Macon Intelligencer

LATE FROM TEXAS.

From the Civilian and Galveston Gazette.

San Augustine, Oct. 23, 1838.

Mr. Parker. Dear Sir: The communication which I addressed to Gen. Douglas, after the battle with the Indians, has not reached you, and inasmuch as there seems to be great anxiety amongst the people to know the particulars, I have thought it best to address you this communication, giving you a general outline of the matter.

On the morning of the 11th, about two o'clock, I was awakened out of my bed in Nacogdoches, by a courier from the Indian Agent, Sims, dated at Lacy's Fort, stating that the evening before he had visited Bowles, the War Chief of the Cherokees; and on reaching his house, found that his property was all packed up, and him, his men, women and children, just starting. I wrote a communication to Bowles in very positive terms, demanding to know the cause of the movement, and sent it up by Goyens. About day-light, another communication was received from Capt. Jorden, stating that all the houses in the neighborhood of Big Mush, another Cherokee Chief, had been deserted the day before, and all the property carried off. If the Cherokees intend war, not one moment was to be lost. I immediately ordered Capt. Snively's company, of about thirty men, to be in readiness to march at ten o'clock.

I requested Capt. Robert W. Smith to collect as many men as he could, and march at the same time. He, with a promptitude which reflects great credit upon himself and the men, collected twenty-three men. With this force, joined by twenty men under Maj. Walters, and eight or ten who fell in company with me, we marched to the neighborhood of Bowles, who wrote me that the reason of his removal was threats made by the Mexicans and Indians against him. I received about the same time a letter from Big Mush, of the same character, stating also that the Mexicans and Indians were encamped in force near the Kickapoo town. I immediately took up the line of march for that place, by way of Angeline and Fort Houston.

On the day before my arrival at that place, Maj. Mabbit had been attacked by the Indians and Mexicans on his march to Angeline's had several men killed and wounded and killed (as I have since learned) five of the enemy; a Cooshatta chief having been found upon the ground.

On the 14th, I arrived at Fort Houston, having been joined by Maj. Mabbitt, and several men having fallen in on the way, and at Fort Houston, my force amounted to about two hundred men. I immediately took up the line of march for the enemy's camp, by way of the Abudacha village: and about sun-down on the 15th, arrived at the Kickapoo town. I here encamped for the night. About ten o'clock the enemy attempted to fire the woods around us, but failed. During the night, two of their spies were fired on by the sentinels and one horse taken from them; and at break of day next morning, the 16th, a spirited attack was made upon three sides of our camp. The enemy's cavalry were stationed on a hill, out of gun shot, evidently with an intention of falling upon us, if we attempted a retreat.

A very brisk fire was kept up on both sides for about fifteen minutes, when I ordered a portion of the force to remain and protect the camp, and with the remainder charged the enemy, who precipitately fled, leaving eleven dead on the ground. They had, I have no doubt, during the action, carried off a number of their dead, (which is their custom,) and all their wounded. From the blood upon the ground, they must have suffered severely. The charge was continued for about three quarters of a mile, when I formed the force, and marched them back to camp.

The force of the enemy I had no means of ascertaining, but it must have been very considerable, as the ground occupied by them was near half a mile in length.

We had eleven men severely wounded none killed, and about twenty-five or thirty horses so badly shot as to be unfit for use. Amongst the enemy's dead were found Caddos, Cooshattas, Boloxies, one Cherokee, and two Mexicans. They dropped on their flight a number of guns, blankets, cloaks, &c. It would be difficult to find language to do justice to the officers and men; all fought with a spirit and determination seldom equalled. The officers in the action were Adj. Gen. McLeod, Maj. Kaufman, Maj. Reily, and Major Burton, volunteer Aids-de-Camp, Majors Walters and Mabbitt, Captains Box, Bradshaw, Snively, Smith, Durst, Saddler, Brookfield and Brown.

Very respectfully yours,

THOMAS J. RUSK,
Major General Commanding