceded, some time since
to the United States. certain tracts OF country
FOR Indian purposes. These lands the ten
era Government colonized as Indian re-
serves. The Camanche d tfculties OF that re-
zion havs, it seems, led t. general preiu-
dice against all red men, and persons have
been ,uRd To- accuse the quiet Indians OF these
reserves with outrares that were Justly at
trihutable to the maraudins Camanches.-
The Indian Office has, from time 10 time IS
sued instructions to it, agents tending [" re-
move every possible excuse Tor irritau"n-
going even To- the extent ot directing that II
soon as the haryests were gathered, the reserve
Indians should be removed beyond Red river
and later period 10 ordering the removal
beyani Red river 70 he made as soon a. pos
sihe
The efforts Of the Indian Office and it-
agents have not. however Gvaiici I" prevent
a collision Intelligence II Il skirmish Oh
the 23d uit has been received It The Indian
Office from the BraZos a5encT. 1t appears
that on that morning some iva hundred and
Hrtv men under command Of Captain }. K.
BAYLOR marched upon the lower reserve t.
attack the Indians. Capt. Plummer OF the
ist infantry, who, with his command, had
cncGmped upon the reserve 10 protect Tie
Indians, sem Capt Gilbert and his company,
who met Baylor and his men Just rs the lat
ter had formed into line ct battle between
the Waco Village and the \ agency buildings.
10 Captain Gibert's demand of the leader,
''for what purpose he had come upon the
Reservation with nm armed body ot men =
Capt. Baylor replied that ''he had come to
ass..i certain Indians Of the Reserve, but
not to attack any whites but should the
troops fire upon his men during the hight
he would attack them also, or any other
whites who did the same thing. and treat all
nike" lie desired reply, and would wait
for it three quarters Of an hour. y; soon
rs Captain Gilbert received the above mes
sage he sent Lieutenant Barnet to Cap
tain Bavlor with instructions to say to
him that his orders were to protect the
Indians on the Reserve from the attacks
Of armed bands Of citizens, and that he
would de- so to the best Of his ability, and
with the arms in his possession, and that he
warned him in the name of the Government
Of the United States to leave the ReSerya-
ton. Captain Bay r2IoIned that tins mes
save did not alter his determination OF at
tacking the Indians on the Reserve, and that
he would attend to leaving 1t himself; that
he regretted the necessity of coming IN col
lsinn with the United States troops, but
that he had determined to destroy the In
dams on this and the Upper Reserve, If II
cost the life of every man in hls Command.
TIE Indians, in the meantime, as well rs the
troops, prepared for action; and some oi
the former who were mounted, were lowering
near Captain Baylor and his men, watching
their movements BY friendly signs they
induced Il very old Indian to approach them,
when they tied a rope around his neck, and
then moved of ia a westerly direction; but
before going far, killed and scaIpcd their
prisoner, as also an old squw whom they found
ut work in her garden This maddened the
| Indians. AT first few followed the retreat
ing white men, exchanging shots with them
but this number grew until at last, when
some fifty or sixty Indians had gathered,
Baylor's men took possession of the house ot
Il farmer named Marlin about eight miles
from the agency, and one and halt from the
/ limits Of the reserve. and fought through the
I cracks. During The engagement which now
became quite sharp. five Indians were woun-
ded, and an old sergeant (CaddOe john xii
led. The Indians were cautious, during the
fight not to fire ut Martins house fearing lest
some of his family might be accidentally lnlur-
ed and soon Withdrew, failing to induce
Bayior's men To come out and make an open
fight 1t was reported that two Of Bayl"r's
men were killed, three sevcrcl y wounded, and
7 several slightly. During the contest jim
Peck Mark, second chief of the Anahdahcoes,
. la IN, tpr hIV %