TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
309
Texas Nov 21 San Saba River Belknap Crossing 18 miles North of Ft. Mason Texas Gov Runnels my dear sir I wish to inform you the condition that I am plaiced in on the account of no protection nor security of life or property I have lived 20 yearse on the fronteers of Texas and this is the first time that I Ever marked paper on the account of indian depredation, but tho troubled often by them last March the 27 at late dusk my Sone was shot with an arrow slightley in one mile of my house that knight at 12 oc I Reported to Maj Thomas Commander at Ft Mason Requested men to be at my house by sunrize next morning the distance of 18 miles at 12 oc Sargent McNelty came with 10 men went to the San Saba River in 400 yards of the place the depredation was commited theare they fished and wallowed about until past 2 oc then I went to the plaice thare we found three arrows shot into a log mockeson tracks and horse tracks they then folowed the trail about 2 miles and returnd back to Camp at 4 oc sun rise they started on trail folowed it about 3 miles and there came a rain they then returned to Ft. Mason and I understand reported they fol- lowed the trail 15 miles and the rain destroyed the trail that was a parte of G compeney 2 Cav- and on the 27 of oct last the indians came and stole the last horse we had and killed what beef they wanted and drove off the next morning I sent m[y] sone to Ft Mason Lieutenant Shafer of B Comp was in command he said to my sone that it was not indians it was white men so I received no help three days afterwords a goverment train coming from Ft Chad- bourne came across the indians and recaptured 3 mules and one horse they was indians with white blankets like the re- serve indians gets of goverment the reason the citisons do not call on the military forces when they call they are herd and herd no good is done the report of maney to the war department that it is white men has cost maney a woman and childs life and now the woods is full of indian sine in one mile of my house I dare not to leave my house to go one mile on aney buisness for fear my familey is murde[r] before I can get back I pay my taxes as other citisons for protection and has failed to get it Now my dear Sir I call on you for some protection in some way the idey of waiting until we see what efect this large campeign will have I think ever since Van Dorn routed them and dis-
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