Newbern progress., 1863-01-31
Massacre of the Germans in Texas.

+ Translated from the GQlrcston Union. a German
paper, established since The occupation of that
place by the Union forces
Near the origin of the Grand Cape and
Piedruales on Johnston's Creek, several
American and two German families settled
but two years ago. Contending against the
roughness of the soil and the wild Indians,
they had no pleasant position, but they
persevered, conscious of their courage and
sh6r intrepidity, and the lower settlements
owed it to them that they had less to suffer
from the raids of the Indians. These bor-
der inhabitants received but little news
about the condition of the country and the
events of the war. All at once they were
notified to pay war taxes and to drill. The
trst demand they could not comply with.
because they had no money, not even corn
neal for their families, and the last order
hey could not obey because they lived so
Instant from each other and their absence
would leave their families without protec-
ton.
For these reasons they were considered
Union men, and Captain Duff, notorious
pwdy, was next sent against the settlers
With company of Texans. They asked
he protection Of their friends, but had to
fy from the overpowering number of their
enemies to the mountains. Many Germans
md Americans were arrested and imprison-
ed in Fredericksburg, and Captain Duff
vas reinforced by 400 men to operate sue
,essfully against the German Abelitionists,
and hunt up the Yankees. The soldiers
again visited Johnson's creek, but found
he most of the settlers had fed to the
ptoIp nl- I1pnanar nj HOY
'urprised, sleeping under the porch of his
louse, but awakened by the cries of distress
If his wife and the discharge of muskets
If his enemies, who fired fourteen shots
sfter him, he fortunately made his escape.
Ills house was ransacked and all move
able property taken off. Other farms in
the neighborhood were also searched, the
families taken prisoners and the houses
burnt down. Upon the news OF these
events Fred. Degener and other fugitives
concluded to fly to Mexico; more exiles
joined them, and soon they had company
OF sixty eight men, But they travelled too
slowly, and before daybreak one morning
they were surprised by two hundred Tex
ars. After most determined resistance
tley were defeated, and only twelve OF
them. covered with wounds made good
their escape.
All fugitives which afterwards fell into
the hands Of the enemy were hung up.
Among these sixty-eight men only five were
Americans, the others all Germans. A few
of the fugitives escaped across the Rio
Grande; others wandering in the noun
tans and suffering extreme hunger, sought
protection among American families, but
were handed over to their prosecutors and
shot or hung.
To this news, DR.. Adolph Deual, cele-
brated German traveller, who for many
years had lived in that country, makes the
following notes:
'We know personally, the most of these
unfortunate victims, which have been muir
dered so mercilessy, not because they
rebelled against the Government, Int bee
cause they would not act against the n'on,
and would rather fly to Mexico. These
murdered Union men were some OF the
greatest benefactors Of the State; they had
done the hardest pioneer work lii 1t, cleared
it from the wild beasts and Indians; they
had saved it TO civilization through more
than one period of pestilence and famine !;
secured as borderers their present persecu-