The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-10
LAWRENCE SULLIVAN ROSS.
The story of His Rccapture OF Lixxic
Ross.

| Coincidental with the proceedings OF the
| Ranger association meeting held here last
week, the following "reminiscences OF ran
| ger life Will prove interesting and of his
| torical value:
| THE RECApTURE OF LIZZIE ROSS BY
CAPTAIN Sui ROSS AS narrated by
Victor M. Rose in his History Of Ross
Texas Confederate Brigade, published by
the Louisville Courier Journal
Texas though her annals be brief, says
the author OF Ross Texas Confederate Bri-
gude. counts upon her roll OF honor the
names OF many heroes. both living and
dead. Their splendid services are the in
estlmable lesacies of the past and present
to the future or the latter, 1t is the high
prerogatlve of the State TO embalm their
names and memories as perpetual examples
10 excite the generous emulation of tho
Texan youth TO the latest post ,rity. Ot
the FORMER, 1t is orr pleasant province 10
accord them those honors which lheir SER
vices IN 50 eminent u degree eutitle them
to receive. Few lands since the days of the
Scottish chiefs have furnished material
upon which to predicate n Douglas a Wal
lace or Rayenswood, and the adventures
of chivalric enterprise. arrant quest of dan.
ger and the personal combat were rele-
gated together with the knights armorlal
trappingS TO the rusty archives OF Tower
ana Pantheon. until the Comanchc ljcdou-
lns OF the Texan plains rendered In poia de-
iiance the savage gauntlet to the pioneer
knights OF progress and civilization. And
though her heral1c roll glows with the
names OF Houston, a Rusk Lamar Me-
Culloch, Hays, Cheyellier Shapley II. Ross
Grip Ford and Baylor, which illumine the
pages of her history with an effulgence OF
glory, Texas never nurtured on her mater
nal bosom sen CT more filjal devotion, OF
more loyal patriotism or indomltaBe will
TO do and dare. than Sui Ross, who rescued
L'zzie Ross In 1888 aud Cynthia Ann Parker
in 1860 frcan Comanc:e captivity.
We find Sui Ross. during vacation from
his studies at Florence. Wesleyan universi-
ty. Alabama. though beardess boy,
scarcely 70 years of age in command OF
contingent Of 1875 friendly Indians. coop
Grating with the United States cavalry un-
der the dasllng Major Earl Van Dorm i'm a
campaign against the Comanches
Early in September 1858, Major Van
Dorn received orders from General Twigss
to equip four companies, including Ross
red warriors. and so out on a scouting ex.
pedi,ion against the hostile Indians This
he did. penetrating the heart OF the In,
dian country, where he proceeded to build
stocknde, placing within II all the pack
mules extra horses and supplies, which
was left In charge of the infantry.
Ross faithful Indian scouts soon To-
ported the discovery of a large Comanche
village noar the Wichita mountains about
ninety miles away. The four companies,
attended by the spies Immediately set out
for The village. and after satigulng
march Of thirty six hours, causing the men
to be continually in the saddle the latter
sixteen hours OF the ride, arrived in the
immediate vicinity Of the Indian camp lust
at daylight ON the morning Of October 1.
A reconnaissance showed the willy CO.
ttQN ,pl.. xxf,w, ~
tack aud We're sleeping In fancied securi-
ty The horses of the tribe. which con-
sisted OF cahallada Of about 500 head.
were grazing near the outskirts OF the VII
lage. Major Van Dorm directed CAPTAIN
Ross. at the head of his Indians. 10 round
up the horses and drive them from the
camp. which was effected speedily, and
thus the Comanches were forced 10 tight
on toot--a proceeding extremely narrowing
to the proud wurr1or's feelings.
Just as tho sun was peeping abnye tho
eastern horizoR. Van Born charged the up
per end OF the village. while Ross com
innild, In conjunction with detachm, ut
OF United States cavalry. charged the low
or, The village was strung cut a'ong the
banks OF branch for several iundrcl
yards. The morning was very ioggy, AMI
after few moments Of firing the smoke
and fcg became so dense that objects al
but short distance could ne distinguished
only with great difficulty. The Comauctcs
fought with absolute desperation. and CON
tended for every advantage, as their women
ana children and all their possessions were
in peril.
few moments after the engagement he
came general, Ross discovered a number OF
cnmanchcs running down to the branch
ABOUT loo yards from the village, ana con-
cluded that they were beating N retreat
Immediately Rnsa Lieutenant Van C,n,n
OF tho United States army; Alexander n
regular soldier, and one Caddo Indian Of
Ross command. ran to the point with the
intention 81 intercepting them Arriving
II was discovered that the fuxitiyes were
women and children. In n moment anotber
posse OF women and children cnm, runninc
immediately past the squad OF Ross who
discovering little white girl among the
number. made his Caddo Indian prab her
as she was passing. The little pale face.
apparently about years OF age was badly
frightened at finding herself a captiye 70 y
strange Indian and stranger white mon
ana was hard 10 manage at first.
Ross now discovered through tho fov ana
smoke OF the battle that band OF s,me
twenty-five Comanehe warriors han cue
MIS- small party off from Communicates
with Van Dorm and were bearing imr,n-
diately down upon them They sho. IJa,,l
tenant Van Camp through the heart XIII
ms him ere he could firn his double .harr,,
sho,grn. Alexander. She United states
cavaifymen, was likewise shot t,wn hafora
he could fire his gun. rine. Noes NO.
armed with sharp's rifle ana attemr,sS
to fire upon the oxultant red devils. Inf ths
cap Snappsd Mohee, Comanchs warrior
seized Aiexander's rifle and shot Ro.s
down. The indomitahse Young Ranger ii,
UPON the stde on which his pistol we