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Great Raid of 1840
Part of the Indian Wars
Date August, 1840
Location Near Linnville, Texas
Result Comanche Victory
Belligerents
Republic of Texas Rangers Militia Comanche all bands
Commanders
Matthew Caldwell, Edward Burleson Buffalo Hump
Strength
approximately 200 Unknown, but the best guesses are 1,000 in the war party, including women and children
Casualties and losses
at least 30 killed at Victoria and Linnville, and 11 at Plum Creek Unknown; 12 bodies recovered, Texans claimed 87 killed at Plum Creek

The Great Raid of 1840 was the largest raid ever mounted by Native Americans on white cities in what is now the United States. Other names In Arabic, the month is called أغسطسص ʾUġusṭuṣ or آب ʾĀb; usage varies from place to place and Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The Republic of Texas was a sovereign Nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide Jurisdiction based in Austin, the The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary Citizens to provide defense emergency law enforcement or Paramilitary service The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose range (the Comancheria) consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado Edward Burleson (December 15 1798–December 26 1851 was a soldier general and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U Buffalo Hump (born c late 1790s to early 1800s - died 1870 was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians [1] It followed the Council House Fight, in which Republic of Texas officials attempted to capture and take prisoner 33 Comanche chiefs who had come to negotiate a peace treaty, killing them together with two dozen of their family and followers. The Council House Fight was a conflict between Republic of Texas officials and a Comanche peace delegation which took place in San Antonio Texas, The Republic of Texas was a sovereign Nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose range (the Comancheria) consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado The Texas Officials were determined to force the Comanche to release all white captives among them. To avenge what the Comanche viewed as a bitter betrayal by the Texans, the Comanche war chief Buffalo Hump raised a huge war party of many of the bands of the Comanche, and raided deep into white-settled areas of Southeast Texas. The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose range (the Comancheria) consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado Buffalo Hump (born c late 1790s to early 1800s - died 1870 was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians

Contents

The Council House Fight

Main article Council House Fight. The Council House Fight was a conflict between Republic of Texas officials and a Comanche peace delegation which took place in San Antonio Texas,

The Council House Fight took place on March 13, 1840, after 33 Comanche chiefs from some of the southern Comanche bands and their followers and families had come into San Antonio under promises they would be safe while they sat down with Republic of Texas officials to negotiate a peace treaty. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year [1] The Republic of Texas officials, however, had decided that if the Comanche chiefs did not bring in all captives in the hands of the Comanche people that they would be taken captive themselves; their plan was to take the Comanche peace chiefs prisoner, and then barter for their release.

The chiefs arrived with hopes of negotiating lasting recognition of the Comancheria (the Comanche homeland), and a formal end to hostilities along the border, but recognition of the Comancheria was unacceptable to the Texan officials, as it would limit settlement there. The Comancheria is the name commonly given to the historical homeland of the Comanche. [1] While the Comanche concentrated on presents, which were normally given to them at such talks, the Republic of Texas focused on promises to release captives among the Comanche. This dichotomy of purpose set the stage for a tragedy. On January 30, 1840, Albert Sidney Johnston, Secretary of War, notified Lieutenant Colonel William S. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Fisher, commanding the 1st Regiment of Infantry, that:

"Should the Comanche come in without bringing with them the Prisoners, as it is understood they have agreed to do, you will detain them. Some of their number will be dispatched as messengers to the tribe to inform them that those detained, will be held as hostages until the Prisoners are delivered up, when the hostages will be released. "[2]

The Texan officials began the treaty talks with demands that the Comanche considered impossible, demanding the Comanche return all white prisoners, including people such as Cynthia Ann Parker who were with bands of the Comanche not represented at the talks. Cynthia Ann Parker, or Naduah (also sometimes spelled "Nadua" and "Nauta"{b The Texans were unaware that many of the captives were in the hands of bands not represented at the talks, and therefore these captives would not be able to be returned. [3]

The Comanche chiefs at the meeting had brought in one white captive to show good faith, and had others available for return. However, the condition of this single captive, Matilda Lockhart, who had been beaten and sexually assaulted, enraged Texas Officials, who demanded prompt return of all captives. [4] When the chiefs would not, or could not, return all captives immediately, the Texas officials said that chiefs would be held hostage until the white captives were released. [4] As the Comanche attempted to escape, the militia in hiding threw open the doors, and began firing in at the astonished Comanches. Fighting back with only their knives, the Comanches were killed outright or taken prisoner. [5]

Buffalo Hump gathers the tribes

Main article Buffalo Hump. Buffalo Hump (born c late 1790s to early 1800s - died 1870 was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians

Comanche War Chief Buffalo Hump was determined to do more than merely complain about what the Comanches viewed as a bitter betrayal; spreading word to the other bands of Comanches that he was raiding the white settlements in revenge, Buffalo Hump led the Great Raid of 1840. Buffalo Hump (born c late 1790s to early 1800s - died 1870 was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians [5] Buffalo Hump gathered a huge raiding party, at least 400 warriors, with wives and young boys along to provide comfort and do the work. All together, as many as a thousand Comanche may have set out from West Texas on the Great Raid. [3] On this raid the Comanches went all the way from the plains of west Texas to the cities of Victoria and Linnville on the Texas coast. Victoria is a city in and the County seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. In what may have been the largest organized raid by the Comanches to that point, they raided and burned these towns and plundered at will. [6]

Victoria is the first town attacked

The huge war party crossed into central Texas and first attacked the town of Victoria. Although rangers had found the tracks of a gigantic war party coming out of West Texas, and were shadowing the onrushing Comanches, part of the war party broke off and attacked Victoria before the citizens could be warned. One resident wrote, "We of Victoria were startled by the apparitions presented by the sudden appearance of six hundred mounted Comanches in the immediate outskirts of the village. "[7] The citizens of Victoria hid in the buildings, and the Comanches, after killing a dozen or so townspeople and riding up and down, departed Victoria when rifle fire from the buildings began to make the riding dangerous. The war party intended to gather horses and loot the coastal towns, which were not as prepared for the Comanches as the central Texas cities.

The Sack of Linnville

On August 7, 1840, the Indians surrounded the small port of Linnville, Texas, which was the second largest port in the Republic of Texas at the time, and began pillaging the stores and houses. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Linnville, which is now a ghost town, was located 3. A ghost town is a Town or City that has been abandoned usually because the economic activity that supported it has failed or due to natural or human-caused 5 miles northeast of present day Port Lavaca. Port Lavaca is a city in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. [8] The Comanches reportedly killed three whites, including customs officer Hugh Oran Watts, who had delayed his escape to retrieve a gold watch at his home (reportedly a family heirloom). After killing Watts, the Comanche captured his wife of only three weeks, the former Juliet Constance, and a black woman and child.

Realizing that the plains Indians would have no experience on water, the townspeople fled prudently from the Comanche raiders to the safety of the water. They were saved by remaining aboard small boats and a schooner captained by William G. Marshall, which was at anchor in the bay. While safe in the water, the refugees witnessed the destruction and looting of their town, unable to do a thing except curse impotently. [9]

For that entire day the Comanches plundered and burned buildings, draping themselves grandly in top hats and stolen linens. They tied feather beds and bolts of cloth to their horses, and dragged them. They herded large numbers of cattle into pens and slaughtered them. One outraged citizen, Judge John Hays, grabbed a gun and waded ashore through the shallow water, and roared at the bemused warriors, but the Indians chose to spare him, believing him mad. He later found that he had waded ashore to face nearly a thousand Indians with an unloaded pistol, not that one weapon could have made a difference. [10]

At the time of the Great Raid, many trade goods were en route from overseas to New Orleans, Louisiana to San Antonio, Texas and Austin, Texas; a total inventory valued at over $300,000 was reported to be at Linnville at that moment, including an undisclosed amount of silver bullion. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana Linn noted that in addition to the cloth and other trade goods usually present in his warehouse at that time were several cases of hats and umbrellas belonging to James Robinson, a San Antonio merchant. "These the Indians made free with, and went dashing about the blazing village, amid their screeching squaws and `little Injuns,' like demons in a drunken saturnalia, with Robinson's hats on their heads and Robinson's umbrellas bobbing about on every side like tipsy young balloons. "[3] After loading the loot onto pack mules the raiders, grandly attired in their booty, the war party finally began its retreat on the afternoon on August 8, 1840. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year

The Battle of Plum Creek

Main article Battle of Plum Creek. The Battle of Plum Creek was a clash between militia and Rangers of the Republic of Texas and a huge Comanche war party under Chief Buffalo Hump, which took place

The Rangers had been trailing the war party for some time, unable to engage them because of their sheer numbers. But the looting at Linnville gave the Rangers a chance to gather militia and all Rangers companies, and engage the Comanches at Plum Creek, Texas. Volunteers from Gonzales, Texas under Matthew Caldwell and from Bastrop under Ed Burleson had gathered to attempt to stop the war party and together with all the ranger companies of east and central Texas, moved to intercept the Indians, which they did at Plum Creek, near the city of Lockhart, Texas on August 12, 1840. Edward Burleson (December 15 1798–December 26 1851 was a soldier general and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year [5] Buffalo Hump had lost total control of the raiding party. In theory, all loot belonged to the ranking war chief, who could hand it out as he chose. In reality, no war chief could have told the cheerful raiders that they had to give up the cloth, weapons, food, and horses that they knew would make them rich among their people. [11] The Comanches, fast and deadly light cavalry, escorted the slower pack mules. The normal Comanche tactic was to ride as fast as possible away from the scene of a victory, but on this occasion they slowed to a gentler pace acceptable to the heavily laden pack mules. Thus, the militia and rangers caught the raiders, which normally they found impossible. The battle of Plum Creek was really a running gun battle, where the Texans attempted to kill the raiders and recover loot, and the Indians simply attempted to get away. Although only a dozen bodies were recovered, the Texans reported killing 80 Comanches, and the war party losses were probably higher than normal. But greed saved the Comanches in turn; when the militia discovered the stolen bullion, they abandoned the fight, divided their loot, and went home.

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Conclusion

The Great Raid of 1840 was the largest Indian raid on white cities in the history of what is now the United States—though technically when it occurred it was in the Republic of Texas and not in the United States. The history of Texas as part of the United States began in 1845 but settlement of the region dates back to the end of the Upper Paleolithic Period French Texas was the period of Texas history from 1685 until 1689 Spanish Texas was one of the interior provinces of New Spain from 1690 until 1821 Mexican Texas is the given name by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836 when Texas was governed by Mexico. The Republic of Texas was a sovereign Nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to The state of Texas seceded from the United States on February 1, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America on March Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The war party literally burned one city to the ground. They stole over 3,000 horses and mules, and hundreds of thousands of dollars of other plunder, ranging from silver to cloth and mirrors. Unfortunately for the war party, the sheer volume of loot slowed them down, and made them vulnerable to attack from a militia that otherwise would never have caught them. [12] Equally, the militia missed an opportunity to destroy the bulk of the raiding party when they concentrated on recovering and dividing the recovered bullion and other plunder. [6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c The Comanche Barrier to South Plains Settlement: A Century and a Half of Savage Resistance to the Advancing White Frontier. Buffalo Hump (born c late 1790s to early 1800s - died 1870 was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians The Council House Fight was a conflict between Republic of Texas officials and a Comanche peace delegation which took place in San Antonio Texas, The Battle of Plum Creek was a clash between militia and Rangers of the Republic of Texas and a huge Comanche war party under Chief Buffalo Hump, which took place Arthur H. Clarke Co. 1933.
  2. ^ Mayhall, Mildred. Indian Wars Of Texas. The Council House Fight. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani
  3. ^ a b c Roell, Craig (2001-6-6). The Handbook of Texas Online. LINNVILLE RAID OF 1840. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani
  4. ^ a b Lynn, Jody; Dickson Schilz (2001-6-6). The Handbook of Texas Online. COUNCIL HOUSE FIGHT. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani
  5. ^ a b c The Comanches: Lords of the Southern Plains. University of Oklahoma Press. 1952.
  6. ^ a b R. E. Moore (2000). The Texas Comanches. TexasIndians. com Accessed 2007-11-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani
  7. ^ John J. Linn, Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Texas (1883).
  8. ^ Roell, Craig. Handbook of Texas Online. LINNVILLE, TEXAS. University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani
  9. ^ The Comanche Barrier to South Plains Settlement: A Century and a Half of Savage Resistance to the Advancing White Frontier. Arthur H. Clarke Co. 1933.
  10. ^ He was saved because of the Comanche reverence for the mad, a reverence shared by most Native American cultures. University of Texas Handbook
  11. ^ Dawn Kyle Donalson. War Chief Buffalo Hump. TexFiles. com. Accessed 2007-06-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun.
  12. ^ Texas Military Forces Museum. Indian Fighting. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani

References

Online sources

Bibliography

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