TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859 259 altho. many of these have been published in the Various Journals of the State yet, it is our belief, that not exceeding one half of the sufferings of our frontier have met the ears of those residing in more Secure and peaceful portions of our State.- We have to say,-that within the last Year many lives have been lost,-and the Country become completely drained of its stock, in so much, that with a country peculiarly favored by Nature for purposes of raising Stock, and once possessing im- mense herds of evry variety of Stock which could be purchased in the market at prices very nearly nominal, is now almost des- titute. all these have been swept away by the ruthless and un- spairing hands of the Savages that Surround us on evry side, and at this day, a milch cow is worth $50 and after possessing one it is only prudent to keep her stabled at an expence one half of that required for the maintenance of a horse. If stock is permitted to graze ir. the immediate vicinity of our homes, it is absolutely necessary, and is the invariable cus- tom, to employ herdsmen at an expense of from $10 to $20 dol- lars per month to guard and watch over the same. but, as an instance of the precariousness and danger of allowing our Stock to go upon the range we have only to recite, that about three months since Mr Hugh Stephenson's Stock was driven off by the Indians almost in Sight of the Military Post Stationed in front of El Paso-a Valuable herdsman killed,-and another carried off captive: Fort Bliss the post in front of El Paso purports to be a four Company post, but not long since, by information derived from the commanding officer of said Post we learned the fact, that there were but Seventy men for duty, and that out. of this num- ber, 25 or 30 were required for guard and police duty within the garrison, and at this Post designated as four Company Post, not one Single Serviceable horse could be obtained,! truly an admirable state of things for the pursuit and chastisement of the Savages who make their frequent forays into our valley,!- We make no complaint against the Officers Stationed on our frontier, we know them as a class to be active, brave, and anxious to render Service in their respective spheres. where the fault lies it is neither our purpose nor inclination to inquire, Suffice it to say that in the margin of our experience the troops sent out for our protection by the General Govt have only served to delude the minds of our frontier Settlers and to lull them
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