| Ackland, Christopher "Kit" Anderson Baker, John Baylor, R.E.B. Beatty, Edward Beitel, Joseph Belknap, James T Bell Bellinger, Judge Edmund Bennet, Miles S. Berry, Andrew Jackson Berry, James Berry, John Bate Berry, Joseph Billingsley, Jesse Bird, James Bird, Jonathan Birdwell, William Bostick, Sion Record Braches, Charles Brown, Dr. Caleb S. Brown, Dr. David F. Brown, John Hawkins Brown, John Henry Burleson, Edward Burleson. Jonathan Burleson, Joseph Jr. Burnam, Jesse Burnam, William Owen Caldwell, Mathew Carter, William J. S. Chalk, Whitfield Clopton, William Cocke, James D. Cordell, Owen N. Cox, Rev. Thomas J. Cushney, William H. Darlington, John W. Darst, David S. H. Day, Milford Dees, Gordon DeWees, William B. DeWitt, C. Columbus DeWolf Duty, William Earnest, Felix B. Fentress, Dr. James Friar, Daniel Boone Galbreath, Thomas Gipson, Archibald | Gipson, James Good, Isham Jones Gorman, James P. Grover, George W. Hall, Robert Hankins, Eli Skaggs Hardeman, Owen B. Hardeman, Thomas M. Hardeman, William P. Harvey, John Haynes, Charles Hays, John C. "Jack" Herron, John Harvey Highsmith, Benjamin F. Hill, A. W. Hornsby, Joe Howard, George Thomas Humphreys, Jacob J. Husbands Huston, Felix Izod, James Jenkins, John Holland Jones Henry Lawrence, Joseph Lee, Nelson Litton, Addison Litton, Frank M. Litton, John McCoy, John McCulloch, Benjamin McCulloch, Henry E. McCulloch, Samuel Magill, James P. Magill, William Harrison Martin, James F. Miller, Alsey S. Mills, James L. Moon, William W. Morrell, Rev. Z. N. Moss, James Murphree, David Neill, Andrew Neill, George Nichols, James W. Nichols, John Nichols, Thomas Ogsbury, Charles A. Oury, William Sanders Patton, James | Perry, Cicero Rufus Pilgrim, Thomas J. Placido Porter, Elijah R. Randall, Barney Randle, Wilson Redfield. Henry Prentice Reid, Samuel Hutchinson Rice, James O. Roberts, Alexander "Buck" Rodarmel, Lemuel M. Rogers, Henry Rogers, John A. Jr. Rogers, John A. Sr. Rogers, Samuel C. A. Scarborough, William L. Shaw, Josiah Short, Thomas W. Smith, Ezekiel Smith, French Smith, James N. Smith, John L. Sowell, Andrew Sowell, John Stapp, Darwin M. Stapp, Oliver H. Stem, Isaac Phillip Sweitzer, Dr. Alonzo B. Sylvester, James A Taylor, Creed Thompson, Barry Thurmond, Alfred S. Wagner Wallace, Joseph Washington Elliot Wallace, William A. A. Waller, Judge Edwin Ward, Lafayette Wheeler, Jesse O. White, David N. White, John C. White, John M. White, Newton White, Peter White, Sam Addison White, Simon C. Wilburn, Caleb Winchel, Henry C. Wright, Charles 13 Tonkawa Warriors |
On Plum Creek, Aug. 12, 1840
To Hon. T. B. Archer, Secretary of War
To Hon. T. B. Archer, Secretary of War
I arrived here yesterday evening and found Captain Caldwell encamped on Plum Creek with about one hundred men. This morning I was requested to take command, which I did with the consent of the men. I organized them into companies, under command of Captains Caldwell, Bird and Ward, About six o'clock the spies reported that the Indians were approaching Plum Creek. I crossed above the trail about three miles and passed down on the west side; on arriving near the trail I was joined by Colonel Burleson with about one hundred men, under the command of Colonel Jones, Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace and Major Hardeman. I immediately formed into two lines, the right commanded by Colonel Anderson and the left commanded by Captain Caldwell, with a reserve commanded by Major Hardeman, with Captain Ward's company. On advancing near the Indians they formed for action, with a front of woods on their right (which they occupied), their lines nearly a quarter of a mile into the prairie. I dismounted my men and a handsome fire was opened-the Indian chiefs cavorting around in splendid style, in front and flank, finely mounted, and dressed in all the splendor of Comanche warfare. At this time several Indians fell from their horses, and we had three or four of our men wounded. I ordered Colonel Burleson, with the right wing, to move around the point of woods, and Captain Caldwell, with the left wing, to charge into the woods; which movements were executed in gallant style. The Indians did not stand the charge, and fled at all points. From that time there was a warm and spirited pursuit for fifteen miles, the Indians scattered, mostly abandoning their horses and taking to the thickets. Nothing could exceed the animation of the men, and the cool and steady manner in which they would dismount and deliver their fire. Upwards of forty Indians were killed, two prisoners (a squaw and child) taken---we have taken upwards of two hundred horses and mules, and many of them heavily packed with the plunder of Linnville and the lower country. There is still a large number of good horses and mules which are not gathered up. Of the captives taken by the Indians below we have only been able to retake one---Mrs. Watts of Linnville, who was wounded by the Indians with an arrow when they fled. Mrs. Crosby was speared and we understand that all the others were killed. We have lost one killed and seven wounded, one mortally. I cannot speak too highly of the Colorado, Guadalupe and Lavaca militia, assembled so hastily together and without organization. I was assisted by Major Izod, Colonel Bell, Captain Howard and Captain Nell, as volunteer aids, all of whom rendered essential service. Colonel Burleson acted with that cool, deliberate and prompt courage and conduct which he has so often and gallantly displayed in almost every Indian and Mexican battle since the war commenced. Captain Caldwell, also a tried Indian fighter, led on his wing to the charge with a bold front and a cheerful heart. Colonel Jones, Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace, Major Hardeman, and each of the captains commanding companies, acted with the utmost courage and firmness.
To conclude, I believe we have given the Comanches a lesson which they will long remember; near four hundred of their brave warriors have been defeated by half their number, and I hope and trust that this will be the last of their depredations on our frontier. On tomorrow I contemplate embodying as many men as can, and if we have a sufficient number of good horses, pursue the Indians in the hopes that we may overtake them before they reach the mountains. Colonel Moore joined us this evening with about one hundred and seventy men; horses very hard ridden. I have the honor to be your most obedient servant.
FELIX HUSTON, Major-General T.M.
FELIX HUSTON, Major-General T.M.
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