New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-29
Lieut.. Hazen,. Fight with tl.e r.5,.,,

The following official report Of Lieut.. HAGEN vill
give the reader good idea of the difficulties At
| tending pursuit of the marauding bands of IL
| dians that scourge the frontiers of Texas:
O.. Fesr IscE, TEXAS. Oct Il 1854
or; Information having reached this post at
retreat" on Wednesday evening the 29th nit.
that Indians had killed or carried away two negro
boys and driven off large cabalIado Belonging to
MI. II. Ragsdae from the Frio near its junction
with the Sabinal, and had passed to the west Of
tnis posi-, made ready, agreeably with your direc-
tons, and left the same evening at about tattoo'
with two non-commissioned officers and eight pri-
yates s Of Of Con Company sth Infantry and three eiti
! Pass road to point where they probable crossed
/ II, and encamped for the night 3757F
~, slight rain set in about midnight and continued
on, oll morning: were under way at dawn andha
only proceeded few hundred yards when We came
upon the trail, which was as plain as wagon road
/ a neaTy rain now commenced and continued mi
.b ano4. 4r, IL A. a. NJ entirely oberatng All signs u
tns trall put continued our course about twelve
miles Crossing the Ell Passo road near its innrtis,,
with the Nueces river, we passed beyond tie ef-
fects Of the rain and again canped upon dc tran
AM aah ipnpwsd It tllI night camping about eight
| Inc next day we pressed on with all possible
speed, and about a. M. came up on one Of the
negro boys who had made his escape from them
early that morning, while thew were catchinc
horses 1t appears the other boy was killed before
leaving Mr.. Ragsdales place. After losing this
poy they greatly increased their speed We followed
~ aay ailu iate az night without perceptibly gain
Although we had a chilling norther this day,
with ram in cur faces, made about fifty miles.
~ starting before day next morning we were at
tnelr camp at q clock, and not more than IN hour
after they had left it. We now took brisk trot.
oyertaklng them at 10 A. NJ. The party consisted
OF seven men and one squaw. They were Just
crossing the Nueces river near its head waters,
ana py maklng rapid dash we were within thirty
yards Of them before they were aware Of on1
presence, but being all well mounted before We
could use our arms, they were under full headway
lor an open cedar brake. We pursued them at the
night OF our speed, and succeeded in partially
bringing them to bay after u chase Of about forir
hundred yards, where we killed one and wounded
another, when they took up the race at q more
| broken rocks. TI
We pressed them with all speed for about mile.
when coming suddenly to q precipitous rayine.
they leaped their horses down and dashing into
dense cedar brake made good their escape They
! were mounted on superior American horses. The
pick from nearly two hundred which enabled them
to make SO good race. Our own horses were
ennrey disabled, compelling me to dismonnt the
party, giving them horses from those captured
We recovered here one hundred and thirty horses.
| several OF them very valuable and left many On
the road, killed and disabled.
Inc point where they were 0vertaken was on the
| trail from old Fort Terret to Fort Clark. about
forty miles from the latter post and about eighty
from Fort lnge. All the animals were very badly
lamed ed and q was compelled to take three days il
On my second days march in met company
of citizens that had followed on, hoping to be able
| to give me assistance.
Mr. Ragsdale, the owner OF the greater portion
OF these animals, accompanied me, and expressed
his sncerest gratitude for the efforts made for the
recovery of his property. 4.
have to thank Mr.. Forest, one of the citizens
of the party, for his valuable service.
My entire party behaved in the most commenda-
BILE manner.
would also state that my guide, Mr.. Frank Rob.
MED by party Of citizens from Uvalde, losing
my trail from the heavy rains, continued on. and
striking an Indian trail near the Nueces, followed
it for four days, when he came upon an Indian and
four horses, near the Rio Grande, about eighty
miles below Eagle Pass, and after pursuing him
several miles captured three horses, the Indian
escaping 4 NJ
am, very respectfully, your obdt serv,t,
W. B. HAZES,