INDIANS IN FRIO COUNTY

(From Early Settlers and Indian Fighters of Southwest Texas, Vol. 1, by A. J. Sowell; first published 1900; reprinted by Argosy-Antiquarian Ltd, New York, 1964, pp. 268-270; "Fight on the Frio, July 4, 1865" by John S. Ford in Texas Historical Association Quarterly, Vol. I, July 1897 to April 1898 pp.118-120; further information provided by Charter Members Lelia Ruth Morton, Doyleen Routh, and Wanda Brown.) Source: "Acorns and Branches" SWTGS Quarterly Vol. 1 No. 2 - December 1985 p.15, 16, 32 A bitter battle with Indians (Comanches, according to Sowell; Kickapoos, according to Ford) took place on 4 July 1865 in Frio County near the mouth of the Leona River. The settlers in the vicinity, known as the Martin settlement, at that time were the Martins, Odens, Franks, Bennetts, Hays, Levi English, and Edward Burleson. On this Independence Day morning Edward Burleson, unarmed and riding a slow horse, went out a short distance from his ranch to drive up some horses. Suddenly he was attacked by two Indians who ran him a very close race, one on foot and the other mounted. The Indian who was on foot outran the horseman and would have caught Burleson had he not gone through a thicket and, coming out on the side next to his ranch, arrived there safely. A large group of people - men, women, and children - had gathered at his house to celebrate the Fourth. When Burleson dashed in and gave the alarm, most of the men present immediately prepared to go in pursuit of the Indians. When all the men who could be contacted on short notice had congregated, they numbered eleven strong and were as follows; Levi English, L. Alford Franks, G. W. Daughterty, Edward Burleson, W. C. Bell, Frank Williams, Dean Oden, Bud English, Dan Williams, John Berry, and A. D. Aikens. Since Levi English was the oldest man and most experienced Indian fighter in the party, he was chosen to be captain. When the main trail was struck, the Indians were found to be in large force and headed down the Leona River, which they crossed near Bennett's ranch, four miles from Burleson's. Ten miles farther on, in front of Martin's ranch, they went out into the open prairie. The settlers first came in sight of them two miles off, but the Indians went down into a valley and were lost to sight for some time. Suddenly, however, they came into view again, not more than 200 yards away. There were 36 Indians mounted two and two on a horse, and they now discovered the white men for the first time and at once began to retreat. The white men made an impetuous charge and commenced firing too soon. The Indians, when they believed they had exhausted the fire of the settlers and at a signal from their chief, checked their flight at a lone tree. Each Indian who was mounted behind another jumped to the ground and came back at a charge and, for the first time, commenced firing. The mounted Indians circled to the right and left and loosed a shower of arrows and bullets. Some of the Indians went entirely around the white men, and a desperate battle at close quarters ensued. The Indians, in point of numbers and shots, had the advantage of the whites, who, having nearly exhausted their shots at long range, had no time to reload a cap and ball pistol or gun. In vain Captain English gave orders during the mad charge, trying to hold his men back and keep them out of the deadly circle of Indians. Dan Williams was the first man killed and, when he fell from his horse, was immediately surrounded by Indians. English now rallied the men together and charged to the body of Williams and, after a hot fight, drove the Indians back but in the process his men fired their last loads. The Indians were quick to grasp the situation and again charged the settlers, who were ordered to retreat. Frank Williams, brother to Dan, dismounted by the side of his dying brother, asking if there was anything he could do for him and expressing a willingness to stay with him. "No", said the stricken man, handing Frank his pistol, "take this and do the best you can. I am killed - cannot live ten minutes. Save yourself." The men were even now wheeling their horses and leaving the area; Frank mounted and left only when the Indians were close upon him. The Indians came after the settlers, yelling furiously, and a panic ensued. Dean Oden was the next one to fall; his horse was wounded and began to pitch, and the Indians were soon upon him. He dismounted and was wounded in the leg; he attempted to remount but was wounded six more times in the chest and back by the Indians, who were on all sides of him. Aus. Franks (who later lived in Atascosa County and gave this account to Sowell) was near him trying to force his way out, and the last he saw of Oden he was down to his knees and his horse was gone. The next and last man killed was Bud English, eldest son of Captain Levi English, who stayed by his son's body until all hope was gone and all the men were scattering away. The Indians pursued them with a fierce vengeance, mixing in with the whites. There was much hand-to-hand combat, with the settlers striking at the Indians with their unloaded guns and pistols. In this wild flight all the remaining men, save Franks, Berry, and Frank Williams, were wounded. Captain English was badly wounded in the side with an arrow; G. W. Daugherty and Edward Burleson were both hit in the leg with arrows; Aikens in the chest with an arrow; and W. C. Bell in the side with an arrow. In this wounded and scattered condition, the men returned to the ranch and told the news of their sad defeat. Other men were assembled and went back to the battleground to bring away the dead, led by those who had participated but escaped unhurt. The three bodies lay within 100 yards of each other and were badly mutilated. The Indians had carried away their dead - how many was not known but assumed to be but few on account of the undisciplined firing of the men at the commencement of the fight. Bud English was killed by a bullet in the chest, and there was also an arrow or lance wound to his chest. The head of Dan Williams was nearly severed from his body, necessitating a close wrapping in a blanket to keep the members together while he was being returned for burial. Oden and Williams were brothers-in-law and were both buried in the same box. Their wives were sisters whose maiden name was Hay. Mary (Hay) Williams, the widow of Dan Williams, later married Jake Burleson. The widow of Dean Oden married David Park, an Indian fighter who for a time served as a scout covering the territory between Fort Inge and Fort Ewell. Ed English, brother of Bud, later married his brother's widow, Margarget (Bell) English.