The Agony of the Frontier

Subject: The Agony of the Frontier Mon 29 Oct 2007, 7:13 pm

The words presented below speak well for themselves. Constituting a portion of Memorial Number 255 in the Texas State Archives, they formed a petition for protection by one then-western Texas county -- Wise -- as it struggled beneath the burdens of early Reconstruction and the combined weights of Indian, guerilla and opportunistic oppression.

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Petition asking for frontier protection 1866

To the Honorable, the house of Representatives at the City of Austin Assembled

Your petitioners, Citizens of the County of Wise and State of Texas would respectfully represent to your honorable body through our representation, that we are Citizens .... Consequently exposed to many privations and dangers incident to a frontier life, and that since the late war has ended, we have been entirely left unprotected until recently when a few soldiers belonging to the United States Army have been stationed at Jacksboro and Fort Belknap, which force is entirely inadequate for our protection.. Bands of hostile Indians and reckless white men and negroes are constantly committing crimes and depredations in our county unequalled in any portion of the history of our country. It appears from late events that the frontier Counties have been selected as a field of operations for thieves of all kind and color. The good citizens of this County have protected themselves for a long time as best they could, but our citizens are now leaving their homes and seeking places where they will not be disturbed by Indians and those cooperating with them and if we do not get protections soon the frontier counties will be abandoned .... Thousands of cattle have been driven from here. Northward and by whom it is difficult to say, either by Indians or white thieves and probably both. Our horses are driven off day and night often in the presence of their owners and last but not least our citizens are continually being murdered and scalped, their mangled bodies left often for days, food for birds and beasts. Many have been captured and carried off and very probably put to the severest torture that Indian ingenuity can invent and if now living are lingering out a miserable existence far from friends, Parents, brother, and sisters in an uncivilized country amidst savages. Two little boys 8 and 10 years, sons of Moses and James Ball, were captured by Indians about eight months ago, and have not been heard from .... Many instances of the same kind could be given but we deem them unnecessary. Now we appeal to you as representatives of the people to legislate in our behalf as you think best and the emergency requires .... This we and if granted will ever may ... July 27, 1866.

Since writing the above the Indians have come within one mile of Decatur and stole and drove off 211 horses.

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The immediate effect of this request for legislative action is unknown to me, but it may have hastened the stationing of more soldiers at Jacksboro, and the formal installation of Fort Richardson in 1867.

Should someone have more detail, correction, or perspective to add, such would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Holly
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: The Agony of the Frontier Tue 30 Oct 2007, 3:16 pm

Egads Holly. I cna't imagine raising a family that way. I'd have been one of the leavers for sure.

Madelyn