Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1871-10-28

Stopping up the Trail.

|
Soon after the short campaign in which
the Cherokee Indians were defeated anu
driven out of the country, several nuruers
were committed near the Angelina river,
apd along the San Antonio road, between
| Nacogdoches and Nachez river. 80 oold
were some OF these marauders that we
we're forced TO believe thata considerah!e
| bndy of them had returned to the section
| from which they were so recently driven,
and Ind established themGelves in some
norton of the abandoned country to reap
mn harvest of revenge. So strong was
this conviction that Gen. Rusk gathered
small force of about forty men ana march-
| ed to the place where the celebrated DOW
| les had so lately resided; here his spies my
formed him that from the sign they ionnc
everywhere, they were convinced 'h"t the
present force was altogethcr inadequate 10
advance any farther, and m express was
sent to Brig. Cen, Douglass, to raise ana
forward nm auEilOr force. As most oil the
people in several adjacent counties had NJ
rcadv spent some months in the field, they
did not respond 10 the call lho brig'
General, and the writer, who waa then act
ing Aid lie Camp, was ordered witha hnlt
t.I.. Il h..
dozen recruits, who were all that cpuid pe
at the moment assembled 10 rePhi. |o'"e
camp Of Gen. Rusk, anu INFORM III" '""'
he must not expect any ASSISTANCE ior
some weeks. This was chilling news 10
the gallant little band, who had entertain
ed no doubt Of receiving handsome rem
forccments. They refused. TO return Win
out entering into the heart Ct the ouhtryc
so lately the theatre OF war, ana yet lu''y
believed that the Indians were III s"iic'en'
numbers to cut them oil II they sp"u'o Ee'
the least advantage. In this dilemma inc
company was organized by electlng "en'
Rusk and the yell-knowp Il. W: smi'h,
first and second officers n council OF war
was held, aud it was resolved 'ha' 'he com
pany should make forced march TO '"t
Sabine, or entirely through the portion OF
the country that had been occupied ny the
Indians, and return with the same celerlty
by different route. 1t was argued that
by this course we could ascertain if the
Indians were congregated in any consid"
erabe force, and get away before they
could concentrate on any, one point, as
most of them might be employed in gath'
erinc up horses, cattle, corn, and other
property recently abandoned by them.
There was not y man in the company who
did not regard this as very desperate
course, but they were men who had not been
in the habit of running from mere pony
and mockasin tracks, however numerous.
The best mil, ary precautions were taken
to preyent surprise, and we advcnccd at n
brisk rate-provisions were abundant
corn. vans, beeves, fat hogs, and poultry
/ nd
horse Jared we'll. As we proceeded on
ward, the Indian sign increased-the roads
were filled with mocka3n tracks, going in
all directions, and Indians in small squads
could now and then be seen scampering of
into the thickets and bottoms, our advance
guard and spies came very near capturing
several but they managed to get away.
On the evening Of our second days march
we encamped on post oak ridge near the
Sabine. which was to be the terminus of
our march. From the sign, it was mani
fest that there were large number Of In
dams in the couHtry, but we we're convinc-
ed that they were, as we first supposed
scattered in small SQUADS throughout the
country. and we were resolved TO COM
mence a retrograde movement on the fol-
lowing morning, before they could have
time 10 concentrate their forces and inter.
cent our progress. Soun after dark a most
unearthly chorus of wolves ami owls ccm-
menced n serenade in all directions
around us. Our old experienced Indian
fighters Immediately assembled around
Gen. Rusk and assured him that these were
unquestionably Indians, that this was their
custom, and that now they were in the act
of concentration, and tina, we should i'm
mediately decamp. or we sheuid be cut TO