TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
60
Tc The Honorable Secretary of War for the Republic of Texas
I feel that I would be remiss in the duty of a citizen of the republic to not inform the govern- ment what kind of a warfare is carried on against the republic of Texas by the Jndians of the United States. In the month of Deer last, Gen] Rusk promoted me from the grade of first Lieut in a Ranging company to the grade of Captain with orders to raise a company of rangers to range on the frontiers of this county and at the same time continued Capt N. T. Journey's company in the service untill the 14th March. In the month of Feby there was seven persons murdered by the indians near Journeys Camp and the indians made their retreat across Red River we then believed them to be Caddo or Kickapoo, but late- ly we have been visited by a band of Cherokee Indians from Ar- kansas which stole 20 head of horses they were pursued to the nation and the horses found, and also one of the horses of the murdered men in February last seen amongst them which is a convincing proof that the murder was done by the same indians. I was ranging on the waters of the Trinity when the murders were committed and then was not able to ascertain any infor- mation as to the route the enemy had come from that struck the blow as there was no trace of their trails to be found in the direction that we expected an enemy from. Those murders was committed in the very bosom of the country, and on the banks of Red River where no rangers are ranging, and unless the United States can compel her indians to remain peacable, we will be compelled to keep a company on the river to range up and down to prevent similar depredations. Genl. Armstrong the agent of the United States for the west- ern Indians has promised io try to recover the property stolen but this promises no Security to the citizens against a scalping knife. I discharged my company on the 14th April at which time there was a company raised to range on the south of this county where I had ranged for the 7 months previous. I have been requested to ask of the government 20 men to range up and down the Red River for the purpose of defending the set- tlements against the depredations of the United States indians, and if the government should think proper to raise such a com- pany and order me to raise it, I will take a pleasure in obeying
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