The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-14
CAPT.L.S. ROSS REPORT
10 Governor Sam Houston Of His Battle
with the COmanChe Indians.
ORIGINAL HAS RECENTLY BEEN FOUND
In the Adjutant Generals Ofhce ut
Austin--An Interesting nit of the
the states Early History.

Austin, Texas, January lS.-The follow
ing is a literal copy OF Captain L. s, Ross
report to Governor Sam Houston OF his
battle with the Comauche Indians on De-
cember 10. 1860, the original Of which WAS
recently found In the adiutant generals
department:
His Bxcellency, General Sam Houston.
Waco city. January "A, 1861, sir;
take great pleasure in communicating TO
your excelency the result OF the eSpedi
ton which | informed you designed
making against the Comenches IN my re-
port OF December s.
left my station on the 18th with forty
men OF my company which was all my
available torce-snd twenty men Of
company Second cavalry from Camp
Cooper under Sergeant = w. spanslef
on the morning Of the 18th met with
Captain Jack Darlington and gallant
company of ninety-two citizens, With
whom was anxious TO cooperate WITH
our combined forces we took UP the line
Of march for Pease river, guided by
Mr. Stewart Of Belkn1p brave and
hardy frontlersman OF much experiences
in indian nghting and q superior Rrowl
edge of The Indian country
on the evening Of the 18th We encamped
or Pease river. having Travelled IN Y Tor
two days. and on the morning nt the 18Th
made an early start. leaving Captain
Carrington's command in camp, some OF
his men hayirg lost their horses during
the night, and had proceeded but few
miles when / came upon q fresh trait
which ] al once recognized AS thai Of
Indian spies as IL led to and from an
elevated position on the prairie from
which they could obtain commanding
view of the surrounding country; hen
concluded their village could not he very
far off, and after dispatchiug mau 10
inform Captain Darlington Of tho discoY
cry bad made and requesting him 10 push
forward with his company, ! loft my com
pany 10 proceed on thn trail. while I
rode forward with Sergeant Spauger 20 q
prominent peak just in advance Of us. on
the opposite side Of the river Upon reach
ing the desired position we were most
agreeahly surprised TO ind that We were
withlt 200 yards OF the village, eight or
nice grass huts. which tho indians, fifteen
in number We're just deserving.
gave the signal foe the men to adj
vance and by the time they were falrly
prepared for The engagement, the Indians
Z
out ON a level plain. and were never ap-
prised OF our approach untll we we're
within 200 yards Of them. in full charge
consequently many OF them We're Killed
before they could make any preparation
for defense. Several however. were well
mounted and succeeded In getting about
two miles from the village before they
were KILLED fighting with great dcspera-
ton oil the while. Yet she surprise was
tt,..e Fs,r
enabled to gain self possession enough to
shoot their arrows with much accuracy
and precision, hence none OF my command
we're hurt in the conflict Ny horse and
that Of Private James Ireland were both
4 wounded with arrows Twelve Indians
were killed and the son Of tho chief and
white woman and child taken prisoners.
/ | take great pleasure in saying that all
! " NV men acquitted themselves With
( great honor, proving worthy representa-
I tiyes of true Texas valor. Not more than
! twenty we're able to get 10 the fight. owing
( 10 he starved and faded condition o. their
I horses having had no grass after leaving
/ the vicinity OF Belknap excepting dry
I sedge" which the buffalo had refused and
portion OF the time we fed them on cot
tonwood bark.
During the engagement Lieutenant
! Killlher saw one Indian mounted on A
! fleet pony and in the advance or the
others, and supposing II to be "warrioT
bold" he started IL hot pursuit eager fo-
single handed contest. but after race
OF two miles he came up with VIA be
had supposed a formidable adversary AMI
was Just 10 the act of firing when a white
woman threw up her baby and c~iad
Americana" She had been with them
from childhood.
Lieutenant sublett captured the son Of
the chief and took him up behind his
saddle. but seeing there were others en-
deavoring 70 make their escape be threw
him of and he was afterward taken up BY
r. G. Donahoe
Lieutenant someryille came very real
beirg killed by the chief who had dir
mounted evidently determined to fell mis-
iife as dearly as possible Lieutenant
Sornerviiia endesvnred ~ charge by hin
qnd Ftrot hit his horse made a shnr
belt when ths Indian TOO sure o. hi
victim let Az His arrow Just IS Lieptenaa
snmervile FELL over on the oppoyite sid
OF his horse
II ! had made a proposition TO nreseni th'
N-st mar who should kii and yesla ~
rrdie- r.itb Cots revolver And affr
'h> hsttle n was awarded 10 Mr, : n
Grsv
! A. FOR the men Of the Second cavsir-