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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
on the Nueces [for] the purpose of putting down the robbing [and] stealing the Traders; but it is doing better - they were faithful to their trusts - they have been accused of robbing themselves - Their characters were not known where they recd. their appointment The most of all these Cow-driving & robbing parties were finally killed off- No. 2421 [184-?, M. B. LAMAR, RICHMOND? TEXAS] "FROM COL. KJNNEY"; DEPREDATIONS UPON THE MEXICAN TRADE AND RESULTING HOSTILITIES; THE FEDERALISTS WAR 27 From Ool. Kinney. Under the President's Prodamation of Trade with the Mexican11, Col. Kinney was visited by numerous traders. These Traders were frequently robbed on their return home by lawless men who assembled in the west for that purpose - Several companies of Robbers of this kind were organized - One under a young man by the name of Yerbey, who brought with him 30 men to Corpus Christi Col. Kinney endeavored to dissuade them from their enterprise; but without effect. They made one successful sally upon the Traders and captured goods, cash & horses to the amt. of $1000- They took the mexicans without resistance from them; and killed them off eight in number - In di- viding the booty, some misunderstanding arose; 9 men followed their captain - 17 went with Jas. Ormsby and one left them - They now returned to Kinny's raneh. The tidings of this transaction reaching the Rio Grande, created much excitemt against Kinney as well as against the Americans generally - It called forth an attempt at re- taliation. About 3 weeks after the transaction, a. body of Rancheros on the Rio Grande rose to the number of 200, and came to Kinny's in search of the offenders - They became satisfied that Col. Kinney had no agency in the affair, and had endeavored to suppress & preveni such conduct, they went in s«:>J1rch of the guilty party - They encoun- tered Captain Yerhey with his 9 men within 30 miles of the Ranch. They came upon them at night.; and killed the whole of them, with the exception of the Mexican guide; Tom Cabasos, a notorious for his guiding- the Americns in such enterprizes. - Ormsby's party became alarmed, disbanded, and some of them became attached to the servise of Kinney. The Mexicans returnd without committin~ further ·dep- radations - the party was commaniled by Capt. Villaral - This gave rise to mutual hatred; the Americans become much incensed ; and similar scenes of retaliation for a good while - for the whole of that year. Peace, however, was finally restored, and the Trade was re- sumed- In 1838 Canalis, the leadC'r of the Federal part:v of Mexico, sent a letter to the Govt. of Texas announcing his intention to resiRt the Central Govt. of Mxico, and asking the assisblnce & coo-peration of Tex::is, with the understanding that if Ruccessfnl in the overthrow of the Govt., they were, in coming into power, to Recognize the Independ-
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