PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
277
them had got his thigh broke and they others would not [lea]ve him during the night their ammunition [gave] out and were taken prison- ers and their heads cut off there was also a family Add Lawrence among the first setlers that was celebrated for Indian fighters and Mustang Ketchers when the nort side of Red River was seded off to the choctaw Iindians was all broken out only a few of the setlers remained remained [sic] but it again commenced resettleing in 1831 and has been rapidly setleing since not with [stand]ing the Indians has been verry Trouble some [asa] cause of the cadow 70 war[.] immediately after they sold their land in Louisiana to the united States they moved in Texas and commenced stealing horsis [sic] and occasionally killing a man on the frontier parties frequent- went after them but could get no satisfac- tion from them the [In]dians as much as twice offered to fight [the]m but owing to the Indians being to strong for our men they declined fighting them untill July 1838 a small company hearing they were encamped on Syprus creek with a number of American horses deter-· mined to visit them on reaching the company found no horses that they knew and the Indians was verry impertinent ad [and] would give no Satisfaction the [company be]ing unorganized they were rather in confusion some were for fighting others for going of 71 they appointed a committy to say what should be done of which Wm Becknel Clayburn Chism M D Wright Jas Bowland Thos Ragsdale Methias click were appointed 3 of the committy was for fighting and for opposed l\fr Bolland obsered that they had stolen all of his horses and that he would have some horses before he left those that was opposed [to] fight left and took of others to the amount [of] 17 men l\fr Jones Boland then went to th[e] [chief] and told him that his men had stold o[ne] of his horses and he must have horses to pay for [them] the chief agreed for :Ur Boland to take twenty horses and keep them untill the 15th of September and if his men did not bring in his horses by that time JI.Ir Boland should keep them the company started to drive off the horses and the wariors immediately got their r sic] and commenced the fight engaged in the fight Jas Boland Benjamin [ ]7 2 Netherby M D Wright Thos Ragsdale Jas Adkinson Ma- thias Click one not Recollected killed 3 Indians and no hurt done on our side Drov off the horses Indians failed to bring in Bolands Horses report Said Said [sic] Sam Houston Issued a rit to have the company taken and hung[?] it was never served
Thos Ragsdale
[Endorsed] From Thos Ragsdale Red River
..,Caddo.
71 The meaning would be clearer if the word "on" were substituted for "of." 12 Names missing where document is torn.
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