TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1860-1916
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Captain of said company with a full set of officers agreeable to said act; having in all thirty seven efficient men armed and Equipted as the Law directs and made out returns of the Election to the Chief Justice who reported the same to your predecessor in office who has not commissioned an officer of said company I cannot tell whether it was from negligence or whether it was because he knew that myself and all my people were opposed to his reelection I like to know if you will recognize us as a legal company or not. or whether or not we must report again ac- cording law I will also Inform you1· Excellency that last spring when the Indians were commiting depredations in this county the citizens formed a kind of a volunteer company and drew the publick arms to fight with by Executing bond and sufficient security to return said arms when demanded by the Governor and at my Election the arms were turned over to me and my company as myself and several of my company Executed the Bond for the safe keeping and return of said arms at your call, the arms are all in good order and has been of great use to us •in protecting ourselves and families and at this time there is some of them in pursuit of the Indians who a few days ago stole some Horses and are trying to escape with them our Citizens were close after them when last heard from they stole from Gatesville Cowhouse Creek and the Sulphur Springs all about the same time they have killed no person as we have heared of allthough they chased one man closely We are desirous that publick arms should not be taken from us we are verry thinly settled in this portion of country and are mostly poor people and have·been Engaged for the last twelve or fifteen months in running after Indians trying to get our stolen property from them so that the most of us is unable to buy arms and if we were disarmed the only alternative would be to leave the country and go further East which would result in the ruining of many last summer we succeeded in keeping the Indians out by keeping up daily scouts until we thought it was too cold for them [to] travel and we concluded we would rest until the first of March and so soon as we quit scouting they were amediaitely amongst us starting again if you are afraid the arms will not be returned in good order when called for we can give any additional security that is required
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