232 the men very much scattered. I called them off & returned to the enemys camp where we were soon after joined by yourself. The known loss of the enemy in this engagement with the left wing was nine killed two wounded, three prisoners & two large droves of Horses & mules. I regret to have to report the loss of Private Robt Nickel of my detachment who became seperated in the ardour of pursuit from his comrades & was killed by a party of six of the enemy- Private Searey also of my detachment had his Horse killed & narrowly escaped after killing two of the enemy. It affords me pleasure to bear testimony to the gallantry of both officers & men under my command-The only distinction perceptable in the ardour of the entire command was the relative speed of their Horses. My acknowledgements are due to Lieuten- ants Tankersly & Preston for their able & efficient support & the gallant manner in which they brought up the extreme left at a very opportune moment thereby contributing m&.terialy to the success of the movement intercepting the enemys retreat, In the second engagement when the Enemy after being rein- forced showed themselves in considerable force on the Hill west of th village (then in our possession) the left wing moved on in connection with the right until masked from the enemy by an intervening ridge- when it was detached by an oblique move- ment to the left & moved around the base of the ridge, seeing you favored the movement by moving slowly forward in a direct line over the ridge in full view of the Enemy I indulged sanguine hopes of falling on the enemys right flank by surprise. This movement was attended with only partial success owing to the impetuosity with which a small party of our allies the Tonkaway & Waco Indians came dashing across the River to join us-They having been prevented from joining us earlier from being en- gaged in taking the first Camp of the Enemy some five or six miles south of the River. The loss of the enemy that came under my knowledge in this engagement was seven killed & two known to be wounded. I regret to have to report the loss of one of our allies a Waco Indian a gallant fellow who fell gallantly charging the enemy after having ex[h]austed his arrows. In this as in the first engagement both officers & men under my command bore themselves gallantly & as men sensible they have to maintain the character of "Texian Rangers" In closing this report Sir permit me to congratulate you on the signal success attending your efforts to hunt down & chastise this roving Enemy that have hitherto baffled all attempts to visit
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