The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-17
Incidents in the Life of the Late John Wilson, One the In
dian Fighters Under Colonel John S. Ford.

re west Of the ciblls creek they heard the
ppomiug or cannon northwest Of tbs road.
several miles above the crossing, on the
Salado creek and Captain Dawson turned
MS men, hfty,two IN number, 10 that dlrec-
ZION, leaving the road 10 the left. He was
satisfied II was Caldwell engaged with the
ssneniy, I'M made the fatal mistake Of push
,ng strn'ght forward. thinking that the
Ncst side Of the creek when II was lust
the reverse, they having crossed below
TaldwclPs position and attacked him from
arrived within two miles o. the battle
ground the engagement was over and the
Mexican army defeated. hut they discovercd
Dawson and turned their whole force upou
him, cavalry, artillery and infantry The
brave leader and no less gallant men made
most desperate fight, bnt were utterly
eiushed aud, almost .annihilaied, Thir'y-
two were killed on the ground two made
their escape and the balance we're captured.
most Of them being wounded. Among the
latter was Lcaudcr Herrill, who was 1T
orally hacked 20 pieces with sailors, but CUR
yived II all and the two years In the dun
gcons Of Mexico and is alive today. An
other one OF the wounded and capture.t
pioneer baptist preacher. Dawson Was
killed. The two men who escaped were
Anlcy Miller ana Gonzales Woods,
John Wilson was the first to carry inc
news OF Dawsous defeat and Caldwelfs
victory 10 Ia Grange, and as soon Ms that
Was accomplished stnrted back 20 his post,
hut on the way met Gonzales Woods. He
WAS badly wounded-shot In the shoulder
and cut about the head with sabers. HIS
horse was Killed In the fight and he tired
90 surrender, but a Mexican lancer dashed
upon HIM with leVelcd lance. Woods caught
tho, lance and gave such q quick, strong
pun trying to wrest Il from the Mexican
that the latter fell from his horse to the
ground, holding on to the lance but Moods
secured II and In nm instant ran Il through
his hody, pnuing his for to the grount
thon diseunaglug IL mounted the Moxicnn's
horse aud dashed away pursued by cavalry
ana being fired nj from every direction.
but carrying the lance with him His
brother, Norman Woods was alsu ia the
battle. had his hHck broken was captured
eron OF Pcrote Ills father Gaiock Woods
SO wears old was also thcre and was kit,eI
When Wilson met Woods his wounds had
rot hoes dressed and he presented fearful
sight covered with blood which had dri.l
ON his head, face aud clothing lie stili
carried tie lance. aud IT was snlotchcd and
spnttorcd with blood. Wilson carried Wooda
to the nrHir ST water and helping him to dis
mount washed the blood from his face and
head and dressed tho wounds With mpsncd
EHckly pear, poutlcc OF this is healing
and cooling, and draws fever from Wounds.
The Texans learned the efficacy of 'ha
medical properties Of this member OF the
cactus family from tho Southwest Indians,
who used II FOR wounds In their battles WITH
the whites.
Wilson accompanied Woods to his home
and he recovered. hut years aftPrwnrd ne
was Rllled ny Mexican rohhcrS In the Ro
Grandr or lower Nucces county. The lance
which Woods carried home Is now In the
possession of some of his relatives near
Yorktown, and Is highly prized by thcm.
lu 1913 John Wilson was living with his
father and family on Peach Creek. In Con
tales county where Waeldcr Is now, ana
from there enlisted IN company of Rang
Crs commanded by Captain Henry Il. Me-
Cuiloch They were station in Hamiltons
valley, near where the town ~ Burnet now
i. Their iieutenants were John r. King
ilrst and Calvin $. Turner second Asa i
L., Sowoll was orderly sergeant In on0
hght Lieutenant King was wounded
In the early htties Wilson was Ranger
with the Indians. At Anga Dulce Crock
he had his horse killed and himself was
wounded. Others. Of the Rangers were
wounded and William Gillespie Killed. lie
was a cousin OF Ad Gillespie, the famous
| Ranger uuder Jack Hays aud for whom
/ Gillespie county was named, In antther
J fight AT Arroyo Cats (CRt Creek several
| haud.to-hand encounters took place, In
| which Wilson killed two Indians, tain
| Ford made u narrow escnpe In this hght,
ON ono occasion Captain Ford sent Wilson
! and two other Hangers. James Wilson and
his brother and Ed Stevens to trail n band
! ~ Indians near the Rio Grandc and see
| where they went to The Indian crossed the
river and went over into Mexico. and tho
Rangers stripped OF their clothing md
swan over to see what discoveries the!
could make on that side, They were ar
short distance from the river and confined
that night unked az they were. In an old
Mexican hut made from poles set UP end
ways and matched between. Only one
guard was placed 10 walk to and fro IN
front Of the one door TO the hareal. while
the balance OF the soldiers lay down and
went to sleep few yards away. Durlng
the night John Wilson pulled a pole ont III
the wall of The hut and with one blow
killed the guard who sank down without
! II groan and the Rangers made their escap-
they swan the river again, donned their
garments and returned to camp.
Many other Interesting things occurred in
the life ~ Mr.. Wilson during his loug resi-,
drnce on the Texas frontier lie hually
! settled Ia San Antonio and died at his home
| on Beacon Hil In 1901. A, J. Sowell