This is an account of an engagement between Texas Rangers of Company "D", Frontier Battalion, and an Indian raiding party in Menard County, Texas in 1874. Company "D" commander was Captain Cicero Rufus (Old Rufe) Perry, whose service to Texas started when he was 13, and was a courier for Gen. Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto. Lieutenant Roberts, was Daniel W. Roberts, who eventually commanded Company "D" as a Lieutenant, and ultimately as a Capitan. Scott Cooley was soon to become the target of his old Ranger buddies when he became the primary blood letter in the Mason County War. As you can see from this account, brutality wasn't strictly an Indian trait.
Austin Daily Democratic Statesman
Saturday, November 28, 1874
"Another Ranger-Indian Fight.-Five Indians Killed and one Captured.
"On Saturday morning last, a portion of Major Jones's escort and a detachment of Capt. Perry's company, encamped on Elm crock in Menard county, and about one hundred and sixty miles west of this city, encountered a party of nine Indians, with the above result. The Indians came down Elm within a few miles of camp, and, running in on a beef detail of two men, Scott Cooley and Billy Trawic, opened fire upon them, when they fled to camp in hot haste, pursued by the Indians, who fired several shots, Cooley returning the fire. The Indians were immediately pursued. and overtaken after a gallop of about twelve miles, when a running fight took place, the Indians being at a disadvantage because of the superior numbers of the rangers. The Indians would occasionally halt to make a standing fight, but the showering bullets would soon put them to flight at break-neck speed, rough, rocky places having no terrors for them. Five Indians were killed and one captured, together with their horses, arms, bows and arrows, shields, etc. The captured Indian, a Comanche, was brought to the city yesterday by a detail of five or six rangers, and as he passed up the Avenue in wild Indian costume, strapped to a mule, all eyes were turned to him, and large crowds of people followed him to the Capitol grounds, where the red warrior was gazed upon by hundreds of curious eyes. The captured Indian ran about two miles after his horse was shot from under him, but seeing he would be caught, he turned back to the men, fell upon his knees and, throwing up his hands. shouted 'bueno amigo',which is'me good friend.' The Indian, who is now in jail, will, we understand, be sent back to camp, and perhaps then tried by a court martial. If so, we wouldn't give much for his chance. The boys brought some fresh scalps with them, and they report that Scott Cooley, who was fired at and run into camp, not only cut a wounded Indian's throat, but stripped a large piece of skin from his back, saying that he would make a quirt out of it.
"The following is the official report of Major John B. Jones regarding the fight: "HEADQUARTERS FRONTIER BATTALION, }
"AUSTIN, TEXAS, November 24,1874 }
"Gen. W. Steele, Adjutant General
"Sir-I have the honor to report that on the twenty-first instant, Lieut. Roberts, with a detachment from Capt. Perry's company, and Lieut. Beavert, with a detachment from my escort, came upon a party of nine Indians in the southern part of Menard county, having followed their trail for several miles, going in the direction of Mason. They immediately gave the Indians chase, and in a running fight of several miles, killed five and captured one, together with their horses, arms, and equipments. Three of Lieut. Robert's horses being wounded and all of them broken down, he was forced to abandon the chase, but at last accounts, Lieut. Beavert, with a few men well mounted were in close pursuit of the other three, with fair prospects of coming up with them, as they had an open country to run over.
"None were killed or wounded on our side.
"The Indians were Comanches.
"The prisoner will arrive in this city to-morrow to be disposed of as the Governor may direct.
"JOHN B. JONES, "Major Commanding Frontier Battalion."
