Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. V

63

G. L. HAASS C. MONROE A. ZIMMERMANN

Citizens of Castroville to Gov. Bell Relative to Indian Murders Jan 2, '50

[Endorsed:]

No. 48 LETTER FROM R. E. SUTTON TOP. H. BELL [JANUARY 7, 1850]

To His Excellency Governor P. H. Bell

Commander in chief of the military forces of the state of Texas

Respected Sir.

Having the Honor to command the Goliad Rangers, it becomes my encumbent duty to report to you, as commander in chief, the proceedings of said company during the period of our enlistment, On the night of the fourteenth of May Eighteen Hundred & forty nine, the Indians robbed the upper settlements of Goliad County on the West side of the San Antonio River, fif- teen miles above the Town of Goliad and drove off all the Horses in the neighborhood, and killed a very fine blooded Horse and Colt of Col Hodges, a party of the citizens went in pursuit the next day and followed the trail within a short distance of Cal- viers Rancho when the trail becoming indistinct it was impossi- ble to follow it any longer, Consequently the party returned. On the night of the second of June last, they again commit- ted depredations by driving all of the Horses from the Mission Refugio and on the night of the third they came in on the San Antonio river opposite to Carlos Rancho ..eighteen miles below Goliad on the West side of the river and killed several head of cattle belonging to Mr. Morgan OBrien and proceeded thence up the river taking two of Mr Sharps horses next they visited Mr. James A. Burkes and drove off six or eight head of horses mostly fine American stock, Between daylight and sunrise on the morning of the fourth of June they came within Two Hundred yards of my House, and drove off six head of horses, in the pres- ence of a part of my family, about seven Oclock A M they visited

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