When the Old World Settlers first started occupying Texas, the Caddo
Indians were known as one of the "civilized tribes" by virtue of their
quick assimilation of Anglo ways. They quickly adopted the whites
clothes, religion, language and learned the use of old world weapons
(guns). They were easily recognized by their distinctive hairstyles and
were highly regarded as cavalry scouts and fighters. They quickly earned
the reputation as being a tribe "whose race and history are synonyms of
courage and fidelity." It was a Caddoan who on October 1, 1858, during a
fierce battle between Indian troops under the command of Sul Ross and
Comanches, recaptured a young Anglo girl who was with the Comanches. The
Caddoan miraculously kept her safe through out the battle. Her parents
could never be found so the little 8 year old girl, later named Lizzie
Ross, was adopted and raised by Sul and his wife.
Caddo Indians could also, if fighting against the settlers, prove to be
inventive advisories. In the spring of 1843, a group of Caddo Indians was
attempting to steal a herd of horses from "Moore's Prairie," about 12 miles
south of Austin, Texas. They were on foot when a group of settlers,
including the son of the owner of the horses, attempted to capture them.
As they rode down upon the rustlers, the Indians began to stroke their bow
strings with their arrows, producing a noise that was described as "a
hybrid between the caterwauling of half a dozen tom cats and the yelping of
as many coyotes."
This sound so spooked the rider's horses that they retreated in panic. It
took the horsemen almost a mile to regain control of their mounts. This
defense tactic was used by the Caddoans three times and it kept the settlers
at bay long enough for the Indians to reach the deep woods and escape.
For more details on these and other Indian attacks, please refer to:
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