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64 the Rancho of the Revd, Mr. Hillyer two miles fa1·ther up the river and within eight miles of Goliad where two old Negroes were left to take care of the crop, they went into the house and rifled it of its contents cutting the feather beds open and divest- ing the negroes of their clothing and provisions and then told them that they were going to Goliad to whip the Americanoes, In the mean time I despatched a messenger up to Goliad on the East side of the river to inform the citizens of their outrages in this vicinity, A party with great promptitude formed themselves into a company with J. W. Johnson at their head and went in pursuit, they struck the trail about 3 Oclock in the afternoon and followed it untill eleven Oclock at night when they overtook them five miles above Goliad they were enabled to keep the trail after night by one of the horses in Company who followed it otherwise it would have been impossible to have done so, As the trail most of the time went through a thick Chapparal, when they came in sight of the Indians they were about 100 yards off most of them being dismounted, Capt Johnson brought his men up in line, and gave the order to charge his boys immediately obeyed, a few of the Indians succeeded to mount some of the best horses and made their escape others made their escape on foot in the chapparal every man of the company had a chance to dis- charge his arms, and several Indians supposed to have been killed or badly wounded as they fell from their Horses at the fire, they were completely surprised and routed. Nine horses were captured with any quantity of Buffalo robes saddles bridles Blankets shieds &c. The horses taken were returned to their several owners whoever claimed them, The company slept on the ground that night where the battle was fought, but it raining very heavy during the night it was impossible to make any further discovery next morning in the way of sign so the company returned to Town the same day-The citizens of the San Antonio river im- mediately got up a petition and sent Capt Johnson in person to the Govenor G. T. Wood asking for a company to protect the set- tlements on the San Antonio river, for unless they could get pro- tection they would have to leave their growing crops and quit the country at this request the Govenor authorised Capt Johnson to raise a company for the protection of the San Antonio river and as soon as organised to report the same to the adjutant General at Austin-on the seventh of July 1849 the company was duly organised and mustered into the service of the State for the period of six months-
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