The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-13
AFAMOUS TEXASFIGHTER
EXPLOITS OF THE LATE COL. JOHN $.
FORD In BORDER WARFARE.
A Man Whose Career Was a Success
sien of Exciting and PeriIOus En-
counters of Many Kinds.

rs, 1915, his father removed with his family
to Tennessee in 1877 and there Colonel Ford
resided until he was twenty-one years Old
larry in 1886 his zeal was aroused by the
struggle for independence in Texas, and he
recruited company, in advance of which
he came to Texas, reaching the scene of
action TOO late TO participate in the battle
of san Jacinto. In lS56-l-S he rendered mil
itary service to Texas, conducting cam
paigns at various times against the Indians
and never making a ngnt without winning.
In one skirmlsh with the Comanches ne,
Captain Hays ana fifteen other men
charged the redskins, killing thirIy-five of
them. In 1874 he was elected TO the Con-
gress of the republic OF Texas, and was
the first to introduce a bin for the accept
ance of the annexation resolution.
Colonel Ford settled at Austin in 1S45, es-
tabishing the Texas Democrat. In the fol-
lowing year he went to the Mexican war as
adjutant of Col. John c. Hayss regiment.
After many engagements with guerrillas in
the vicinity of Vera Cruz, he was selected
to command company of spies. When
General Patterson advanced to the City of
Mexico he commanded the front guard and
took an active part in all the subsequent
engagements in the valley of Mexico. For
gallant services while thus engaged he was
recommended to the War Department by
Gen. Joe Lane.
In March, 1879, Colonel Ford accompanied
Maj. Robert S. Neighbors in the expedition
to FL Paso, a valuable report of which he
prepared. In 1S49 he was made captain of
the Rangers, stationed between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande, and in that and sue
ceeding years he had many engagements
with the Indians, in all of which he was
victor. 1t Is related that in single combat
he killed an Indian chief and captured his
little boy, whom he educated intending that
the redskin should make a mark in the
world If possible. The Indian boy did not
wait to graduate. Having learned of how
his father died, he quit school, tried to
assassinate Colonel Ford, and, failing in 1t,
fled to the forest where he resumed the
ways of his race.
IN CHARGE OF STATE TROOPS.
In 1852 Colonel Ford was elected to the
Senate to succeed Gen. Edward Burelson.
and in that year he purchased the South
western printing establishment, merging it
the following year with the State Times,
with Capt. Joe Walker as his partner.
He pursued his editorial labors until 1858,
when he was called to the command of the
state troops. In May of that year he was
ordered to penetrate the Comanche hunting
ground with an expedition consisting OF one
hundred Rangers and Ill friendly Indians
tiles. The state troops charged impetuous-
ly. The famous Comanche Chief Iron jack
ct. who appeared in full war dress, was
killed by friendly Indian named Pock
Mark The coat of mail worn by this chief
is now in the library of the State capitol
The second chief next advanced ana rel at
the end of the village, whereupon the KAN
gers rushed forward, yelling, and captured
the village. In this contest the Commences
lost seventy-six killed pesdes 5ner %oInd7
robes, ETC., while the Texans only lost two
killed and wounded.
During the fall of 1859 Gen. Juan N Cor
tina organized a force in Mexico professed-
ly for service in that country, but in reality
to sack Brownsville, Tex. Before daybreak
on the morning Of Sept; y ne entered Ine
preparing to burn the place when he was
Induced to withdraw by General j. M. Car
vajal and Col. Miguel Tfjerina- He then
waged war without restraint upon the peo-
pie of Texas, robbing the United States
mail burning houses and shedding blood.
In an affair with citizens of Brownsville
he had decided advantage. IL TOOK the
citizens three days to march to tort ana
three hours to get home Cortina slowly
moved up the Rio Grande, devastating the
country as he went He was pursued by
Gen. Heintzelman, at the head of force
of regulars and Rangers, who, on Dec. 70,
made a forced march with a view of sur
prising the bandit chief Col. Ford was
sent forward by Governor RunnelS TO oc-
cupy the road to Roma in advance of Cor
tina, with ninety Rangers. He met a scout
ing party of Cortina's, exchanged shots
with them, and threw his force between
them and Rio Grande City. Colonel Ford
advanced, charged Cortinas artillery, re-
ceived a cavalry charge, which he re-
pulsed, and then pursued the flying enemy
When General HeintZleman arrived with
the regular troops the battle was at an end,
and Colonel Ford was in pursuit of Cor
tina's body guard. He captured Cortlna's
artillery and drove the flying Mexicans
+hn
this engagement consisted of nine hundred
men. cavalry and artillery, whose defeat
by one-tenth their number of Texans shows
the stuff of which the latter were made.
Colonel Ford generally judged of a mans
military qualities by his eye. A young man
who had graduated in Oberlin College, ac-
tuated by spirit of adventure, drifted to
Brownsville and found himself stranded.
In the latter condition he walked to Col.
Fords camp, about six miles south of the
city and, addressing himself to the COM
mander, said:
Colonel, have nothing to do and want
to join the Rangers"
II like the color of your eyes, and will
give you an opportunity to distinguish your
self" the colonel replied. after gazing care
fully into the eyes of the young man, which
were steel gray.
The next day the young Ranger was sent
to Brownsville with dispatches. Returning
he captured a noted Mexican desperado
who had slain several Americans and for
long time had eluded the Rangers. The
colonel, who said:
II don't care to see him.
"Come along" said the Ranger. address,
ing his prisoner, whom he forced 10 ~
front of him until they entered a small
patch of chaparral, in which they a.
peared. A moment later a shot was heard.
1t was the death Ixnell of the Mexican Grim
inal. The classical young Ranger returned
to the colonePs camp and reported:
Escaped"
''Tfs WE'LL" was the colonel's reply
In those days when the road to civilization
had to be blaZed with the six-shooter or
does was deemed impracticable, unwise and
without good results.
A FIGHT WITH CORTINA.
Cortina recruited and reorganized his
forces and then moved down the Rio
Grande, occupying bend called La Bolsa,
thirty-six miles northwest of Matamoras,
where he intended to capture the steamboat
Ranchero, which was descending the river
with valuable cargo and 100000 in silver
coin. Lieutenant Louis Langdon was on
board the steamer with detachment of
regulars and Stoneman and Ford were NOV
ing up the river The steamer was at
tackled by Cortina early in the day. Lang
don used with good effect two pieces of
artillery which he had mounted on the hur-
ricane deck, where he constructed fort out
of cotton bales.
The steamer was driven to shore and tied
up at the convex extremity of the bend
while Cortina commanded the river above
and below her. He being on the Mexican