TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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in the recital of these atrocities, the pain of adding to the num- ber, that of murder- On the'ir way down the Cibolo, they killed a negro woman belonging to Mr. Sewell, near the mouth of the Martinez-and a short distance below, butchered in cold blood a promising lad of about 12 years of age, the son of the Revd Mr. McGee-Mr Rector who was with him at the time narrowly escaped by the fleetness of his horse-. These are a portion of the depredations that have been committed within the last week in our immediate vicinity, and hourly reports of others still more formidable are reaching us from every quarter. The most populous County of the State has been traversed from one extrimety to the other by bands of Savages in open hostility, without a show of resistance other than could be offered by small parties of men started in pursuit upon the impulse of the mo- ment, without provissions-half armed, and often without their hats and coats. The approach to the largest town in the State is rendered almost dangerous and the feel'ing of insecurity bids fair to depopulate one of the most flourishing sections of the State- Appeal after appeal had been made by the citizens of the frontier, to the proper authorities, but their statements have been disbelieved and their motives misrepresented; and instead of receiving the protection, we have a right to expect, the Gen- eral Government has within the last few months removed from our State a large portion of the only force That could be ef- fective in affording us that protection In the prosecution of a poliC'lJ with the General Government has seen fit to adopt with regard to the Indians, the lives of our friends and fellow citizens are daily sacrificed and property destroyed to amount almost incredible to those that have had no oppertunity of seeing for themselves·. For months past the situation of the frontier has been the same; and there is scarcely a farm from the Guadalupe to the Rio Grande, which has not within the last year suffered to some extent in the loss of stock by the hands of Indians. It is worse than idle to say the Indians are not at war. If the action of regularly organized bands from the Lipan, Comanche, Waco and Tawakoni, robbing murdering and ravishing, and carrying into captivity women and children does not constitute a State of war, we are at a loss to define the meaning of war among barbarians. All experience has taught, that simple de- fiance against those that carry on predatory warfare, is totally ineffectual and that to accomplish any good end they must feel
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