Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-11-13
FoEr RIclARpsoy, TrxAs, 1


Sept. %, 1859. ]
From the 81. Lonis Republican,
Enron REpuBLIcAN;-My heart
sickcns as / attempt TO write this
letter; | have boon in this town
| (Jacksboro,) now six weeks, and
almost every night horses are taken
by the Indians Ny own was taken
from lhsl o.cl where was stopringj
forty or fifty have been taken irom
this town, as many more from the
country. Below us in Johnson and
Parker counties, it is even worse
than it is here. Occasionally n life
is taken, but the Indians are more
intent upon property. A Mr.. Henson
who lives in this town, went out to
his farm last week and had both his
horses captured by the savagcs
Yesterday men were chased by In
dians within one mile of town. A
Mr. Hcarnc has just returned fl ON
Calvert, the end OF the Galveston
railroad, fom. miles this side of
Wcathcrford, and reports that tho
Indians met him and took his horses
form his wagon. They even went
into Weatherford, tore up pickets
and took horses out of a corral. A
few nights ago they got two horses
from tho livery stable in this town.
"A few of our citizens some days ago
went to Fort Still, in the Indian
Nation; they were headed by the
Sheriff of this county, who has
taken the iron clad oath, and whose
loyalty ought not TO be doubted;
yet, when they got TO Fort Still,
Gen. Gricrson said he tcould do
nothing for them, as the Texans
were all DAMNED set of thieves"
He afterwards moderated his langu-
ago u little, but really rendered The
party no assistance. They found the
most of their horses, bnt the Indians
refused TO give them up, and the
officers refused to Interfere. These
men say that the post trader at
ForteStill is dealing in horses with
the Indians, and that military or
dcrs permit this trader to carry on
such traffic. They also say that
horses with American brands are
selling very cheap. There Gan be lit
tic doubt, from all accounts, that
there is q regular gang Of horse
thieves connected with these In
dians, that they arc encouraged in
their raids into Texas by these men;
tliatihc post trader buys for ii song
Of tic Indians and sells TO tic
whites, and the horses are finding n
market in Kansas, Colorado andI
other places, and that this is being
done with the full knowledge of the
officers at Fort Still. The Indians
on the reservations make no secret
Of tbcir busines.uIt is said that
nearly all their warriorsarc absent
and when asked where, they say.
"Gone to Texas, get horses heap" !
One Indian asked the Sheriff's party
swhcrc from?" When told Texas,
he said, "mc just como from Texas, I
got horses, heap, me-" The Kiowas
are now all reported absent from
the reservation. Men who have been
10 Fort Still say that the current
talk there about Texas is calculated
TO give the Indians TO understand
that it is perfectly legitimate TO
plumber the people of Texas. These
samc indians arc fed and clothed
by the Government; corn is issued
10 them, which they sell to the post
trader at ST so a bushel, and take
their pay in an inferior article Of
sugar at so cents per pound; this
,orn is sold to the contractor, and
he turns it over TO the Government
1t So to's4 per bushel. So you see
i takes but small amount of corn |
10 ill big eontractf While the
Indians are on their raids their
"a qeaws are driving thriving trade
with tho negro troops, bartering
heir virtnc for fixed ammunition
Ior Spencer rifles, wfth which they
ire nearly all armed At this place
are bet little better. i find
ncrc one Of the "truly loyal. (" whom
recognize as d prominent dealer
n Texas cattle durihg the two last
rears ofthc war lie gotta order
rom tien. Carts authorizing him
i'm 10 'adrivc his cattle out Of Tex
Is, and about twenty droyes under
his order found their way into
Kansas, though this man never
,wncd thousand head all told.
rhc cattle were jayhawked from
iis old neighbors in Texas, and
rom thc loyal Indians. Anothcr
ias established bis loyalty by play
ng good fellow, well met with
be quartermastcr here. Lumber
o build this post could have been