The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 26, July 1922 - April, 1923 Page: 278
324 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
them we thought at the time to be fifty yards, but it proved to be
not more than twenty-five. While waiting there for it to grow
lighter, altogether undiscovered by the Indians, a large spotted
dog came from them to us, without creating any disturbance what-
ever, and went quietly back again.
When we fired some of them fell about the fires, but most of
them stooped to grab their guns, and then took posts behind
trees, raised a yell, returned the fire, and flanked out from both
sides to get into the creek where they could see our strength. Half
of us had jumped upon the bank. Had we all had pistols, or the
six-shooters of the present day, we could have charged them and
kept them running. But as it was, we had to keep our positions
to reload our guns. They opened a heavy fire with their rifles.
Their powder out-cracked ours; if a shotgun was heard, it was
but once or twice out of five or six hundred shots. No bows and
arrows were seen.
After a few minutes Clark and Frank Childers on my right
flank were mortally wounded from the fire up the creek. Telling
the wounded ones to go back as far as they could, I ordered my
men to fall back in two squads, to the other side of the creek, to
gain the top of the bank, and to post themselves behind trees,
which they did, while I stood in my old position under the bank,
loading my gun, and watching the Indians approach. As the men
got posted, the Indians commenced charging with a terrific yell. I
retreated to the other side of the channel of the creek, but found
myself under a steep bank five or six feet high. The Indians
came on, and jumped down the bank on their side where I had
been. One had his gun within a few feet of me, fired, but missed
me. I couldn't miss him, and he fell right before me. This shot
and the fire of my men from their new position caused them to
dart back again a few feet behind trees. I made an effort to get
up the bank with my back to it and my face to the enemy; hold-
ing by a root with one hand, I swung partially up, but fell back.
My men called to know if I was hurt; I said "No, help me up the
bank!" Lewis Moore and Thompson lay down on the ground,
reached their hands down and pulled me up with my gun.
Rallying them now, I had Davis fall back fifty or sixty feet
with one squad and take a new position; I with the rest covered
his movement. Then we fell back about the same distance be-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 26, July 1922 - April, 1923, periodical, 1923; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101084/m1/284/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.