Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

299

No. 194 LETTER FROM B. S. WHITAKER TO H. R. RUNNELS [October 25, 1858] B. S. Whitaker Not. Pub. L.C. Texas

To His Excellincy H R Runnels Govnr of the State of Texas Sir

Enclosed I send you the statement of t.wo respectable citi- zens of Brown County stating that the peaceable and quiet citi- zens of the county while pur!:'ing their peacable avocations have .been attacked and foully murdered by a band of Indians. This Indians have been upon the frontier for several Days watching an apportunity to pounce upon some unguarded settler and have most gloriously succeeded and they are still lingering in the mountains to make further vengence upon the unguarded fron- tiersman in addition to the facts stated already another party of Indians were seen on Lampasas River an yesterday fourteen in number that had collected a small lot of horses and were guarding them very quietly and about thirty head of a party of men left this place thi'3 morning for the scene of conflict, but are poorly mounted and worse armed These are actions and Scenes I think your Excellency can hardly pass unnoticed this is not the first time our citizens have been murdered by the Indians. The country is in such a condition that it is bound to be aban- doned unless something is done and that very soon. protection will do us no good after our citizens have been killed or driven into the interior Hoping that your excellency will do some- thing immediately I am sir, very respectfully your obt servt B. S. WHITAKER [Endorsed] B. S. Whitaker Copd. Sec. War

The State of Texas County of Lampasas

Be it remembered that on this day personally appeared before the undersigned autr.orlty William Wiud!:am and Jasper Willis both citizens of Brown County Texa5 who after being sworn [illeg.] and says that on thursday last in said

Powered by