TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
173
Rudeyville, June 15th, 1852
Peter Nickels Esq:
Sheriff of C. C. Texas. Sir:
It becomes my painful duty to inform you that the Indians are at it again in their old neighborhood. They took 2 flatboats and cargoes, killed a boy, and dangerously wounded another; the plunder this time is worth looking after, being some $2000 worth of mdse; the boats, I suppose, can be retaken, or delivered by the authorities. Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. June 11th, 1852. To His Excellency P. H. Bell, Governor of the State of Texas. Sir: I take the liberty of addressing you in re- lation to the condition of this frontier. For the last two months hardly a day has passed without some depredation being committed either upon the property or persons of our citizens residing on the Rio Grande. Armed bands of Mexicans and Indians are in the habit of crossing the Rio Grande into Texas and killing the inhabitants and carrying their stock and other property away into Mexico. Within the last two months sixteen persons have been discovered murdered within the limits of Cameron County. The most of the murders are committed by a party of Indians and Mexicans who reside in Mexico, about 40 miles above Matamoros, and who are commanded by Pedro Villereal, a Mexican, who is ap- pointed their commandant by the military of Matamoros, and who reports to Head Quarters their operations. Their com- mandant last year was a Mexican named Trevino, who has been released, and now is Secretary for Genl. Avalos in Matamoros. That Villereal is commissioned and that he reports these depre- dations to Genl. Avalos is proverbial with all who know him; still we have not yet been able to obtain such testimony as will fasten it on Avalos, but I have no doubt we soon shall. All communication between Brownsville and the upper coun- try, by land, has ceased, as it is unsafe for any small party to travel the public roads. Most of the Americans have left their homes up the river, and unless a change is made, all will soon be compelled to move. I called upon Genl. Avalos a few days ago to inquire if there
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