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No. 165 LETTER FROM A. NELSON TO CAPTAIN
Camp Runnels, Texas April 13th 1858
Captain On the 7th Inst. one of the citizens seven miles above this on the Clear Fork of the Brazos came into camp & reported the loss of some horses & mules & that the Indians had been seen ten miles above this on the stolen animals. I left in thirty min- utes with a file of fifteen men & two Indian Guides, provided with several days rations. In an hour & a half we were on the ground where the Indians were seen, but not till a heavy shower of rain had fallen & obliterated the trail. I however took the di- rection & after following some six miles struck the trail on seven mile creek it was partially obliterated & verry difficult to follow, it went North west to within six miles of Camp Cooper, where we could no longer follow it. I then made a circuit around by the source of fifteen mile creek back to the Clear Fork five miles below the Agenc-y without striking the trail though the rain had not extended so far. On reaching the Clear Fork I was informed by the citizens & by Mr Maxwell particularly (near whose house I encamped) that Indians were there almost daily; had but a few days before robbed his house of some arms & killed several of his cattle but informed me that they were the Indians from Camp Cooper Agency, that he knew them well. I informed him that the agent Col. Lepen had specially requested us to kill all we should find off the Reserve & that I should consider it my duty to do so. He was somewhat apprehensive of the consequences to himself & neigh- bours & informed me that up the River toward Phantom Hill There was at all times parties of Indians the Buffalo being abun- dant, I determined to continue my scout to that point did so, found Indian sign abundant but not recent enough to warrant pursuit having in view the expedition to the Witchita. I then returned by the most direct route to the settlements on the Clear Fork five miles below the agency. I saw one Beef evidently killed by Indians near those settlements. It is perhaps going beyond the legitimate limits of this re- port to suggest inferencies to be drawn from these facts men- tioned above; but knowing your earnest desire to arrive at the fact as to whether or not there is an enemy on our immediate border before you leave on the expedition I will venture to say
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