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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAP.ARTE LAMAR
No. 2180 [1844f M. B. LAMAR, RICHMOND? TEXAS] ON FIGHT WITH COMANCHES NEAR FT. SMITH, MAY, 1839 28 J. H. Hughs Tennessee Westem district- Henry Co. came to Texas 17 Sept. 1837 Captain Johm [sic] Bird, was at the head of a compan.Y of Rangers, making their headquarters at Fort Milam in 6 miles of the Falls of the Brasos. on the 20st April 1839 left Sanfilellpe with 35 men from Austin County, and went to Nashville, & crossing the river at that point went to Fort Milam, (built by Lieut. (Evans-not cer- tain as to that fact)--where he found Lieutenant Evans with about 30 men, stationed there, to range & guard that settlemnt- Recrossing the river at the Falls, Capt. Bird marched to Fort Smith on the Little River Captain Bird & Capt. Brookshire had rode ·out a few miles, when they came upon two indians skinning a buffaloe- Brookshire fired on them; they fled & the captains returned to their camp, taking with them the pack horse which the Indians has left at the dead Buffalo Early in the morning while Capt Byrd & Brookshire were absent, a party of Indians drove a herd of Buffaloe thro' the camp, c.ausing a stampede of the horses. The horses were caught and placed in the fort, and the men stood under arms in front of the fort expecting an immediate attack. Whilst they were thus situated Bird & Brookshire returned ; leading the horse which they had capturd from the Indians at the dead Buffaloe- Leaving two men in the fort, the company started after the indians in the direction which the Indians took when checked in their pursuit of the buffaloe. (When the buffaloe dashed thr9 the camp, a few men dashed off after the indians who were chas- ing the buffaloe, they went but a short distance however). They had proceeded about 4 miles when two parties of Indians were discovered, some distance off, one on the right & the other on the left. These par- ties suddenly disappeared and in a few minutes made their appearance in front, consolidated, & probably about 40 in number. They were three miles off, but remained stationary until Capt. Bird's men ap- proached in a half a mile, when they wheeled & dashed off strait a head. Captain, remarked that the Indian's horses were broke down, and ordered a charge; For a while Bird gained upon them, until com- ing near them, Hughs and Weaver, being well mounted, dashed a head of the rest and fired upon the Indians; who prompty returned the salute; and then fled with a speed, which left Bird & his men far be- hind. Bird still kept up the pursuit, however; about half a mile further, when arriving at a Branch, he halted his men, who dismounted & filled their ~oards with water. Bird and Brookshire the meanwhile asscended the hill a-head, to look out. They presently returned and retreat was ordered- They had retreated not more than a quarter of a mile, before the Indians returned, and charged upon them. Bird ordered his men to dismount and prepare for action; The indians divided, a portion dismountin~ and occupying a neighborig ravine, . . 21 A. Df.
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