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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
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unable to procure good arms to defend themselves and their families; a large portion of them are emigrants from the Western States, mostly from Indiana, Illinois and Ohio and unused to the dangers of an Indian frontier life. They emigrated at a time when there was no apprehension, and are not prepared for the terrible realities which are now upon them. Their horses have been stolen and they are unable to make pursuit. The country has been so recently settled,. and until then the range of the Indians, that their familiar acquaintance with it affords them every advantage. They can surprise the settlements at any moment, and can readily elude pursuit, unless it be of the most determined kind. If not overtaken, they shelter themselves and wait another opportunity for surprise. . It will be asked, what is Texas doing as a State to repel this enemy? I cannot believe that any will be so lost to humanity as to declare, in the face of the facts before the world, that Texas has a mercenary object in view, but it will be asked is Texas waiting the aid of the federal government, and leaving her frontier citizens to a fate so horrid as that pictured? Not by any means. There are now in active Indian service, under the orders of the Executive, twenty-three minute detachments of fifteen men each, with a reserve of ten men each. There are also three companies of seventy men each, Four of forty men each, and three of twenty-five men each. A force of four companies of 90 men each will rendezvous at Fort Worth on the 13th inst. preparatory to making a determined effort to pursue and punish the Indians. Justice would demand that the government to whom we have a right to look for protection should not impose upon us the burden of sustaining this force in the field. Nor is this all. Every available man in the Frontier counties is in the saddle, and has been for months. The citizens, without reward or hope of reward have placed their wives and children in security and gone to the relief of their more oppressed neighbors. It must be remembered that the distance from the Red river to the Rio Grande is not less than seven hundred miles and this latter line is exposed. The whole distance is to be regarded in the disposition made of our troops, as the regulars, being in garrison, do not intercept the Indians when coming into the country. I deplore the misfortunes of our bleeding frontier, and fear that some of those who have it in their power to render us aid misapprehend the motives which induced me to appeal to your
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