130 mules, with saddles, mexican blankets arms &c. were amongst the articles captured- the rout of the enemy was complete and disastrous-one horse wounded was the only damage to my command.- I cannot speak in too high terms of the ;gallantry of my command, the most of them young and without experience they proved themselves worthy of their country, and the service in which they are engaged. A. Gatliff and J. D. Scott acted as my spies and guides, and I beg to present them to your Excellency as gallant soldiers, and entirely worthy of your consideration. To the young men who commanded my detached parties all praise is due for their firm- ness and decision.- Sergeant E. F. Calhoun was by my side while acting as Infantry, and I bear cheerful testimony to his gallantry-Hermann Raven-· M. Anderson and Geo. W. Logan of Austin are reported to me in the highest terms. As this is the first foray of the Indians since I have been on this frontier, it may be presumed, that i should have prevented the crossing of the Indians below this place, or should have been so soon on their trail as to have averted the lamented results which followed their incursion. A word therefore to your Excel- lency upon the point may be necessary- Upon my arrival upon this frontier, I found the "Rifle Com- panies" already in the field with Baggage wagons and ambu- lances, and in full possession of all the various "water holes" below the San Antonio Road, and as I had understood from good authority, that orders were issued at "Head Quarters" at San Antonio, to the officers of the U.S. Army in command of posts or scouting parties on this frontier, not cooperate in any way with the State troops, but rather to avoid them as much as pos- sible, I did not deem it delicate or proper for me to pass below or south of that road, except upon a fresh trail, and therefore left them to guard the lower, while I took charge of the upper portion of the country-therefore, as soon as I heard of the en- trance of the Indians, I preferred to take a position which would render my services efficient, should the Indians succeed in pass- ing through the "Cordon of Posts", established by the "Regu- lars"-rather than create any difficulty or ill feeling by going where I would meet them engaged in the same duty as myself.- the result proved, that my position was fortunate. The authenticated report from below state, that 2 Mexicans and one American have been killed, and over 100 Horses driven off, and although the party I met were doubtless of the number
Powered by FlippingBook