Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas Page: 180 of 372
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144
BIO GRAPHICAL
Captain Ford of the United States army, and his
company of regulars, hlie quickly followed in pursuit.
They came upon the camp of the Comanches
and found it deserted. A short distance away,
however, secreted in a ravine, they found them in
full force and ready for a desperate struggle. The
fight that ensued was one of the most terrible batties
with the Indians that the frontier of Texas
ever witnessed. Seventy-five Indians were killed
and four hundred and seventy-five 'horses recaptured.
During the fight the chief of the Comanches,
a warrior of gigantic proportions, singled out
Captain Ross as a foe worthy of his steel, and
charged toward him on a splendid horse. There
were showers of arrows discharged at him by Captain
Ross' allies, which did him no harm, as it
was afterward discovered that he had on a coat
of mail. Captain Ross sprang from his horse, and
leveling his rifle waited till the Indian came near.
He fired, knocking him from his horse and driving
the coat of mail into his body. The armor was
taken off the dead chief, and may be seen at our
State capitol, a memento of one of the early adventures
of our frontier hero.
About one year after this occurrence the Comanches
again invaded the country, and a captain
of the United States army desired Captain Ross
to band together some of the friendly Indians and
accompany him in the pursuit. Captain Boss tot
being able' to take the field by reason of sickness,
General Sul Ross, then a beardless youth, just returned
from school, volunteered to lead the Indians,
and they, proud of their young chief, hailed
the appointment with delight. In the execution of
his duty hlie showed that military genius which
has since made him renowned. Upon' sending out
spies to reconnoitre, the camp of the Comanches
was found to be ninety miles away. The attack
was made, the Indians routed, and a' large number
of them killed; not, however, until after a hard
fought battle, in which a number of the United
States troops were killed, and General Sul and the
captain of the United States troops badly wounded.
General Ross captured and brought back with him
an Indian boy., who is still in Waco, arid is considered
a great curiosity.
It was at the instigation and through the instrumentality
of Captain S. P. Rossi that the first
church in Waco was erected, and he was truly one
of the founders of that city. Though well advanced
in years, he preserves the physical and mental vigor
of bright manhood. HI-e has lived to see all his
childiren highly respected and honored citizens,
and has the satisfaction of knowing that. in' hissons his honor, integrity and moral worth wilL
live long after he is lowered in the grave.
RRISON,.- GENERAL JAMES E., was
born in Greenville district, South Carolina,
April 24, 1815. His parents moved
in to Alabama in 1$18, and thence to Mississippi
in 1833, in his eighteenth year. At that
time, young as he was, be was entrusted by Grant
and, as many
will remember, years afterward , proved of great
advantage. to us wyhen,. at the breaking out of the
late civil war, he was sent by the Governor of
Texas to treat ,with those .Indians and bring them
over to the. Southern cause. Indeed, no more suitable
and competent man could have been selected.
General Harrison immigrated to Texas and
settled near Waco in 1859, where he continued to
reside until his death, which occurred in February,
1875, in the sixtienth year of his age. At the age of
seventeen he made a public profession of religion
and joined the Baptist church, of which denomination
ihe, was a pious, zealous and, influential.
member as long as he lived. But few men have
left a more honorable record, and well may his
countrymen regret the loss of so valuable a citizen.
He was me ordinary man. lie had not the advantage
of a,collegiate education; indeed, his educational
facilities were exceedingly limited. But his
life was. a. successful and useful one. This may
be attributed to the native vigor of his intellect,'
his stern integrity, his indomitable energy, and his
perseverance in overcoming all obstacles in the.
way of the accomplishment of a laudable purpose.
He served with 'distinction. anid ability as a
member of the Mississippi' State Senate, and was
ever faithful and true, in the many positions of
trust and confidence by him held. At tlhe breaking
out of the war between the States, with all
the ardor and enthusiasm of his noble nature, asa
devoted States Rights man, he rushed into thecontest
on the side of his beloved: South;, nor did
his energy. flag .or his faith fail him till, among the
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas (Book)
Biographical view of Texas and its history including narratives of the individuals who helped shape Texas history and information about important point in history including: the pioneer days of Texas, Texas' transition from a Mexican state to being part of the United States, and the wars in which Texas citizens took part.
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas, book, 1880; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5827/m1/180/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.