Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire INDIAN RAID IN DUVAL AND NUECES COUNTIES

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(EDITOR 'S NOTE—The following account of a Mexican and Indian raid on the Texas border, is taken from a photostat copy of a Government report.)

ON SUNDAY, the 14th day of April, 1878, three days ere the moon had reached the full, a band of Mexicans, Indians, and—from the testimony—a white man or two, crossed the Rio Grande from the State of Coahuila, in Mexico, and invaded Webb county, in the State of Texas—according to the testimony of Mr. Peter Steffian—at a crossing of the Rio Grande, near the foot of "Apache Hill," about forty-five miles north of the City of Laredo, and the Government Post, Fort McIntosh.

These invaders, according to the affidavit of Captain E. N. Gray, of Concepcion, Duval county, Texas, are declared to be Kickapoo, Lipan and Seminole Indians, Mexicans and a white man. Their objects were murder and plunder. This declaration is supported by others in sworn statements.

Their first acts were the killing of two "vaqueros," (cow-herders), in the employment of two well-known residents of Webb county, to say: Prospero Guerra and Justo Guerra. The killing was done in the vicinity of Apache Hill on the day of their entrance, to say: April 14th, 1878.

From this point they took the main road which meanders down the Rio Grande, following its curves and bends, in the direction of Laredo—southeast—and about dusk, on the same day, they killed Jorgea Garcia, within hearing of his wife and friends, at his own rancho, about forty-five miles northwest of Laredo. His wounds were two rifle ball shots and stabs of a lance. An arrow was found near by him. His "chivarras," i. e., goat-skin leggins, his horse, saddle, etc., were stolen, and also his drove of gentle saddle horses, fastened near, were seized and driven off. His cry, "No mi mitan!" i. e., "Don't kill me!" was wasted on the air. None, if the savages could prevent, should live to tell of their presence in the country. They resumed their course down the Rio Grande until within fourteen miles of Laredo. Deeming this too dangerously near the Government post, Fort McIntosh, they changed their route, making an acute angle, and moved northeastward towards the Nueces river, passing by the ranchos, i. e., dwellings and circumjacent lands, in the vicinity of Dr. Henry Spoon's where they stole a sufficiency of horses to mount all of their party.

Here, it appears from the testimony of Dr. Henry Spohn, began the rapid subdivisions and the quick concentrations of this corps, trained from youth to skillful maneuvering as the sine quo non of a predatory party. Simultaneously, and as if ended with ubiquity, they appeared at almost all the ranches in this vicinity. They selected the best horses and were then prepared for the raid. Their organization was perfect. They divided into minor parties and devastated in a wide sweep and again reunited at a signal, or by agreement, for consultation or defense. Hence, the accounts of those who saw the raiders at different localities conflict as to the number of the marauders. At this time they were near the Rancho de los Machos, in Webb county, and they were estimated to be from thirty to forty strong. At this locality they wounded Tomas Solis with two pistol balls and an arrow. Dr. Spohn attended and sent a small party to watch the raiders. This party followed them to Fort Ewell, in LaSalle county, formerly a Government post, on the Nueces river.

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Since leaving the Rio Grande, this predatory corps of cut-throats had traveled sixty miles in an air line. The verdure of spring had clothed the earth with grass; shrubs, bushes and trees were dressed in foliage; water ponds were filled; the people, in the main, were busy shearing their flocks. The time was demonically selected as propitious for such fell work. Few were abroad to note the progress of these raiders. The grass gave them abundant provender; and water, lately fallen, refreshed them everywhere. During the day the fruitful umbrage of the newly leaved trees screened them from observation, and the growing moon lighted their way by night. The party sent out by Dr. Spohn feared to make an attack and only gave the news of their departure to Fort Ewell. The marauders then roamed over the country at will.

From Fort Ewell they followed the sharp bend which the Nueces river makes towards the east, in LaSalle county, and then turns to the northward in McMullen county, and on the 17th of April, at 9 a. m., reached William H. Steele's rancho—Palo Alto, i. e., High Tree—having traveled a distance of fifteen miles from Fort Ewell. From the testimony of Steele, Hart, Moore and Mrs. W. H. Steele—at that time Mrs. Taylor—we gather the facts of their operations. It is noted that they had a large drove of horses. These they had gathered on the 15th and 16th in Webb and LaSalle counties, since leaving the Rio Grande. In addition to bows and arrows it was found that they were well armed with rifles and pistols—doubtless, in the main, stolen from men whom they had murdered in route, though it is clear they brought some arms into the country with them.

The entire band seems to have converged at this place. It has long been one of the chief objective points for the concentration of Indians when on frontier raids. Their exits are made, generally, from this vicinity, whether they take an upper or a lower line of departure. There should be—and this is the voice of all our people—a post here and a company of cavalry ready for instant service.

Here, again, they were counted, and numbered about forty men. They were fiendishly exultant and unrepressed in their demonstrations of hellish joy. At Steele's rancho they held high carnival. They killed John Steele, a devoutly pious man, who deemed it wrong to carry arms. Mrs. Steele's two children, named Richard and George Taylor, and aged respectively eight and twelve years, were at first supposed to have been captured and carried off, but ere long were found murdered and their forms horribly mutilated and mangled with knives. Here, too, they killed Martin Martinez and Florentino Leo, and dangerously wounded Venturo Rodriguez with a rifle ball and eight arrows. In the midst of this, for their savage delectation, they stripped two Mexicans naked and compelled them to run foot races before them. Meantime, Mrs. Taylor, with wonderful coolness and motherly affection, waded across the river and escaped with her children.

They were determined, by those who saw them here, to be Mexicans and Indians on a plundering expedition, murdering and stealing horses, arms, money, clothes, camp equipage, blankets, etc., from all the ranchos contiguous to this point.

The intensely interesting statement of Mr. E. C. Moore gives an unvarnished account of the cruel hatred of the savages, the fiendishness of a white leader, the gallant defense and heroic death of Mr. Moore's companion and his own miraculous escape. The boys, cousins, having quietly resumed their journey, saw in the distance a cloud of dust which they judged to be raised by a whirlwind, but it was, in reality, a cloud of dust raised by a vast drove of horses which they had no suspicion was driven by Indians and their Mexican confreres. They met the vanguard of the party and, though not without apprehensions as to who they were, yet deemed them cow drivers. They fought retreating and one fell. He was the hope of a fond father. The affections of loving sisters centered in him. Alas! he left them in the wilds of San Ygnacio, on the edges of the Nueces Valley, only a grave and the rude inscription of his untimely death.

From Fort Ewell the main course of the raiders was about southeast, and continued in that direction to the Toribio rancho, about four miles beyond Brown's rancho, thirty-six miles from Fort Ewell, in Duval county, not far from the line of McMullen, and about twelve miles from the Nueces river. In this vicinity they killed Vicente Robeldo, the chief shepherd of T. W. Gillette, and they stole or destroyed everything. One witness says that he lost four hundred dollars' worth from his camp alone. They wounded, and supposed they had killed, Tomas Zunega. Here they changed their course, and came to the Rancho Solidad, in Duval county, about noon on the 18th. At this point they were about thirty miles from San Diego, in Nueces county, at which town a company of U. S. Cavalry had arrived.

At the Rancho Solidad they killed Guadalupe Basan, and gathered all the horse stock in the neighborhood. Soon afterwards they killed a shepherd and his wife. Their deaths are clearly reported by a little child. Their bodies were tied together, dead, and swung upon a horse, and which was turned loose. Their bodies have not yet been found. Subsequently they attacked Captain Richard Jordan's rancho, called Charco Escondido, i. e., Hidden Pond, and at 5 o'clock in the evening they killed his son, John Jordan, an excellent and exceedingly promising young man, just coming of age. But a short time previously he had written his fond mother and sister that if "God spared his life he would visit them soon." He, however, lived not to return, but, with his friend, Antonio Valdez, fell and died on his father's place. He is not, for life's cord was rudely snapped; but he sleeps the sleep of the good and the just.

Mr. Frank Gravis resides in this vicinity. He was notified by his neighbors, and with great promptitude, busily moved here and there to assist to spread the alarm and to gather a party to follow the raiders. From the Munoz Rancho, at the request of Captain Jordan, about sunset, he sent a courier to the commanding officer of the U. S. troops at San Diego, through Judge James O. Luby, the county judge. With his small party, on the night of the 18th, he slept upon the trail, near Charco Escondido. The Mexicans and Indians lay close to him. From this point, early in the morning, he sent a second dispatch to the commanding officer at San Diego, stating which way the trail had gone. He took it at daylight, following with the jaded horses of the evening previous, which had served to bring his party together. The raiders met Margarito Rodriguez about ten miles west of Charco Escondido, and mortally wounded him. From him Gravis learned that a white man led the party, but whether a Mexican or an American he could not tell. This was early on the morning of the 19th, and in Encinal county. The Indians drove a large herd of horses before them.

From Fort Ewell it was noted that they had their advance, center and rear guard. Many were identified as Kickapoo Indians. Again they divided into minor parties. One of these stopped a cart, destroyed its contents and stripped its drivers—two boys naked. This party immediately after, attacked a wagon train, and though reinforced by another, were driven off after killing a mule. Near here they shot and killed a shepherd and cast his body on the live coals of his campfire. Mr. Gravis hotly continued the pursuit, and from that point sent a courier to the commanding officer of the U. S. troops at Fort McIntosh, Laredo. The raiders, in small parties, now swept across the country and carried off all the desirable horses in their way.

On the evening of the 19th, Mr. Gravis overtook the main body—again concentrated—as they converged together upon entering Webb county to cross the Rio Grande, distant then, about eighteen miles. They had been within fourteen miles of Fort Mcintosh; again they approached within twenty miles of it. They had passed within thirty miles of the U. S. Cavalry at San Diego, and at rio time during these six days had they been over sixty miles from a U. S.. Government post. Yet such is the extended character and sparsely settled condition of this district that such occurrences do take place and escape the notice of the military.

Gravis charged gallantly. The prompt and daring reception which the Indians gave him frightened his Mexican allies and they retired. He continued the skirmish, but a reinforcement to the raiders compelled him to withdraw to the timber to prevent being surrounded and cut off. The raiders did not continue to follow, but pressed in hot haste to the Rio Grande, and strewed their trail with the clothing plundered on the route.

Gravis had a wonderful race. More than a hundred miles had he ridden since he began to summon his party, twenty-four hours before. Such races are run and many heroic deeds performed by little parties such as his, and not much notice is taken of them.

He waited patiently next day for assistance from Laredo. Some of his men reviewed the locality of the skirmish, and found several of the Indians' horses dead. Mr. Gravis saw the "cavallada," i. e., drove of horses, and judged it to number from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head. These were the choice horses of the country, for the weak and worthless fell by the wayside. During his return, on the 20th', he heard from parties from the neighboring ranchos, who had joined him on the trail, of many whom the raiders killed, but he has not mentioned their names.

The whole party, intact, it seems, crossed the Rio Grande on the night of the 19th of April, twenty-five miles south of Laredo, in Webb county, at the Rancho Dolores, not far from the Zapata county line. They improvised rafts of dry wood called "tarrai," on which to float over their plunder, yet left provisions, clothing and moccasins on the river's bank. Here it appears, from Mr. Blucher's affidavit, they were again counted and numbered forty men. They were well armed with Spencer and Remington rifles, and their drove of extra horses certainly numbered one hundred head.

Though Mr. Gravis' courier was sent to Laredo on the 19th, no movement took place from that point until 4 p. m., on the 20th. Such is the want of preparation, of instant readiness, which is absolutely necessary in this country for the defense of the people.

This is but a brief resume of the evidence, coupled with some other known facts, and reduced to a crude narrative.

The force and pith of the matter are found in, and touchingly stated by, the respective affidavits, and to these in conclusion, we now refer.


THE KILLED

2. Two vaqueros in the employ of Justo Guerra and Prospero Guerra, at ''Apache Hill," Webb county, on April 14th, 1878.

3. Jorge,Garcia, near his rancho, Webb county, at dusk, April 14th, 1878.

4. A shepherd of Don Jesus Ramirez, at the Rancho Cerrito Prieto, Webb county, April 15th, 1878.

5. John Steele, at the Rancho Palo Alto, LaSalle county, 9 a. m., April 17th, 1878.

6. Richard Taylor, aged twelve years, at the Rancho Palo Alto, LaSalle county, 9 a.m., April 17th, 1878.

7. George Taylor, aged eight years, at the Rancho Palo Alto, LaSalle county, 9 a.m., April 17th, 1878.

8. Martin Martinez, at the Rancho Palo Alto, LaSalle county, 9 a. m., April 17th, 1878.

9. Florenzo Leo, at the Rancho Palo Alto, LaSalle county, 9 a.m., April 17th, 1878.

10. Frederick B. Moore, San Ygnacio, McMullen county, near the line of Duval, 3 p.m., April 17th, 1878.

11. Vicente Robeldo, Gillette's head shepherd, near Brown's rancho, Duval county, 4 p.m., April 17th, 1878.

12. Guadalupe Basan, Rancho Solidad, Duval county, 12 a.m., April 18th, 1878.

14. A Mexican shepherd and his wife, shot, tied together and thrown across a horse, near the Solidad Rancho„ Duval county, afternoon, April 18th, 1878.

15. John Jordan, Charco Escondido, Duval county, 5 p.m., April 18th, 1878.

16. Antonio Valdez, Charco Escondido, Duval county, 5 p.m., April 18th, 1878.

17. Margarito Rodriguez, ten miles west. of Charco Escondido, Encinal county, 6 a.m., April 19th, 1878.

18. Jose Ma. Canales, at Quijote a Gordos, 12 a.m., April 19th, 1878. They threw his body upon his campfire and his lower extremities were consumed.

Others killed on the "range," reported by W. H. Steele.

Others killed of whom J. W. Hart "had heard."

Others killed, of whom F. Gravis makes mention on his return.


THE WOUNDED

Tomas Solis, who was attended by Dr. Henry Spohn.

Venturo Rodriguez, at the Rancho Palo Alto.

Tomas Zunega, at Brown's Rancho, Duval and McMullen counties.

Two wounded men met by F. Gravis, April 21st.

The above facts are supported by affidavits sworn to before U. S. Commissioners and other officials.

These days border incursions are encouraged by the Enemies Domestic.

Tks Rog.

There's a "Fort Ewell Creek" about 30 miles SW of San Antonio that crosses under I 35, but the actual Fort Ewell appears to have been further south.




Note "no timber within 15 miles", that woulda prob'ly been when South Texas was still open grassland and not yet turned to brush. Scurvy? In South Texas? Them mounted riflemen must had really poor diets and known nothing about local wild edibles. A puzzle that..

Same thing with "no good grazing for the animals".

Very interesting story. My question is why was it that if they traveled that far, and took the time to kill and steal, couldn't they have been located by the army. I realize that it is a big country, and at that time certainly not heavily populated, but it just seems that they pretty much went and raided as they pleased.

This story is a pretty good argument and justification for the Indian wars and confining them to reservations. Civilized society as we define it and lawless raiding nomads cannot co-exist.

Great story! Thanks Roger!

Large US Army presence at Ft. Clark, Ft. Ringgold, Ft. Sam and Ft. Brown. But with the exception of the activity up in the panhandle I’ve always felt the army had little use with Texas elsewhere. Other than still harassing former confederates trying to make a living. Even tho by this time reconstruction was suppose to be closing up. Much was deligated to state forces. Like the Texas rangers.

Also considering the Ranger and the army occasionally had their differences. (Leander McNelly ring a bell?) Rangers were still having issues with army even up until 1917 as witnessed with the Porvenir massacre.

Great post, Rog.

I think we should raid their casinos...

Do we take captives?

They went and raided as they pleased only until such time as serious opposition could be assembled, which given the state of communications at the time could take days. Meanwhile in this case the 40 man raiding party gathered together and scattered as circumstances dictated. It would not surprise me either if the route of the raid had been scouted out by the hostiles beforehand so that they knew best where to hit.

Also, across much of the Frontier, Indian raids were not a regular thing, which is why so many victims were caught unawares so often. In fact, throughout the Frontier period, entire regions could be abandoned in the face of sustained raiding as the risk made ordinary settlement impossible.

Typically, in the aftermath of a raid, Comanches for example would depart the area as fast as possible, deploying multiple mounts and covering as much as 100 miles in just 24 hours. In the unlikely case that the pursuers were similarly well-mounted and could keep up, the war party would scatter, presenting the posse with multiple trails to follow. Throughout the chase the Indians knew about where their pursuit would be located (ie. on their trail) and could plan accordingly.

Responses to raids accomplished were rarely successful, the most effective method was routine patrols sent out to scout for Indian sign along known trails and waterholes , in this way war parties could be intercepted by surprise either going or coming.

The fact that Indians were so friggin' difficult to catch in the field was why hitting them and their women and kids at their camps was so popular with the public.

I know the credibility of their stories suspect, but remember one of the Smith boys in his story stating that when they were taken hostage (somewhere in present Comal county) and at the time that their party was to pass Ft. Concho, they passed well within sight of the post because the raid leaders figured they would be their safest bet. First., there would be patrols already out searching the environs for them and that the closer they passed the better they could observe any activity at the post.

I got that book. Somewhat of a good read.

BIrdy! Remember this one???

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/btd01

Kinda what started a bunch of it. But McKenzie came thru again.

May of 1873, he led the Fourth Cavalry on an illegal incursion into Mexico, 160 miles in a bit over two days, in and out before Mexico could react, guided by the Black Seminole Scouts out of Ft Clark. Thomas Porter in his book The Black Seminoles tells the story that f one of the Black Seminoles on that raid, one Tony Wilson.

This was Wilson’s first combat, after riding all night they surrounded an Indian camp, opening fire at first light. In my he dim light Wilson aimed his carbine at a figure running towards him shrouded in a blanket. Just as the hammer fell the figure saw him and stopped; in that moment Wilson saw to his horror he was killing a teenage girl.
According to the Seminoles that killing haunted him his whole life, at the end of his life contributing to his eventual decline and death more than forty years later . Tony Wilson is buried in the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery outside of Fort Clark.
.

Another Texas Indian raid of 1878, and a story of revenge.....

http://wkcurrent.com/dowdy-murders-a-sad-chapter-in-kerr-history-p741-71.htm

Thanks Birdy. My folks live in Ingram and sisters family not far from there. Tough livin' back then - not TOO long ago.

http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/tumlinsonfam.htm

The Tumlinson Family of the DeWitt Colony



Andrew, David C., James, John Jackson, Joseph and Littleton F. Tumlinson, members of the families of two brothers John Jackson and James Stevens, son of Jonathan Tumlinson (Tumblinson) of North Carolina, received land grants in the DeWitt Colony. Both had wives named Elizabeth. James and Elizabeth, John, John J. and Peter Tumlinson were among the "Old 300" Austin colonists, among the first to receive land grants in Texas. A James, John, John J. and Peter were taxpayers in WashingtonCo, TX in 1837, but do not appear in county records thereafter, probably because they moved to the DeWitt Colony or elsewhere by that time. John Jackson Tumlinson Sr. was born in LincolnCo, NC in 1776 and married Elizabeth Plemmons, (b. abt 1796 LincolnCo, NC) about 1800. Andrew, John Jackson Jr. and Joseph were his sons and are brothers. The family arrived from Arkansas along with the family of brother James Tumlinson and first settled on the Colorado River at a site called Montezuma near Columbus. David C., James and L.F. Tumlinson, all of whom were single on arrival in the DeWitt Colony in 1828-1831, were sons of James Stevens Tumlinson, brother of John Jackson Tumlinson Sr.

A James Tumlinson is mentioned in the following letters as early as 1824 concerning land in the Austin Colony:

JAMES CUMMINS TO STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Inclosed I send Mrs. Marples letter to her husband with her fathers and Brothers and his permission also to act on as you think proper. James Tumlinson Desires me to let you know that he is so unwell that he is not able to attend about his Land and he wants you to try to let him have the 8th League above Jacksons on the Colorado and the half or whole of the Tract he lives on as you think proper For such he will thank you to attend to. and says he will go to see you as soon as he is able to ride, Yours JAMES CUMMINGS July 19th 1824 Colo. Stephen F. Austin At San Felipe de Austin

JAMES TUMLINSON TO STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Upper District Colorado, November 17th 1824 Col. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN SIR It is my wish to have you to make an entry of the Ninth League of land, on this River above Kinslow's [Kincheloe's] for me if no other person hase not entered it and wish you to send me an answer by the bearer Air. Moore and by so doing much oblige JAMES TUMLINSON [Rubric]

James Tumlinson and wife are listed in the 1825 Census of the District of Colorado with 7 male children aged 20, 18, 14,10, 8, 5 and 2 and 1 female aged 4. James S. Tumlinson of the Austin Colony moved to and owned a home in Gonzales town after 1831. Various records indicate that the Tumlinson families came to Texas from North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. It is thought that related Tumlinsons in addition to the families of John J. Sr. and James may have come to Texas.

In 1822, John J. Tumlinson Sr., the father of Capt. John Jackson and Joseph Tumlinson, was elected alcalde of Columbus, one of only two settlements of significance at the beginning of establishment of the Austin Colony. John Tumlinson and Stephen F. Austin had business interactions as early as 1821 as evidenced by the following notes in the Austin Papers in the Texas Archives:

RECEIPT FOR A NOTE Recd New Orleans Nov. 25, 1821. of Phillip Redinger a note on John Tumblinson payable to John Steel or order for One hundred and Sixty Dollrs ($160) which I am to collect on the best terms I can---Said Redinger is willing to allow a discount of Sixty Dollars for prompt payment S. F. AUSTIN The above note was given up to Redinger before the order on the back of this receipt was presented or known of as this receipt was Supposed to have been lost. A. [Rubric] [Endorsed:] Recd. on the within rect: 1 Ax---I pr Blankets 3 Pt--2 Carrots Tobacco---1 Small oven May 9th 1822 Mr S F AUSTIN Sir please to Lift your recept and Let Martin Varner have Mr Tumlinsons note and you'l oblige yours etc. PHILLIP REDDINGER

Alcalde John Tumlinson was killed by Indians in the summer of 1823 while on a trip to San Antonio to meet the governor of Coahuila y Tejas as described by Baker in Scrapbook of Texas [Baker erroneously refers to Capt. John J. Tumlinson as brother instead of son of the murdered John J. Tumlinson Sr.]:

This venerable pioneer was a native of North Carolina, and immigrated to Texas at an early day. He settled at the Falls of the Brazos where he remained but six months and then removed to the Colorado river where the town of Columbus now stands. This town is located upon his head right. As he was a man of fair intelligence and good business habits he was appointed an alcalde in 1824 by the Mexican authorities. In the summer of 1824, Mr. Tumlinson left his house in company with a gentleman named Newman, and started to San Antonio on business. They had gone as far on their way as where the town of Seguin is now situated, when they were attacked, by a party of Waco Indians. Tumlinson was instantly killed, but Newman, who was on a good horse, fled, and succeeded in escaping. Diligent search was subsequently made for Captain Tomlinson's body, but it was never found. A little while after this a party of thirteen Waco Indians were discovered approaching the settlements, and it was supposed to be the same party who had killed Captain Tumlinson, the news was communicated to Captain John J. Tumlinson (a brother of the murdered man), who raised a company of eleven young Texas boys and went in pursuit of them. His youngest brother, Joseph, was dispatched in advance to spy out the position of the enemy. He discovered they were encamped about fifteen miles above where the town of Columbus now stands, on the east side of the river, near the bank of a deep ravine. Returning to the company he gave Captain Tumlinson the information he obtained. The Captain then, with his men, advanced had cautiously, and late in the evening reached the vicinity of the Indian camp, where they concealed themselves. Their plan was to defer the attack until morning, and the firing of Captain Tumlinson's gun was to be the signal for the onset. But his brother Joseph, who was a little nearer the Indian camp than the rest, seeing an Indian in fair shooting distance, could not resist the temptation to take a "pop" at him, and fired away. The Indian uttered a loud "wah!" and fell dead. Seeing this, the rest of the boys opened fire, and with such fatal effect that in a few moments twelve of the thirteen Indians soon lay dead upon the ground. The remaining one sprang off like a frightened deer and made his escape. Captain John J. Tumlinson will long be remembered, at least as long there are any old Texans still living, for his gallant services in the defense of the frontiers against the murderous savages.

Andrew Tumlinson (b. 21 Jan 1806 in NC; d. 1830) was the former husband of widow with a family of 2, Harriet Cottle Tumlinson (marrried 2 Jul 1829), who received title to a sitio of land in her maiden name on the west bank of the San Marcos River in Guadalupe County after Andrew was killed by Indians. Andrew was a son of John and Elizabeth Plemmons Tumlinson. Andrew and Harriet arrived in the DeWitt Colony in 1827 and were some of its earliest residents. The death of Andrew Tumlinson is described in Wilbarger's Indian Depredations in Texas.

"I think it was in the fall of 1831 that a party of Waco Indians came into DeWitt's colony, stole a lot of horses from Andrew Tomlinson and made off with them. Tomlinson, in company with four or five others, pursued the Indians. After following their trail for about twelve hours they overtook a couple of Waco Indians. They interrogated the Indians pretty closely and as they looked guilty and gave contradictory answers, they came to the conclusion that they were the very ones that had stolen the horses. They therefore took them prisoners, and told them if they did not point out the place where they had concealed the horses that they would kill them. When Mr. Tomlinson and his party arrested these Indians they took all their arms from them except their butcher knives. The Wacos strenuously denied knowing anything about the horses, but the Texans told them they knew better, and if they did not take them to the place where they were hid that they would certainly kill them. "Well, then," said the Wacos, "we will show you the horses;" and they went off in a certain direction towards the place where they said the horses were tied. After going about a mile one of the Wacos, knowing that death would be certain whether he showed the horses or not, determined to fight it out. He, therefore, suddenly drew his butcher knife and made a furious lunge with it at Mr. Tomlinson, who being on the alert, instantly drew his gun and shot him through the body. The Indian, however, had succeeded in plunging his knife into Mr. Tomlinson's side, and they fell dead together. The remaining Waco then endeavored to make his escape, but was pursued and killed. The Texans found the stolen horses, buried Mr. Tomlinson and returned home."

John J. Tumlinson, born 19 Dec 1804 in probably NC (some records call him a native of Tennessee), is the best known of the Tumlinsons because of his prolific record as a military leader and Indian fighter involved in security of the DeWitt Colony, particularly the area around current Cuero covering most of current DeWitt County and northern Victoria County. His life and activities are covered in more detail under DeWitt Colony Captains, Rangers and Minutemen. He was a farmer, rancher and land trader in addition to his role as a minuteman ranger. His first wife Laura Cottle was the daughter of Stephen and Sarah Turner Cottle of the Austin Colony. Laura Cottle was the sister of Harriett Cottle, wife of Capt. Tumlinson's brother Andrew. After wife Laura and their son Joseph died, Capt. Tumlinson moved to the community of Clinton on the Chisholm tract across the Guadalupe River from current Cuero. Tumlinson married Delaney Asher then her sister Mary Ann Asher. John Tumlinson died in May 1853 leaving one known heir, daughter Amanda L. Tumlinson. She was raised by John's brother Peter in Atascosa County and married Cullen W. Edwards.

Joseph Tumlinson received a quarter sitio arriving single in Feb 1829 on the south boundary of current Cuero on the banks of the Guadalupe River between tracts of Byrd Lockhart and Hepzibeth Taylor. Hepzibeth and Josiah Taylor were parents of William Riley Taylor who married Joseph's sister Elizabeth Tumlinson. Widow Hepzibeth Taylor later married Patrick Dowlearn a neighbor to both the Taylors and Tumlinsons. Joseph Tumlinson married Johanna Taylor, daughter of Josiah and Hepzibeth Taylor in April 1834. After Johanna's death, Joseph married Elizabeth Newman in 1838, thought to be the widow of the Newman killed with John J. Tumlinson Sr. in 1824. After Texas independence, Joseph settled in Eagle Lake in ColoradoCo and later moved to Yorktown in DeWittCo where he was a rancher where he served continuously as a minuteman and Ranger with his relatives in security of the area. Known as "Jo" Tumlinson, he became involved in the infamous Taylor-Sutton Feud of DeWitt County and formed a group known as the Tumlinson Regulators on the side of the Suttons. At one time he was a deputy sheriff of DeWitt County. He died on his ranch in November 1874. His descendants include numerous Texas lawmen which include Milam Wright, William L. Wright, Charles H. Wright and E.A. (Dogie) Wright who served Texas as rangers, sheriffs, custom agents and border patrol officers from 1898 to 1969.

David C., James, and Littleton F. Tumlinson, all single men and brothers from the same family (sons of James Tumlinson below), received quarter sitios next to each other on Peach Creek in northeast Gonzales County. According to land records, James and L.F. arrived in 1828 and David C. arrived 1831. L.F. owned two lots in inner Gonzales town across from Market Plaza on St. Lawrence St. James Tumlinson, thought to be James Tumlinson Sr. from the Austin Colony, owned adjacent lots in the same block and had a home in 1836 on one of the lots originally deeded to L.F. Tumlinson at the corner of St. Lawrence and Water St.

James Tumlinson was listed between 40 and 50 years old and had 7 sons and a daughter in 1826 according to the Austin Colony census. He was a widower with 11 children who moved from the Austin Colony after marriage to widow Dianah (Ann) Noyes Wilkerson White on 13 Jul 1831. Ann Wilkerson and Thomas White were married on 9 Sep 1819 and began a journey to Texas from Elizabethtown, NC in 1829 with their five children. Thomas White died suddenly in Alabama on 30 Jun 1829, but the widow and children continued the journey to Austin's Colony arriving near Columbia on the Brazos River. Mrs. Ann White is listed in Austin's "Register of Families" of April 1830, 30 years of age, a widow with 4 male and 1 female children. They were Kerr Bigharn (b. 20 Jul 1820), John A. (26 Apr 1822), Ann Eliza (23 Oct 1824), Thomas M. (17 Jul 1826) and Franklin (19 Jan 1828).

Diana Wilkerson White. On April 1, 1830 Diana White, widow of Thomas White of Bladen County, North Carolina, arrived from Alabama as a colonist in Austin's Colony and was deeded land at San Felipe in what was Washington County. Her family consisted of herself, age thirty, and five children: Kerr Bigham, John A., Anne Eliza, Thomas M. and Franklin H. In the late 1830's Anne married James J. Tumlinson and the family moved to Gonzales about 1838. James and Anne had a son named Samuel who died very early. Anne died in November, 1839 in Gonzales.

George W. Davis of Gonzales was appointed by the court as guardian of the four minor children of Thomas White and Diana "Anne" White Tumlinson. A declaration of the estate of Thomas and Diana White was published July 28, 1840. Thomas M. White, sixteen years old, legally bound himself out to George W. Davis October 9, 1840. The terms of the binding were that Thomas would apprentice as a farmer, he would obey the lawful commands of Mr. Davis and do no harm nor damage or allow others to do so to Mr. Davis. He would not contract matrimony and would at all times in all things conduct himself and serve as a faithful apprentice. George W. Davis agreed to teach Thomas to read, write and cypher to the rule of three, provide meat, drink, clothing and lodging and other necessities during the term and at the expiration date, July 1, 1847, when Thomas turned twenty-one, he would give Thomas two suits of clothing, one suitable for Sunday and one for working days. But on September 25, 1845, George Davis asked to be discharged as the guardian of the White minor children and in December, 1845 Kerr Bigham [White] was granted guardianship of Thomas, voiding the terms of the binding out.

Kerr Bigham (1821-unknown) married a widow, Eliza Harrell, January 11, 1855. Mrs. Harrell had a daughter Mary Virginia who married Clayton Summers. Kerr and Eliza had no children. He served as sheriff of DeWitt County 1849-1851. John A., circa 1823, went to California with William Cardwell looking for gold. It was legend that he was killed by Indians. He never married. Anne Eliza (1824-1918) married the pioneer Crockett Cardwell April 15, 1846 in Gonzales. Cardwell (1812-1891) was a native of Mercer County, Kentucky and came to Texas in 1833. He operated a store in Port Lavaca and Hallettsville prior to his purchase of the D.B. Friar place in the Cuero Creek area. In addition to his mercantile business, he served as commissioner in DeWitt County and had plantation and cattle interests. Anne Eliza had a natural ability in the knowledge of medicine improved by the study of medical books; she gained much experience and a good reputation by caring for her family and others. They had two children, a son died very young and a daughter Evie who married Arthur Burns in 1882. Thomas M. (July 1, 1826- December 8, 1857) married Sarah Jane Houston December 8, 1853. They had two children: John Frank (July 11, 1856-1889) married Eliza Jane Kennedy November 5, 1878; and a daughter Annie May who married Lewis Burns. Sarah Jane "Kitty" Houston circa 1836 was born in North Carolina. Her parents were Robert Boyd Houston and Mary Allen Dunn. She married a Mr. Harrell a second time and a third time a Mr. Mitchell. Franklin H. circa 1828 married Laura Davis; their children were: Crockett, John, Annie Laura and Frank. After Franklin died, his family lived for quite some time with the Crockett Cardwell family. Although the White family was in Gonzales only a short time, most of the family records available were found in the Gonzales County courthouse. Sue White Hancock. (From The History of Gonzales County, Texas. Reprinted by permission of the Gonzales County Historical Commission).

In addition to David C. (b. 1809), James (b. 1806) and L.F. Tumlinson (b. 1808), who received title to properties in the DeWitt Colony, James S. Tumlinson had a son, George Tumlinson (b. 1814 MO) who was a member of the Gonzales Alamo Relief Force and died in the Alamo 6 Mar 1836. He is thought to also have had another son John Tumlinson (b. 1810) who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto, but this may be confused with cousin Capt. John J. Tumlinson. Ann and James Tumlinson had one son, Samuel, who was born 12 May 1832 and died 19 Dec 1846. Stepdaughter Ann Eliza Cardwell was interviewed by the Galveston News (Reporter Mr. S.M. Le Sesne) about her experiences in the critical days of the Texas Revolution in Gonzales, she told of the fall of the Alamo, described that they traded with sites in Columbia and Nacogdoches and an armed escort would have to accompany the trading parties to resist Indian attacks. Her family was close friends of Stephen F. Austin, "Three-Legged Willie" and other distinguished statesmen of the period. She related that her family received Mrs. Emily Dickinson who was the only Anglo survivor at the Alamo at the family home in Gonzales [original article quoted Mrs. Emily Dickinson, likely referring to Susannah Wilkerson Dickinson--WLM]. While escaping from the Mexican army which was crossing through the country after the Alamo defeat, members of her family could see both the Texas and Mexican armies near San Jacinto.

Additional Tumlinsons. Thomas Carney Tumlinson, a nephew of John J. Jr. and Joseph Tumlinson also settled in DeWittCo. His father Thomas Carney Sr. (b. 1797 NC), son of John J. and Elizabeth Tumlinson Sr., was killed by Indians in Arkansas before he was born. After he was grown, his adopted parents revealed the identity of his real parents and Thomas came to Texas. He lived on Cabeza Creek about five miles south of the site of Nordheim where he raised a family of nine children and in 1881 moved to the Lampasas area.

Peter F. Tumlinson, son of John J. Tumlinson Sr. returned to Arkansas soon after the family arrived in Texas.. His brother, Thomas Carney Tumlinson, had been killed in Arkansas by Indians and Peter went back to help his pregnant sister-in-law. He returned to Texas a few years later, and became a Texas Ranger. His second wife was Harriett Jane West, sister of James West, also a Ranger. At least three of Peter's sons were Texas Rangers.

SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS
© 1997-2006, Wallace L. McKeehan, All Rights Reserved

Times were changing fast, just five years later, 1883, the last known Indian raid in Texas. Kate McLaurin’s gravesite can be visited in the Leakey cemetery, stopped in a few times during my motorcycle period.

http://www.texasescapes.com/LindaKirkpatrick/Conflict-on-the-Frio-McLaurin-Story.htm

Not mentioned here is the role the Black Seminole Scouts under Captain Bullis played in the aftermath. The Lipan group responsible also stole stock and made their escape, eluding local posses. The Black Seminoles, calledin some days later, picked up the cold trail and followed it into West Texas, before crossing into Mexico and striking the Indian’s camp. They killed most, but brought back a woman prisoner with a broken arm to Fort Clark, perhaps the same woman listed in the story.

The motive for the raid might have been nothing more than nostalgia, the country had settled up so fast that it is possible Leakey Canyon had been a familiar childhood haunt of those same Indians.