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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
. 30 Indians well mounted under the command of a promint Chief. Karnes was now pioted to the Indian eueampmt, which they reacheJ. about an hour before <lay, surrounded it. Before it was quite light enough to fight with tlie greatest effeet, on of the Indian Horses, breaking loose, gave the alarm, at which the indians fiw to their arms, and .the engagemt began. The Texans lost none, nor any wonded - The Indians were taken by surprise & thought more of flight than fight- 12 of them were found .dead on the ground, among whom was Asa Minor the leader a a Chief of great note; he had been shot thro' by two balls, arnl lay as dead for three days when he was found with life- still in him. • His countrvmn reeovered him & he was soon re- stored to health. He afterwards came to Bexar, and there related his fate, stating that he had lain dead 3 days, and them came to life. In 1839 - Karnes, hearing the report of comanchees being about, mounted his horse and rode out to a cavayard which he had to see about its safety. He saw some one lying in the road - Karnes asked who he was; where upon the individual who was an Indian in a blanket, sprang up & let drive at Karnes with an arrow which lodged in his hip and gave him great sufferance - In the spring of 1840 February the Indian depredations & reports of Mexican invation being frequent, two spy companies were organ- ized Captain Price commanding the company at Victt>ria; and Capt. Hays, that at Bexar. The first excursion of the Hays command. ex- tended to Lorado, which they entered and traversed the streets. There were but few soldiers, there & the inhabitants were not disposed to offer resistance. The Texans captured a number of Horses in the City & drove them to their encampmt but on the next· morning, the horses were returned with a note from the captain stating that the Texaiil. were willing to fight them, but would not rob; & that the horses were taken with no view of being carried off - but merely to let the mexi- cans know, that if we chose to retaliate the robbing which had been committed on the Americans, they were fully able to do it- Hays }ad been induced to go to Lorado, because it had been reported that an army was then preparing there to invade our frontier ----- In May 1840 - Hays started again for the west - went to Lorado- near the town he was discoverd, The mexicans despatched 42 regu- lar Calvary in pursuit of him - Hays discovering their advance, re- tired with his men & picked a position to fight; then in company with another person, Hays advanced to meet the foe for a parley-he was met bv an Alcalde of the town ordered him to surrender to the authorities· of Mexico, else he & his whole party would be killed, in- asmuch it was useless for so few to contend with the large force which was then advancng and would 1,oon fall upon them - he said the 40 who then presented themselves were only an advance guard of the then near at hand. Hays not believing- this story, told the young who was with him to fire at the Alcalde - he did so & the Mexican fell - a general fip-ht then enrned. The l\Iexirans charged first _:_ they were repulsed - The Texans then charged them in return - they retreated, Thus the fi"ht continued for about an hour. The Mexicans would dis- mount whe~evcr they fired & would then mount & retreat - Havs at length after receivin°g & returning a fire, charged upon the Mexicans, ·
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