News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-02-14
A TERRIBLE FIGHT.


In 1881 occurred one of the most ro-
markable Indian battles on record.
Considering the numbers engaged and
the results, it scarcely has an equal. Ii
was fought by James Bowie, Rein p.
Bowie, David Buchanan, Robert Arm
strong, Jessie Wallace, Matthew Doy le.
Cephas ID. Hamm, James Coryell,
Thomas McCaslin, and two servant boys,
Charles and Gonzales.
They set out from San Antonio, No
vember I'd, in search of old silver
mines on the San Saba river. Nothing
particular occurred" says Rein p.
Bowie, who gives the account, ''unt.l
the 18th, on which day, about 10 q. M.
we were overhauled by two Comanche
Indians and Mexican captive. They
stated that they belonged to Isaonie's
band Co chief of the Comanche fribe).
and were on their way to San Antonio
with drove of horses which they had
taken from the Wacos and Tehuacanas
and were returning to their owners.
citizens of San Antonio. After smoking
and talking with them an hour, and
making them few presents of tobacco.
powder, shot, etc., they returned to their
party, who were waiting on the Llano
river.
'We continued our journey until
night closing upon us, We encamped.
The next morning between daylight and
sunup, the above named Mexican cap
tive came to our camp, his horse very
much fati2ued, and after eating and
smoking, stated to us that he had been
sent by his chief, Isaonie, to inform us
that we were pursued by ia Tehacanas
and that forty Caddos had joined them,
who were determined to have our scalps
at all risks. lsaonie had held talk
with them all the previous evening, and
their purpose, but they still perse- I
vered, and left him enragtd, and pur-
sued our trail. As n voucher for the |
truth of the above the Mexican pro-
duced the silver medal of his chief, which
is common among the natives in such
cases. He further stated that his chief
requested him to stats-fiiaf Nc had but
sixteen me9-~i7T7F II 7Lev would rettfxu
-sss.ses 11oin him, such succor as he could
give US he would. But knowing that
the enemy lay between US we deemed it
more prudent to pursue our journey
and endeavor to reach the old fort on
the San Saba river, a distance of about
forty miles. The Mexican then returned
to his party and we proceeded. Through
out the day we encountered bad roads,
being covered with wild rocks, and the |
feet OF the horses being worn out, we
were disappointed in not reaching /
the fort. In tho evening we had I
some little difficulty IN picking out m /
advantageous spot to camp for the !
night. We however made choice of the /
best that offered, which was q cluster OF !
live oak trees, some thirty or forty in 1
number, about the size of mans body. |
To the north of them was thicket of /
live oak bushes about ten feet high, !
forty yards in length aud twenty in
breadth. To the west, ut q distance of
thirty-fiy or forty yards, ran stream
of water. The surrounding country was
an open prairie, interspersei with few
trees, some rocks and broken land. The
trail which we came on lay to the east
of our encampment. After taking the
precaution to prepare for defense by cut
ting road inside the thicket of bushes
ten feet from the edge all around, and
clearing the priclly pears from among
the bushes, we hoppled our horses and
placed sentries for the night. We were
now six miles distant from the cid fort
through the night, and we lost no time
in the morning in making preparations
for continuing our journey to the fort;
and when in the act of starting we dis
covered the Indians on our trail to the
east, and o footman about fifty yards
ahead of the main body, with his face
to the ground tracking. The cry of In
diansl' was given, and 'all hands to
armsl' We dismounted, and both sad
die and pack horses were Immediately
made fast to the trees. As soon as they
found we had discovered them they gave
the war whoop, halted, and commenced
to prepare for the fight. A number OF
Indians were accommodating the ground.
Among them we discovered afew Caddo
1ndians-by the cut of their hair-who
had always previously been friendly to
the Americans. -
Their number being so much greater
than ours Q64 toeleven), it was agreed
that Rezin p. Bowie should be sent out
to endeayor5o compromise rather than
atternnt tofght. He accordingly start
ed with Davie Buchanan in company
and uafked up to within about forty
vandsof where they had halted, and re-
.-~Gnested them in their own tongue to
ssnd forward their chief as we wanted
TO talk with him. Their answer was,
z How de do? How de dor in English
and discharge of twelve shots at us,
one of which broke Buchanan's leg.
Bowie returned their salutation with the
contents of double barreled gun and
pistol. He then took Buchanan on his
shoulder and started back to the en-
campment. They then opened heavy
fire upon them which wounded Buchan-
an in two more places slightly, and
pierced Bowie's hunting shirt IN several
places without doing him any injury.
When they found their shots failed 10
bring Bowie down, eight Indians started
after him With their tomahawKs, ana
when close upon him were discovered py
his party who rushed out with tneir
rifles and brought down four OIL them,
the other four retreating to the MAIN
bo1y. We then returned to our posi-
ton and all was still for about hve min
utes.
eve then discovered that hill about
sixty yards northeast OF us was rea win
Indians, who opened heavy nre upon
uowith loud yells-tIc chief on horse
bach urging them in q loud, audible
voce to charge, walking his horse, per
rectly composed. When we first dis
covered it our guns were all empty with
fbe exception of that of Mr.. Hamm.
James Bowie cried out, 'Who is loaded q
Mr.. Hamm answered, Z am He was
then told to shoot that Indian on horse
hack. He did so, and broke his leg and
killed his horse. We now discovered
him hopping round his horse on one leg,
with his shield on his arm to keep OIL