The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-04
HE SNIVLEY EXPEDITION.
exans in Pursuit of a Mexican Caravan
Disarmed by United States Dragons.

pass on it's way to Santa Fe in about
eighteen days. They were also Informed
that tho caravan was guarded by 800 Mex
lean soldiers as far as the United states
boundary line and that those troops were
in that vicinity awaiting the return Of the
merchandise.
ON June a partnership was proposed hy
the Bent people. They offered to put In
forty men at that time and forty moe
shortly afterwards and we're 10 have pro
rata share Of the spols but in few da-s
afterward the Bents sent word that they
could not comply. The Texan spies III
had been sent out to look after the Mex
cans returned and reported 600. Tho al
vance guard Of the enemy took one Of the
Texans prisoner but he passed himself off
MS one of Bcnt's men and they released
him.
The Texans remained in the valley OF ,Se
Arkansas for some time, recruiting. dri.l-
ing and hunting for the enemy. ON June
8 they took Il Mexican prisoner, from whom
they learned that an express went from
Texas to Council Grove and Informed the
traders Of the advance of the Texans hut
the former. having procured 200 United
States dragons to guard them across the
boundary line, would pass on
On juno II the Texans received news Of
the caravan. 1t was advancing, composed
OF sixty wagons and seventy-hve hundte !
the wagons belonged to Americans and the
whole was guarded by 300 American dr-
goonS under the command Of CAPTAIN Phil
lip 81. George Cooke, On the goth, while
rich prize, they had come so far to ma,
they met with detachment Of the enemy.
The latter secured a good rayinc, the only
one for mics around In the prairie. the
Texans Immediately charged them, each one
advancing according to the speed Of his
horse Some of the MeXicans fed; the
others. after discharging their guns, SUI,
rendered Those who ran were pursued
and three of them killed. The victor '
showed seventeen of the enemy killed and
eighty prisoners. eighteen Of whom were
Nhn tagrFs ttfNf II
whatever and from the sDois supplied them
selves with horses, saddles and arms In
abundance.
The Texans marched with their prisoners
to good water hole where they re-
manned until June n ON that day about
300 mounted Indians rushed into their camp
at full speed and one of the picket guards
fired at them, but they proved to be friend
~ About this time the Texans began
TO he dissatisfied and desired to return Ia
their homes. This dissatisfaction continued
and on the 2Sth, when the spies came In
and brought no news of the caravan, II was
a eacly increased. About seventy Of the
men withdrew from the command and elect
ed Captain Chandler to lead them home.
Three more of the wounded prisoners hay'
ing died, the others were furnished with
arms to keep them In meat, the wounded
with mules TO ride and the whole of them
set nj liberty.
Captain Chandler and his party set out
for home on the both Of June and Colone
Sulyley with the remainder proceeded w
the Arkansas to hunt game and await the
caravan, On the 10Th. part OF Snlyley
men crossed to the left bank Of the river
10 kill buffalo. They were discovered and
run In by the advance Of Captain Cooke /
dragons. That officer soon came up with
his entire force consisting Of 1876 men, wei
mounted and equipped and with two can
non. lie sent for Sniyley to visit him and
asked to see his papers. which were shown
him. whereupon he said Ia Colonel Snivley
that he believed the Texans were en-
camped on the territory OF the United
States. Captain Cooke consulted with Ms
officers and they we're Of the same opinion
He then informed Colonel snlviey that the
Texans must he dlsarmed. The latter pro
tested and gave his reasons why he be
l'eyed the Texans were on their own terri