Two of the bands went down the river to cross it without
noise, while the third, commanded by Gabriel and me, travelled up the
stream for two miles, where we safely effected our passage. We had left
the horses ready, in case of accident, under the keeping of five men for
every band. The plan was to surprise the Texans, and attack them at once
in front and in rear; we succeeded beyond all expectations, the Texans,
as usual, being all more or less intoxicated. We reached their fires
before any alarm was given.
We gave the war-whoop and rushed among the sleepers. Many, many were
killed in their deep sleep of intoxication, but those who awoke and had
time to seize upon their arms fought certainly better than they would
have done had they been sober. The gallant General Smith, the bravest of
the brave and ex-butcher, escaped at the very beginning of the affray,
but I saw the Comanche chief cleaving the skull of Captain Hunt with
his tomahawk.
Before their onset, the Indians had secured almost all the enemy's
waggons and horses, so that flight to many became impossible. At that
particular spot the prairie was undulatory and bare, except on the left
of the encampment, where a few bushes skirted the edge of a small
stream; but these were too few and too small to afford a refuge to the
Texans, one hundred of whom were killed and scalped.
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