The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 1, July 1897 - April, 1898 Page: 45
334 p. : ill., ports., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Expfulsion of Cherokees from East Texas. 45
mishers thrown forward, who were at once engaged with the skir-
mish line of the Indians. Every sixth man of our command was
detailed to hold and guard our hourses. This, with the details sent
away the night before, had considerably reduced our fighting force,
and we were confronted by the entire force of the Indians, which,
from the information we afterwards received, considerably out-
numbered the Texans who participated in the battle.
The scene at that time made a very vivid impression on my
young mind. The Delaware village, in our immediate rear, was
wrapped in flames, and the black columns of smoke were floating
over us; the skirmishers were fighting in front of us, and our line
of battle advancing to the conflict.
The battle lasted about two hours. We had six men killed and
thirty-six wounded. The Indian loss was very much greater. Dur-
ing this engagement, Chief Bowles was a very conspicuous figure.
He was mounted on what we call a paint horse, and had on him a
sword and sash, and military hat and silk vest, which had been
given to him by General Houston. And thus conspicuously mount-
ed and dressed, he rode up and down in the rear of his line, very
much exposed during the entire battle. Our officers two or three
times ordered the men to advance nearer the line of the Indians,
and then would order them to fall back, in the hope that in this
way the Indians might be drawn from their strong position. And
just as this was done the last time, word ran along our line that the
Indians were in our rear getting our horses. This came near pro-
ducing a panic. Colonel Len Williams and Ben A. Vansickle, who
were with us, and who understood and could speak the Cherokee
language, told us that at that time they could hear Bowles, who
was urging his warriors to charge, and telling them that the whites
were whipped if they would charge.
When at last the. Indians retreated, Chief Bowles was the last one
to attempt to leave the battlefield. His horse had been wounded
many times, and he shot through the thigh. His horse was dis-
abled and could go no further, and he dismounted and started to
walk off. He was shot in the back by Henry Conner, afterwards
Major Connor; walked forward a little and fell, and then rose to a
sitting position facing us, and immediately in front of the company
to which I belonged. I had witnessed his dignity and manliness in
council, his devotion to his tribe in sustaining their decision for
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 1, July 1897 - April, 1898, periodical, 1897/1898; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101009/m1/56/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.