364 ample notice to all the Agents, the fight occurred near the Co- manche Reserve, the gallant action of Leiut. Nowlin and his brave little band, on that occasion, merits the highest commendation. Had the savages renewed their demonstrations after the arrival of Leiut. White, with a strong reinforcement, the Comanche Re- serve would have been exterminated, and so many less theives and murderers left to depredate on our frontier. The alacrity and promptness with which Leiut. White hastened to the support of Leiut. Nowlin reflected great credit upon his efficienty as a sol- dier and an officer. Referring to Mr. Murphy's letter to me and my own to Ma- jor Thomas, I will add, that after chasing the Indians about ten miles, I requested Messrs. Murphy and Miller to return and search a body of Port Oaks out of which the Indians first ran, believing a lot of stolen horses had been left there by them and not willing to spare the time myself. They did so and recovered fifteen valuable horses. The Indians had dogs with them and, without the shadow of doubt, were Brazos Reserves. That they fled to the camp of the removing Indians, is equally certain. But for the incessant rain of that day and a chase after a citizen sup- posed to be an Indian we should beyond doubt have destroyed detachment on the occasion was highly praiseworthy. Becoming satisfied that robbing parties of these Indians the party. The conduct of Leiuts. White and Bell and the whole were probably still behind, I determined, instead of proceeding to Red River, to establish a temporary camp on the Little Wichita. and from thence scour the country east and west as the surer mode of intercepting any such bands. Camp "Nowlin" was there- fore established at the foot of a magnificent valley, (one mile above the road) named by request of the company "White's Val- ley", as a compliment to Leiut. White. From this camp constant scouts were kept up for forty miles up and down the Little Wich- ita, different detachments going out under Leiuts White, Nowlin, Bell and myself and one to Red River under Sergeant B. S. White. Rain fell daily and the water though ordinarily good became un- wholesome, which, added to the unstated service of the men on horseback in such hot weather, caused the bloody flux in some- what epidemical form to appear among the men. After a stay of about eight days, under the advise of Dr. Bradford, the camp was abandoned and the command started in, hauling eight of the sick in the carts. On the 15th of August at Camp "Estis" on Salt Creek nine miles from Belknap, private Smith-Estis died. On the 17th the entire command reached Caddo Spring, where a portion
Powered by FlippingBook