Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-01-14
FRONTIER SKETCHES.
A Fight with the KickapOO and
Kioway Indians in 1895.
The Whites Routed with the Loss Of
Twenty.three Men Killed.
Written for The Gazette.
60. -. ~.

MERIDIAN, TEX, Jan. II, 1885.
During the winter Of 1S8465, large
party Of Klckapoo and Kioway Indi-
ans were emigrating from the upper
waters Of the Arkansas river to Mexi-
co, and their course led them through
Northwest Texas. They crossed the
Colorado river considerably above the
mouth of the Concho. and during q
cold snap, one OF the coolest that ever
strikes this portion Of Texas, in Janu-
airy 1865. The Indians had struck
camp, ia dense bottom on Dove creek,
a tributary Of the Concho. they were
passing through entirely above the
settlements and had not committed
any depredations upon the frontier
Their trail was discovered above
Fort Belknap by Capt. GillIntine of
Erath county, who without delay re-
ported his discovery to the citizens,
who at that time were nearly all en-
rolled as state troops in Erath, Co
manche, Bosque, Hamilton and
Brown counties. One b Il. Totten, a
reckless adyenturer, was command
ing, or claiming TO command, our mil
\ itary operations on the frontier. He
Issued orders at once TO the captains
In the counties above named, com
handing them TO raise all their avail
able forces and rendezvous at Camp
| Colorado Immediately. This foolish,
uncalled-for order was readily obeyed.
The Confederate service had lost its
! charms and the frontier of Texas
was crowded with refugees, advent
| urefs and reckless men, whose patriot
ism had oozed out for the Confederate
! cause. A set Of men more than will
! ing to engage in anything to avoid
! Confederate service rushed with SEEM
| ing patriotic enthusiasm into this eX-
| petition. The Indiana were travelling
slowly, remaining in camp several
| days at n time, aud were carrying with
| them their ponies-seveTal hundred
head-their women and children, tents
and all their camp equipments. Tot
ten, on rendezvOusiug and organizing
his scouts OF some three hundred
men, proceeded at once TO leave
Camp Colorado and proceed up
the country 20 the trail,
which was easily followed. On the
Sth Of January, 1865, the command
came up with the Indians, who had
been enCamped on Dove creek for sew
| eral days. The Indians seeing the
acout approaching, cent out white
flag, hut this emblem OF peace was dis
regarded and It's bearer shot down, and
a charge at once ordered, without any
previous reconnaissance, no sXaminA-
ton OF the situation OF the camp,
which was situated in an impenetra.
BILE thicket, Only one narrow Opep-
ing to get into the camp, but into this
narrow trail, the very jaws of death,
the men fearlessly rushed, not hating
until twenty-three Of our most
gallant frontlersmen had met
instant death. Finding II
impossible TO dislOdge or rout the
Indians, retreat was ordered, The
Indians had the very best of long
range guns, and from an eminenct
gained 10y thtm, they poured CALLING
fire into the ranks OF the rangers a
they were trying to rally. A panic
ensued. The Disconnected comman.
ders totally failed to halt or reform
their men. While try ing to rally bis
men Capt, Jas. Cunningham, from
COmanchc county, had one man, Ton
Parker, killed 10y a long range shot
This fatal shot renewed the panic and
r n hurly-hurly rout ensued, every mar
looking out for himself and getting
r further and faster away IL possible
leaving their dead comrades To be mu
tilated by the enraged savages
This Inflated expedition did no good
but much haru, 20 the frontier In
making additional enemies and aroas
ing TO revenge the exaggerated ana
;. outraged Indians Several of tbei
squaWs and their children were killeI
In the camp. The Indians proceeds
on their journey toward Mexico, ant
the unfor innate expedition returne,
home, leaving, as before stated, TWEEN
ty-three OF our best frontier citizen
dead upon the ground, among tn
number two from COmanche county
Tom Parker, mentioned above, an'
Don Cox Cox WAS one OF the bPs
Indian fighters on the frontier. III
possessed powerful frame, az wei
no undaunted, bulldog courage tina
never wavtred or faltered, and wa
always ready. He was IN Rlmoa
every scout party made after the In
Cians and always In front IL ther
y WAS any lighting to do. AS many n
three Comsnche Indian had receive
= furloughs 10 the happy huutln
:, grounds at his hands, His friend
= brought hi5 remains to Comanohe an
q buried them in the Comanche GENE
N terry. His memory is still fresh wit
n. all his old pioneer acquaintanoee.
Il would be too tedious TO mention eve
briefly the other twenty-five gallAn
a frontiersmen who fell in this unforu
nate expedition. More zeal than di
4, erection frequently produces the mol
direful disasters.
In continuing the series OF frontit
sketches, commenced last April an
: stopped In June, the writer will M
follow the subject chronologically bI
), will present the sketches in such ord,
% as in his Judgment will be most int
= esting to tive old pioneers, rs well
Ia those who have settled in the countl
since the Indian depredations ha'
ceased. To res cue from oblivion Il
= early "reminiscences that will soon
+" lost unless perpetuated by some OF Il
few remaining pioneers Is the only O
~ iect the writer has Ia complying vii