A Pictorial History of Texas, From the Earliest Visits of European Adventurers, to A.D. 1879. Page: 467 of 859
xix, 861 p. 2 fold. : maps, plates, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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COMANCHE INVASION.
465
prisoners they held. When they arrived they brought but one little girl, a
Miss Lockhart. They were known to have others, especially a Mrs. Webster
and child, taken from the neighborhood of Georgetown a few weeks previously.
During the confusion after the battle, this lady escaped, and, after
nearly perishing for water, finally with her child reached the city. On the
19th of March, twelve chiefs entered the building used as a court-house;
where they met the Commissioners appointed by Prssident Lamar, with the
interpreter. The Indians were upbraided for not bringing more captives
held by them. They said the one brought was all they held; this was said
in a defiant tone. In the meantime a company of Texas Rangers came on
the ground, Captain Howard and some of his men entering the house. The
interpreter was told to inform them that they would be held as hostages,
until the other prisoners were brought in. The interpreter at first refused
to tell them, as he said they would instantly fight. But the Commissioners
insisted, and placing himself near the door, he told them and left. As he
had said, the chiefs immediately drew their bows and knives. One started
toward the door in which Captain Howard was standing. The captain
received a severe cut with a knife, but killed the Indian. A general fight
ensued, in which Indians, men and women, participated. A powerful chief
attacked Colonel M. Caldwell, who was not armed. lIe defended himself
with rocks until a soldier shot the savage. In an adjoining room, Mr.
Morgan was attacked by two Indians, and killed both of them. Lieutenant
Dunnington was killed by a squaw, who shot an arrow through his body.
Judge Thompson was in the yard, amusing himself by setting up pieces of
money for the little Indians to knock out. IHe was killed by an arrow,
before he suspected danger. Judge HIood was killed in the council-house.
Colonel Lysander Wells rode into the plaza just as the fight commenced,
A powerful savage vaulted on behind him, and first attempted to unhorse
him. Failing in this, he tried to guide the horse out of the plaza. The
colonel, held fast as he was, found himself unable to draw his pistol.
Fnally, after passing two or three times around the plaza, the Indian was
shot by a soldier, and Wells relieved from his awkward predicament. The
melee lasted until all the warriors (thirty) were killed. Two Indian
women and three children were also killed. The loss of the Texans was
seven killed and eight wounded.
COMANCHE INVASION.-On the 4th of August some four hundred Comanche
warriors crossed Plum creek, in Caldwell county, going down the
country. They reached Victoria on the 6th, and after burning part of the
town and committing other depredations, they descended to Linnville, a
trading point on Lavaca Bay, entering that place early on the morning of
the 8th. Most of the men of the village were absent, and the savages proceeded
to pillage and burn the place. Three families took refuge on a small
sail vessel in the harbor. While Major Watts, Collector of Customs, was
trying to reach the vessel, he was shot down, and his wife taken prisoner.
From Linnville the Indians hastily withdrew with their valuable booty.
As the news of this raid spread through the settlements, the people rallied
under their favorite leaders to intercept them. Plum creek was the place
of rendezvous. Here were concentrated the companies of Captains Ben
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A Pictorial History of Texas, From the Earliest Visits of European Adventurers, to A.D. 1879. (Book)
Illustrated history of Texas, organized into ten sections: [1] General Description of the Country, [2] Texas Under Spanish Domination, 1695--1820, [3] Colonization Under Mexican Domination, 1820--1834, [4] The Revolution, [5] The Republic, From 1837 to 1846, [6] Texas as a State, from 1847 to 1878, [7] Indians, [8] Biographies, [9] History -- Counties, and [10] Miscellaneous Items.
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Thrall, Homer S., 1819-1894. A Pictorial History of Texas, From the Earliest Visits of European Adventurers, to A.D. 1879., book, 1879; St. Louis, Missouri. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5828/m1/467/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .