Fighting Men of the Indian Wars: A Biographical Encyclopedia of the Mountain Men, Soldiers, Cowboys, and Pioneers Who Took Up Arms During America's Westward Expansion Page: 61
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A BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA BURLESON
ment representatives, told them he realized the futility of
war but intended to lead his people against any military
threat.
By mid-July Bowles had assembled between seven and
eight hundred warriors in a camp near the present city of
Tyler, while approximately nine hundred Texans were
camped five miles away. The Texas regulars were com-
manded by Colonel Burleson, but the large body of volun-
teers wanted Thomas Rusk to lead them in the pending
battle. On the morning of July 15 Bowles pulled his
Cherokees out of camp and headed north, while the Texas
units marched in pursuit.
Bowles placed his men in a defensive position with a
plain in front and woods behind. The women and children
were sent ahead through the woods. A Texan scout com-
pany found the warriors and a skirmish broke out. At-
tracted by the firing, Burleson and Rusk led their men to the
attack. Rusk directed a frontal assault, while Burleson and
the regulars attempted a sweep around the right. The
Indians, superbly commanded by Bowles astride a white
horse, resisted stubbornly, and the battle raged for two
hours under a late afternoon sun. When darkness fell there
were eighteen dead Cherokees and two fallen Texans.
Bowles and his warriors slipped into the woods toward the
north, while Burleson and Rusk camped on the battlefield.
The following morning the Texans resumed the pursuit,
locating the Cherokees in another strong entrenchment on
the west bank of the Neches River. A Delaware village was
nearby, and the Texans impetuously destroyed the en-
campment. Bowles sent a band of warriors to engage the
scout company, while Burleson and Rusk organized an-
other attack against the main Indian force. Burleson led an
assault on the Cherokee right; Rusk again commanded the
frontal attack; and two volunteer companies advanced on
the left. After an hour and a half the Indians had not yielded
ground. The Texans tried to lure the Cherokees into the
open with three feints and quick withdrawals, but Bowles
refused to fall for the ruse.
Frustrated, the Texans charged from all sides and stub-
bornly managed to carry the field. Once dislodged, the
Indians quickly scattered, suffering one hundred casual-
ties. Chief Bowles defiantly stood his ground, but his horse
was shot out from under him, and the gallant Cherokee
leader was slain. Texan losses were five killed and twenty-
seven wounded. The routed Indians were pursued for the
next week and a half, but they had fled in several directions
and would never return to East Texas.
December 25, 1839; Colorado River, Texas. Colonel
Burleson had led a group of regulars, a handful of volun-teers, and several Tonkawa scouts in search of hostile
Indians. Marching along the Colorado River, the Texans
located an Indian camp on the west bank about three miles
below the San Saba River. The Indians sent a messenger
who informed the Texans that the band was a remnant of
Cherokees fleeing toward Mexico under the leadership of
The Egg, Chief Bowles' main lieutenant, and John Bowles,
son of the dead chief.
Burleson detained the messenger and demanded that
the Cherokees surrender, whereupon the warriors opened
fire. Burleson promptly ordered a charge which routed the
Indians, although two of his men were slain. Seven braves
were killed, including The Egg and John Bowles, and two
dozen Cherokees were captured, along with their livestock
and camp equipment.
August 12, 1840; Plum Creek, Texas. On the most famous
and sweeping of all Comanche raids, several hundred
hostiles led by Chief Buffalo Hump, struck as far as
Linnville on the Texas coast, finally heading back toward
their homeland with more than three thousand head of
stolen livestock and miscellaneous loot. Various bands of
Texans rode to head them off, including eighty-seven men
and thirteen Tonkawa scouts commanded by Colonel
Burleson. Comanches normally scattered after a raid to
congregate later at a predetermined point, but many of
Buffalo Hump's four hundred warriors had brought along
women and children, the enormous horse herd had to be
driven by most of the braves, and a great many of the
captured mules were heavily laden with plunder. The
pursuing Texans converged at a crossing of Plum Creek a
few miles south of the present town of Lockhart. Com-
mand was assumed by General Felix Huston of the regular
army, although most of the Texans held greater respect for
more experienced Indian fighters such as Burleson.
As the Indian cavalcade approached the crossing,
Burleson and other captains dismounted their men and
calmly checked their weapons. Burleson was asked to hold
the right with his command. The Comanche outriders
performed spectacular horseback antics, hoping to distract
the Texans while the main body of Indians and livestock
passed to safety. A tall warrior rode toward the Texan line,
shouting insults and issuing a challenge to single combat.
He was toppled from his horse by an expert rifleman. The
veteran captains knew that Comanches were instantly
demoralized by such misfortunes, and Huston was per-
suaded to order a charge.
The Texans, by now remounted, fired a rifle volley and
spurred forward. The Comanche outriders were shattered
and the Texans crashed into the main body of Indians. The61
A BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
BURLESON
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Fighting Men of the Indian Wars: A Biographical Encyclopedia of the Mountain Men, Soldiers, Cowboys, and Pioneers Who Took Up Arms During America's Westward Expansion (Book)
This book "is a compendium of America's Indian Wars and the mountain men, soldiers, cowboys and pioneers who took part in them" (dust-jacket). It includes information about all the major American Indian battles, the lives of notable men who fought in the battles, and the combat techniques employed. The index begins on page 247.
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O'Neal, Bill. Fighting Men of the Indian Wars: A Biographical Encyclopedia of the Mountain Men, Soldiers, Cowboys, and Pioneers Who Took Up Arms During America's Westward Expansion, book, 1991; Stillwater, Oklahoma. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151417/m1/81/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Panola College.