The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-06-19
"TuE PARREu CAPrIyEs"-GEN
nAL L.. ". ROSS.
% Tho Edltor Of the DALLAS Herald {.


letter written several years ago, by
General l.. S. Ross, Of Waco, but now
for the first time published, stating the
facts In relation to his recapture OF
Cynthia Ann Parker, from the Com
anche Indians, ON the 18th OF Decem-
ber, 1860
From the year 1910 up to this time,
have written and published large
number of pioneer and border sketches
of Texas history and had before the
war collected vast mass of interest
ing notes in addition to those before
and since published, with the ultimate
view of preparing a volume of true
history for our descendants. a
large amount of that material,
the fruit of twenty years
labor, ut spare intervals, was lost
as a part of other misfortunes attend
ing the late war. 1t has been with
me n cardinal desire to reject idle iic-
tons and pay homage to the TRUTH
in history. In cases innumerable |
have seen professed historical sketches
going the rounds Of the press, known
of my own personal knowledge to he
in whole or in part untrue. One such
publication appeared in the Houston
Telegraph last fall, in which grave er-
rors were committed in regard to the
career of the lamented Colonel Benja-
min II. Milan, in his early days on
Red river, as well as in regard to the
fall of John b. Denton, ten years later
yet the contributor professed to mar
rate his personal observations. In this
connection it may be added that |
have in my possession valuable ma
terial, much of it from unpublished
sources, for biography of that i'm
mortal hero and patriot.
History is valuable to mankind only
whereby subsequent generations may
profit by the experience of those who
have gone before. Yet, it is lament
able fact known to the most intelli-
gent as well as the most learned, that
fiction and downright misrepresenta-
ton or perversion, often thrust aside.
TRUTH, as an unWelcome factor, and
eXalt hemselves-sometime with the
brazen ehrontery characteristic of the
plethOric and vulgar shoddyite of to-
day, as often exhibited in New Iork's
Central Park, bedaubed with the tin-
sells of external gaudiness, in the lace
of the virtue, refinement, modesty and
purity of those who have inherited
from noble but unostentatious ances-
try Of patriots the principles of virtue,
of liberty and of patriotism.
1t appears, from General Ross letter,
that the Texas Almanac, ut the time
referred to, awarded to officers of the
United States army the credit of re-
capturing Cynthia Ann Parker. The
Hon. A. j. Fowler, of Palestine, living
among numerous survivors of the
Parker family, in his sketches of the
history of Anderson county, published
some two years ago in the Palestine
Advocate, awards the credit to Captain
Baylor, who was in no manner con-
nected with it, Without vanity or
egotism, but as matter of simple JUS
tice, one object of this note is TO say
that my account of that affair i'm my
narrative of the Parker family, written
some years ago, and published in the
Houston Telegraph in January last, is
fully corroborated by General Ross, the
man of all others who knows the
truth, because he was the man who
acted the truth. In single incident
he falls into an error of memory
which he will recall on this sugges-
ton. Speaking of the capture of
Cynthia Ann Parker he says:
"Two of her sons, by an Indian hus-
band, were killed in the battle"
General Ross, on reflection, will re-
member that her Indian husband was
killed in the battle, while her sons
were Off in their village elsewhere.
But this is mere slip of memory on
an incident resting upon revelations
made through tardy Interpreters after
the engagement.
My recent card in THE HERALD, re-
sponsive to the letter of the brave Cen
eral Mckenzie, United States army,
announcing the appearance at Fort
Sill of Citra, the only surviving Indian
son of Cynthia Ann Parker, with re-
quest for information about herself
and kindred, is, therefore, fully vindi-
Gated.
Here | might stop, but, Mr.. Editor,
the honor of Texas bids q few words
more. | trust the reader of this will
refer to the letter of General Ross and
examine the two in connection. The
name of Ross is precious to million
of hearts in this state. Speak the
name of Stu or Peter Ross in mixed
crowds all over Texas, and you
will see flush of manly pride and af-
fection suffuse the cheeks of scores
of battle-scared and crippled ex-con-
federates. The name is inseparable
with Texans from lofty courage, gen.
tie bearing, honorable manhood, un-
selfish charity and exalted private
worth. The mother of two such SONS
beloved by all who have have known
her for thirty odd years in Texas-de-
serves to rank with the mother of the
Gracchi of the ancients. Though yet
a young man, General Ross has had
the experience of eighteen years active
life in civil and military affairs, be-
the Indian frontier, and a fine educa-
tion in the schools. His infancy passed
among the Black Hawk and Keokuck
Indians, in southern Iowa, his whole
subsequent life has received the friction
of stern experience, from the Indian
skirmish, far removed from human
habitation, to the laundering artillery,
blood and carnage ofChicamaugua and
Murfreesboro. In every relation, from
early boyhood to the present time,
his bearing has been model
of morality, modesty, courtesy
and Spartan heroism in danger. AS a
citizen claim share in the legacy
he has bestowed upon Texas by a ca
reer worthy of imitation by the youth
to come, and jealous regard to the
proper allotment of "honor to whom
is DUE" is the apology for this refer
ence to him as man. Having proved
worthy in small things as well as great,
for so longer time and yet scarcely at
the prime of life, he is one of the class
of growing young men In our state to
whom our Oldest and purest men look
as worthy to wear the mantle of Hous-
ton, Burnet, Lamar, Rusk and their
compeers. Very respectfully,
]. II. b.
Dallas, June IL, 1875.
Mr.. PIERREPoNT, the new United
States attorney general, has issued an
importont circular to the circuit judges,