In my communication of the 8th Instant, I reported to you my
situation in relation to hostile movements against the Indians, and
informed you that I had sent spies in various directions to watch the
Indian party whom we had reason to believe had left their villages
on their way to these settlement, in the meantime, the contemplated
expedition remaining suspended. On the 13th Instant, the express
I had dispatched to the Cherokees returned with a letter signed by
Captains Fields and Bowles, and other principal chiefs of this tribe,
in which they stated to me, that after a secret council held among
them, they unanimously agreed to march with all their forces and
attack the Wacoes, Tahuacanoes and other Indians at war with the
Mexicans, and that they were ready to assist the people of this
Colony, if the government ordered them to do so; but in consequence
of the lated freshets of the Neches and Trinity, and of almost all
the streams in that section of the country, and, also owing to the
backwardness of their crops, they could not do so immediately. The
express I had sent is an intelligent and trusty man, whom I had
instructed not to show my letters to the chiefs before he could
ascertain their intentions and views on the subject. He is well acquainted
with the chiefs and several Indians of that tribe. He remained
among them four days, and tells me that he has not the least doubt
but that the chiefs and warriors are anxious to go to war; as well
against the Tahuacanoes and Comanches, as the petty thieving
Quincháis, Ainais, Apadache, Coco and other tribes who live in their
vicinity. All those tribes are friendly with the Tahuacanoes, and I
believe their destruction to be very important for the common
security. The express also reports that on the Neches river he met an
old Apadache Chief, whom he had known at Nacogdoches; that he
told the chief he was still living there, and that the Americans of
that locality were very bad; his design being to draw from him his
opinion of us. The Indian replied that the Americans of the
Colorado were very bad: that they had killed some of his friends the
Tehuacanoes and Quichais; that all the small tribes in that part of
the country were about to hold a great council called by the
Tahuacanoes, for the purpose of taking measures to destroy the new
settlements west of the Trinity, and that the Comanches were invited to
attend. He did not say when, or where the meeting was to take
place, and he declared that the settlers East of the Trinity were good
friends and brothers. He said, also, that the Tahuacanoes had sent
word to the traders who traffic with the Indians on the Sabine River.
that they would give a good horse for ten musket loads of powder
and lead, and a good mule for twenty loads. On his arrival at the
crossing of the Trinity, the express received information from the
settlers there, either Americans, or Spaniards, that they had seen
the day previous, five Quichais and Ainai Indian, who secretely told
the Spaniards that 200 warriors of the small tribes would shortly
attack the Americans on the Brazos and Colorado, but that the settlers
East of the Trinity were friends and brothers
The militia of the Colony detailed for the contemplated campaign
were all ready, a part of them being encamped here; others on the
Colorado, at the fort they have erected between the roads to La Bahia
and Atascosito; and the balance on the Brazos near the road to
Bexar; mustering in the aggregate, 100 men.
The spies referred to in my communication of the 8,th Instant have
seen no signs of the Indians supposed to have left their villages for
these settlements; and, as I have already stated to you, I considered
myself prevented, by your order of the 4th Instant, from carrying
on the campaign. However, on the return of the express with the
above mentioned information, I felt convinced of the absolute
necessity to order out a party to watch over the frontier, inasmuch as
the militia were very impatient to meet the enemy. Therefore,
under the impulse of protective considerations, I ordered the senior
Captain of the battalion who was to take command in my absence,
agreeably to the seventh article of the Militia Regulations, to proceed
with the men to the frontier, above the road to Bexar, on the Brazos,
leaving a detachment in the fort on the Colorado, to protect this
section.
I gave general instructions to this officer (Captain A. C. Buckner)
to keep a good lookout all along the frontier, and particularly for
the 200 warriors, who, I have reason to believe are coming from the
Trinity to join the Tahuacanoes; and to attack any hostile parties of Indians wherever our protection rendered it necessary, and
circumstances permitted. I hope you will not consider this step at variance
with your orders of the 4th Instant for the suspension of the hostile
movements against the Indians. Circumstances rendering it
absolutely necessary for our defence The Captain Commanding the
Militia may, possibly, be compelled to attack the Indian Villages, as
there is some probability, if the Indians are aware of the movements
of the Militia, that they will leave their villages should the attack be postponed to the month of July. For it is impossible to assemble
men, as scattered as our militia are, without a few days notice;
consequently, secrecy cannot be preserved in such cases, every one having
to settle his business and make preparations previous to a march.
Any traveller can perceive these movements among the militia, and
there is not a day but some are passing on their way to Nacogdoches.
Should anv of them mention it there, the news would soon reach the
Quichais, or other of those mean thieving tribes that live in that
neighborhood. In case that an attack on the villages might affect the movements referred to in your communication of the 4th Instant, I
will transmit to you any report so soon as it reaches me. Captain
Buckner and his command will start from their encampment on the
Bexar road on the 22nd Instant.
I have given secret instructions to a very reliable and intelligent
man, who left us a few days since for the Trinity, to indirectly
ascertain the disposition and views of the Cushate and Alabama
Indians; and, also, to find out the feeling of the settlers in that
section, and the numbers of militia men that could be obtained from
them in an emergency. I have no doubt that orders from you and
the Political Chief to the Indians and militia, will induce them to
join me in the war.
God and Liberty. Stephen F. Austin.
San Felipe de Austin, May 18th 1826.