Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. V

77

No. 58 LETTER FROM J. J. GRUMBLES TOP. H. BELL

Nueces Station Jany 30th 1850

My dear Sir,

I have just returned from a long and unsuccessful Jaunt that I have had after a small party of Indians that murdered Major Bryant of Corpus Christi on the morning of the 12th. He had reached the Chockolet Journeying towards Goliad when the ambushed foe rushed upon and instantly killed him. They had taken some 60 or 80 Head of Horses from Wood's Rancho which they succeeded in carrying off. Intelligence of these depredations did not reach me until the night of the 13th. On the morning of the 14th I with a detachment of 23 Men gave pursuit, and fol- lowed them for six days with the most untiring energy, but all my exertions to overtake them proved of no avail I followed them over three hundred miles, frequently coming upon Horses that had been abandoned and lanced ; evident tokens of the ra- pidity with which their retreat was effected They passed out near the Leona Station through "Canions pass" into the Moun- tains, where I was satisfied that farther pursuit would be en- tirely useless- ! am satisfied that if I could have gotten a fair start with these ruthless murders, that the number of our foes would have been somewhat diminished; as it was I was doomed to disappoint- ment, and the war path that we followed with all the fury of re- venge burning in our bossoms, we were compelled to retrace, sad, weary and dejected- Upon my return I saw sufficient sign to induce me believe that a large party of Indians were down, probably on the Rio Grande-

With great respect

I have the honor to be Your Obt. Svt. J. J. GRUMBLES

Capt. Co. Texas M. Vols.

His Excellency

P. Hansbrough Bell Austin

Cap't J. J. Grumbles to Gov. Bell Report of Scout. January 30th, 1850.

[Endorsed:]

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