Recollections of Early Texas by John Holmes Jenkins Page B

them, Burleson ordered us to fire, and the action was simultaneous, though no one was hurt and only two horses killed. At one time here, I felt as if my “time” had come, sure enough. We had fired one round, and I was down loading my gun when I saw an Indian approaching me with gun presented. At this critical moment Joe Burleson 10 shot, killing him instantly. We discovered afterward that the Indian’s gun was not loaded, and he was playing a “bluff.”
    We had a hot race after another warrior on foot, who was unarmed except bow and arrow, but would turn and shoot as he ran. General Burleson rushed at him with pistol presented, when an arrow from the Indian would have killed him if he had not stepped back. Then the warrior made another shot at [Thomas] Monroe Hardeman,* which missed him, but was driven eight inches into his horse. The hardy warrior made a brave and persistent fight, and even after he was knocked down, drew his last arrow at me, the man nearest to him. I killed him just in time to save myself.
    What fancies they had in the way of ornamenting themselves! This savage presented a strange picture as he lay decked in beads, etc., sleeping the “dreamless sleep” of death. He also carried around his neck a tiny whistle and tin trumpet.
    The stolen horses, mules, and goods were divided among the soldiers, with the consent of the merchants, who could not satisfactorily identify the articles. 11 Among other things, aComanche mule fell to my lot, and an odd specimen he was, with red ribbons on ears and tail.
    On the return march, we found a Texan dead and scalped. The explanation of his death furnished an explanation of the confusion that was observed in the Indian ranks on the advance. It happened in this way: A squad of men on the Indian trail came upon the savages’ advanced guard, and thinking they could easily manage so small a force, dismounted in a live oak grove and awaited them. Seeing the full force, however, they mounted and retreated. One man, the unfortunate one whom we found scalped, was left by his horse as well as his comrades, and thus had met his terrible fate.
    We also found the body of Mrs. Crosby, whom they had killed when obliged to retreat, and nearby we found Mrs. Watts, whom they had also left for dead, having shot an arrow into her breast. A thick corset board had received and impeded its force, so that though wounded, she was still alive. She was a remarkably fine looking woman, but was sunburned almost to a blister.
    In 1841, the Indians made a little raid into the Burleson neighborhood and stole a number of horses. A small squad of men was raised as quickly as possible, and pursuit was made. A run of fifteen miles brought them in sight of the thieves at Fort Ridgeway on the waters of the Yegua. The warriors were eating breakfast, and as our men approached,made no move to retreat. As soon as we were near enough, they came forward to fight. When on the first fire we killed two and wounded one, they retreated. The whites escaped unhurt, though one horse was shot.
    On their way from this skirmish, the Indians went to Brushy Creek, and coming to Kenney’s Fort, pretended to be friendly, but killed Dr. Kenney and Castlebury. 12 No pursuit being made, very soon they came again into the same neighborhood on the same errand, and again they were successful. Among other horses stolen was General Burleson’s celebrated horse, Scurry, a present from Richard Scurry, an intimate friend and valiant soldier, hence the horse’s name. General Burleson, accompanied by eight or ten men, took their trail immediately, and having followed them to the middle Yegua, came upon them camped in the edge of a strip of timber about three-quarters of a mile distant. They had open prairie to run through, and all struck forward. Mr. Spaulding was riding a splendid horse, the fastest runner of the crowd, and he put out at full speed. The chase was exciting to all, but Burleson was