Indians a threat to early settlers

He was working in the field this bright Spring day of 1835, just south of the creek below the cabin, when he smelled them. He had been pulling up tree stumps with the oxen, and he noticed the team started acting restless and uneasy, almost skittish. And, then he turned his head, just slightly, and caught the breeze. He smelled them. Indians. He could not see them in the brush at the edge of the clearing, but he knew they were there. It was either Indians, or it might be a bear, He was betting it was Indians. They would rub the bear fat or grease on them in the Spring to keep away the insects and mosquitoes. Years of following this practice caused the bear grease odor to permeate the skin of the Indian. It was a powerful aroma never to be forgotten once experienced, and now his sense of smell was telling him at least one Indian, maybe more, was watching him as he worked in the field.
The fact that Indians were in this part of Texas had not been a surprise to him or the other colonists who settled Gonzales and Green DeWitt’s Colony. When Green DeWitt started advertising his colony back in Missouri in 1825, and in other states such as Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky, he told everyone of the land that was available, but he also spoke of the presence of the Indians. He said the Indians would have to be dealt with. No one thought much about that, because there were Indians all over Missouri, and everyone got along just fine. But, when the settlers arrived in Gonzales and Green DeWitt’s Colony, they learned the Indians here were different.
The first houses in the Town of Gonzales were built on Kerr Creek just east of the present downtown Gonzales on East Avenue. This first settlement was burned by the Indians in the summer of 1825, with one settler killed and others injured. Later, a log fort was built in Gonzales, in which the colonists would stay at night. They would go out to their tracts of land and work them during the day, returning again to the fort in Gonzales at night. As more people came to Gonzales, the colonists became more bold and secure, and built cabins and sheds on their places. But, the Indians remained a threat to their safety.
In 1832, Green DeWitt asked for and received a cannon from the Mexican Government to be used to protect the Town of Gonzales from the Indians. While the firing of the cannon seemed to keep the Indians from attacking the town, the colonists who had chosen to live away from settled areas were subjected to harassment by the Indians, and were definitely exposed to the dangers that came with living away from populated areas of the colony.
Stalking and stealing the livestock of the settlers was an activity the Indians practiced on a regular basis; and children, too. The Indians would steal the children. They turned them into slaves. Our first citizens lived with great awareness of the perils of being in this place called Texas, and the dangers brought into their lives by the Indians.
Instant fear and concern for his wife and baby daughter rushed through his mind as he stood there in the field knowing the Indians were watching him. Was this a large war party, or just a few Indian braves? Had they already been to his cabin, killed and scalped his wife? Stolen his baby girl? Taken his milk cow and food?
What should he do? Should he continue to work as though the Indians were not there, and maybe they would spare him? But, had they gone to the cabin first? Surely he would have heard their screams, and those of his wife. And the dog - wouldn’t the dog have barked?
His musket and knife were lying on his knapsack about ten feet behind where he was standing. Should he move slowly, almost casually, and pick up his musket? Maybe there was only one of them. Possibly having the musket in his hand would scare the Indian off. And, then he could hurry to the cabin, to his wife and baby girl. That is what he would do. Get his musket and knife. Let the Indian run away, and then he would head to the cabin.
But what he did not know, as he decided which action to take, was just as he started to turn toward his musket, the arrow released from the Indian’s bow had taken flight, and was on its path to his chest.
And that is part of our history, the history of Gonzales. Gonzales, Texas is the Birthplace of Your Texas Freedom.