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Savage Boats
Sunday, September 25th, 2011
The Great Comanche Raid
The Great Comanche Raid
In the month of August, 1840, under the silvery light of a brilliant full moon known to Texas settlers as a Comanche moon, a huge band of some several hundred Comanche and Kiowa warriors thundered out of the Comancheria and headed directly for the heart of the Republic of Texas. The raid was launched in retaliation for what the Comanches perceived to be the unprovoked killing of twelve Penateka war chiefs and many innocent women and children at the Council House peace talks in San Antonio only a few months before.
Under the leadership of Buffalo Hump, one of the few surviving Penateka Comanche war chiefs, the huge war party passed to the east of San Antonio before spreading out and cutting a wide swath of destruction across the fertile lands that stretched to the southeast between the Guadalupe and San Antonio rivers. Those settlers lucky enough to receive a warning fled before their homes were burned and their livestock slaughtered or scattered, but many died where the Comanches found them. The ones who died quickly were the fortunate few.
Killing and burning along the way, the warriors didn’t halt their movement southeast until they reached the old settlement of Victoria late in the afternoon of August 6. After quickly surrounding the town, Buffalo Hump did something few other war chiefs had done before or since, when he led an attack that overran most of Victoria. Many citizens saved themselves by banding together and forting up in the south part of town, but fifteen people, including seven slaves were killed as the Comanches galloped through the streets howling their war cries and firing flint-tipped arrows at anything that moved.
Before the smoke from burning buildings had cleared, the Comanches were again on the move to the southeast, this time driving a herd of nearly two thousand stolen horses and mules ahead of them. The vast herd of “Comanche gold” would eventually prove to be their undoing. Continuing down the Guadalupe River bottomlands, the savage hoard burned and killed as the opportunity arose. Militia companies and other volunteers turned out, but their only contribution consisted of burying the dead, as all along the Guadalupe houses burned and unwary settlers died.
On the morning of August 8, the Comanches formed a huge half-moon arc as they approached the Gulf coast, and the little seaport town of Linnville located on Lavaca Bay which served as San Antonio’s port of entry. A few citizens spotted them from a distance, but they mistook the warriors for Mexican traders until the savages began their screaming charge. There was little time for the bewildered inhabitants to do anything except flee for the safety of the boats anchored in the bay. Some found refuge on the steamer Mustang lying just offshore, or rowed themselves to safety in Small Boats, but many others were cut down before they reached the water and immediately scalped. Those who did manage to escape were forced to watch as their homes and businesses were looted and burned before their eyes.
The Comanches spent the entire day pillaging and burning Linnville. Warehouses packed with goods destined to be shipped to San Antonio were a special delight for the looters. Warriors dressed themselves up in top hats and fancy frockcoats. Some even paraded in women’s dresses and petticoats, their ponies’ tails braided with a rainbow of ribbons and even entire bolts of cloth streaming out behind them as they galloped back and forth through town. One citizen was so distraught and angry with the ransacking that he waded ashore waving an old shotgun above his head and challenged the warriors to meet him in combat. The bewildered Comanches, thinking the man must be crazy and therefore untouchable, simply rode around him, acting as if he didn’t exist. When he finally gave up and waded back out to his boat he discovered the shotgun had never been loaded.
Satisfied that the Comanche blood spilled by the Texans during the Council House fight was fully avenged and all debts paid, Buffalo Hump at long last called for a return to the Comancheria. However, as heavily burdened as the Comanches were with dozens of fully loaded pack mules, many prisoners, and well over two thousand stolen horses, the trail home would prove to be treacherous. At that moment riders were galloping all over central Texas drawing men from Lavaca, Gonzales, Goliad, Victoria, Cuero, Bastrop, San Antonio and Austin and from more than a hundred widely scattered homesteads. A militia company under the command of Captain Tumlinson pressed the savages hard from the rear using hit and run tactics while frontier leaders like Matthew “Old Paint” Caldwell, Ben McCulloch, and Edward Burleson helped to gather the volunteers well ahead of the Comanches on Plum Creek not far from present-day Lockhart.
If Buffalo Hump had swung south of San Antonio on the return ride, the Comanches may well have escaped the trap being set for them, but instead the war chief arrogantly continued to lead his huge war party to the northwest straight into impending disaster. On August 11, General Felix Huston of the regular Texas army arrived at the Plum Creek site and took command from “Old Paint” Caldwell in spite of protests from the volunteers because of his lack of experience in dealing with Indians. On the 12th, Burleson and one hundred more volunteers rode in, and they were shortly joined by Jack Hays’ company of Texas Rangers from San Antonio. Tonkawa scouts reported that the Comanches, moving slowly north and raising a considerable cloud of dust, would soon reach the Big Prairie not far from Plum Creek.
At Caldwell’s suggestion, General Huston dismounted the volunteers and Texas Rangers and ordered them to take cover in the heavy brush growing along the Creek. When the unsuspecting Comanches moved out on the adjoining prairie a short time later, the Texans mounted and emerged from the brush at a walk, slowly bringing the two great lines of horsemen together. The Comanches presented quite a spectacle dressed as many of them were in fancy clothes stolen from the Linnville warehouses. The fierce horse warriors began to gallop back and forth between the lines, putting on a display of horsemanship that would have rivaled any show in the world.
General Huston was more than content to sit his saddle and watch the show, but the experienced Indian fighters like Caldwell and McCulloch quickly realized loot, not combat was the thing uppermost in the minds of the Comanches. They were trying to delay the fight until the younger warriors could drive the huge herd of stolen horses and mules further to the northwest out of the reach of the Texans. Caldwell wanted to press the attack home immediately, but General Huston continued to hesitate. Then a Comanche war chief wearing a magnificent feathered headdress solved the dilemma by trotting his garishly painted pony out of the ranks and boldly challenging the Texas leaders to individual combat. Suddenly a shot rang out and the impact of a heavy rifle ball flipped the war chief off the back of his pony. A groan of dismay went up from the Comanches at this sign of bad medicine.
”Now, General,” Caldwell shouted, “Charge ‘em!”
Without waiting for an order from the General, the Texans, screaming and shooting, spurred their mounts into the Comanche flank, stampeding the great herd of animals in all directions. The surprised warriors dispersed to gain control the herd rather than remain in their line of battle, and they were stampeded right along with the stolen horses and mules. Comanches were scattered to the winds and the Texans began to kill every warrior they came across. The struggle was close and cruel and a running fight ensued for the next fifteen miles, but the fighting heart had been cut from the Comanches, and the day eventually became more of a massacre than a battle. Before the fighting was over more than eighty Comanche bodies lay strewn along the fifteen mile battlefield. Only one Texan was killed. The Comanches’ white prisoners weren’t as lucky. Many of them were killed before they could be rescued.
The Battle of Plum Creek punished the Penateka Comanches severely. The warriors had tried a new and unaccustomed form of warfare and they had failed miserably. Never again would the Comanches attack a town in force or raid so deep into Texas. Instead they resumed their old form of guerrilla tactics that continued to prove formidable. President Lamar was now convinced that the Comanches must be taught a lesson for their effrontery, and he ordered Colonel John Moore to prepare an expedition for a retaliatory attack on a Comanche winter village far up the Colorado. The Texas Rangers would now carry the fight deep into the heart of the Comancheria.
The above article is backround information used as part of the research to write my Historical Fiction series, Saga of a Texas Ranger, you can order a hardcover book or kindle by clicking on the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/Saga-Texas-Ranger-Jeffery-Robenalt/dp/1609761731
About the Author
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Jeffery Robenalt was born and raised in Tiffin, Ohio. He served in Vietnam as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and later served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer with the 101st Airborne Division. He has a BS in Sociology from Troy University, a BA in History from New York University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University. After earning his law degree, Mr. Robenalt was an Attorney for the State of Texas for ten years. Saga of a Texas Ranger is his first novel, however, the second volume in the saga, Star Over Texas, will soon be ready for publication. Mr. Robenalt currently resides with his wife Lizabeth and daughter Emily in Lockhart, Texas where he teaches Texas history at Lockhart Junior High School.
http://amazon.com/Saga-Texas-Ranger-Jeffery-Robenalt/dp/1609761731
Savage Boat Test westport
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ChrisCraft Boats By Mollica, Anthony, Jr./ Savage, Jack $30.86 An illustrated history of the prestigious American boatbuilder details the evolution of ChrisCraft boats from the early handbuilt years through the era of fiberglass hulls. Author: Mollica, Anthony, Jr./ Savage, Jack Publication Date: 2009/07/10 Number of Pages: 192 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 0.50 Width: 9.00 Height: 9.00 |
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Savage $6 Savage |
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S.A.V.A.G.E. $6 S.A.V.A.G.E. – Savage |
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A-41 Large Bellows Pump $39 A high capacity footpump made of durable ABS plastic. Packs down for easy travel. Comes with adapter valves for Motormount boats, Transom boats, Paddleski, and kayak models. |
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MB100 High Pressure Electric $89 Designed for our Sport Boats, PaddleSkis, & Kayaks (except the SE-330), the MB-100 high speed electric pump is specifically designed for higher pressure inflatable boats. Hooks up to a car battery. Just set the pressure gauge to the desired pressure and turn on. |
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AB25-5 OARS $39 Designed for our Transom Boats, these oars connect with oarlock pins for fast, comfortable rowing. Collapsible for easy transport. 5 ft. 5 in. long. |
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Sea Eagle 375fc Fold Cat Pro Angler $1299 Pontoon boats are a great way to get to places where fish are hiding. But who has 35-40 minutes to spare to put your boat together? Most rowing frames take that long to assemble. Our FoldCat has a unique folding support system that can be inflated and assembled in 5 minutes by one person. |
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MB-50 Electric Pump $39 The MB-50 electric pump inflates our motormount boats in a matter of minutes. Includes a cigarette lighter adapter for automotive use. Includes multiple valve adapters and a nine foot battery cable. This pump is for the SE6, SE8, SE9 and SE330 models. |
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SAVAGE: SAVAGE ISLAND $29.93 SAVAGE: SAVAGE ISLAND |
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395ps PaddleSki $899 2 person inflatable rowing catamaran kayak. Great for sea kayaking! |
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340xd Explorer Kayak $849 2 person inflatable kayak, great for camping and whitewater. |
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SeaEagle.com life jacket $39 Sea Eagle Coast Guard Approved Life Jackets are good looking and durable. Features four plastic closures on adjustable nylon straps for a comfortable, secure fit. |
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Sea Eagle Surf Mat $19 Great Fun on the Ocean!Two built in skegs let the Sea Eagle Surf Mat track down the face of a wave like a North Shore pro! Double I-Beam construction makes it rigid and bouyant, and an extra heavy PolyKrylar material make it tough and durable. |
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Sea Eagle 380xd Inflatable Kayak $899 Sea Eagle 380x inflatable kayak. 12’4″ long, holds 2 adults. Rated for up to class 4 whitewater. |
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Nylon Seat Bag for Aluminum Seat $39 Makes excellent use of the dead space underneath the wooden seat. Nylon flap secured with Velcro makes attachment easy. Comes with Nylon shoulder strap to carry to and from your boat. Storage capacity: 14 x 24 x 9. |
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Sea Eagle 8FD Inflatable Boat $549 9′ 7″ Four man inflatable boat. Complete with motormount, floorboards, two seats, oars, pump, repair kit |
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Nylon Carry Bag for inflatable boat $25 Our storage bag is a convenient way to transport your Sea Eagle. This 26×43 inch bag will comfortably hold a deflated SE-6, SE-8, SE-9, or SE-330 and several accessories (i.e. oars, pump & motormount). |
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SE370 Deluxe Kayak $349 12 ft kayak featuring:Self bailing drain valveThree deluxe one-way valvesLashed down inflatable spray skirtsI-beam construction floor2 skegs on the bottom for better tracking & speed Pressure Gauge and Repair KitBow & Stern Grab Line3 year warranty |
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Sea Eagle 330 Deluxe Package $299 Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Canoe. Rugged 33 mil polykrylar hull. 11’2″ x 2’10″ Only 26 lbs. Complete with two seats, two 7′ 10″ paddles, footpump, and repair kit. |
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Chris-Craft Boats $24.99 Anthony Mollica Jr, Jack Savage, Foreword by Chris Smith,Paperback – First, English-language edition,Pub by MBI Publishing Company |
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Savage Armada $5.74 Used – Beneath the beauty of the Marshall Islands lies a battleground for looting pirates and sec men in still-functional Navy PT boats. Ryan Cawdor and his warrior band emerge in this perilous water world, caught in a grim fight to unlock the secrets of the past. |
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Savage Armada $4.95 Used – Beneath the beauty of the Marshall Islands lies a battleground for looting pirates and sec men in still-functional Navy PT boats. Ryan Cawdor and his warrior band emerge in this perilous water world, caught in a grim fight to unlock the secrets of the past. |
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The Flowing Tide $2.38 1941: France has fallen; the Germans control every French port – In the English Channel German Schnell-boats frequently clash with British MTBs protecting the inshore trade. In the thick of the action is Lieutenant Lord Duncan Eversham, commanding an MTB flotilla. Duncans life is turned upside down when he rescues the survivors of a sinking merchantman, amongst whom is the mysterious American Rebecca Strong, engaged on a secret mission for the British Government . . . |
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Waterworld $5.99 Used – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Waterworld $88.29 New – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Waterworld $127.67 New – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Waterworld $74.53 New – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Waterworld $8.43 Used – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Waterworld $209.19 New – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Waterworld $107.78 New – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Waterworld $141.73 New – Tying in with the Kevin Costner film of the same name, this is a story of scattered survivors in a future world being destroyed by polluted warmth. They live on boats and ramshackle, man-made islands, and nothing exists on their horizon except bleak, infinite seas ruled by savage pirates. |
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Wild Rides!: Hydroplane Boats $26.65 Jeff Savage, Mark Wheeler,Hardcover – Library Edition,Series: Wild Rides! Series, English-language edition,Pub by Coughlan Publishing |
