Winter of 1839 Ranging Company Captain John Moore led an expedition against the Comanches and hit them on the San Saba River.
Moore disregarded the advice of his Lipan Apache scouts and attacked the sleeping camp on foot, leaving a few guards with their horses. The surprised Comanches recovered quickly, almost all escaped with light casualties, and stole the expedition’s horses, it was a long walk home.
Still, the attack prompted the Comanches to put out inquiries for a meeting in San Antonio. Unlike the Mexicans, Texians commonly shot back, were increasing in number and taking the initiative, carrying the war to the Comanches.
A thing that really bothered Americans back then was the thought of White women and kids in the hands of the savages, so the deal was peace might be made IF the Comanches brought in their captives, a thing difficult for any Comanche leader to enforce.
In the actual event, March of 1840, they only brought in two, a Mexican boy who quickly escaped back to the Comanches and the horribly disfigured and abused 15 or 16yo Matilda Lockhart, captured two years earlier.
The enraged Texians then informed the Comanche chiefs they would be held prisoners until all the captives were freed. All hell broke loose, this was the Council House Fight...
Matilda died a year or so thereafter, some said of shame.
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
