Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-09-15
SHERMAN, Texas,
Aupust 26. 1863.

August 26, 1868.
You will see from the place named above
that We are now very near the borders of civil
ization.
| Although several counties are laid out West
| of this none of them can now be occupied in
safety, as the wild Camanches have frequently
made raids within thirty miles of this place,
| in many instances they have murdered the set
tiers or crrried them into captivity They are
driving quite lucrative trade by stealing chill
dren and then demanding heavy ransom from
the parents.
There are several military posts about 100
miles West of this place, but they know moth
ing about fighting indians, and care less.
When an indian raid is reported to one of
the commanders, he turns out his whole force,
with banners flying and bugles sounding, ma
king display which the indians can see for
nothing to do but to get to one side and secrete
themselves until the expedition passes, and
then they can resume their work of robbery
and murder, while the expedition being well
supplied with grey hounds, usually terminates
In an antelope or rabbit hunt, and the COM
mand returns to the fort highly elated with
the expedition, and are anxious for another
chase when opportunity presents.
We recently met trader from the frontier
who had just returned from visit to one of the
savage tribes near the head waters of the Ca
madam river, where they were still engaged in
killing buffalo. -.
The object of his visit was to remove some
children which had been stolen from Montague
county, Texas, about six months since. -
The party consisted of three men-two of
whom had lost children. They reached the in
dian camp about $50 miles beyond fort Arbu-
Gle, and through the influence of half breed
woman, who had married trader, they entered
into negotiations with the chief, and after sew
eral days succeeded in getting four children by
paying about 5000 in horses, pistols and mon
ey. The poor little creatures had been in cap
tlvity about months and had eaten nothing but
raw meat during that time. They were almost
In state of nudity, and being constantly ex-
posed to the sun, were bistered from head to
foot. ytNv r-tf
There were quite number of other children
In the camp, but as they did not allow any con-
munication with the white men, they could not
learn who they were, or where they were from.
This tribe numbers about 1000-men, women,
and chlldren-and are very hostile. They are
all well armed with rifles and army pistols
which were furnished them during the war, by
the God and-morality party, with instructions
to burn, murder and lay waste the entire Texas
border, which, however, they failed to do during
the war, as the border was then defended by a
we'll organized force of rangers, VINO understood
indian warfare. .-H rf t''
During Gov. Throckmortons administration
he asked permission to arm and equip three
companies Of State troops, at State expense,
for the protection of the border settlements,
but King Phil. refused to grant it; SO the from
tier settlements have been exposed to the raids
OF the nercliess savages ever since the dlsband-
ing of the Confederate armies @
Gen, Hancock made an effort to improve af-
fairs by increasing the number of posts and mo-
wing some of the troops from the interior of the
State to the border; but since Louisiana has
gone under the BLACK Yoke and the hero of
Greenbrier River (Reynolds) has been left in
command Of the 5th military district, he has
recalled number of those troops to aid in car
rying out the Radical programme of his acci
dency, e. n pease and the scallawag conven-
tion.
The convention has been laboring for long
time with the question of lawlessness and crime
In Texas and after spending much time and
money In inducing members Of their party,
mostly blacks, to violate the 9th commandment
have made report of $50 murders of union
men since 1865, but not one word has been said
about the innocent women and children MUIR
dered by the savages. They rejoiced greatly at
the change in military commanders, but their
joy was soon changed to grief by the defeat of
their pet scheme in congress, VIZ: arming the
negroes. They had openly boasted that they
were going to arm the loyal militia and get
10000 federal troops to aid them and carry
their constitution at the point of the bayonet
But they are evidently getting much alarmed
now-they see plainly the handwriting on the
wall, and as retributive justice stares them in
the face, they imagine they see the raw head
and bloody bones of some innocent victim tow
ering up before their affrighted gaze and al
ready feel the cold bony fingers of death grasp
ing their guilty throats. Many of the leading
Radicals seeing their inevitable overthrow In
November next and fearing the indignation of
an outraged people are making preparations to
leave the State.
The negroes becoming thoroughly disguised
with radical lies and meanness-are leaving the
leagues in great numbers, and voluntarily form
ing democratic clubs, and if Texas is allowed to
vote next November, they will roll up splen-
did majority for Seymour and Blair.
The loyal league negroes now sing in their
Churches ts
81 ''When massa Grant and Col-i-far
Am elected President
Then We'll walk the streets Of glory
Poor deluded creatures-they arc a long way
from glory if they don reach there till Grant
is elected President ....5. ..:-
A large and enthusiastic meeting was held
here few days since-addressed by Gen. Max
ey, from Lamar, and Gov Throckmorton, of
Collin. The best feeling prevailed and the
speeches were marked by the most conserva-
tive tone.
There is great enthusiasm among the people
all over the State and great rejoicing at the
prospect Of being again restored to the Union
under the constitution.
The town of Sherman has about fifteen hun
dred inhabitants, and is situated in high rolling
prairie, on the great overland mail route from
Fort Smith to California, which has not been
running farther than this point since the war
but the road is still travelled great deal by
persons passing to and from Missouri & Kansas.
Great numbers of cattle are driven over that
route every year-three hundred thousand hav-
ing crossed at Colbert's Ferry on Red River, in
this county, this year.
A large trade is done here with the tame In
dians from the nation.
This is fine wheat country, but rather too
dry at this point for corn-though that is good
this season. Fruit fourishes better here than
in any part of Texas that we have seen. Land,
which sold here in 1859 and 1860 at $40 In
gold, can now be bought at from 81 to Sc in
currency, owing to the great scarcity of money
In the country.
Timber land can be had at from 50 to So per
acre, and is plenty enough in all parts OF the
county, especially in the north and west, as the
Lower Cross Timber runs through that part
of the county. -,c
The thermometer has stood at 100 f. for
some days. ''MAGNOLIA'
IT,.