El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-18


names of some of the brave men of thu
days of 1861 to '65, and transmit to tn
generation now coming on some OF thu
stirring events of that time. Historic
galore have been written by leading
men on both sides. each giving th'
gepe al course OF events, but often 81
biased by the sympathies of the writer
that those who we're deadly epemie
at the time of the battles, and OF
opposite sides, would fail to recognize
the events were it not for the name
and dates given. But the writer doe
not purpose going into these disputed
points, and will try as stated to 'pre
serve few of the affairs that never
have become history but still have {
frontiersmen now alive In Texas ano
the west.
Ia 1861 the Second regiment of Texas
mounted riflemen was organized al
San Antonio, Texas, and those com
panies present were sworn in for three
years or for the war. Col. John S.
Ford, known as 'Old Rip" had part OF
On the Rio Graude. He was appointed
colonel: John r. Baylor, lieutenant
colonel; and Hiram Waller, major.
The companies with Col. Baylor
we're started up the overland stage
route and stationed as follows: Capt.
Hammer, at Fort Clark (the writer was
frst'lieutensnt of this company; Capt
Walker. at Fort Davis; and Capt.
Peter Hardeman and Capt. Ike Stat
ford went on with Major Waller to Ell
Paso. Col. Baylor stayed at Fort
Clark short time and then stock the
overland stage for Ell Paso.' and the
writer went with him as adjutant of
the battalion.
Attn time Nicolas was the chief
of thu MescalerO Apaches, and his
home was on the eastern border of the
numerous creeks that make their way
through deep canons to the open
plains. At that time little was known
OF this country, only an occasional
scout being made by army officers sf-
ter the Apaches. The latter were
constantly am buscading travellers, and
killing them and running off their
stock. The coming on of the war did
not make any difference to- them, for
they would kill confederates as
willingly as yankees and were not
desirable neighbors
At this time the company of Capt.
J. w. Walker was scattered along
from Camp Hudson to Fort Davis, most
of them being at Fort Davis. The
captain had been an old army officer
aud was living at Hallettsville when
elected captain and had nearly q huD-
dred fine young soldiers.
At the post as Sutler was Col. Nc
Carthy, generous, big-hearted ''Ould
Irish gintleman," and he conceived the
plan of making An ally of the Apache
chief, instead of having him as an en-
envy, on one long line of communica- |
ton. So be got word to Nicolas to |
come into the fort, as his pale-faced
brothers we're anxious to see him and |
smoke the pipe of peace, with extras. |
Making treaties of peace and swearing |
eternal friendship are two of the strong |
points in the Apache character, as they |
promised a chance to show off in gaudy |
Indian toggery and get whisky, :obac- |
the treaty as easily as they did breado
Nicolas came in and Col. McC arthy was
highly elated. He treated him to the
best to eat and drink in the camp, and
told him that the head chief of the SOL
diers was at Ell Paso, and that he would
welcome him. as a brother, make a
great feast, have a smoke and make a
treaty.
Nicolas did not take to the idea of
leaving his people and going in
stage so far, but under the influence of
ola peach and honey, aud the genial
smile and barney of Col. Mccarthy,
he agreed to go They arrived n time
and were received with great ceSe-
mooy. Old Judge Santiago Magoffin.
Tatb er of Hon. Joseph Magoffin now
mayor of Ell PasO, acted "a inter- {
prefer and host In manner to win the E
neart of the mob e red man. Nicolas ,
was wined and dined to his hearts I
content, and speeches being in order i
Co.. Baylor, a good off-haud speaker,
greeted the chief in a handsome talk. 1
Col. Mccarthy also had his say, and '
'suttered few nice phrases; Then {
Nicolas, who was tall. fine looking /
nan, arose and made speech that was a
- pretty as twas hollow. 1t was t
UGH talk as old frontiersmen and the {
1exicans he had robbed time and
gain will recognize as the genuine ar q
icle C
Il am glad have come. My heart is d
I'LL of love for my pate-faced brothers.
hey have not spoken with forked
ongues. We have made treaty of d
aace and friendship. When L lie C
own at night the treaty will be in my
cart, ana when l arise in the morn
ng il will still be there. And 1 will b
re clad that l am at peace with my L
ale-faced brothers. 1 have spoken" Il
10 Judge Magoffin gave as toast h
Nicolas, our friend,' and all g
rank. b
We thought we had.msde trusty IL
'ol. Mccarthy gave Nicholas hug "a p
; Mexicans. Next morning when n
he chief left Col. Mccarthy went with q
i'm and the usual guards on the stage. W
hat night they reached the Barrel k
prings, % miles west of Fit. Davis, 7
eng small seep spring between Ell b
Iuerto and FIT. Davis where the mules r.
ERE given water. AS the coach is
topped Nicolas grabbed the colonel's p
x-shooter and with bold bound dis b
ppeared. AS soon as the colonel real 81
led bis little game, he turned loose a CT
apid-fre gun, loaded with good Irish tt