The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 31

The Federal Indian Policy in Texas, 1845-1860

Captain Henry McCulloch was ordered to the head waters of the
Guadalupe, Pedernales, Llano, and San Saba rivers on May 5,
1851, to protect the settlements in that section by a system of
scouting. I-e established his headquarters on the north branch
of the Llano River. Upon the discovery of a trail made plain
by a number of stolen horses driven presumably by Indians, Cap-
tain McCulloch and twenty-one of his men went in pursuit of the
thieves and found the Indians on the south branch of the San
Saba, more bent on escape than fighting. The Texans charged on
them so as to separate the warriers from the horses. Some squaws
who were in the party fought like warriors, and two of them were
taken. Seven or eight warriors were killed, and the others escaped
to the thickets, leaving the horses and other property. Captain
McCulloch gave the two squaws horses and outfits, and instructed
them to return to their people and tell them that if they would
bring any prisoners they had to Fort Martin Scott, near Fred-
ericksburg, and promise to stop their depredations, their property
and horses would be restored. The Indians accepted this offer,
and Katemsie, the chief, told McCulloch that he was attacking
only Mexicans."
On September 15, 1852, Captain Owen Shaw, who was stationed
with his company at Camp Bee, fifteen miles above Laredo, on the
Rio Grande, received word that a band of Indians had crossed from
Mexico and plundered ranches below there as far as Roma. Shaw
overtook them on the Arroyo San Roque, thirty miles northwest
of Fort Ewell on the Nueces. The Indians were moving without
caution, not expecting pursuit. When they saw the rangers they
came out of the arroyo, formed for battle, and defiantly waved a
red blanket. They fought with muskets, sixshooters, and arrows.
Shaw formed his men at a distance of seventy-five yards and the
long-range riflemen opened a slow, sure fire. The Indians had the
advantage of position, but Shaw forced them out and gave chase
until the rain stopped them.6" Captain Shaw sent his report to
Governor Bell on September 22, 1852. There had been twenty-
one Indians, nine of whom were killed, and the others wounded.

"Ibid., 356-359.
"'Ibid., 361-362.