Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-08
A STORY OF GEN. LEE.
His Attack Upon a Band of savages
i'm 1860


Col. A. G. Bracket, now commander
at Fort DAVIS, Texas, has spent the best
part Of a long and arduous military ca
reer In Indian fighting and the toughest
of frontier work generally, writes cor
respondent Of the St. Louis GlObe-DemO-
crat. For years prior to the war, when
! san Antonio was but a far-Outlying post,
when railways were an unknown guam
tity in Texas taxable values, and the
COmanches and MeXicans practically
owned creation, Col. Bracket was hold
ing up his end OF government guard duty,
| and of necessity became intimate with
most OF the men who for some portion OF
| their lives lived on the then far frontier,
and aiterward became heroes of national
story and song. 70 a group OF interested
listeners Col. Bracket detailed the fol-
| lowing hitherto imprinted episode in the
| life Of Gen. Robert +. Lee-in 1860 Colo
| mel in command OF the department of
Texas, and in 1860 the Contederacy's
| grandest soldier.
''RObert h. Lee" says Col. Bracket,
"was on his way from San Antonio 20 the
Rio Grande for TIE purpose of doing what
he could toward bringing the COrtinas
war to a close and settling the disturb
| ances connected Herewith. He had for
his escort my company Of the Second Cav
possible. lie had done what he could
in his office, and now found his ouly
safe plan was To 90 himself 10 the
spot where hOstiliues were progress
| ing. lie was man who always attended
to everything himsel as far as possible.
Utterly without pretensiOn he held every
man to a strict performance of his duty,
and spared nothing in having his plans
carried out. He was an able department
dor ND Il Of
those qualities which made him famous
on more extended sphere of action, and
proved him one Of the greatest military
leaders this country has produced. BE
was strict in his ways, but at the same
time was one of the most benevolent and
kind hearted of men.
LAS he approached Seco river mes
senger came galloping up to hun and re-
ported that the Indians were just ahead
and were robbing the settlements on and
near mat stream. 1t took but moment
TO pass the word to me. We dashed of
with our troops, and were soon in the
midst OF the SaVages, who, unaware OfOur
proximity, were plundering without him
drance and to their own great satisfaction.
But when the cavalry dashed in upon
them there were seen some amazing
feats of hOrsemansnip, as with wild
yells the Indians endeavOred to get out of
cattle, and were about to rob a house Oc-
cuPied by women who had huddIed to-
gether there, when Lee appeared on the
scene. Again they went in every direc-
ton, but generally up the river toward
the mountains, the cattle lowing from
fright, and the big bay horses Of the troop
ers bounding after the red men over rocks,
stones and bushes in way to gladden.
the heart of every true hOrseman. For
time the din was great as the troops
tore through the bushes. 1t was
a race for lite, and most exciting one, as
all must admit. How many were hurt
never was accurately known to the
whites, as an Indian can conceal himself
in place which would almost seem i'm
possible. The chase was kept UP for a
couple OF miles, but in the broken ground
all further efforts were useless. The men
returned to the house, when a recall was
sounded, their horses being blown
and their clothing in strings from the
brush and bria S. The women were
dreadfully frightened, their husbands and
brothers being away from home at the
time of the attack, but as the soldiers
returned they came in and were profuse
in their thanks to Lee for his timely ar
rival and his handsome performance in
beating off the red rascals. He was as
impassive as ever, but it was plainly to
be seen that he thoroughly enjoyed the
discontinue OF the Indians, as well as
the eagerness of his men to get at them'''
In lengthy and interesting mention OF
the great commander as one who had
broken bread and lived in camps with
him, Col. Bracket speaks of the Confede-
rate General with the respect and tender
appreciation of lifetime soldier for a
gallant foe.