343
No. 252
LETTER FROM JOHN S. FORD TO GOVERNOR H. R. RUNNELS
Head Quarters, Texas Rangers Camp Runnels April 14, 1859
Governor
Enclosed you will find a report of Lt. Nelson. The facts he details and many others which have come to my knowledge ren- der my belief of the "complicity" of the Comanche Reserve Indi- ans in the depredations on the frontier fixed. I shall attack them whenever I may find them outside of the limit of the Reserva- tion. The result will but hasten an event which will soon tran- spire, the breaking up the Reserve. Of the determination of a majority of the Reserve Coman- ches to leave, there is no dispute, if the testimony of those ac- quainted with them, and a just interpretation of their past con- duct, can be relied on. They are constantly sending news to the wild bands, and are doing more damage to the frontier than if they were openly hostile, and with our enemies upon Red River. -They are spies in our midst, and should our expedition fail the fault will be theirs. They are only waiting for a convenient oppor- tunity, for an occasion to get an important advantage, in the way of plunder or something else, before they join their brethren. Whether it would be policy to anticipate them is the ques- tion. We have the orders of the Agents to attack them off the reserve and we have facts to justify us in attacking them on it. I shall take the responsibility of doing whatever I conceive the good of the service demands, yet prudence and caution shall gov- ern my movements.
I have the honor to be Your obdt. Servt. JOHNS. FORD
Capt. Commanding Texas Frontier
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