1840 — March 19, Council House fight, Comanche peace party (35), San Antonio, TX– 42

–42  McLeod, Col. Hugh. Letter from…communicating…defeat…Comanches, 3-20-1840.[1]

–35  Comanche

–30  men

—  3  women

—  2  children

—  7  Whites.

–42  TX St. Library & Archives. Indian Relations in [TX]. “…Comanche War.” 10-31-2011.[2]

–35  Schilz. “Council House Fight.” Handbook of Texas Online. TX State Hist. Assc. 6-12-2010

–17  Erwin, Will. Texas State Cemetery (website) “The Council House Fight.”[3]

 

Narrative Information

 

Erwin: “…in San Antonio in March of 1840…group of Penateka Comanche entered the city and sued for peace…. All the frontier Texan experiences with the Comanche were distilled into hate, virulent, racist hate. Things were never civil between the two groups, but the Comanche sought peace in 1840. It’s unclear exactly why the Comanche sued for peace at San Antonio, some accounts say the Penatekas suffered from a smallpox epidemic while others say they were protecting their southern flank in a war against the Cheyenne and the Arapaho. Either way, the Texans demanded the Comanche bring in all white prisoners in preliminary talks before any negotiation could happen. However, when the Comanche showed up the day of the “Council House[4] Fight”, they only had one hostage, Matilda Lockhart. Sixty-five Comanche showed to the meeting, thirteen chiefs and their households….

 

“Things went downhill almost as soon as the Comanche showed up. The Texans saw only Matilda Lockhart, a sixteen-year-old girl who’d been taken with her sister two years earlier. They expected many more prisoners. In addition, Matilda Lockhart was in bad shape. She was covered in burns and bruises and her nose was almost entirely burned off. The Texans were outraged and demanded more prisoners. What the Texans did not understand is that the Comanche were not a single nation with a “head chief.” Chiefs were the heads of their own bands and there were many bands. The chiefs at the council house were only responsible for their bands and could not make promises for other chiefs. They tried to explain this, but it was lost in translation. The chiefs were taken into the council house and informed they were hostages until more prisoners were brought in. At first, the translator refused to relay the order. He finally did, but fled immediately after. The chiefs and their guard drew their weapons and the Texans opened fire. It was a massacre. In the end, all the chiefs save one were dead along with five women and children. This was high treachery from the Comanche point of view, emissaries and ambassadors were untouchable. While there was little trust between the two groups before, there could be none now….”

 

McLeod: “To His Excellency, Mirabeau B. Lamar:  Sir: — On yesterday morning, the 19^th inst., two runners cane into town and announced the arrival of the Comanches, who, about a month since, held a talk at this place, and promised to bring in the Texian prisoners in their camp. The party consisted of sixty-five — men, women and children. — The runners also informed us, that they had with them but one prisoner, (the daughter of Mr. Lockhart.)

 

“They came to town. The little girl was very intelligent, and told us that she had seen several of the other prisoners at the principal camp a few days before she left; and that they brought her in, to see if they could get a high price for her; and if so, intended to bring in the rest, one at a time.

“Having ascertained this, it became necessary to execute your orders and take hostages for the safe return of our own people; and the order was accordingly given by Col. William G. Cooke, Acting Secretary of War.

 

“Lieut.-Col. Fisher, first infantry, was ordered to march up two companies of his command, and post them in the immediate vicinity of the council-room. The Chiefs were then called together, and were asked: ‘Where are the prisoners you promised to bring in to this talk?’ Muke-war-rah, the Chief who held the last talk with us, and made the promise, replied: ‘We have brought in the only one we had; the others are with other tribes.’…. (p. 136)

 

“The order was now given to march one company into the council-room, and the other in the rear of the building, where the warriors were assembled. During the execution of this order, the talk was re-opened, and the terms of a treaty, directed by your Excellency to be made with them, in case the prisoners were restored, were discussed; and they were told the treaty would be made, when they brought in the prisoners. They acknowledged that they had violated all their previous treaties, and yet tauntingly demanded that new confidence should be reposed in another promise to bring in the prisoners.

 

“The troops being now posted, the Chiefs and Captains were told that they were our prisoners, and would be kept as hostages for the safety of our people, then in their hands; and they might send their young men to the tribe, and as soon as our friends were restored, they should be liberated.

 

“Captain Howard, whose company was stationed in the council-house, posted sentinels at the doors, and drew up his men across he room. We told the Chiefs, that the soldiers they saw were their guards, and descended from the platform. The Chiefs immediately followed. One sprang to the back door, and attempted to pass the sentinel, who presented his musket, when the Chief drew his knife and stabbed him. A rush was then made to the door. Captain Howard collared one of them and received a severe stab from him in the side. He ordered the sentinel to fire upon him, which he immediately did, and the Indian fell dead. They now all drew their knives and bows, and evidently resolved to fight to the last. Colonel Fisher ordered, ‘fire, if they do not desist.’ The Indians rushed on, attacked us desperately, and a general order to fire became necessary. The Chiefs in the council-house, twelve in number, were immediately shot….

 

“Captain Redd, whose company was formed in rear of the council-house, was attacked by the warriors in the yard, who [end of p. 137] fought with desperation. They were repulsed, and driven into the stone houses, from which they kept up a falling fire with their bows and a few rifles….

 

“A small party succeeded in breaking through, and gained the opposite bank of the river, but were pursued by Colonel Wells, with a party of mounted men, and all killed but one (a renegade Mexican.)

 

“A single warrior, who threw himself into a very strong stone house, refused every offer of his life, sent to him through the squaws, and after killing and wounding several of our men, was forced out by fire, late at night, and fell as he passed the door….

 

“Our loss was as follows:…Total killed, seven[5]….

 

“The loss of the enemy was total, with the exception of the renegade Mexican, above mentioned, thirty-five killed, including three women and two children, and twenty-seven women and children, and two old men captured…. [p. 138]

 

“At the request of all the prisoners, a squaw has been liberated, and well mounted, to go to the main tribe, and tell them we are willing to exchange prisoners. She promises to return in four days, with our captive friends; and Col. Cooke and myself will wait here until her return….” (p. 139)

 

(McLeod, Col. H., Adjutant and Inspector-General. Pages 136-139 in Appendix to the Journals to the House of Representatives, Fifth Congress. Archives and Information Services Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission.)

 

Schilz: “….When Comanche peace representatives arrived at San Antonio in January 1840, commissioners of the Texas government demanded the return of all captives held by the Penatekas. In addition, Texas officials insisted that the Comanches abandon Central Texas, cease interfering with Texan incursions, and avoid all white settlements.

 

“In response to the Texans, thirty-three Penateka chiefs and warriors, accompanied by thirty-two other Comanches, arrived in San Antonio on March 19, 1840. The prominent peace chief Muk-wah-ruh headed the delegation, which brought only a few prisoners, namely several Mexican children and Matilda Lockhart, a sixteen-year-old white girl. Matilda, who had been captured with her sister in 1838, claimed that her captors had physically and sexually abused her. Burn scars, coupled with the mutilation of her nose, supported her stories. She also said that fifteen other captives remained in Comanche hands and that the tribe’s leaders intended to ransom these hostages one at a time…

 

“When Texan commissioners demanded the release of the other captives Matilda had mentioned, Muk-wah-ruh replied that these prisoners were held by Comanche bands beyond his authority. Failing to comprehend the diffuse nature of Comanche political authority, the commissioners rejected the chief’s explanation. Texas soldiers entered the Council House, where the peace talks were being held, and the commissioners informed the assembled chiefs that they were to be held as hostages until the remaining captives were released. In response to these threats, the Comanche chiefs attempted to escape and called to their fellow tribesmen outside the house for help. In the ensuing melee, Texans attacked several Indians while soldiers killed most of the Comanches who remained in the Council House courtyard. A single Comanche woman was freed by Texas authorities and ordered to secure the release of the white captives in exchange for twenty-seven Comanches captured in the fight. The Penateka leaders refused to respond to Texas demands, and most of the Texans’ captives escaped.

 

“The Council House Fight outraged Comanche sensibilities, for they considered ambassadors immune from acts of war. Led by Buffalo Hump, the Penatekas retaliated by raiding deep into Texas. Comanche hatred of Texans, who were regarded as treacherous, continued throughout the warfare era and contributed much to the violence of the frontier.”[6]

 

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: “The Comanches had commanded the high plains of Central and West Texas for more than a century and waged continuous warfare against white encroachment. President Lamar was determined to end the Comanche menace and clear the way for safe white settlement on the edges of the Texas frontier.

 

“In early 1840, one band of the Comanches, the Penatekas, found themselves dealing with a smallpox epidemic, Texas Rangers, and war with the Cheyennes and Arapahos. At the urging of Colonel Henry W. Karnes, this band traveled to San Antonio to meet with commissioners of the Texas government to negotiate a peace settlement and the return of white captives. Unknown to the Comanches, the Texans had arranged to have a large force present at the meeting. If the Comanches balked at returning the kidnapped whites, this force would seize the Comanches and hold them hostage.

 

“On March 19, 1840, the Comanches arrived at the meeting with only a few of the prisoners, including Matilda Lockhart, a 16-year-old who bore obvious signs of torture and mutilation. Angered at the treatment of the girl and what they perceived to be deliberate cruelty by the Comanches in failing to bring the rest of the captives, Texas soldiers entered the Council House to arrest the Indians. The Comanches immediately called for reinforcements from outside the house. A fight broke out in which seven Texans and thirty-five Comanches, including twelve chiefs, were killed, and thirty Comanche women and children were taken prisoner.

 

“The Comanches believed they had been deliberately lured into an ambush and planned a revenge campaign of unprecedented scale. In August 1840, with Mexican and Kiowa support, about 500 Comanche warriors and an equal number of women and children followed Chief Buffalo Hump down the Guadalupe Valley near Gonzales. On August 6, the raiders struck Victoria and captured more than 1500 horses. On August 8, they attacked the small port of Linnville. Most of the citizens fled by boat into the bay and watched helplessly as the Indians plundered homes and businesses, slaughtered the livestock, and burned the town. In all, fourteen whites, eight blacks, and one Tejano were killed in the raids….” (Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Indian Relations in Texas. “The Comanche War.” 10-31-2011 mod.)

 

Sources

 

Erwin, Will. Texas State Cemetery (website) “The Council House Fight.” Accessed 2-26-2015 at: http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/news.asp?newsid=9255

 

Hesskew, William Alexander. “The Council House Fight.” Transcription from The Indian Wars of Texas by Mildred P. Mayhall (Waco: Texian, 1965). Accessed 2-26-2015 at: http://jack0204.tripod.com/gen/Heskew/council.htm

 

McLeod, Col. Hugh. “Letter from Col. Hugh McLeod, communicating the defeat of the Comanches at San Antonio, March 20, 1840.” [To His Excellency, Mirabeau B. Lamar, President of Texas]. Photocopied in Indian Relations in Texas (website). Texas State Library and Archives Commission, (4 pages). Accessed 2-26-2015 at: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/indian/war/mcleod-mar1840-1.html

 

Schilz, Jodye Lynn Dickson. “Council House Fight.” Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Uploaded 6-12-2010. Accessed 2-26-2015 at: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/btc01

 

Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Indian Relations in Texas (website). “The Comanche War.” 10-31-2011 modification. Accessed 2-26-2015 at: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/indian/war/page2.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] McLeod report notes 35 Comanche and seven soldiers.

[2] Thirty-five Comanche and seven Texans.

[3] The number of seventeen deaths apparently refers only to those killed inside the Council House, not those outside.

[4] Council House was name for the court house.

[5] Apparently not all seven whites were killed by the Comanches. In The Indian Wars of Texas, by Mildred P. Mayhall, it is written that “The soldiers fired into the crowd and killed both Indians and whites.” Transcription by William Alexander Hesskew whose ancestor, Moses Hesskew, married Levicy Higgenbotham whose husband was killed that day.

[6] Cites: John Holland Jenkins, Recollections of Early Texas, ed. John H. Jenkins III (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1958; rpt. 1973). Noah Smithwick, The Evolution of a State, or Recollections of Old Texas Days (Austin: Gammel, 1900; rpt., Austin: University of Texas Press, 1983). Walter Prescott Webb, The Texas Rangers (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1935; rpt., Austin: University of Texas Press, 1982).