TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
235
Christi and are not expected to be here before the first. of next month. Major Belger has shown me a letter that he has written to you, giving an account of the murder of the son of the Rev Mr McGee on the Cibolo some 15 or 20 miles below this place; the facts as stated by him are confirmed by several Citizens well known to me who reside in the neighborhood where the boy was killed, the same party who killed this boy also pursued sev- eral other citizens who were out hunting cattle, but t.hey made their escape. They also stole horses from several other farms on the Cibolo, at different points for 20 or 25 miles above Mr McGee's, several small parties have been in pursuit of these Indians, some of which are still out and I t.rust will come up with them. I know not precisely what course to recommend to stop these depredations, but unless something is done speedily the settle- ments on the streams above and West. of this place will have to break up. Horses have been stolen within the last month, from several Ranches within 15 or 20 miles of this Town, and there is no doubt, that in every instance, it has been done by Indians, -It does seem to me, that one or two companies of Mounted Men might be stationed in parties of 30 or 40 at different places near the settlements from the head of the Llano down to the mouth of the Rio Frio, and perhaps below there on the NueceEI so as to intercept these small parties of Indians who commit these outrages. The Company under the command of Captain Callahan, which I called out a few weeks since, and stationed near the head of the Guadalupe and the Blanco, have put a stop to the depredations which the Indians were committ;ing in those neighborhoods for two or three months previous. My situation in regard to these matters is a very embarrassing one, our citizens are entitled to protection from the General Govern- ment, but not receiving it, they appeal to the St.ate authorities. There is great danger, if I call out volunteers, that they may in their zeal to punish the Indians, do something to interfere with the efforts now making by the General Government to settle the Texas tribes at the reservations on the upper Brazos. I think if I could have a consultation with you on this sub- ject, some plan might be devised to give protection to the fron- tier settlements of this and the adjoining counties, and if agree- able to you, I will meet you at this place, when you return here, if you will inform me what time you expect to return.
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