TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1860-1916
271
No. 185 EXTRACTS FROM OFFICIAL MEXICAN PAPERS [September 1, 1868] Explanatory Letter "A" Report Upon Indians and tribal peoples, pertaining to the Territory of the United States, now harboured by the Mexicans in the State of Coahuila, Mexico. September 1st 1868 Explanatory Letter "A" To avoid encumbering the report upon indian affairs on the Mexican frontier- with the details of my observations &c, I most respectfully beg the indulgence of this explanatory let- ter. When I left your head quarters, the last of April, I ex- pected in a few weeks to have reported to you; but on arriving at the Rio Grande frontier I learned that the indians were out on the war path, scouts or raids in the interest & behalf of Mexicans, and that they would be ab,c;ent till the fore part of June. Reaching the vicinity of their encampments, the news had come in of a battle with the Lipan. The Lipan are U. S. Ind, on terms of amity and friendship with the City of Zaragosa-; the Kickapoo & others with the Town of Musquis. The Kickapoo were victorious, slaughtering many of the Lipan-destroying their encampment-& taking booty; They afterward had another engagent & victory. They returned to Musquis-near which is the head quar- ters of the Captains of this scout, flushed with triumph-wel- comed to the Town as I understand by the ringing of Bells and the proposition on the part of leading Mexicans that they should have a public reception and that the Town & Citizens should give them a big dance over the scalps they bought in &c &c. This state of things forbade my making advances for the mo- ment. The accompanying extracts translated from the official
Powered by FlippingBook