The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903 Page: 315
401 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Reminiscences of Early Texans.
315
as the Salt fork of the Lampazos. Here the expedition encamped
and spies were despatched under the guidance of the Mexican, to
seek the Indians. The second morning after they left our camp,
the spies returned and reported that they had, the preceding night,
found a large encampment of Indians on the west bank of the Colo-
rado river two or three miles below the mouth of the San Saba.
They approached sufficiently near the Indians to ascertain that they
were engaged in a dance, as they could distinctly hear the sound of a
sort of castanet which the Indians use on such occasions. It was
evident that they were unaware of the approach of our expedition.
A few hours after the return of the spies, the command was again
in motion. After travelling a few miles we halted and rested. It
was our commander's plan to make a night march and surprise the
Indians at daybreak. Accordingly, when the sun had nearly
declined to the horizon, we resumed the march. Night soon closed
around us. There was no moon but the sky was cloudless and
starry. Our route lay over a prairie country, studded with low
hills, and in some places very rocky. Hour after hour, the long
double files of horsemen followed the guide. There was no con-
fusion in our ranks-rarely was a word spoken, yet our march was
far from being noiseless. The hard, metamorphic limestone rang
like metal beneath the tread of our horses, and ever and anon we
invaded the domain of a community of rattlesnakes, of which we
were promptly notified by the rapid vibrations of their rattles. Our
guide conducted us towards nearly every point of the compass, and
at length, long after midnight, declared he was bewildered and could
conduct us no farther until daylight. We were accordingly ordered
to halt and rest until morning.
All, now suspected the fidelity of our guide. The preceding
night he had conducted our spies straight to the encampment of the
Indians, manifesting a perfect acquaintance with the country.
Perhaps he was actuated by cowardice, perhaps by revived affection
for his quondam friends; but whatever his motives, it is highly
probable that but for his conduct the expedition would have been
completely successful. Our commander determined to rely no
longer upon his guidance, and early the ensuing morning, six men,
viz. William Dever, Amos Gates, Seaborn Jones, Jefferson Pryor,
another white man, and a Chickasaw Indian named John, were
despatched on foot to explore a route to the Colorado river--supposed
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903, periodical, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101028/m1/323/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.