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LARIX SETTLEIENT
William V. Ervin, P. W.
Lampasas,
Lampasas County,
District 8.
880 words.
File 230.
Page 1.
jeferenae
Consultant W. L. Bradley, Lampasas, Texas.
1111006....01.4111
The following is acoount by W. L. Bradley of a fieht between
white settlers and Indians near Lampasas, Texas, in 1872, in which Mr.
Bradley participateds
le lived one and a half miles east of Lampasas, on the Belton
road. Indians had been stealing horses, and we stood guarduntil mid-
night to prevent a raid. Them midnight came we decided danger was over
for the night and went to bed first hobbling our horses.
At about two o'olock we were awakened by two of the horses
running back to the house. IS got up, and I caught one of the horses,
saddled him, and rode to Haneedk Springs, where tin some soldiers were
camped under oomiand of Aajor Greene. I reported the stealing by the
Indians to Major Greene, and be took a detail of thirteen men and went
to where the horses rere etolansand waited until daybreak when he took
east
up the trail of the Indians. They had gone/down the Belton road.
3aven citizens joined us on our way. They were Parson Chalk,
itchell McVey, .77121 slaughter, Charlie witcher, Allen Rasberry, Pomp
.Pickett. le followed the trail to the Lampasas River, and then went to
Mr, 7itchor's house and drank coffee. we then followed the trail of the
Indians to Clear Creek, about fifteen miles east of Lampasae. At that
point the Lndialles left the Jelton road and took out across the prairie
to the mountains about two sUes from Ivey Gap. There we jumped them
and they lcft in a hurry. ;le found two or three canteens and some
trinkets.
We chassed the Indians about twenty miles north to the Van
la;41-.1,Y OETTLE11'
William V. rvin,
Lampasas,
Lampasas County,
Dietrict 8.
File 230.
page 2.
Winkle mountains in Coryell eounty. There we found two mules and
three horses belonging to my unele which they had turned loose. One
Indian rode off across the prairie0 on my bay mare. Then about
seventeen Indian*/ came running and started up the mountain. They
passed about two hundred yards from where Slaughter, Picket, Radberry
and I were; we were about a half mile ahead of our main crowd. Ras
berry and Slaughter had Spencer rifles. Picket and I were armed with
ball and cap simshooters.
The Intiani reached the top of the mountain, and we four
charged them, getting within a hundred yards. Rasberry and Slaughter
fired, and the lid ians returned the fire. A bullet went over Rasberres
head. We halted and waited until the soldiers came up. The major
asked how to get to the top of the mountain, and I replied, 'Follow
me". We went quartering up the mountain. le halted, and the major
fired seven shots at the Indian/. Than they let us have it. I could
hear the bullets sipping all around us; the air seemed full of them. The
Indians had Spencer rifles. We were now about fifty yards from th0-
The major mounted his horse and gave .orders to form line
The shin oak brush was about as high as a man'',
We charged to within ten steps c
began. I was on the left of the major, th
right. There were two Indiana shooting at
with a rifle and the other with bow and arro
for their breecholout. I raised my sidshoote.
had his bow and arrow ready I aimed at his rig,
dropped his bow and arrow and clapped his hands
LARLY 2ETTLEIWIT
7illiam V. Ervin, P. 4.
Lampasas,
Lampasas County,
Distriot a.
File 2,0
Page 3,
other Indians raised their guns and fired at me. In the charge one
of the soldier's horses ran among the Indians.' The soldier held his
gun in one hand and tried to guide his horse with the other. He
dropped one of the bridle roams and his horse whirled and thremA him.
Several Indians rushed at him *hotting all the time. He was hit once
In the chest by a spent ball. His gun strap over his shoulder must
have protected his body for his only injury was a blue spot about the
size of a dollar.
I looked around, and our men were on the run. As I rode
through the brush my horse fell. I jumped up with my pinta in my
hand, looked beak for Indians, and would have shot at anything in sight.
I was soared. I grabbed the bridle reins of my horse and looked to see
if he was shot. He got np all right. I mounted and rode down the
mountain to where the men had gathered. We counted the man and found
one missing, but about that time the missing man, the one whose horse
had thrown him among the Indians, came running down the mountain10.
:uljor Greene was mortally wounded with a shot in his right
side. He told thc sergeant to detail some men to go for a conveyance
in which to carry him to camp. and Pomp Picket and I volunteered to go.
we rode to Uncle Jesse Guyn's on FallpCreek, about tan miles away, and
got his hack and horses and with a mattress on the floor of the hack took
the major back to oamp.