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139 The key Indian agent in Texas from the U.S., Pierce Butler, had more resources and thus more negotiating power than Sam Houston's appointed agents. He found the Indians receptive when he called for a meeting of all Plains Indians to be held at Cache Creek of the Red River in December 1843. Butler arrived with an escort of 30 U.S. dragoons and a large store of gifts.1 Butler spent 18 days with the Comanches and their associate tribes speaking of peace. He advised his superiors that the Indians would eventually need help in surviving as game became more scarce for hunting and the better farmlands were taken over by the Anglo Texas settlers. Butler took great interest in documenting the demographics of the Indian tribes he met with. In his report of January 31, 1844, Butler counted 1,500 people in the two main Wichita towns on the upper Trinity River. He found that another 500 or 600 lived in two Wichita communities near the Wichita mountains. Chief Jose Maria's Caddos had largely moved to the upper Trinity River, while some remained on the Brazos. Butler estimated the total population of southern Comanche tribes at 15,000 people, spread widely from Texas to the plains.2 The efforts of the Texas commissioners continued into the spring of 1844. Sam Houston built a permanent peace council house on Tawakoni Creek—complete with an apartment for his visits—and stocked it with corn. The most significant council occurred in April 1844, when some 500 Indians appeared at Chapter 8 The Deadly Colts on Walker's Creek January–June, 1844 Tawakoni Creek's council house. The group consisted primarily of Delawares, Shawnees, Wichitas and Caddos. Texas commissioners James C. Neill, Leonard H. Williams, Benjamin Sloat and Thomas G. Western distributed goods and spoke of peace with the two prominent Indian speakers, St. Louis of the Delawares and Caddo Chief Bintah.3 Caddo chiefs Red Bear and Jose Maria made speeches, as did Chief Kechikaroqua, who spoke for the upper Trinity River Tawakoni Wichitas. The key point of discussion during April and May was the creation of a boundary line to run from the old Waco town north to the Red River, splitting the upper and lower Cross Timbers. The proposed line would pass just west of Bird's Fort, the westernmost Texas settlement. Chief Kechikaroqua insisted that President Houston should be present for the negotiations before he would agree to any such measure. The Caddos accused the Wichitas of stealing and raiding, further breaking down negotiations during late May.4 Sam Houston sent John Connor and Louis Sanchez to the Penateka camp on the upper Colorado River in May 1844, to discuss the proposed boundary line. In spite of talks that promised hope of an agreement, Connor and Sanchez's efforts stalled when dangerous news arrived in June. Captain Jack Hays' rangers had fought a battle with Comanches and the uneasiness in the wake of this fight would cause peace talks to halt until the fall.5      Jack Hays' 1844 Ranging Company The newly seated Eighth Congress of the Republic of Texas passed a joint resolution on December 19, 1843, to cover the wages and "liabilities that have been created for the support" of Captain Hays' rangers during the year. The sum of $6,450 was dispensed to Hays for distribution to the men and the merchants who had supplied his company.6 When Jack Hays left Seguin on New Year's Eve 1843, he rode on horseback for the temporary Texas capital at Washington-onthe -Brazos. He was accompanied by congressman Frank Paschal, congressman George Howard, William Cooke and Antonio Menchaca. This party arrived on January 4 and was invited to chat with President Houston.7 140 SAVAGE FRONTIER 141 The Deadly Colts on Walker's Creek Hays informed Houston that four companies of Cherokees from the United States had visited General Woll at San Ferndando, across the Rio Grande. He had received the intelligence from Mexican traders, who indicated that Manuel Flores may have instigated the action.8 Sam Houston listened to the veteran Texas Rangers' ideas on how to maintain order on the southwestern prairies and pledged to work on legislation with his Congress. The friendship of the Texas president with Hays' father no doubt continued to work in his favor, as the Eighth Texas Congress passed an act for the protection of the southwestern and western frontiers on January 23, 1844. John C...

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