Connecticut western news., 1873-06-06
The Mexican Difficulty

.@ 4as sX 5 A Raid upon Mexican Territory and an
 Attack upon fndians--A Number Killed
 and Many Captured.. ~-- -
 A letter received by gentleman in San Antonio, and dated Charlottesville, Kinsey county, Texas, May 20, 1873, says :-
 As I informed you when here in Brackettsville, from every indication I was forced to believe that this county was the passing ground for the nuner- ous depredating bands of savage Indians known as the Lipans and Kickapoos in their bloody incursions on the inhabi- tants of the lower and more eastern counties. From recent developments it would seem that in this conclusion I was perfectly correct, for early last month, the stock men report, they not only discovered the numerous divergent trails of the savages leading from points on Devils River, the northern boundary of this county, to several crossings on the Nueces River, its eastern boundary, but in several instances bands have been seen numbering fifty or sixty war riors dividing themselves in every direc- tion to have a wider and richer field for their depredations. In consequence of these reports and for other causes Gen. Mckenzie, commanding the garrison at Fort Clark, promptly started company of cavalry over the various creeks and Indian crossways throughout the coun- try, and thoroughly secured every DOT tion of the surrounding country where the Indians might possibly conceal themselves; but, notwithstanding this vigilance on the part of Gen. Mckenzie and the troops under his command, & band of fifty warriors succeeded in evading the troops, crossed the Nueces River, and, as usual, divided themselves into small raiding parties, the better to enable them to evade pursuit and prey upon the stock and other property of the people of the lower counties, whose ranches are, to a great extent, devoid of protection. Under these exasperating events and circumstances of even more aggravated character, as well as the great pressure of the popular feeling and excitement, Gen. Mckenzie was in- fuenced to resolve at any risk, cost, or consequence, to break up this nest of savages by attacking them on their own camping ground near the Santa Rosa Mountains, in Mexico, and there, if not totally destroy them, at least to so crip- pie them as to render them unable for some time to carry on their murderous forays and cruel expeditions upon the frontier inhabitants of Texas.
 Accordingly, on the morning of Sat
 urday last, the 17th instant, all the
 available cavalry force of the garrison
 was ordered to be equipped and in readi-
 ness at moments notice for important
 duty on the Rio Grande.
 Couriers were dispatched from head.
 quarters to the several companies sta
 toned in the various creeks and cross ings with similar orders, which were
 strictly complied with, and all the avail
 able force of the Fourth cavalry, mum,
 bering some six hundred men, assembled at the call of their commander and pro 7 ceeded under the guidance of the half breed scout, Van Green, of Maverit county, and other guides, crossed the Rio Grande, and, by 8 forced march O. eighty miles into the interior of Mexico reached the camp of the Kickapoos 8 early dawn, having been forty-eigh hours in the saddle and twenty-fou ) hours without food or water, being com
 pelled on the march to throw away an( ) dispense with every utensil, accoutre ) ment or requisite whatever that coult in any manner retard the speed of thei ) march,
 l The charge was made at dawn. Th' 5 Indians, who wers unprepared for tn attack, made but slight resistance, tn greater portion of them attempting t. flee to the neighboring mountains fo shelter.
 l In the encounter nineteen warrior 5 were killed and about an equal numbe 5 wounded. Forty squaws have been cap tured, and some one hundred horses an 8 other property stolen by the Indian 8 have been recovered.
 r The troops lost three men-one kille l and the others mortally wounded. Couriers arrived at the post last nigh l with orders for 2, 900 rations, the food c 9 the troops having been thrown away i v order to expedite the march. Tn . couriers report that General McKenzi n and his command have safely recrosse B the Rio Grande with the captives an : recovered property, camping last nigh e at Van Greens, the guides ranch. Q Since the affair l have learned tha ], intense excitement prevails on the othe 8 side, and it is said the Mexican frontie {, authorities are excited to the highes 7 degree, and have assumed a very hostil
 attitude towards us. Reports of thi
 kind were even in circulation here som
 weeks since.