A COMANCHE PRISONER IN 1841
Col. Wilson T. Davidson
Grandmother Angelina Smith was well content with life in
the small town of Austin a little over a hundred years ago.
Her husband, James Smith, was the first Chief Justice of Travis
County. Her town, though small, was now the capital of a great
new-born republic. To add to her satisfaction, she had "three
of the smartest children" in town--at least she thought they
were--Caroline, my mother, aged eleven, Fayette, who was soon
to celebrate his ninth birthday in a tragic way, and Lorena,
the youngest, who was seven.
As a sincere member of the Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Smith
was not only a regular attendant at its meetings, enjoying the
services and the short social contacts that always came, but in
some way she had acquired the library of a Presbyterian clergy-
man, and oddly enough, took great interest in poring over
various subjects in these volumes.
How suddenly was the whole scheme of life disrupted for
Angelina! On the morning of January 21, 1841, the Chief
Justice, entirely unarmed, the idea of hostile Indians never
entering his mind, mounted his horse, taking his son, Fayette,
up behind him. He rode up the river to the present site of the
old Confederate Home, to look out for some hogs that were
rooting around in the nearby woods.
He had just reached his destination when a band of five
Comanche Indians suddenly swooped down upon him, shooting
with bows and arrows and one or two guns. One arrow struck
his left arm, breaking it, and, continuing its course, struck
my Uncle Fayette on the forehead. The thoroughly frightened
horse became unmanageable, and dashed under a live oak tree,
where both the riders were swept off by an overhanging limb.
The Indians ran up at once, completed the killing of Grandfather
Smith with bows and arrows, and took Fayette captive.
As the day wore on, Angelina, unperturbed, went about her
usual affairs. Was not her boy entitled to have a good time out
in the woods on his birthday ? But when the pair failed to return
by nightfall Angelina became thoroughly alarmed, and called
in some of her neighbors. The next morning a searching party
found the judge's body as it had fallen.
What became of the Indians? Pursuing a northwesterly
direction, they had joined another twenty of their tribesmen.
The next morning the group set out on their usual course to the
northwest. Time meant little to them; they moved along slowly,
making only ten or twelve miles a day. For camp, they stopped
near a stream if it was to be found, and for food they lived off
the country—wild turkey, rabbit, deer, and buffalo.
At the end of about a month, the Indians fell in with the
main body of their tribe, including a number of squaws. By
this time they were well out on the higher country. Fayette
said the squaws treated him with great cruelty, throwing him
into bunches of prickly pears. The object of this treatment,
he afterwards learned, was to toughen him, or make "a good
Indian" out of him.
In the meantime, William Smith, a brother of Grandfather
James Smith, set out on horseback to look for his nephew.
After several days he met a group of Tonkawa Indians, re-
maining with them several weeks. They were sedentary In-
dians, not as bloodthirsty as the Comanches.
Reaching Santa Fe, William explained his mission to the
alcalde and to several American traders who were in town.
He then took the Santa Fe trail, went to St. Louis, thence down
the Mississippi to New Orleans and thence back to his home
in Texas. He probably passed the Comanches and his nephew
somewhere in Texas, where they had been following their weary
way, reaching at the end of three or four months the country
near the Texas-New Mexico border. But this apparently futile
trip served a useful purpose, as we shall see later on.
Now the squaws had found a new method of discipline for
their recently acquired boy. It was to make him wade through
the slush and slime and mud of a pond where the buffalo had
been accustomed to come for water and to lie in to cool them-
selves. Fayette later declared this was easy compared to his
experiences with prickly pears. The treatment, however, was
kept up until a number of sores broke out on his body, and
the Indians, thinking he would never be of any use to them,
started to leave him.
Just at this time, however, some Mexican Comancheros
1 ap-
peared on the scene. Word of a captive American boy had gone
Tom Santa Fe to Taos, some miles north, an American, Mexican,
md Indian trading village. Here lived John Rowland,
2 an Ameri-
can who had married a Mexican. Hearing of the American boy's
plight, Mr. Rowland gave some Mexicans sixty dollars and told
them to go out and find the child.
From all accounts they were just in time. Those Mexicans
spoke a little English, and Fayette declared it was a joy to
hear these imperfectly spoken words in place of the gutterals
of the Comanches.
Setting out on the return trip, Fayette asked one of the
Mexicans how far it was to Taos.
"About a hundred years," he replied.
Then Fayette asked him if he did not mean "miles, and he
replied "Yes."
The final lap of the journey seemed interminable. It was now
spring; the Mexicans loitered along as though they indeed had a
hundred years in which to make the trip. Finally they reached
the trading post of Taos, and Fayette was turned over to Mr.
Rowland. Naturally he was well pleased with the outcome of
the mission and treated the boy with great kindness, and
Fayette was overjoyed at the sight of a white face, and made
himself as useful as he could around the place, acquiring after
some months a fair speaking acquaintance with the language of
the Mexican residents.
Mr. Rowland wanted to adopt his newly acquired boy, but
nothing was ever done about it. He explained afterwards that
he would have written to Fayette's mother immediately but
for lack of direct communications between Texas and New
Mexico. He did, however, write as soon as he had an oppor-
tunity to send the letter by way of St. Louis.
During all this time Grandmother Angelina prayed constantly
never losing faith that she would see her son again.
Late in the summer the Santa Fe expedition arrived and
Fayette saw some of its members, but could get no news from
Texas, so slow was the means of transmission in those days.
Months went by; the year 1841 and the spring and summer
of 1842 passed. During all the long and weary waiting Grand-
mother stood firm as the rock of ages in her faith--calm and
unperturbed.
"Don't ask me why; I just feel it. I am as sure that I'll get
my boy back as I am that the sun will rise tomorrow morning."
In mid-summer of 1842 an overland train left for Missouri,
and Mr. Rowland placed Fayette in charge of a friend to make
the first lap of his journey homeward. The train arrived at
Independence, Missouri, on September 16, 1842. On September
17 the following letter was sent to Fayette's mother:
3
Independence Jackson County Mo.
Sept 17 1842
Mrs. Angeline Smith
Dear Madam
Your Son La Fayette arrived here yesterday
under care of Mr. Peter Duncan, under whose charge
he was placed by John Rowland of Touse
4 New Mexico
--to be placed under my protection at this place.
La Fayette gives the following account of himself
i- e, About two years ago he was riding behind his
father (not far from Austin Texas) hunting some
hogs--when the Comanche Indians came upon them
and shot his father--the arrow striking La Fayette
on the forehead & entering his father's arm. In en-
deavoring to make their escape, the horse they were
riding ran under the bough of a tree, which knocked
them both off. The Indians here came up with them
& murdered his father and carried him off as pris-
oner -- He remained with the Indians about three
months -- receiving from them the most cruel & bar-
barous treatment that could be inflicted, he was stripped
of his clothing & treated with so much cruelty that he
was unable to travel or even stand alone -- the Indians
then threw him into a mud hole & left him to perish--
On the same day that he was left--a Party of Mexi-
can traders--sent out by Mr. John Rowland to trade
with the Comanche Indians with express orders to
purchase any American Prisoners they might have,
met with the same party of Indians -- the Indians
knowing they could get something for your son (if
alive) returned to the place they had left him, and
sold him to Mr. Rowland's company for the sum of
Sixty Dollars in silver--he was taken by the company
to Mr. Rowland (an American) at Tous where he re-
ceived every attention that he could bestow upon him,
Mr. Rowland wrote to you a short time after receiv-
ing your son--but received no answer, La Fayette was
with Mr. Rowland some fifteen or eighteen months,--
La Fayette says that his Father was a small man--
named James Smith--his mother's name Angeline--&
that he had two sisters, Caroline & Lorino--Caroline
was older than him & Lorino younger and that when he
was quite small his sister Caroline threw some hot ashes
on his back which has left a scar--he says that his
mother's relations live near Taladego Alabama -- &
that he had two aunts named Julia &
Amelia -- &
that Amelia is dead-- He says that his Father's re-
lations lived in Texas & that his father was a Justice
of the Peace in Alabama and a Judge at Austin, Texas
La Fayette's recollection about his relations is rather
imperfect -- but I suppose the above statement (as
given by himself) will be sufficient for you to identify
your son, He is now in fine health and is a very
sprightly and intelligent boy -- You may rest assured
that he will be well treated and receive every atten-
tion that I can bestow upon him, I intend sending him
to a good school & furnish him with good comfortable
clothing until you can send for him -- You will please
write immediately and inform me when you will be
able to send for him.
He expresses a strong desire to return to you and
says that he thinks he would know you. The account of
his sufferings while with the Indians is truly affecting
--he suffered much but is now sound & healthy
With the hope that your son may soon be safely
returned to you, I remain
Truly Your friend
& Obt Srvt
Lewis Jones
A letter written at the same time to Fayette's grandfather,
Elijah Stamps, at Talladega, Alabama, in which he gave the
same details concerning the captive boy, has been lost.
The postmaster at Talladega helped to spread the good news,
as is shown by the following letter:
Talladega Ala Oct 12th 1842
Dear Madam.
I enclose you a letter from a gentleman of Inde-
pendence Mo. informing you of the wonderful restora-
tion of your son Lafayette. It is impossible for me to
describe to you the feelings of joy which was mani-
fested upon the receipt of this letter with all your
friends and acquaintance of which number I claim to
be one. I have copied the letter and sent it to your
father this morning and would wait to see him before
I sent the letter to you but I know you would blame
me for every moment's delay.
I am with Great Respect
Your Obdt Servt.
James Sawson
P M
Talladega Ala
N. B.
Your Father and relations
are all well as far as I know
At long last, the news did reach Fayette's mother, who was
then living at the old town of Washington-on-the-Brazos. She
received the glad tidings of her son and the news that her
father, Josiah Stamps, would start at once to meet her son and
accompany him home.
After writing a letter to Mr. Jones, she set out for Alabama,
so as to be at hand upon the return of her son, as the following
letter will indicate:
Independence Mo. Feby Bth 1843
Mrs. Angeline D. Smith
Dear Madam
Your letter of the 9th Deer, and also one
from Jno. Stamps of the 29th Dec. have been reed,
and knowing that you feel much anxiety to see your
son Fayette, and thinking that your father may not
write to you until after reaching home I have thought
it probable that a letter would reach you from this
place sooner than you could obtain information from
any other source
Fayette's Grandfather Stamps arrived here the first
week in January, remained with me a few days and
then left for home (Talladega) accompanied by Fay-
ette where they expected to meet with you and your
family on their return. Your Father informed me that
he had written to you before he left home & that he
had no doubt but you would immediately set out for
Alabama.
Fayette & your father were both well--I kept Fay-
ette at school until your father arrived--treated him
as one of my own children--and delivered him over to
your father --free of all expense -- not one cent has
been charged by any one, and none will be to pay--
But I want you to collect the sum ($300.00) appro-
priated by Congress for the release of Texian pris-
oners--and appropriate it to Fayette's individual bene-
fit--in giving him a thorough education--he has the
natural mind and if properly cultivated will make a
man of splendid talents--do not consider me as dic-
tating to you in this matter--I feel deeply interested
in Fayette's welfare and as I have no doubt but Con-
gress will give you the sum to him for his own benefit
--I want it appropriated, as before mentioned--This is
all I ask to be done, it would be a source of much grati-
fication to me, if I could hear of this being done--and
of its being appropriated entirely
to
his
education.
I feel assured that you will not object to receiving
the money for him for this purpose--
The suffering which he endured while a Prisoner
and all the circumstances connected with his history,
the manner in which he came into my hands--all have
excited in my bosom an interest for his welfare--(I
must say) equal to that felt by a fond
parent
--
Your brother-in-law Wm Smith never came to this
place--i Was informed by a man calling himself Col.
Warfield that he came as far as St. Louis--and re-
turned to Texas--I addressed you a letter relating the
circumstances and that Col Warfield had a demand for
Fayette purporting to be from Genl. Houston, which
from several circumstances I believed to be a forgery,
but supposing that you reed, my letter, respecting it
I will add no more on this subject--
I suppose that by this time your son is at his
Grandfather's -- and will be anxiously awaiting the
arrival of his mother & sisters--
I will attend to your request respecting Mr. Row-
land--as I expect to have an opportunity to sending
him a letter in the spring
Tell Fayette that my family all unite with me in
sending their love to him--and that he must be a
good boy and devote all the energies
of
his
mind
to
study
--
Very Affectionately
Yours
Lewis Jones
In the meantime, Josiah Stamps having received his letter
from Mr. Jones, which was dated the same day as Mr. Jones'
first letter to Angelina, had started on his trip to Independence,
Missouri. Making a bee line to the Mississippi River he sold his
horse and took the first boat for St. Louis, from whence he went
to Independence. Remaining only a few days in Independence,
he and Fayette started to Alabama.
Shortly after they arrived there, Angelina came in from
Texas. She clasped her long-lost son to her breast.
Returning by stage to New Orleans, thence to Galveston and
Houston by boat, they took an old-fashioned stage for the town
of Washington-on-the-Brazos.
In school Fayette acquired a knowledge of the three R's and
later joined a large mercantile firm, clerking in the fall and
winter and going out on the road in spring and summer. In
later years he became very prosperous as a merchant in Wash-
ington and afterwards in Navasota, and as a plantation owner
in the Brazos River bottom. It was always difficult to get
Fayette to talk about his adventures with the Indians, and as
long as he lived he shunned the sight of mud holes and prickly
pear.
In thinking of my grandmother's supreme faith and confi-
dence in the return of her son, some of our modern scientists
would probably explain her unbreakable faith by saying that
it was all due to the effect of the constant repetition of a
request upon the subconscious mind, etc.
But I can hear Grandmother exclaiming: "Oh, fiddle sticks!
Go on with your science! The Good Lord in Heaven answered
my prayers, and that's all there is to it!"
Austin, Texas.
FOOTNOTES:
Comancheros.
which was used in the Texas trade in the 1830's. Gulick and Elliott, Lamai
Papers, No. 123. On April 14, 1840, President Lamar appointed Rowland
temporary representative of Texas in Santa Fe, to act until the Santa Fe
Commission should arrive. Ibid., No. 1773.
sion of Mrs. Bessie Pitts, 1426 Kirby Bldg., Dallas, Texas. Photostatic
copies of the letters may be found in the Archives of the University of
Texas Library.
How to cite:
Col. Wilson T. Davidson, "Comanche Prisoner in 1841", Volume 45, Number 4, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v045/n4/contrib_DIVL5955.html
[Accessed Mon Nov 23 11:14:51 CST 2009]
