Speaker 1: Forward to Fort Concho, Its, Why and Wherefore. This is
Speaker 1: a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Speaker 1: Recording by David Wales. Fort Concho Its Why and Wherefore?
Speaker 1: By J. N. Gregory Forward. Many people who visit the
Speaker 1: Fort Concho Museum and look over the parade ground and
Speaker 1: buildings of old Fort Concho naturally ask the question, why
Speaker 1: did the United States Government build a ford in this place?
Speaker 1: And what did the fort accomplish. The object of this
Speaker 1: pamphlet is to answer that question and to present the
Speaker 1: answer to the inquiring visitor at as small a cost
Speaker 1: as the printer makes possible. Two maps of Texas will
Speaker 1: be found in the envelope at the back of the pamphlet.
Speaker 1: The smaller is a reproduction of one published in eighteen
Speaker 1: fifty six, not too accurate from a geographical ste standpoint,
Speaker 1: but as accurate as the knowledge of the times allowed.
Speaker 1: The other map, accurate from the geographic point of view,
Speaker 1: endeavors to show the locations of some thirty four forts
Speaker 1: and camps that were established and built by our War
Speaker 1: Department on the Texas frontier during the Indian days end
Speaker 1: a forward part one of Fort Concho, Its Why and
Speaker 1: Wherefore by J. N. Gregory. This LibriVox recording is in
Speaker 1: the public domain. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that brought
Speaker 1: to a close the war between the United States and
Speaker 1: Mexico February two, eighteen forty eight, and the subsequent Gadsden
Speaker 1: Purchase of eighteen fifty three set the plan for the
Speaker 1: present boundaries between the two countries. A vast area of plains, deserts,
Speaker 1: and mountains, an unmapped and untraveled wilderness, was now owned
Speaker 1: by the Northern Republic. It was inhabited mostly by Comanche, Apache, Kiowa,
Speaker 1: and other warlike Indian tribes, and it stretched from the
Speaker 1: settlements of South and East Texas and from the lower
Speaker 1: Missouri River area to the New American settlements on the
Speaker 1: Pacific Coast. Great events were in the making when in
Speaker 1: California in eighteen forty eight, gold nuggets were found in
Speaker 1: the tail race of Sutter's mill. The word passed around quickly,
Speaker 1: and the first modern international gold rush was on. It
Speaker 1: put the first sizeable amounts of precious metals into the
Speaker 1: coffers of the nations of the world since the Spanish
Speaker 1: Conquestidores ransacked the treasure houses of Peru and Mexico. It
Speaker 1: brought about modern mining practices, and before the end of
Speaker 1: the century the search for gold was so international and
Speaker 1: intense that comparable strikes had been made in South Africa, Australia, Canada,
Speaker 1: and Alaska, resulting in fresh redistribution of populations not only
Speaker 1: in the United States but also in other portions of
Speaker 1: the world. The problems accompanying such redistribution were plentiful, and
Speaker 1: they are still plaguing us to this day. But the
Speaker 1: lure that led men to our west was not gold alone.
Speaker 1: The el Dorado of man's dreams, be it a gold vein,
Speaker 1: oil patch, store on main street, cattle ranch, or farm
Speaker 1: in peaceful valley, can very well lie in any new
Speaker 1: and unexplored lands. So it was then few men could
Speaker 1: afford for themselves, families, and belongings the cost of passage
Speaker 1: by sailing ship around the Horn, or by portage at
Speaker 1: the Isthmus of Panama from Boston, New York, Charlestown, New Orleans, Galveston,
Speaker 1: or Indianola to San Francisco. Besides that, a fellow who
Speaker 1: was spent on making a trip liked to look over
Speaker 1: the country lying between home and his proposed destination. So
Speaker 1: many found their El Dorado not on the Pacife, but
Speaker 1: along the trails between the Great River and the Pacific Ocean.
Speaker 1: The inhabitants of the crowded East and the folks of
Speaker 1: the South felt their race old urge to get on
Speaker 1: the move towards more freedom and opportunity. Old Windy Horace
Speaker 1: Greeley was soon to advise, go west, young man. So
Speaker 1: go west they did, young and old, first by small
Speaker 1: companies on horseback or in buck boards, then later by
Speaker 1: trains of covered wagons, which carried their families and all
Speaker 1: earthly possessions, grouped together for companionship as well as for
Speaker 1: protection against the Indians. Population movements in the United States
Speaker 1: have generally gone from east to west in parallel lines
Speaker 1: once the Atlantic Sea board was settled, and so this
Speaker 1: Great Gold movement from east to west brought settlement of
Speaker 1: the intermediate lands between the Mississippi River and the Pacific
Speaker 1: Ocean by the natural contrasting types of North South peoples.
Speaker 1: Great Oregon and Santa Fe trails service the people of
Speaker 1: the more northerly parts of our country, But for those
Speaker 1: in the southern parts, a newer trail had to be found,
Speaker 1: and by simple geography, it had to cross Texas. You
Speaker 1: could enter the state from the sea at Galveston, Indianola
Speaker 1: or Corpus Christi, or by way of the land through
Speaker 1: Fort Smith in Arkansas, thence across the Indian Territory to
Speaker 1: the Red River, or directly from Louisiana through the fairly
Speaker 1: well settled and organized counties of East Texas. But no
Speaker 1: matter how you entered, there was only one way to
Speaker 1: get out, and so all trails converged on the Pazzo
Speaker 1: del Norte present El Paso. To get out of Texas
Speaker 1: south of El Paso would land you in Mexico. To
Speaker 1: get out north of El Paso would take you across
Speaker 1: the Yano Estacado, which in those days was considered a vast,
Speaker 1: dreeless plain, unbroken by any topographic changes, and completely devoid
Speaker 1: of waterholes. The accompanying map, published in eighteen fifty six
Speaker 1: in Yocum's History of Texas shows clearly the political subdivisions
Speaker 1: and settlements of Texas in those times. A substantial part
Speaker 1: of the state, from the Panhandle to the Upper Rio
Speaker 1: Grande appears to be completely uninhabited and therefore politically unorganized.
Speaker 1: In a vague manner, this vast area might be assumed
Speaker 1: to be an unannexed portion of the counties of Bexar,
Speaker 1: El Paso, Presidio, and Travis. This map does not speak
Speaker 1: approvingly of the Yano Estacado staked plains some called it.
Speaker 1: From eighteen forty eight on to the recent past, various
Speaker 1: trail drivers, army officers, and railroaders laid out trails from
Speaker 1: the settled parts of Texas to the Paso del Noe,
Speaker 1: always taking advantage of springs and water holes and avoiding
Speaker 1: the Yono Esticado and the great limestone canyons of the
Speaker 1: Rio Grande and its tributaries. That is all did but
Speaker 1: the builders of the Southern Pacific Railroad. They came later,
Speaker 1: but yet too early to have the know how of
Speaker 1: an Arthur Edward stillwell, but that is another story. A
Speaker 1: north south trade route had existed for some two hundred years,
Speaker 1: connecting Spanish Santa Fe far north toward the headwaters of
Speaker 1: the Rio Grande south through the Paso del Note to
Speaker 1: the settlements of the mother country of Mexico. The Santa
Speaker 1: Fe trail extended to California would cross this trade route
Speaker 1: at Santa Fe, well up in the Rocky Mountains, while
Speaker 1: the route through Texas would cross it at El Paso.
Speaker 1: And so these two places became the supply dumps where
Speaker 1: the great wagon trains took on horses, mules, beef, and
Speaker 1: other supplies that would see them across the final leg
Speaker 1: of the journey west. It was a great opportunity for
Speaker 1: traders who had the supplies to sell, and the procuring middleman,
Speaker 1: the one who contacted both producer and merchant, was a
Speaker 1: man with great savvy and ability, known as the Comanche Indian.
Speaker 1: The Comanche despised walking. It was not adaptable to his
Speaker 1: method of making a living. He was a Plains Indian,
Speaker 1: and somewhere back in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, had
Speaker 1: somehow accumulated his first mustangs from offsprings of those horses
Speaker 1: lost by the Conquistadores from Spain. Prior to the arrival
Speaker 1: of the Spaniards in America, there were no horses as
Speaker 1: we recognized them now on either of the American continents. Now,
Speaker 1: the Comanche, as a mounted man probably roamed the Great
Speaker 1: Plains from present Wyoming to Durango, Mexico. It was easy
Speaker 1: to make a living on such a range. It abounded
Speaker 1: in Buffalo, and the wise Comanche knew all the water holes.
Speaker 1: He drove the wily Apaches to the south until they
Speaker 1: crossed the Rio Grande and settled in a quasi peaceful
Speaker 1: manner in Mexico, or later chose Arizona and New Mexico
Speaker 1: and preyed on the settlers, immigrants, and prospectors. From the records,
Speaker 1: the Comanche does not appear to have been a breeder
Speaker 1: of horses, cattle, or sheep, but as a procureur of
Speaker 1: such livestock he had no peer. Many years before Lewis
Speaker 1: and Clark were sent to evaluate the northwestern part of
Speaker 1: the Louisiana Purchase lands that mister Jefferson had bought from
Speaker 1: Napoleon Bonaparte in eighteen o three, the Comanche had learned
Speaker 1: to find his greatest pleasure and profit during his daring
Speaker 1: raids into the settlements of Mexico, raiding in great force
Speaker 1: as far as south as the cities of Chihuahua and Durango.
Speaker 1: The emotional inspiration for such forays on peaceful people was
Speaker 1: regarded as pure cussedness. But a more profound study shows
Speaker 1: that the trophies of such raids, excepting the scalps taken,
Speaker 1: were horses, cattle, sheep, and slaves. Many of the stolen
Speaker 1: horses were for the comanche's personal use, because it took
Speaker 1: many animals to make the great raid during the Mexican Moon.
Speaker 1: The balance of the s trophies was used for barter.
Speaker 1: Years before the purchase of eighteen o three, he was
Speaker 1: trading his stolen stock and possibly his slaves to the
Speaker 1: French traders from the Spanish French border near Old Nacotish
Speaker 1: pronounced Nacotish on the Lower Red River or in later times.
Speaker 1: Upon return from a successful raid, he roared out of
Speaker 1: Mexico and across the Rio Grande into Texas, south of
Speaker 1: the Chizos Mountains. If short of war paint, he replenished
Speaker 1: his favorite red color from the outcroppings of Cinnabar near
Speaker 1: Terlingua Creek. Then headed through the bad lands and out
Speaker 1: upon the Range country by way of Persimmon Gap. From
Speaker 1: the gap, he went to Camanche Springs present Fort Stockton,
Speaker 1: crossed the Pecos River at Horsehead Crossing, then rode north
Speaker 1: to the sand dunes to water a famishing flock, after
Speaker 1: which he headed east to the Sofur and the Big Spring.
Speaker 1: Then he turned northward around the camp that marks the
Speaker 1: eastern extremity of the terrible Yano Estacado, to proceed on
Speaker 1: north until he actually scrambled out upon the plateau. Then
Speaker 1: he proceeded towards Santa Fe to meet somewhere, possibly at
Speaker 1: Casa Amarias in that then desolate region the common ceros
Speaker 1: or middlemen, between himself and the Mexican settlers of the
Speaker 1: Apo Rio Grande Valley near Santa Fe. Footnote One commonchero's
Speaker 1: renegade Mexicans, half breeds and outlaw Americans who lived in
Speaker 1: Mexican settlements in New Mexico from whence they traveled in
Speaker 1: small bands, usually by wagon or ox cart, to the
Speaker 1: Yano Esticado, where they met the Comanches, Caiowas, or other
Speaker 1: Indians and traded guns, ammunition, whiskey, and other desirable items
Speaker 1: for the products of the raids. Robert T. Niels and
Speaker 1: Angelo Texas and footnote. He traded his trophies to the
Speaker 1: common canchero's for guns, ammunition, or other less practical adjuncts
Speaker 1: that might suit his fancy of the moment. His Mexican
Speaker 1: moon was then over, and he returned to his portable village,
Speaker 1: which he had left in some waters canyon that cut
Speaker 1: down eastward from the Yano Estacado. The route, as followed
Speaker 1: by these Indians was a well marked trail, and during
Speaker 1: the time of our westward migration it was well known
Speaker 1: and appears on the maps of the times. Another route
Speaker 1: into Mexico broke off the Western Trail at the Big
Speaker 1: Spring and ran down the valley of the North Concho River,
Speaker 1: across the Edwards Plateau, then through the passes of the
Speaker 1: Balcony's escarpment to cross the Rio Grande into Mexico near
Speaker 1: the present city of Eagle Pass. Mister Ebbetts Hailey refers
Speaker 1: to these trails as the Great Comanche War Trail and
Speaker 1: gives a wonderful description of the activity on them in
Speaker 1: his recent book Fort Concho and the Texas Frontier. An
Speaker 1: old map from the Army fires in the National Archives
Speaker 1: hauls the western branch the Grand Comanche War Trail. But
Speaker 1: all the trails what you may, they were still a
Speaker 1: stiff pain in the neck to anyone crossing them, and
Speaker 1: for the wagon trains and cattle herds going west, crossing
Speaker 1: was inevitable. The greater raids into Mexico appeared to have
Speaker 1: occurred rather regularly in September, when the weather was most
Speaker 1: favorable and the chief objectives could be struck during the
Speaker 1: light of a full moon. Thus, to the unhappy but
Speaker 1: fully expectant Mexicans, the September full moon was known as
Speaker 1: the Comanche moon. At this time. Mars, the red god
Speaker 1: of war, hangs low and molten in the late summer
Speaker 1: night sky and reflects a light that is as red
Speaker 1: as the sand and clay soils of the Indian territory.
Speaker 1: Another favorite trick of these versatile middlemen was to raid
Speaker 1: the settlements down the Rio Grande Valley south from Santa
Speaker 1: Fe and drive off the sad stock to a rendezvous
Speaker 1: with the common ceros, who in turn traded them to
Speaker 1: unknowing Mexican settlers at other points on the river. During
Speaker 1: such raids, it was deemed ethical but unprofitable to kill
Speaker 1: the settlers, since without them there would be no stock
Speaker 1: to drive off in a later raid. Besides, these Mexican
Speaker 1: settlers did not seriously molest the buffalo. Such business sagacity, however,
Speaker 1: did not apply in later times. To the Republic of Texas,
Speaker 1: where each succeeding year saw new settlers break ground and
Speaker 1: homestead farther up the river valleys, whose streams had their
Speaker 1: origins in the motherland plains of the Comanche and Kiowa.
Speaker 1: After its establishment in eighteen thirty six, the infant Republic
Speaker 1: found itself fighting a hot war on two fronts. The
Speaker 1: settlers near the Rio Grande from Del Rio to the
Speaker 1: mouth of that river near Brownsville suffered from raids out
Speaker 1: of Mexico by both Mexicans and Indians, while the northern
Speaker 1: prongs of the new settlements were exposed to the com
Speaker 1: Ranches and Caiowa's. It was a bitter struggle fought generally
Speaker 1: in small, isolated settlements, where the determined Anglo Saxon fought
Speaker 1: for his new home against an equally determined Indian fighting
Speaker 1: to preserve his ancient homeland and range a Saxon scalp
Speaker 1: decorating a Comanche's war shield might be avenged by an
Speaker 1: Indian's entire skin decorating a rude barn door. Matters were
Speaker 1: better controlled after the annexation of Texas by the United
Speaker 1: States than after the close of the Mexican War. But
Speaker 1: it took manpower and supplies to do it, something the
Speaker 1: New Republic had been slow in acquiring. The Treaty of
Speaker 1: Guadalupe Hidalgo provided, among other things, that the United States
Speaker 1: would make every effort to keep the Indians from raiding
Speaker 1: into Mexico. So in about eighteen forty nine, the United
Speaker 1: States Army, mostly cavalry and mounted infantrymen dragoons, moved into Texas.
Speaker 1: They proceeded to establish a string of forts and camps
Speaker 1: from previously established Brown near the mouth of the Rio
Speaker 1: Grande to Duncan near Eagle Pass. For the upper Rio Grande.
Speaker 1: In Texas, they set up what was later to be
Speaker 1: Fort Bliss El Paso as a northern line of defense
Speaker 1: for the settlers. They established, starting with Fort Duncan, the
Speaker 1: forts of Lincoln, Donnis, Martin, Scott, Fredericksburg, Crogan, Burnett, Gates, Gatesville, Graham, Hillsborough,
Speaker 1: and Worth Fort Worth. Only a few of the forts
Speaker 1: were ever protected by stockades. The war was one of movement.
Speaker 1: The places were supposed to be strategically located and manned
Speaker 1: by several companies of cavalry and some infantry, places from
Speaker 1: where punitive expeditions could set out establish supply bases and
Speaker 1: then try to run down the Indian raiders. The standing
Speaker 1: army of the United States during the eighteen three fifties
Speaker 1: was numbered at about fifteen thousand men, and the personnel
Speaker 1: of the Texas Forts accounted for about from one fifth
Speaker 1: to one third of that number. Many of the officers
Speaker 1: and men were veterans of the Mexican War, the forts
Speaker 1: usually being named in honor of American soldiers who lost
Speaker 1: their lives in that war. Many Civil War leaders, both
Speaker 1: Confederate and Union, received much field training from eighteen forty
Speaker 1: nine to the outbreak of that war in eighteen sixty one,
Speaker 1: building and manning the forts, chasing but seldom catching the Indians,
Speaker 1: guarding the wagon trains and mail bags, and exploring the
Speaker 1: wilderness for better trails and water holes. There is a record,
Speaker 1: one of many left by the famous Captain Jack Hayes
Speaker 1: of the Texas Rangers. It tells how he was hired
Speaker 1: by certain merchants of San Antonio who were anxious to
Speaker 1: trade with the merchants of Chihuahua, Mexico. His assignment was
Speaker 1: to find, in eighteen forty eight a route from San
Speaker 1: Antoineo to privately owned Fort Leeton, where the Conscios River
Speaker 1: of Mexico meets the Rio Grand and from which point
Speaker 1: to Chihuahua the going would be reasonably good. Hayes and
Speaker 1: his mounted company of frontiersmen managed to make it to
Speaker 1: Leton and back to San Antonio, but they found the
Speaker 1: going so rough that the journey took them three and
Speaker 1: one half months present Southern Pacific Railway west to Alpine.
Speaker 1: There were too many deep canyons along the tributaries of
Speaker 1: the Rio Grand. The decade following eighteen forty nine was
Speaker 1: most active. The army detachments under capable officers explored to
Speaker 1: find routes from East Texas and from San Antonio to
Speaker 1: El Paso, but the wagon trains did not wait for
Speaker 1: their findings. They often made their own way and did
Speaker 1: their well known, creditable job. Mister Jefferson Davis, Secretary of
Speaker 1: War and himself a distinguished veteran of the Mexican War,
Speaker 1: did about all in his power to aid the new
Speaker 1: State of Texas, the Mexican settlements, and the immigrant trains.
Speaker 1: He made treaties with the Indians and arranged reservations for them.
Speaker 1: This latter deal was not too successful. Friendly East Texas,
Speaker 1: Indians almost starved on the reservations and the more warlike plains.
Speaker 1: Indians had no idea of staying there, even when they
Speaker 1: agreed to move in. The old men's tales of conquest
Speaker 1: and horse dealing were more than the young bucks could take.
Speaker 1: Mister Davis built new forts, and, recognizing the great problems
Speaker 1: of communications that existed between such far flung positions, sought
Speaker 1: to remedy those by importing in eighteen fifty six through
Speaker 1: the seaport of Indianola camels and their Arabian drivers. The
Speaker 1: camels were concentrated at Camp Verde in southern Kerr County,
Speaker 1: and breeding and testing immediately proceeded at a good pace.
Speaker 1: Tests for their strength and endurance carried the caravans across
Speaker 1: the continental divice and back, and the results were very gratifying.
Speaker 1: The Civil War put an end to the experiments. The
Speaker 1: last camel herd before final sellouts to the Carnivals, was
Speaker 1: privately owned near Austin in the early eighteen eighties. By
Speaker 1: the time the Civil War broke out in eighteen sixty one,
Speaker 1: the War Department had finally followed the advice of such
Speaker 1: able soldiers as Joe Johnston and Chase Whiting. The forts
Speaker 1: received a new alignment and were manned mostly by cavalry.
Speaker 1: Supplies were sent in as before from bases like San Antonio.
Speaker 1: The wagons, pulled by oxen or mules, were well guarded
Speaker 1: in most instances by soldiers. The contracts for furnishing the
Speaker 1: supplies and their transportation were let to civilians. The new
Speaker 1: alignment caused the abandonment of some interior forts and camps.
Speaker 1: The line on the lower Rio Grande was extended up
Speaker 1: the river by building Fort Hudson near the Devil's River,
Speaker 1: about thirty miles north of the San Philippe out In
Speaker 1: far western Texas, they built Fort Quitman down the river
Speaker 1: from El Paso. Several things were done to discourage the
Speaker 1: Comanche and Kiowa, whose depredations along the Grand War Trail
Speaker 1: had been greatly stepped up. The War Department flanked the
Speaker 1: trail on the west by the building of a sizeable
Speaker 1: establishment in a beautiful and romantic spot in the Davis Mountains,
Speaker 1: and named it Fort Davis in honor of the Secretary.
Speaker 1: Near this spot, more than three hundred years before, had
Speaker 1: passed the shipwreck, unhorsed and enslaved, but still valiant Spaniard
Speaker 1: Capezza Dabacca. He would later write in his report to
Speaker 1: his Viceroy describing his journey after leaving the Great Arid
Speaker 1: Plains to the north of a valley through which flowed
Speaker 1: limpid waters footnote too. Perhaps this was Lympia Creek, Doctor R.
Speaker 1: T Hill and footnote. After Fort Davis, the Department un
Speaker 1: veiled Fort Lancaster, Western Crockett County, as a flanker to
Speaker 1: the east of the trail. It was cozily situated in
Speaker 1: the mass, not far from the Pecos River and beside
Speaker 1: live Oak Creek that flows delightful spring water. Then the
Speaker 1: War Department built Fort Stockton Paycos County, smack in the
Speaker 1: middle of the Grand Trail and right beside the best
Speaker 1: spring water on its entire route. Now to further protect
Speaker 1: immigrants and mail bags on the route west, and to
Speaker 1: protect settlers of central and Northern Texas who were still
Speaker 1: moving higher up the river valleys, it set up Fort
Speaker 1: Chadbourne as a pivot between the new Western line and
Speaker 1: the lower Rio Grande Valley line. From Fort Chadbourne on
Speaker 1: northeasterly to the Indian Territory were Fort's Phantom Hill, Abilene
Speaker 1: and Belknap Newcastle, but Chadbourne was a near miss because
Speaker 1: it was not well located and its water supply was
Speaker 1: not adequate. However, not until the Civil War was over
Speaker 1: was it finally abandoned in eighteen sixty seven and a
Speaker 1: new site chosen for its replacement, at the confluence of
Speaker 1: the North, South and Middle Concho Rivers. This new position
Speaker 1: would be called Fort Concho, and here eventually would be
Speaker 1: built the city of San Angelo. As the decade preceding
Speaker 1: the outbreak of the Civil War was closing, the great
Speaker 1: wagon trails from San Antonio and East Texas to al
Speaker 1: Paso must have been a site to behold. Most of
Speaker 1: them converged on Castle Gap and the horsehead crossing of
Speaker 1: the Pecos River, from where they had a choice of
Speaker 1: two routes to al Paso. The California Overland Mayo Butterfield Overland.
Speaker 1: Mail two thousand, seven hundred ninety five miles from Saint
Speaker 1: Louis to San Francisco entered Texas by way of Fort Smith, Arkansas,
Speaker 1: followed the line of Fort's southwesterly to the middel Concho River,
Speaker 1: then turned westerly up that valley, then through Castle Gap
Speaker 1: to Horsehead Crossing. From here, the early route followed up
Speaker 1: the Pecos River to Pope's Crossing near the present Red
Speaker 1: Bluff Reservoir, thence westward to El Paso by way of
Speaker 1: Delaware Creek and Wakecoat Tanks. A more southerly route from
Speaker 1: Horsehead Crossing was probably a better choice. It went from
Speaker 1: the crossing direct to Fort Stockton, Leyon Springs, Toyavale, Fort Davis,
Speaker 1: thence to Van Hornswell and El Paso. It also had
Speaker 1: the advantage of servicing the westerly line of forts. The
Speaker 1: original run over this new mail route to California was
Speaker 1: made in eighteen fifty eight, and the New York Herald
Speaker 1: sent a special news correspondent, one W. L. Ormsby, to
Speaker 1: be a through passenger on the mule drong Coat, so
Speaker 1: that he could report the trip. The poor fellow was
Speaker 1: only twenty three years old, age being in his favor,
Speaker 1: he lived through it all. His description of the trail
Speaker 1: from between the upper waterholes of the Middle Concho River
Speaker 1: near present Stiles to Castle Gap and the Horsehead Crossing
Speaker 1: is most illuminating. Quote strewn along the road and far
Speaker 1: as the eye could reach along the plane decayed and
Speaker 1: decaying animals. The bones of cattle and sometimes of men,
Speaker 1: the hide drying on the skin in the arid atmosphere,
Speaker 1: all told a fearful story of anguish and terrific death
Speaker 1: from the pangs of thirst. For miles and miles, these
Speaker 1: bones strew the plane end. It appears from this on
Speaker 1: the spot observation that the trails across level plains country
Speaker 1: were very wide. The wagon trains did not move in
Speaker 1: single file that would expose them too much to Indian attacks,
Speaker 1: and besides, the longer the line, the worse the dust.
Speaker 1: The old wagon wheel ruts, still noticeable to this day
Speaker 1: along the route described above by Ormsby cover a wide
Speaker 1: area on the plains east of Castle Gap before they
Speaker 1: converge on that narrow pass. These can be seen west
Speaker 1: of the China Ponds, where they moved westerly, about three
Speaker 1: miles south of the land grants known as the Alphabet blocks,
Speaker 1: given later by the State of Texas to the Corpus Christi,
Speaker 1: San Diego and Rio Grande Narrow Gage Railroad. Try painting
Speaker 1: that one on a narrow Gage box car. During eighteen
Speaker 1: fifty eight and eighteen fifty nine, Captain Earl Van Dorn
Speaker 1: soon to be a member of the Confederate High Command,
Speaker 1: vigorously carried the war to the Indians and pushed them
Speaker 1: north back across the Red River. They didn't remain there long.
Speaker 1: Texas seceded from the Union in eighteen sixty one, and
Speaker 1: the Federal soldiers marched out of the forts and left
Speaker 1: them to the Confederate forces. Again, the proper man power
Speaker 1: was lacking. Some forts were abandoned so as to shortened
Speaker 1: the defense line, and some of these, as at Lancaster,
Speaker 1: were burned by the Indians. The Indians, now spred on
Speaker 1: by Union agents, carried on a still more bloody and
Speaker 1: aggressive warpair on the Texas Frontier. Confederates and ranger companies,
Speaker 1: coupled with frontiersmen reacted promptly and vigorously, but it was
Speaker 1: a long line of defense from the Red River to
Speaker 1: the Rio Grande. Defended they did, against the Indians and
Speaker 1: against lawless elements such as deserters and other renegade, hostile
Speaker 1: Union sympathizers, and border ruffians from without the state. The
Speaker 1: Negro slave was emancipated by proclamation in Texas on June nineteenth,
Speaker 1: eighteen sixty five. June teenth, about two months after, General
Speaker 1: Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Apromattox Courthouse
Speaker 1: footnote three. On June nineteenth, eighteen sixty five, made General
Speaker 1: Gordon Granger U S. Army landed at Galveston and issued
Speaker 1: a general order declaring that, in accordance with a proclamation
Speaker 1: from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are
Speaker 1: free end footnote. The last land battle of the Civil
Speaker 1: War was fought on May thirteenth, eighteen sixty five, in
Speaker 1: Cameron County, Texas, when invading Federal forces were routed near Brownsville.
Speaker 1: That engagement is known as the Battle of Palmito Ranch
Speaker 1: end Part one, Part two of Fort Concho its Hawaiian
Speaker 1: wherefore by J. N. Gregory. This LibriVox recording is in
Speaker 1: the public domain. From the end of the war until
Speaker 1: eighteen sixty seven, the frontier settlements had no organized military
Speaker 1: forces to protect them from the Indians, and it was
Speaker 1: against the law for Texans to carry guns. Added to
Speaker 1: this were the turmoils of reconstruction, which were about as
Speaker 1: bitter in the populated parts of the state as they
Speaker 1: were in other parts of the South. The occupying United
Speaker 1: States Army under General Phil Sheridan was now mostly recruited
Speaker 1: from among the Negroes, and the army was not used
Speaker 1: against the Indians until eighteen sixty seven, when orders went
Speaker 1: out to get busy and put the forts and camps
Speaker 1: in order footnote four. The Negro regiments on the Texas
Speaker 1: Frontier during these Indian times were the ninth and tenth
Speaker 1: Cavalry and the twenty fourth and twenty fifth Infantry end
Speaker 1: footnote General Sheridan's name was about as popular in Virginia
Speaker 1: and Texas as General W. T. Sherman's was in Georgia
Speaker 1: and Mississippi, but both Sherman and Sheridan came to Texas,
Speaker 1: and Sherman, after narrowly escaping the loss of his scalp
Speaker 1: on the Texas Frontier, finally realized the necessity of a
Speaker 1: last organized military effort to either rid the country of
Speaker 1: the Indians or give it back to them. That was
Speaker 1: in eighteen seventy one. However, in eighteen sixty nine a
Speaker 1: new alignment of the forts had been seen as necessary.
Speaker 1: Never again reoccupied were certain of the interior ones, such
Speaker 1: as Worth, Graham, Gates, Crogan, Martin, Scott, Lincoln, Chadbourne, and
Speaker 1: Ewell Los Ale County. Fort Belknap, on the Salt Fork
Speaker 1: of the Brazos River in Young County had been the
Speaker 1: largest military post in North Texas prior to the Civil War.
Speaker 1: In eighteen sixty seven, the sixth Cavalry was ordered to
Speaker 1: prepare it for reoccupation. They worked for five months, but
Speaker 1: then this fort was ordered evacuated and its place was
Speaker 1: taken by a new one, Fort Griffin, some thirty seven
Speaker 1: miles up the clear Fork of the Brazos from Belknap.
Speaker 1: Now to extend the northeasterly trending line of forts closer
Speaker 1: to the Indian territory, the army built for Richardson, near
Speaker 1: the present town of Jacksborough. The site chosen as the
Speaker 1: replacement for Fort Chadbourn, to be called Fort Concho, was
Speaker 1: at the confluence of the North Concho River with the
Speaker 1: combined waters of the Middle Concho Spring Creek, Dove Creek,
Speaker 1: and the South Concho, the last three named streams being
Speaker 1: fed by bountiful springs. This abundance of water and the
Speaker 1: geographically central location marked the spot as the natural convergence
Speaker 1: of trails from east, northeast and South Texas. Before they
Speaker 1: headed westward for Horsehead Crossing and El Passo. Nature had
Speaker 1: been kind to this oasis in an otherwise desolate region.
Speaker 1: The fishing was extremely good, and the clear waters of
Speaker 1: the streams supported mussels, the variety that produces gem pearls,
Speaker 1: hence the Spanish name of Concho. Herds of Buffalo grazed
Speaker 1: within sight of the new fort. Quail and turkey were plentiful.
Speaker 1: The three new positions, Concho, Griffin, and Richardson, located on
Speaker 1: a line two hundred twenty miles long, as yet unconnected
Speaker 1: by either telegraph or rail, would soon be the centers
Speaker 1: of men, supplies, and animals for the campaigns that finally
Speaker 1: broke the concerted powers of the Indians. These campaigns carried
Speaker 1: the soldiers from the Indian territory and the New Mexico
Speaker 1: Territory on the north to the actual interior of Old
Speaker 1: Mexico on the south from the times in eighteen sixty six.
Speaker 1: In eighteen sixty seven, when Richardson and Concho were ordered built.
Speaker 1: Until eighteen seventy one, the troops undertook no organized campaigns
Speaker 1: against the Indians. The settlers suffered constantly, and the Indians
Speaker 1: learned new tricks. Many more learned how to live off
Speaker 1: government bounty on the reservations in Indian territory, than hit
Speaker 1: the war path along with their wild brethren from the
Speaker 1: Texas Vanhandel. They were amply protected on their return to
Speaker 1: the reservation by the Indian agents in charge, who believed
Speaker 1: their wards could do no wrong. Why they would ask
Speaker 1: would an Indian steel cattle when he had all the
Speaker 1: buffalo meat he wanted. A cavalry expedition out of Fort
Speaker 1: Concho working the edges of the Yano Esticado in eighteen
Speaker 1: seventy two captured a common cero who told how he
Speaker 1: and his companions traded the Indian arms, ammunition and supplies
Speaker 1: for cattle, horses, and sheep that they had stolen during
Speaker 1: their raids. He even showed the soldiers the well worn
Speaker 1: trails across the Yano Estacado towards Santa Fe and the
Speaker 1: valley of the Rio Grande. Thus the secret was finally
Speaker 1: revealed to the army. It seemed unbelievable at this time
Speaker 1: that such ignorance could prevail over the cries and protests
Speaker 1: of the Texas ranchmen, who were losing cattle by the
Speaker 1: tens of thousands footnote five. During the Civil War, the
Speaker 1: cattle on the open Texas Ranges increased many fold with
Speaker 1: the loss by them the Confederacy of control of the
Speaker 1: Mississippi River. After that war, they so far exceeded local
Speaker 1: demand that cattle drives on a much larger scale than
Speaker 1: ever before attempted got under way the Chisholm and Western
Speaker 1: Trails from anywhere in Texas on north through the western
Speaker 1: part of the Indian Territory, and trained cattle in Kansas
Speaker 1: for the eastern feed lots. The good Night Loving Trail,
Speaker 1: running west along the Middle Concho River, thence north along
Speaker 1: the Pecoas and on parallel to the Front Ranges, supplied
Speaker 1: cattle for the new ranches being opened from New Mexico
Speaker 1: to the Canadian border. End footnote. But such was the case,
Speaker 1: and in eighteen sixty seven the Comanches even stole horses
Speaker 1: from the poster herd at Fort Concho. We must remember
Speaker 1: that in that same year the mild policies of President
Speaker 1: Andrew Johnson in Washington were over ruled by the radicals
Speaker 1: in the United States Congress, and the bitter years of
Speaker 1: reconstr struction followed. For the Southern States. All former Confederate
Speaker 1: soldiers were deprived of the vote, and radicals, carpetbaggers, scallawags
Speaker 1: from the South, and freed negroes ruled the state. The
Speaker 1: army was used not to fight Indians, but to guard
Speaker 1: the new social system. The prospect appeared brighter for the
Speaker 1: settlers when, in the fall of eighteen sixty nine, one
Speaker 1: hundred soldiers from Fort Concho managed to engage an Indian
Speaker 1: force on the Salt Fork of the Brazos River. It
Speaker 1: was a drawn fight, but immediately thereafter a larger force
Speaker 1: from the same fort engaged and defeated the Indians in
Speaker 1: the same area. Texans were cheered by the news of
Speaker 1: this new tone of aggressiveness shown by the army. It
Speaker 1: was the only way the war had to be carried
Speaker 1: to the Indians, the same way Earl van Dorn had
Speaker 1: carried the fight to them on the eve of the
Speaker 1: Civil War. But the time for real action had not
Speaker 1: arrived even as late as eighteen sixty nine. On February eighteenth,
Speaker 1: eighteen seventy, a citizen was killed and scalped within one
Speaker 1: quarter of a mile of the post limits at Fort Concho.
Speaker 1: In January of the same year, eighteen mules were stolen
Speaker 1: from the Quartermaster's Corral at that same post. The same
Speaker 1: year eighteen seventy, while Colonel Grierson was building Fort Sill
Speaker 1: in the Indian Territory, Chief Kicking Bird, a Kiowa, defeated
Speaker 1: the command of Captain C. B. McLellan near the present
Speaker 1: town of Seymour. As late as March of eighteen seventy two,
Speaker 1: a wagon train was waylaid near Grierson Springs in Reagan
Speaker 1: County and the teamsters killed by the Indians. Two companies
Speaker 1: of the ninth Cavalry came upon the scene by accident,
Speaker 1: engaged the Indians, but withdrew before a decision was reached.
Speaker 1: Footnote six. Captain Lewis Johnson, twenty fourth Infantry related that
Speaker 1: was the year in which I changed stations twice, marching
Speaker 1: from five Fort Stockton all the way to Fort Brown
Speaker 1: on my way. In March eighteen seventy two, I think
Speaker 1: occurred an attack on a freight train at howards Well,
Speaker 1: Grierson Springs, Reagan County. It was a train from San
Speaker 1: Antonio intended for Fort Stockton. Testimony before House Committee on
Speaker 1: Military Affairs, forty fifth Congress, Second Session, Washington, d C.
Speaker 1: December fourth, eighteen seventy seven end footnote. The lamentations of
Speaker 1: the border people were finally heard in Washington, and in
Speaker 1: April eighteen seventy one, General W. T. Sherman came to
Speaker 1: San Antonio. The next month accompanied by General Randolph B.
Speaker 1: Marcy and an escort of seventeen men, he left for
Speaker 1: an inspection of the frontier. General Marcy was the same
Speaker 1: officer then Captain Marcy, who in eighteen forty nine and
Speaker 1: later had played such an important part in exploring and
Speaker 1: reporting to Congress on trails through Texas. The great explorer
Speaker 1: was still an outdoor man of action. The little expedition
Speaker 1: proceeded by way of Burne Fredericksburg, the old Spanish fort
Speaker 1: on the San Saba, which had withstood a great Comanche
Speaker 1: Indian siege in seventeen fifty eight, Fort mccaot Kickapoo Springs,
Speaker 1: and Fort Concho. From Fort Concho, it followed the Middlitary
Speaker 1: Trail on northeasterly by the remains of Fort Chadbourne and
Speaker 1: Phantom Hill, and on towards Belkmap. General Marcy's journal is
Speaker 1: of great interest. He relates, we crossed immense herds of
Speaker 1: cattle today which are allowed to run wild upon the prairie,
Speaker 1: and they multiply, very rapidly. The only attention the owners
Speaker 1: give them is to brand the calves and occasionally go
Speaker 1: out to see where they range. The remains of several
Speaker 1: ranches were observed, the occupants of which have either been
Speaker 1: killed or driven off to the more dense settlements by
Speaker 1: the Indians. Indeed, this rich and beautiful section does not
Speaker 1: contain today May seventeen, eighteen seventy one as many white
Speaker 1: people as it did when I visited it eighteen years ago.
Speaker 1: And if the Indian marauders are not punished, the whole
Speaker 1: country seems to be in a fair way of being
Speaker 1: totally depopulated, he continues, May eighteenth, eighteen seventy one. This morning,
Speaker 1: five teamsters, who with seven others had been with a
Speaker 1: mule wagon train en route to Fort Griffin Captain Henry
Speaker 1: Warrens with corn for the post, were attacked on the
Speaker 1: open prairie about ten miles east of Salt Creek by
Speaker 1: one hundred Indians, and seven of the teamsters were killed
Speaker 1: and one wounded. General Sherman immediately ordered Colonel Mackenzie to
Speaker 1: take a force of one hundred and fifty cavalry with
Speaker 1: thirty days rations on pack mules and pursue and chastise
Speaker 1: the marauders end. An interesting angle to this affair was
Speaker 1: that Sherman's party had been observed by the same Indians
Speaker 1: who murdered the teamsters, but were unmolested by them because
Speaker 1: they were waiting for the wagon train, which they considered
Speaker 1: nearer top priority. Sherman realized later that he had nearly
Speaker 1: lost his scalp footnote seven. The Salt Creek massacre took
Speaker 1: place near the town of Graham End footnote this. Colonel
Speaker 1: Mackenzie had reported in at Fort Concho as commanding officer
Speaker 1: on September sixth, eighteen sixty nine. Born in New York
Speaker 1: July twenty seventh, eighteen forty and christened Ranald Slidel, he
Speaker 1: had graduated first in his class at West Point in
Speaker 1: eighteen sixty two. He served in the Union Army during
Speaker 1: the Civil War, received several wounds in action, and was
Speaker 1: a brigadier general when that war closed. The remainder of
Speaker 1: his professional life was devoted to active high command in
Speaker 1: the Indian Wars. At various times he served at Forts
Speaker 1: Brown Clark, Mcavot, con Choe, and Richardson, engaging in his
Speaker 1: last Indian fight at Willow Creek, Wyoming, in eighteen seventy six.
Speaker 1: He was retired from the Army for disability in eighteen
Speaker 1: eighty four and died a bachelor at New Brighton, New York,
Speaker 1: in eighteen eighty nine. Along with Mackenzie, Colonel William Rufus Shafter,
Speaker 1: who arrived to command at Fort Concho in January eighteen seventy,
Speaker 1: the War Department had its two best young officers serving
Speaker 1: in the West Texas theatre. Shafter had no West Point training.
Speaker 1: Born in Michigan on October sixteenth, eighteen thirty five, he
Speaker 1: entered the Union Army in the Civil War as a
Speaker 1: first lieutenant, and by the end of that war had
Speaker 1: been breveted to brigadier general of Volunteers. He was later
Speaker 1: awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour for service during the war.
Speaker 1: He was commissioned lieutenant colonel of Regulars in eighteen sixty
Speaker 1: nine and first saw service in West Texas with the
Speaker 1: twenty fourth Infantry at Fort Macavot. Later in life, he
Speaker 1: was to command the American Armies in Cuba during the
Speaker 1: Spanish American War. During the summer of eighteen seventy one,
Speaker 1: while commanding forces at Fort Davis, he set out with
Speaker 1: cavalry from both Forts Davis and Stockton, and pursued a
Speaker 1: large raiding party of Indians from the Fort Davis area
Speaker 1: northeasterly until the trail moved into the Great Sand Doom country,
Speaker 1: near where the city of Monahans now stands. He spent
Speaker 1: fourteen days in this pursuit, but, as was usual in
Speaker 1: such matters, could never force an engagement. However, he learned
Speaker 1: that the heretofore dreaded sand dunes contained fresh water a
Speaker 1: few feet below the surface in several places, and that
Speaker 1: the area was a great refuge for Indians and was
Speaker 1: one of those rendezvous where horse and cattle stealing Indians
Speaker 1: met the common cero traders from New Mexico. The command
Speaker 1: at Fort Concho, as at the u s other forts,
Speaker 1: rotated in a perpetual manner. After service elsewhere, mackenzie returned
Speaker 1: to Concho to organize five companies of the fourth Cavalry
Speaker 1: and a headquarters company for service at Fort Richardson nearer
Speaker 1: the Indian territory. His column moved out March twenty seventh,
Speaker 1: eighteen seventy one, cavalry pack mules and wagons. The bachelor
Speaker 1: commander even allowed wives of the men to accompany the
Speaker 1: expedition as far as the new headquarters at Fort Richardson.
Speaker 1: The weather was crisp and cold as they forded the
Speaker 1: North Concho and soon passed Mount Margaret, named after the
Speaker 1: most accomplished, loving and devoted wife of one of our
Speaker 1: favorite captains, he B. Beaumont. Beaumont beautiful mountain, so wrote
Speaker 1: Captain Robert G. Carter, historian and winner of the Congressional
Speaker 1: Medal of Honor in the Indian Wars, who was a
Speaker 1: member of the expedition. Mount Margaret is the outstanding hill
Speaker 1: at Tennyson. They pitched camp the first night at old
Speaker 1: Fort Chadbourne, from where they followed the military trail, passing
Speaker 1: en route huge herds of buffalo as they went on
Speaker 1: by Fort's phantom Hill Belknap and on into Richardson. Two
Speaker 1: months later, in May, Colonel Mackenzie roused his fourth cavalry
Speaker 1: at Fort Richardson and set out to obey General Sherman's
Speaker 1: orders issued after the killing of the teamsters at Salt Creek,
Speaker 1: But it began to rain. After a futile chase Colonel
Speaker 1: Mackenzie headed for Fort syll commanded by Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson.
Speaker 1: There he learned that Sherman had left, but not before
Speaker 1: the chiefs Satank, sitting Bare, big Tree and Setanta white
Speaker 1: Bear had returned to the reservation at Sylle and boasted
Speaker 1: of murdering the teamsters. Mackenzie arrested and escorted the three
Speaker 1: Indians to Jacksborough for trial in the Texas Court. Satank
Speaker 1: purposely got in self killed by a guard on the march,
Speaker 1: but Setanta and Big Tree were later sentenced to prison
Speaker 1: in the State penitentiary at Huntsville. The duplicity of these
Speaker 1: reservation Indians should now have been apparent to even Grierson
Speaker 1: and the Indian lovers in Washington and Austin, but it
Speaker 1: was not a good insight into the Indian problem of
Speaker 1: the times, and of which we have a written record.
Speaker 1: Appeared at the trial of the two Indian chiefs during
Speaker 1: July of eighteen seventy one in the Little Log Courthouse
Speaker 1: on the public square of Jacksborough. Charles Soward was the
Speaker 1: presiding judge. Samuel W. T. Lanham, later to be a
Speaker 1: two term governor of Texas, was the district Attorney. The
Speaker 1: court appointed Thomas Fall and Joe Woolfork of the Weatherford
Speaker 1: Bar to represent the defendants. Thomas Williams, the foreman of
Speaker 1: the jury, was a frontier citizen and a brother of
Speaker 1: the Governor of Indiana. The principal witnesses against the defendants
Speaker 1: were Colonel McKinny Lowry or Lowry Tatum, the Indian agent
Speaker 1: who had heard their statements at Fort Sill, and Thomas Brazil,
Speaker 1: the teamster who had escaped from the Salt Creek massacres.
Speaker 1: Our Captain Carter wrote under a strong guard, accompanied by
Speaker 1: his council and an interpreter, the chief, clanking his chain,
Speaker 1: walked to the little log courthouse on the public Square.
Speaker 1: The jury had been impaneled, and the district Attorney, bustled
Speaker 1: and flourished around the whole country, armed to the teeth,
Speaker 1: crowded the courthouse and stood outside, listening through the open windows.
Speaker 1: The chief's attorneys made a plea for him and referred
Speaker 1: to the wrongs the red man had suffered, how he
Speaker 1: had been cheated and despoiled of his lands and driven westward,
Speaker 1: until it seemed there was no limit to the greed
Speaker 1: of the white man. They excuse his crime as just
Speaker 1: retaliation for centuries of wrong. The jurors sat on long benches,
Speaker 1: each in his shirt sleeves and with shooting irons strapped
Speaker 1: to his hip end quote. Setanta got up to defend
Speaker 1: himself before his accusers. Over six feet tall, the perfect
Speaker 1: figure of an athlete and well known as the orator
Speaker 1: of the Plains who could sway councils of both Whites
Speaker 1: and Indians, he could well have influenced the jury by
Speaker 1: mute silence, but instead he lied and dissembled to save
Speaker 1: his life. He never mentioned the wrongs done his people
Speaker 1: by the whites. Instead, speaking through the interpreter, he proceeded
Speaker 1: as follows. Quote. I have never been so near the
Speaker 1: Tahannas Texans before. I look around me and see your braves,
Speaker 1: squaws and papooses, and I have said in my heart,
Speaker 1: if I ever get back to my people, I will
Speaker 1: never make war upon you. I have always been the
Speaker 1: friend of the white man, ever since I was so high,
Speaker 1: indicating by sign the height of a boy. My tribe
Speaker 1: have taunted me and called me a squaw because I
Speaker 1: have been the friend of the Tahanas. I am suffering
Speaker 1: now for the crimes of bad Indians, of Satank and
Speaker 1: lone Wolf and kicking Bird, and big Bow and fast
Speaker 1: Bear and eagle Heart. And if you will let me go,
Speaker 1: I will kill the three ladder with my own hand. End.
Speaker 1: The evidence against the two chiefs was debated by the
Speaker 1: jury and both were sentenced to death. The sentence was
Speaker 1: later commuted to life imprisonment. Now, a few statements from
Speaker 1: the court record as to what the district attorney had
Speaker 1: to say point to some of the misunderstandings of the
Speaker 1: times when it came to the Indian problem on the
Speaker 1: western frontiers. The following excerpts from his plea before the
Speaker 1: court show clearly not only the feeling of the frontiersmen
Speaker 1: towards the uncontrolled Indians, but also the contempt in which they,
Speaker 1: both frontiersmen and Indians held the people who, by appeasement, crookedness,
Speaker 1: and ignorance try to manage the Indian affairs of the
Speaker 1: nation from a far away city. Setanta, the veteran council
Speaker 1: chief of the Kiowas, the orator, the diplomat, the counselor
Speaker 1: of his tribe, the pulse of his race. Big Tree,
Speaker 1: the young war chief who leads in the thickest of
Speaker 1: the fight, and follows no one in the chase. The
Speaker 1: mighty warrior, with the speed of the deer and the
Speaker 1: eye of the eagle, are before this bar, in the
Speaker 1: charge of the law. So they would be described by
Speaker 1: Indian admirers who live in more secured and favored lands,
Speaker 1: remote from the frontier, where distance lends enchantment to the imagination,
Speaker 1: where the story of Pocahontas and the speech of Logan
Speaker 1: the Mingo are read, and the dread sound of the
Speaker 1: war whoop is not heard. We who see them to day,
Speaker 1: disrobed of all their fancied graces, exposed in the light
Speaker 1: of reality, behold them through far different lands. We recognize
Speaker 1: in Setanta, the arch fiend of treachery and blood, the
Speaker 1: cunning Cataline, the promoter of strife, the breaker of treaties
Speaker 1: signed by his own hand, the inciter of his fellows
Speaker 1: to rapine and murder, as well as the most canting
Speaker 1: and double tongued hypocrite, where detected and overcome in Big
Speaker 1: Tree we perceive the tiger demon, who tasted blood and
Speaker 1: loved it as his own food, who stops at no crime,
Speaker 1: how black soever, who is swift at every species of
Speaker 1: ferocity and pities. Not at any sight of agony or death.
Speaker 1: He can scalp, burn, torture, mangle, and deface his victims
Speaker 1: with all the superlatives of cruelty, and have no feeling
Speaker 1: of sympathy or remorse. We look in vain to see
Speaker 1: in them anything to be admired or even endured. Powerful
Speaker 1: legislative influences have been brought to bear to procure for
Speaker 1: them annuities, reservations and supplies. Federal munificence has fostered and
Speaker 1: nourished them, fed and clothed them from their strongholds of protection.
Speaker 1: They have come down upon us like wolves on the fold.
Speaker 1: Treaties have been solemnly made with them, wherein they have
Speaker 1: been considered with all the formalities of quasi nationalities. Immense
Speaker 1: financial rings have had their origin in and draw their
Speaker 1: vitality from the Indian question. Unblushing corruption has stalked abroad,
Speaker 1: created and kept alive through the poor Indian whose untutored
Speaker 1: mind sees a God in clouds or hears him in
Speaker 1: the wind. For many years, predatory and numerous bands of
Speaker 1: these pets of the government have weighed the most relentless
Speaker 1: and heartrending warfare upon our frontier, stealing our property and
Speaker 1: killing our citizens. We have cried aloud for help. It
Speaker 1: is a fact well known in Texas that stolen property
Speaker 1: has been traced to the very doors of the reservation
Speaker 1: and there identified by our people to no purpose end.
Speaker 1: Mackenzie realized those things and knew he could receive no
Speaker 1: cooperation from Grierson at Fort Sill, so in September, acting
Speaker 1: on orders, concentrated a force of eight companies of the
Speaker 1: fourth Cavalry, two companies of the eleventh Infantry, and thirty
Speaker 1: Tankawa Indian scouts at Old Camp Cooper near Fort Griffin.
Speaker 1: The infantry would be used to guard the supply bases
Speaker 1: as he moved northwesterly in the hope of engaging the
Speaker 1: wild Brethren under Chief Quana. He bivouacked in the mouth
Speaker 1: of Blanco Canyon and lost sixty odd horses to an
Speaker 1: Indian raid that night. The next day, the command moved
Speaker 1: up the canyon and later came out on the flat
Speaker 1: prairie of the Yano Estacado. A large retreating body of
Speaker 1: Indians was sighted, but a norther blew up and Mackenzie
Speaker 1: was forced back the canyon by the cold weather. He
Speaker 1: withdrew to Fort Richardson, where the command arrived in late November.
Speaker 1: He accomplished nothing, and as for himself, he received an
Speaker 1: arrow wound during a small skirmish in the canyon. End
Speaker 1: of Part two, Part three of Fort Concho. It is wyant,
Speaker 1: wherefore by J. N. Gregory this LibriVox recording is in
Speaker 1: the public domain. With the coming of spring, things picked up.
Speaker 1: Mackenzie received orders and mate to establish a camp of
Speaker 1: cavalry and infantry on the Fresh Fork of the Brazos,
Speaker 1: from which his cavalry should operate in pursuit of hostile Indians.
Speaker 1: He moved out of Fort Richardson in June, while shafter
Speaker 1: at Fort Concho organized wagon trains and supplies, these coming
Speaker 1: from as far away as Fort Brown. He was to
Speaker 1: meet Mackenzie near the mouth of Blanco Canyon, where the
Speaker 1: base was to be established. By September eighteen seventy two,
Speaker 1: Mackenzie and his cavalry had moved from Blanco Canyon to
Speaker 1: Fort Sumner, New Mexico, thence north to Fort Bascombe, New Mexico,
Speaker 1: then southeasterly to Palo Duro Canyon, and south to his
Speaker 1: base camp at Blanco Canyon. He had found no Indians
Speaker 1: or common Ceros, but he had followed well marked common
Speaker 1: Chero trails across the Yano Estacado and had no trouble
Speaker 1: in finding water holes. The staked plains were not nearly
Speaker 1: so tough as the High Army echelons had been led
Speaker 1: to believe. Puzzled by the lack of Indians, he set
Speaker 1: out for the headwaters of the Red River, and on
Speaker 1: September twenty nine discovered a large camp on a tributary
Speaker 1: of the Red northeast of Palo Duro. He immediately attacked
Speaker 1: with five companies of cavalry, rooted the braves, burned two
Speaker 1: hundred sixty two Indian lodges, and captured one hundred and
Speaker 1: twenty seven women and chips, children, and an estimated three
Speaker 1: thousand head of horses. His own losses were light if
Speaker 1: we accept the fact that the Indian braves returned that
Speaker 1: night and recovered all of their horses by stampeding them.
Speaker 1: Mackenzie never forgot that midnight raid. The drubbing had a
Speaker 1: salutary effect on the Indians. The captives were sent to
Speaker 1: Fort Concho for prisoner exchange, and many warriors sought safety
Speaker 1: on the reservations. Their chief Satank was dead, and Chief
Speaker 1: Satanta and Big Tree were in the penitentiary at Huntsville.
Speaker 1: The next spring, the remaining one hundred captive women and
Speaker 1: children at Fort Concho were delivered back to the reservation
Speaker 1: at Fort Sill amid great rejoicing by the braves. They
Speaker 1: began to feel that the Pale Face was not such
Speaker 1: a bad ombree after all. Ebbats Hailey says that some
Speaker 1: of the braves so seriously considered settling down that they
Speaker 1: even sent their women into the fields to see what
Speaker 1: work was like. Things now looked better, and the Indian
Speaker 1: lovers persuaded Governor Edmund J. Davis to issue pardons to
Speaker 1: Satanta and Big Tree. This infuriated General Sherman. That was
Speaker 1: in April of eighteen seventy three. Trouble immediately started again.
Speaker 1: But meanwhile Mackenzie had returned to Fort Concho, where he
Speaker 1: arrived in January of that year and set up the
Speaker 1: headquarters of the Fourth Cavalry Regiment. Then in March, the
Speaker 1: Fourth itself left Fort Richardson for Concho, and the seventh
Speaker 1: Cavalry took over at Richardson Footnote eight. When At the
Speaker 1: Battle of the Little Bighorn in present Montana June twenty five,
Speaker 1: eighteen seventy six, General George A. Custer and his entire
Speaker 1: command were massacred by the Sioux Indians. That command was
Speaker 1: composed of elements of the seventh United States Cavalry. The
Speaker 1: massacre took place about three years after the seventh marched
Speaker 1: into Fort Richardson. There is no evidence of Custer having
Speaker 1: been at Richardson at this time. He was probably somewhere
Speaker 1: on the Missouri River end footnote. The fourth headed for
Speaker 1: Fort Concho, the same column soldiers, wagons, wives, and their
Speaker 1: household plunder that had moved north to Richardson two years before.
Speaker 1: General Sherman had decided to do something about that other
Speaker 1: Texas frontier, the Rio Grand, and he wanted McKenzie with
Speaker 1: his Fourth Cavalry to handle the job. Things were not,
Speaker 1: and never had been, peaceful along the Rio Grand. It
Speaker 1: was another frontier with two parts from Ringgold Barracks opposite
Speaker 1: the Mexican city of camago On down to the mouth
Speaker 1: of the Rio Grand. A man by the name of
Speaker 1: Juan Cootina, once a general in the Mexican Army that
Speaker 1: had opposed General Zachary Taylor's invasion of Mexico sought to
Speaker 1: make a living in the grand style. He was very
Speaker 1: successful as a bandit and became the robin hood of
Speaker 1: his side of the border. During the Civil War, his
Speaker 1: bandit receased. He became a trader and did well because
Speaker 1: the Rio grand became the only outlet of the Southern Confederacy.
Speaker 1: But with the close of the war, he resumed his
Speaker 1: favorite role as abandon and declared that the Nueces River,
Speaker 1: and not the Rio Grande, was the border between his
Speaker 1: country and the United States. The result was that he
Speaker 1: and other lesser bandits overran the entire country from the
Speaker 1: Rio grand to the Nuess killed for the pleasure of killing,
Speaker 1: and drove into Mexico tens of thousands of Texas cattle.
Speaker 1: In eighteen seventy five, one of his raids came within
Speaker 1: seven miles of Corpus Christi. Truly, his activities were as
Speaker 1: fearsome and as costly as were those of the Indians
Speaker 1: on the other frontiers of the state, but the United
Speaker 1: States Army did little about it, being unable to catch
Speaker 1: raiders in Texas and unwilling to attack them in Mexico.
Speaker 1: The Texas Rangers, recreated in eighteen seventy four, began to
Speaker 1: effectually take care of the matter. Thirty one of these
Speaker 1: men under their able commander, Captain Leander H. McNelly, began
Speaker 1: to take a bite out of these raiders in eighteen
Speaker 1: seventy five, killing them not only in Texas, but pursuing
Speaker 1: and attacking them in Mexico itself. General Porphyrio Diaz came
Speaker 1: to power in Mexico about this time and ended the
Speaker 1: Cortina troubles by arresting and confining that gentleman to the
Speaker 1: environs of Mexico City. The Rangers took care of the
Speaker 1: rest of the gangs. Along the upper Rio Grande, the
Speaker 1: raids into Texas were made by Indians, the Kickapoos, Lipans,
Speaker 1: and Apaches. These tribes had settled in that great, arid
Speaker 1: and sparsely inhabited area that extends south of the Rio
Speaker 1: grand from Laredo to El Paso. That part of Mexico
Speaker 1: was a no man's land. The small Mexican and Indian
Speaker 1: villages were a law unto themselves. The Mexicans often joined
Speaker 1: the Indians on their raids, and the cattle and horses
Speaker 1: brought back found a ready market in the Mexican villages.
Speaker 1: The Lippans, like the Apaches, were natives of the Great
Speaker 1: Plains country. The Kickapoos were Easterners and had been termed
Speaker 1: friendly Indians upon their arrival west of the Mississippi River.
Speaker 1: The term friendly Indian, often used in writings and reports
Speaker 1: of the times, referred in the larger sense to those
Speaker 1: tribes such as the Gickapoos, Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Seminoles, Delawares,
Speaker 1: and others, that had once been powerful tribes in the
Speaker 1: eastern United States, but because of the encroachment of the
Speaker 1: white settlers, they had, by treaty, coercion, or force during
Speaker 1: the early eighteen hundreds, been continually moved by the United
Speaker 1: States government from their ancestral or reservation lands in the East.
Speaker 1: They finally ended up at various times on reservations assigned
Speaker 1: to them in what is now Kansas and Oklahoma Indian Territory.
Speaker 1: Here they usually encountered hostility from the native tribes of
Speaker 1: the Great Plains, whose superior numbers threatened their entire existence.
Speaker 1: They were considered intrude and were obliged to turn to
Speaker 1: the United States troops, where possible for protection. Their natural
Speaker 1: ability as trackers made them a necessary unit in any
Speaker 1: force of troops that sought to engage hostile Indians. The
Speaker 1: seminoles from Florida were pretty well mixed with Negro blood
Speaker 1: upon their arrival in East Texas and later in the
Speaker 1: Indian territory. The reason for this was that prior to
Speaker 1: the Civil War, many runaway Negro slaves had sought and
Speaker 1: found sanctuary among these Indians living at that time in
Speaker 1: the fastnesses of the Everglades. During the latter days of
Speaker 1: the Civil War, December of eighteen sixty four, a company
Speaker 1: of Frontier scouts out of Fort Beltmap discovered a freshly
Speaker 1: abandoned Indian camp west of the ruins of Old Fort
Speaker 1: Phantom Hill. The scouts estimated that perhaps five thousand Indians
Speaker 1: had camped there. During the preceding fall, Comanche and Kiowa
Speaker 1: Indians in large numbers had broken up the settlements on
Speaker 1: the northern frontier in Young County. Therefore, it was assumed,
Speaker 1: and assumed too hastily, as it turned out, that these
Speaker 1: Indians had occupied the camp and were on the march
Speaker 1: to find a permanent spring and summer location from where
Speaker 1: they could further raid the settlements. Actually, these Indians were
Speaker 1: friendly Kickapoos from the Indian territory, and as it turned out,
Speaker 1: they were probably peacefully moving themselves in their entire tribe
Speaker 1: to join a tiny remnant of the tribe that had
Speaker 1: years before settled in Old Mexico, some forty miles west
Speaker 1: of Laredo. The hasty assumption that these Indians were hostile
Speaker 1: led to the Battle of Dove Creek, fought on Sunday,
Speaker 1: the eighth of January eighteen sixty five. The scene of
Speaker 1: the battle was the Indian encampment on the south bank
Speaker 1: of Dove Creek, about three miles above its confluence with
Speaker 1: Spring Creek and fifteen miles southwest of the present Tom
Speaker 1: Green County Courthouse. After the discovery of the abandoned camp
Speaker 1: near Phantom Hill, the Indians were trailed by scouts. Confederate
Speaker 1: regulars had been concentrated at Camp Colorado, and militia had
Speaker 1: been moved from Erath, Brown, Comanche and Parker Counties. These
Speaker 1: two columns of troops, numbering some four hundred men, concentrated
Speaker 1: above the Indian encampment before daybreak. They attacked at daylight.
Speaker 1: It was an impetuous charge, and was met by deadly
Speaker 1: fire from the infield rifles of six hundred braves. Well
Speaker 1: protected by the underbrush of the creek bottom, the militia,
Speaker 1: respectfully referred to by the Regulars as the flop eared Militia,
Speaker 1: suffered heavily in their charge. They broke and fled, and
Speaker 1: were of no more value in the field. The Regulars,
Speaker 1: now badly outnumbered and out flank, were slowly forced back
Speaker 1: and withdrew towards Spring Creek, fighting from the shelters of
Speaker 1: the oak groves as they retired. This action continued all day,
Speaker 1: and they encamped that night with all their wounded and
Speaker 1: the reformed militia on Spring Creek, about eight miles from
Speaker 1: the original battleground. They left twenty two dead on the
Speaker 1: field and carried away about forty wounded. The long retreat
Speaker 1: to the mouth of the Concho River started the next
Speaker 1: morning in a blinding snowstorm that made pursuit by the
Speaker 1: Indians impossible. They resorted to captured Indian ponies as food supply.
Speaker 1: It had been a most unfortunate affair. The Kickapoos crossed
Speaker 1: the Mexican border in the Eagle Pass area and settled
Speaker 1: down about forty miles inland. Always irked by memories of
Speaker 1: the unprovoked Dove Creek fight, they thereafter heartily joined future
Speaker 1: raids into Texas. They were no longer friendly Indians. It
Speaker 1: was this matter of raids into Texas in the upper
Speaker 1: Rio Grande country that attracted General Sherman's attention in March
Speaker 1: of eighteen seventy three, when he ordered Colonel Mackenzie and
Speaker 1: his fourth Cavalry to Fort Concho. From Concho, they moved
Speaker 1: to Fort Clark, only about thirty miles from the Mexican border.
Speaker 1: At Fort Clark, a conference of high ranking officials was held,
Speaker 1: including apparently the Secretary of War, General phil Sheridan, Mackenzie,
Speaker 1: and others. No orders were issued, but after the conference
Speaker 1: was over, the brass reviewed the Fourth Cavalry. The ten
Speaker 1: year men in the regiment knew that something big was brewing.
Speaker 1: Dark and early on the morning of May seventeenth, eighteen
Speaker 1: seventy three, Colonel Mackenzie led four hundred men of his
Speaker 1: fourth Cavalry and twenty or thirty Seminole scouts under Lieutenant
Speaker 1: John L. Bullis on a drive across the Rio Grande
Speaker 1: in New Mexico. After four days and nights of continuous
Speaker 1: writing and fighting. The small expeditionary force, carrying their supplies
Speaker 1: in their pockets, and with no time taken out for sleeping,
Speaker 1: recrossed the river and were back on friendly Texas soil.
Speaker 1: They had covered some one hundred and sixty miles and
Speaker 1: had burned three Kickapoo and Leipen villages, killed a considerable
Speaker 1: number of braves, captured forty women and children, plus the
Speaker 1: chief of the Lippins, and had driven the remainder of
Speaker 1: the tribes into the Santa Rosa Mountains. Washington and Mexico
Speaker 1: City both hit the ceiling over this invasion of a
Speaker 1: friendly nation. Mackenzie could show no written orders for the action.
Speaker 1: Had he failed, he would have been court martialed, and
Speaker 1: he knew that beforehand. But President Grant stood by his officer,
Speaker 1: and the incident soon blew over. In fact, a year
Speaker 1: or two later, most of the remaining Kickapoos were persuaded
Speaker 1: to accept Uncle Sam's hospitality. They went from Mexico to
Speaker 1: Fort Sill by way of Fort Concho, and were given
Speaker 1: a cozy place on a reservation in the Indian territory
Speaker 1: footnote nine. This action was not a pursuit following a
Speaker 1: fresh trail into Mexico. It was a carefully planned attack
Speaker 1: on Indian villages in that country, the location of which
Speaker 1: had been accurately ascertained beforehand. Later on, during eighteen seventy
Speaker 1: six and eighteen seventy seven, Lieutenant John L. Bullis, acting
Speaker 1: under the command of Colonel Shafter, conducted six such raids
Speaker 1: into Mexico, all on the upper Rio Grande from Laredo
Speaker 1: to points southwest of the mouth of the Pecos River.
Speaker 1: Bullus was a very brave and competent soldier, and was
Speaker 1: awarded a sword by the Texas legislature. Camp Bullis, near
Speaker 1: San Antonio was named for him in nineteen seventeen and footnote.
Speaker 1: By this time, it is apparent that our Colonel Mackenzie
Speaker 1: was the fair haired boy of President Grant and Generals
Speaker 1: Sherman and Sheridan. During the Civil War, Grant had regarded
Speaker 1: him as his ablest young officer. Now if things got
Speaker 1: out of line, you would simply address on Bob's Truly,
Speaker 1: things were about to get out of line again. Some
Speaker 1: foolish policy of appeasement was still rampant in Washington, so
Speaker 1: Setanta and Big Tree were released from the penitentiary. This,
Speaker 1: combined with other factors such as the restlessness of the
Speaker 1: Indians on the reservations and the slaughter of the buffalo,
Speaker 1: united the efforts of the Comanche tribe along with the Caiowas.
Speaker 1: Now aided by the Cheyennes, they started trouble all over
Speaker 1: again once more. The raids during the spring of eighteen
Speaker 1: seventy four hit the Texas Frontier, and as usual, the soldiers,
Speaker 1: while sleeping, had their horses stolen. Buffalo hunters in their
Speaker 1: lonely camps on the Panhando Plains were murdered and scalped
Speaker 1: just east of the old adobe walls ruins on the
Speaker 1: north side of the Canadian River in what is now
Speaker 1: northeastern Hutcheson County, twenty eight men and one woman fortified
Speaker 1: themselves in three new adobe buildings that had just been
Speaker 1: completed as a trading post in anticipation of the northern
Speaker 1: migration of the great Buffalo herds. They had awakened before
Speaker 1: daylight on the morning of June twenty seventh, eighteen seventy four,
Speaker 1: by a sharp cracking noise the newly cut cottonwood ridgepoole
Speaker 1: that supported the roof on one of the three buildings
Speaker 1: had settled, and the sod covered roof threatened to collapse
Speaker 1: at any moment. Fifteen men worked until daylight propping up
Speaker 1: the roof that accident save the lives of all in
Speaker 1: the walls. For just as daylight came. Being awake and outside,
Speaker 1: they saw to the eastward and estimated seven hundred mounted
Speaker 1: Indians riding hard for the settlement. The attacking force was
Speaker 1: less than half a mile away when it deployed in
Speaker 1: a great converging arc. Billy Dixon, the buffalo hunter and
Speaker 1: frontier scout, described the charge in a dramatic manner. There
Speaker 1: was never a more splendidly barbaric sight in after years.
Speaker 1: I was glad that I had seen it. Hundreds of warriors,
Speaker 1: the flower of the fighting men of the Southwestern Plain Stribes,
Speaker 1: mounted upon their final horses, armed with guns and lances,
Speaker 1: and carrying heavy shields of thick buffalo hide, were coming
Speaker 1: Like the wind. Overall was splashed the rich colors of red,
Speaker 1: vermilion and ochre on the bodies of the men, on
Speaker 1: the bodies of the running horses. Scalps dangled from bridles,
Speaker 1: Gorgeous war bonnets fluttered their plumes, bright feathers dangled from
Speaker 1: the tails and manes of the horses, and the bronzed,
Speaker 1: half naked bodies of the riders glittered with ornaments of
Speaker 1: silver and brass. Behind this headlong charging host stretched the plains,
Speaker 1: on whose horizon the rising sun was lifting its morning fires.
Speaker 1: The warriors seemed to emerge from this glorious background. Life
Speaker 1: of Billy Dixon by Olive K. Dixon The Southwest Press, Dallas, Texas.
Speaker 1: The three buildings were about equally manned by the Whites.
Speaker 1: Doors were closed and then barricaded, as were the windows
Speaker 1: and transoms by sacks of flour and grain. The first
Speaker 1: charge was broken up at the very walls of the
Speaker 1: building by the lead from the big buffalo guns. Thanks
Speaker 1: to the thick abode walls and to the dirt covered roofs,
Speaker 1: there was no danger of being smoked out by fire.
Speaker 1: The fight raged until noon. Two of the Whites, unable
Speaker 1: to reach the buildings, had been killed in the first onslaught.
Speaker 1: All of the horses and oxen were dead or driven away.
Speaker 1: The Indians had lost heavily and now withdrew out of range.
Speaker 1: They could be seen moving about in the distance, but
Speaker 1: they did not attack again. It was on the third
Speaker 1: day of the siege that Billy Dixon drew a bead
Speaker 1: on a mounted Indian one thousand, five hundred and thirty
Speaker 1: eight yards away on a ridge and shot him dead.
Speaker 1: He was firing a fifty caliber Sharp's rifle, the largest
Speaker 1: of the buffalo guns. During the next two or three days,
Speaker 1: other buffalo hunters drifted into the walls until the garrison
Speaker 1: numbered about one hundred men. William Barkley backed Masterson, had
Speaker 1: been present since the beginning of the fight, and had,
Speaker 1: like most of the other defenders, distinguished himself by his
Speaker 1: cool behavior under fire. By the end of the sixth day,
Speaker 1: the Indians had broken up into bands, the Comanches under Kwana,
Speaker 1: the Kiowa's under Lone Wolf, and the Cheyennes under Stonecaf
Speaker 1: and White Shield. These bands then proceeded to work over
Speaker 1: the other buffalo hunters on the South and Central ranges.
Speaker 1: They accomplished their objective. Buffalo hunting by the Whites was
Speaker 1: discontinued for that year. Down in San Antonio, General Christopher c. Auger,
Speaker 1: the Department commander, fully backed by General Sherman, ordered full
Speaker 1: scale war. All Indians off their reservations were declared hostiles,
Speaker 1: and the campaign against them took the form of a
Speaker 1: real squeeze play. It was relentlessly carried out by a
Speaker 1: man sized army under able lieutenants. Colonel Nelson A. Miles
Speaker 1: was ordered to march westerly out of Camp Supply in
Speaker 1: the Indian territory. Colonel John when Davidson was to move
Speaker 1: west out of Fort Sill. Major William R. Price was
Speaker 1: to move down the Canadian out of Fort Union territory
Speaker 1: of New Mexico. Colonel G. P. Buell was to leave
Speaker 1: Fort Griffin, proceed north to the Red River, then move
Speaker 1: up that stream, and Colonel Mackenzie's command headed northwesterly out
Speaker 1: of Fort Concho for his old camping ground at Blanco Canyon.
Speaker 1: It appears that Colonel Grierson was left out altogether. The
Speaker 1: campaign got under way in the late summer of eighteen
Speaker 1: seventy four. Colonel Mackenzie marched out of Fort Concho with
Speaker 1: eight companies of cavalry and three of infantry. He moved
Speaker 1: northwesterly up the North Concho River for his first objective,
Speaker 1: the camp at Blanco Canyon. Footnote ten. A regiment of
Speaker 1: cavalry on the Texas frontier after the Civil War could
Speaker 1: at maximum strength, muster about nine hundred and twenty nine men.
Speaker 1: A company of maximum strength could muster about ninety men.
Speaker 1: A regiment of infantry varied in number more than a
Speaker 1: similar cavalry unit and was smaller, mustering generally about four
Speaker 1: hundred and sixty men, while a company varied from twenty
Speaker 1: five or thirty men on up to sixty or sixty
Speaker 1: five men end footnote. Mackenzie appears to have been overall commander. However,
Speaker 1: the biography of Nelson A. Miles seems to give Myles
Speaker 1: considerable credit for subduing the Indians in our west. He
Speaker 1: was a volunteer in the Union Army during the Civil
Speaker 1: War and rose to high rank higher than that reached
Speaker 1: by Mackenzie. Biographies can often be misleading, parts of them
Speaker 1: being word of mouth stories from the principal himself. Myles
Speaker 1: could never have been called a modest man. Prior to
Speaker 1: his death, he followed the example of some of the
Speaker 1: pharaohs of Egyptian history and built his mazule on the
Speaker 1: bank of a great river, in his case, not the Nile,
Speaker 1: but the Potomac. It was perfectly legal to do this.
Speaker 1: The site chosen being in the Arlington National Cemetery, a
Speaker 1: place reserved for the remains of United States servicemen. However,
Speaker 1: the timing of the construction of the mausoleum, built even
Speaker 1: before he died, and the fact that he chose to
Speaker 1: plant himself not only in the most prominent spot to
Speaker 1: be found, but right in what had once been General
Speaker 1: Robert E. Lee's front yard, leads one to believe he
Speaker 1: might have taken a slight advantage of his biographer. The
Speaker 1: campaign lasted until the latter part of December eighteen seventy four, when,
Speaker 1: through ice and snow, Mackenzie's fourth Cavalry drifted into Fort Griffin.
Speaker 1: By this time, the other commanders had accomplished their objectives
Speaker 1: and returned to their stations. The strategy had been simple enough.
Speaker 1: The commands from the north, east and west were to
Speaker 1: drive the tribes towards the rough country and the canyons
Speaker 1: in the head wad waters of the Red River, where Mackenzie,
Speaker 1: moving in from the south, would destroy them. The actual
Speaker 1: carrying out of the plans was, as usual another thing.
Speaker 1: Variations in the weather were severe, Drinking water was scarce,
Speaker 1: and when found usually had the same effects on the
Speaker 1: drinkers as wood castor oil. Wood for fires was generally
Speaker 1: lacking corn for horse was an eternal problem, and the
Speaker 1: long supply lines were constantly threatened by an alert enemy.
Speaker 1: But it all worked out as planned. The four commanders, Miles, Buell, Davidson,
Speaker 1: and Price, drove the tribes before them after spirited engagements.
Speaker 1: On October ninth, Buell, moving up the Red River, destroyed
Speaker 1: a camp of four hundred lodges on the Salt Fork
Speaker 1: of that river. The usual plan of operation was for
Speaker 1: each commander to use his friendly Indian scouts as guides
Speaker 1: to locate a fresh Indian trail. After that, it was
Speaker 1: hard riding and if possible, surprise attack on a village.
Speaker 1: Most of the supplies came from the nearest forts, such
Speaker 1: as syl Fort Bascombe, New Mexico, and Camp Supply in
Speaker 1: the northwestern part of the Indian Territory, and Fort Griffin
Speaker 1: on the Brazos. It was during this campaign that plans
Speaker 1: were made to locate Fort Elliott as a new defense
Speaker 1: in the Panhandle footnote eleven. A large trade has sprung
Speaker 1: up in western Texas in cattle, which are driven up
Speaker 1: into Kansas to the railroad at or near Fort Dodge,
Speaker 1: they go up by what is termed the Panhandle of Texas.
Speaker 1: Fort Elliott is established there for the purpose of aiding
Speaker 1: cattle merchants who buy cattle in Texas and drive them
Speaker 1: up to the railroad, and thence the cattle are taken
Speaker 1: to Ohio or Illinois and fed until spring, when they
Speaker 1: are sent east. The trade amounts to two or three
Speaker 1: hundred thousand annually. End statement of General W. T. Sherman,
Speaker 1: November twenty one, eighteen seven, before the Committee on Military
Speaker 1: Affairs in relation to the Texas Border Troubles, House of Representatives,
Speaker 1: forty fifth Congress, second Session, and footnote. Mackenzie's fourth cavalry
Speaker 1: moved many a weary mile. His biggest Indian fight occurred
Speaker 1: in the Palo Duro Canyon, where he surprised a large
Speaker 1: camp in late September and reported the capture of one thousand,
Speaker 1: four hundred twenty four ponies, mules and colts. Remembering his
Speaker 1: past experience with captive horses, he had the entire herd
Speaker 1: shot rather than risk the possibility of their recapture during
Speaker 1: the night by the braves. This campaign broke up any
Speaker 1: further concerted action by the Indian tribes, it had been
Speaker 1: long immaterializing, and that to many still seems hard to understand.
Speaker 1: Setanta was recaptured and sent back to the penitentiary at Huntsville,
Speaker 1: but ended it all a short time thereafter by jumping
Speaker 1: head first out of a second story window. The other
Speaker 1: Kiowa chief, Big Tree, upon being captured and imprisoned, this
Speaker 1: time at Fort Syl, became a model prisoner. After gaining
Speaker 1: his freedom, he became the Kiowa's principal chief. Caused a
Speaker 1: little trouble in eighteen ninety that was squelched without bloodshed
Speaker 1: by the soldiers, and he then settled in a cottage
Speaker 1: near Mountain View, Oklahoma. He died a deacon in the
Speaker 1: Baptist Church November eighteenth, nineteen twenty nine. However, much the
Speaker 1: Comanche tribes might by now be reduced in number, their
Speaker 1: spirits remained high and restless on their reservations as late
Speaker 1: as eighteen seventy eight. In eighteen seventy nine, small war
Speaker 1: parties rated as deep into Texas as Fort Macabot, but
Speaker 1: there was no coordinated action. The extinction of the buffalo
Speaker 1: on our southern region was completed about eighteen seventy eight,
Speaker 1: and then the hunters turned in force against the remaining
Speaker 1: herds on the northern parts of the Gre Eight Plains.
Speaker 1: These herds lasted about four more years. The men in
Speaker 1: the forts could be and were still busy. Colonel Grierson
Speaker 1: took over at Concho in eighteen seventy five. That same year,
Speaker 1: Colonel Shafter, with nine troops of the tenth Cavalry and
Speaker 1: two companies of infantry, left after rendezvousing at that post
Speaker 1: and headed for the Indian country near Blanco Canyon. His
Speaker 1: supply train consisted of sixty five wagons drawn by six
Speaker 1: mule teams, a pack train of nearly seven hundred mules,
Speaker 1: and a beef herd. This was in July. Good rains
Speaker 1: had fallen and water holes were expected to be full.
Speaker 1: It took the expedition seventeen days to cover the one
Speaker 1: hundred and eighty miles. The author cannot verify the reported
Speaker 1: strength of the mule train. Only a few Indians were met,
Speaker 1: so Shafter divided his command his own division out of
Speaker 1: Fort Duncan. Returned to that post about December eighteenth, eighteen
Speaker 1: seventy five, after having explored the country now known as
Speaker 1: the South Plains of Texas and New Mexico. One of
Speaker 1: his lieutenants, Ghetis, leading a division from Mustang Springs near
Speaker 1: present Midland, on south to cross the Pecos on a
Speaker 1: southwesterly course below Independence Creek, reached the Rio Grande. There
Speaker 1: they engaged in a small Indian fight, then retraced their
Speaker 1: steps to avoid the Great Canyon Country, crossed the Pecos,
Speaker 1: and in a worn out condition, reached Fort Clark. Ghettis
Speaker 1: then rested up and returned to Fort Concho. The entire
Speaker 1: expedition had explored and mapped what had been a vast
Speaker 1: and unknown area, and had encountered only a few wandering
Speaker 1: bands of Indians. It appeared that the Indian problems had
Speaker 1: at last been solved. However, the final settlement of that
Speaker 1: problem came in eighteen eighty and Apache chief one Victorio Long,
Speaker 1: confined to a reservation in the territory of New Mexico,
Speaker 1: hit the war path with all of his tribe and
Speaker 1: their belongings, warriors, squaws, papooses, and portable lodges. Colonel Grierson
Speaker 1: now General Grierson, left Fort Concho and with detachments from
Speaker 1: Forts Concho, Stockton, Davis, and Quitman, sought to force an
Speaker 1: engagement in that wild and mountainous and desert land that
Speaker 1: lies on both sides of the Rio Grand, from El
Speaker 1: Paso on the west to the Davis Mountains on the east.
Speaker 1: The United States cavalry was no match for the elusive Victorio,
Speaker 1: who avoided any but guerrilla action and worked back and
Speaker 1: forth across the Rio Gran until Grierson, disgusted, returned to
Speaker 1: Fort Concho. His forces had not been allowed to cross
Speaker 1: into Mexico, and he thought that the Mexican forces also
Speaker 1: chasing the Apaches had not fully co operated with him.
Speaker 1: This may or may not have been so, but the
Speaker 1: end of the New War came in the fall, when
Speaker 1: General Tarraza's then got of Chihuahua forced an engagement by
Speaker 1: trapping and surrounding the old chief. Only a few survivors
Speaker 1: were able to escape this well planned but short campaign
Speaker 1: by the Mexican forces. The usefulness of the forts, so
Speaker 1: far as protection against the Indians was concerned, now ended.
Speaker 1: The accompanying map shows their relative locations and the dates
Speaker 1: on which they were organized and abandoned. Only one Fort,
Speaker 1: Bliss at the pasad' Noote, serves the United States Army
Speaker 1: at this time. Fort Concho remained active until eighteen eighty nine,
Speaker 1: but it was only another Army post. Small parties of
Speaker 1: Indians roamed the frontier even in the eighties, but the
Speaker 1: Texas Rangers and the Frontiersmen took care of them. Of
Speaker 1: all of those that were abandoned during the last century,
Speaker 1: Fort Concho is the best preserved. It took time to
Speaker 1: build it, and when finally abandoned, its lovely stone buildings
Speaker 1: and the land on which they stand were averted to
Speaker 1: the original landowners, Adams and Wicks, the United States Army
Speaker 1: having been only a rent paying tenant. Just what do
Speaker 1: some of the others look like at this time? Fort
Speaker 1: Worth is covered somewhere under a modern city that bears
Speaker 1: its name. The foundations of old Fort Mason can be
Speaker 1: seen on a hill within the city limits of Mason,
Speaker 1: the cut stones of its buildings having been removed for
Speaker 1: construction work elsewhere. The same goes for Old Lancaster, where
Speaker 1: only a few gaunt, white limestone chimneys can be seen
Speaker 1: rising against the maces. However, if you care to walk
Speaker 1: over to them, you will see the old foundations and
Speaker 1: a small graveyard. That is all that is left. If
Speaker 1: a Comanche or Kiowa Indian observed Fort Phantom Hill today
Speaker 1: for the first time, he would probably name it many
Speaker 1: chimneys that do not smoke. The buildings are gone, and
Speaker 1: he would not be interested in their foundations. Some of
Speaker 1: the limestone houses at Fort Macavid are still being occupied,
Speaker 1: and many of the other old fort buildings are outlined
Speaker 1: by roofless walls. Several of the original buildings of Fort
Speaker 1: Stockton still remain and have been converted into gracious homes.
Speaker 1: Fort Davis is a line of stone and adobe shells,
Speaker 1: the timbers of the overhanging porches being long gone, except
Speaker 1: where the late Andrew Simmons restored a few and built
Speaker 1: a creditable museum in one building. Fort Clark, rising by
Speaker 1: the beautiful Las Mores Springs, is a combination of the
Speaker 1: old and the new. Having seen service in the Last
Speaker 1: World War, it is interesting to observe that in its
Speaker 1: case it is unfortunately the new and not the old
Speaker 1: that is missing. The old Spanish fort Presidio on the
Speaker 1: San Saba River, enough of the rubble remains to outline
Speaker 1: the outer wall of the large courtyard. This was a
Speaker 1: massive stone fortification and each of its four corners was
Speaker 1: protected by a protruding circular stone tower. The State Highway
Speaker 1: Department has restored one of the towers and a part
Speaker 1: of the outer wall. The old Mission San Saba de
Speaker 1: la Cruz, across and down the river from this presidio,
Speaker 1: disappeared along with its administering priests during the Great Comanche
Speaker 1: attack against the Spaniards and their Apache allies back in
Speaker 1: seventeen fifty eight or thereabout. The preservation of the existing
Speaker 1: buildings of Fort Concho and the restoration of the destroyed
Speaker 1: ones were begun in nineteen thirty by Missus Genevra Wood Cardson,
Speaker 1: a gracious and far sighted lady of San Angelo. She
Speaker 1: had already started the West Texas Museum in about nineteen
Speaker 1: twenty eight, and it was located in the new tom
Speaker 1: Green County Courthouse, where it soon outgrew its housing facilities.
Speaker 1: She therefore turned her attention towards the old fort. The
Speaker 1: original administration or g h Q building of Fort Concho
Speaker 1: was privately owned but in excellent condition, and it stood
Speaker 1: at the eastern end of the old quadrangle. Mister R.
Speaker 1: Wilbur Brown, Senior of San Angelo, recognized the far sightedness
Speaker 1: of Missus Carson he bought the Administration Building from its
Speaker 1: owners and deeded it toward a museum of pioneer days
Speaker 1: and the preservation of old Fort Concho. Missus Carson then
Speaker 1: moved the museum collection from the courthouse into the Administration
Speaker 1: Building and changed the name of West Texas Museum to
Speaker 1: Fort Concho Museum. The history of Fort Concho since its
Speaker 1: abandonment in eighteen eighty nine, when the garrison lowered the
Speaker 1: flag for the last time and marched away its band
Speaker 1: playing the Girl I Left behind Me had not been spectacular.
Speaker 1: It could easily have become a rock quarry, as had
Speaker 1: Lancaster Mason and others. Actually, some of the barracks buildings
Speaker 1: on the north side of the quadrangle did suffer that
Speaker 1: inglorious fate, but the houses on Officers Road, the Administration Building, hospital,
Speaker 1: and chapel were for many years the finest buildings in
Speaker 1: the surrounding area. In nineteen oh five, the Concho Realty
Speaker 1: Company was formed by certain citizens of San Angelo, and
Speaker 1: the fort grounds with all the structures, were bought by
Speaker 1: the company from the Adams and Wicks estate for fifteen
Speaker 1: thousand dollars. A real estate addition was then organized and
Speaker 1: the various buildings sold to private individuals. The most elaborate
Speaker 1: of these had been the post hospital. It occupied a
Speaker 1: position outside and just off the southeast corner of the quadrangle.
Speaker 1: This building burned in nineteen ten, and some years later
Speaker 1: its remaining stone walls, partitions and chimneys were cleared away.
Speaker 1: End of Part three, Part four afterward of Fort Concho,
Speaker 1: Its Way and Wherefore by J. N. Gregory. This LibriVox
Speaker 1: recording is in the public domain. The Fort Concho Museum Board,
Speaker 1: a group of citizens, works to purchase, preserve, and restore
Speaker 1: the buildings of the fort and collect the display items
Speaker 1: of interest that pertain to pioneer days in the Southwest.
Speaker 1: Up to the present time, the accomplishments of the Board
Speaker 1: have been considerable. The items relating to pioneers have overflowed
Speaker 1: the administration building. Further space has been gained for them
Speaker 1: by the restoration of two barracks buildings and their mess
Speaker 1: halls on the north side of the quadrangle. The powder House,
Speaker 1: once located on the banks of the Concho River, has
Speaker 1: been removed and rebuilt stone by stone at a position
Speaker 1: just north of the restored barracks. The post chapel, beautifully
Speaker 1: preserved and a part of the museum, stands at the
Speaker 1: eastern end of Officers Row. Six of the original nine
Speaker 1: officers homes have been bought by the board with money
Speaker 1: contribut by individuals and from small museum revenues. The old
Speaker 1: parade ground occupying the center of the quadrangle is marred
Speaker 1: and hidden from view by recent structures on its western end,
Speaker 1: and a large nineteen o seven schoolhouse now occupies its center.
Speaker 1: A Comanche war party, assuming one existed today, one bent
Speaker 1: on the destruction of Fort Concho, would return baffled to
Speaker 1: its portable village for the simple reason that the Indians,
Speaker 1: like any other visitors, could not find Fort Concho, even
Speaker 1: though years back, having been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Speaker 1: There are other buildings standing nearby that are owned and
Speaker 1: used today as warehouses by different San Angelo firms. Their
Speaker 1: beautiful stone usually covered by applications of various colored stucco,
Speaker 1: but you can still identify them by their alignments and shapes.
Speaker 1: Some years back, the Santa Fe Railroad presented the city
Speaker 1: with one of its steam locomotives. Iron Horse of bygone days,
Speaker 1: is now resting on its rails near one of the
Speaker 1: restored barracks. It is a part of the museum and
Speaker 1: is a valuable item. Therefore, it is hoped that its
Speaker 1: longevity against the ravages of russ will be secured by
Speaker 1: the erection of a suitable structure over and around it.
Speaker 1: Now take your time and browse through the Fort Concho Museum,
Speaker 1: drive through the city, over streets that bear the names
Speaker 1: of Beauregard, Mackenzie, Shafter Grierson, and Chadbourne. It is all
Speaker 1: worth it, because without it, there would soon be little
Speaker 1: to show us of the comparative life that existed in
Speaker 1: our southwest only a few short years ago. End of
Speaker 1: Part four afterward, end of Fort Concho is way and
Speaker 1: wherefore by J. N. Gregory