The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921 Page: 44
332 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
ening in the latter part of 1836 and throughout 1837. President
Burnet had placed Captain Robert M. Coleman in charge of a
ranging force divided into three or four detachments. One de-
tachment was on the Trinity, one at the Falls of the Brazos, one
at the Three Forks of Little River, and one near the mouth of
Walnut Creek on the Colorado. These detachments fought nu-
merous battles with the Indians.
On January 7, 1837, a detachment of fourteen men and boys
under Lieutenant George B. Erath fought one hundred Indians
eight miles west of Cameron, killing fifteen. A short time later
a battle was fought near where Austin now stands, in which the
Indians were defeated. Several men were murdered at different
times in Lavaca County. In Fayette County John G. Robison, a
member of Congress, and his brother, who was visiting him from
the United States, were killed. On the Trinity, west of Palestine,
David Faulkenberry, his son Evan, and Columbus Anderson, were
killed. Massacres occurred during this year at various places in
East Texas.3
The attitude of President Houston, in spite of the evident un-
popularity of that policy, was one of conciliation throughout his
administration; and in the early part of his administration he
had the sympathy and support of Congress. In a message to the
Senate, November 6, 1836, shortly after his inauguration as Pres-
ident, he said,
The friendship and alliance of many of our border Tribes of
Indians will be of the utmost importance to this Government, keep-
ing them tranquil and pacific, and if need shall require it, afford-
ing us useful auxiliaries.
I-e suggested the advisability of entering into commercial treaties
with them, and announced the appointment of commissioners to
conclude articles of peace, friendship, and intercourse."
In an act to protect the frontier, approved on December 5,
1836, the Congress took a middle ground between the advocates
of extermination and conciliation. The President was required
to raise, with as little delay as possible, a battalion of mounted
riflemen, to consist of two hundred and eighty men for the pro-
"Brown, History of Texas, II, 129.
"Secret Journals of the Senate of the Republic of Texas (First Bien-
nial Report of the Texas Library and Historical Commission), 19. Here-
after this is referred to as Secret Journals.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921, periodical, 1921; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101078/m1/50/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.