45
PAPERS OF MIR.ABE.AU BuoN.AP.ARTE L.a:r.r.AR
It is now requisite that this officer should be named, and if you have any person in view upon whom to confer it, please signify your wishes to the Department
your obedeint servant Secty of Navy Louis P. Cooke.
[Endorsed]
Hon LP Cooke
Augt 1st. 1839-
No. 1372
1839 July 16, [K. H. DOUGLASS], CAMP CARTER, fTEXASJ, TQ A. S. JOHNSTON, [HOUSTON, TEX.ASJ 70
Hd. Quarters
Camp Carter
A. Sidney Johnston Sec of War Sir
16th. July 1839
On yesterday negotiation on the part of the Commis- sioners having failed under your orders the whole force was put in motion towards the encampment of Bowls on the Neches. Col. Lan- drum crossed to the west side of the Neches and up the river- The regiments under Col. Burleson & Rusk moved directly to the camp upon reaching which it was found to be abandoned- Their trail was ascertained and rapid pursuit made. About six miles above their en- •campment, in the vicinity of the Delaware village at the head of a _prairie they were discovered by the Spy company under Col. Jim Carter and a detachment of about twenty five from Capt Todd's company, lead by Genl. Rusk- The enemy displayed from the point of a hill- Genl. Rusk motioned to them come on-they advanced and fired four or five times, and immediately occupied a thicket and ravine-on the left as we advanced-the lines were immediately formed-and the :action became general-the ravine was instantly charged and flanked -on the left by Col. Burleson with a part of his regiment- The rest were 71 led by Lieut Col. Worlifl:7 2 thus instantly driving the enemy from the ravine and thicket leaving Eighteen dead on the field that nave been found and carrying off as usual their wounded as was seen ·by many of our men. Our loss in the engagement were two killed- one wounded mortally, and five slightly to wit. Dr H. Rorlgers 73 of Capt Tipps Com. John Crane of Harrisons, H. P. Cr'owson 74 mortally 70 A rough draft of James S. 2\Iayfield. A revised copy of this draft entitled the "Report of Genl. K.. H. Douglass of fae engagement with Cherokees on the 15th July, 1839" is in• the Texas Archives, "Indian Affairs," under date of .July 16, 1839. 71 For "The rest were . . ." the revised copy reads "the rest of Burleson's Regt. was . . .'' "The revised copy has it "\Voodlief'' instea,d of "'\Vorliff." From here on the revised copy reads "a portion of Genl Rusk's Regiment charging at the same time; and another portion took a position on 11 point of a hill to foe right and drove a party who attempted to flank us from that quarter, thus instantly -driving . . ." "'The revised copy reads "Rogers" instead of "Rodgers." See also the list of :killed and wounded in no. 1373. "Tlie revised copy ha.s it "Crouser" instead of "Crowson."
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