In September 1846, fifty families settled at Vandenburgh on Verde Creek, about five miles west of Quihi 9, and in February 1847, twenty-nine families settled at D’Hanis, 25 miles west of Castroville. On July 31, 1846, Captain John Conner’s ranging company was stationed on the Medina River above Castroville to prevent further incidents. Unfortunately, in 1846, Texan freighters killed several Comanche Indians at Quihi Lake, and the Indians retaliated by attacking Castro’s settlers. 8 Henri Castro, the impresario (land contractor), had an agreement with the Southern Comanche that provided a basis for peaceful relations between his settlers and the Indians. 7 Nevertheless, a week after the settlers arrived at Quihi Lake, Lipan Apache men killed the Brinkhoff family and kidnapped two boys. 6 Luckily, the immigrants were destitute and had no horses or mules to tempt the Indian raiders.

However, they did occupy land around Quihi Lake that was previously used as an Indian campground. The European settlers at Quihi Lake were not armed and did nothing to threaten the Indians. 5 Settlers west of Castroville had troubles with Indians. However, when the Mexican War began, Hays and most other Indian fighters left for the War their departure left the frontier settlements unprotected. 4 Until 1846, Hays and his company of rangers protected Castro’s Colony. 3 Indian incursions south and east of Indian trails between Las Moras Creek and the Leona River were frequent until about 1857.

All were in constant conflict with hostile Native Americans. Before February 1843, there were no Anglo settlements west of San Pedro Creek (on San Antonio’s west side today), but between 18, fifteen small settlements were established west of the Medina River. They surmised that it was, “a large Comanche warpath which filled us with much astonishment, close together, 25 deep worn and much-used trails made a great road, which told us that this was a highway by which each year the Comanche of the North desolate Durango and Chihuahua.” 2ĭuring this turbulent period, the line of settlement in south Texas continued to move westward. 1 In 1849, when a survey party led by Captain Whiting reached the Pecos River, they were surprised to find a heavily used trail between Buffalo Gap and Comanche Springs. Northern Comanche raiders stole an estimated 10,000 horses and mules from the states of Durango and Chihuahua during the winter of 1845-1846. The frequency and intensity of Native American raids into Texas and northern Mexico seemed to increase during the Mexican War. Indian raids into Texas and northern Mexico continued during the Mexican War. This exaggerated, but mostly accurate, portrayal of an early Texas Ranger first appeared in Harper’s Weekly on July 6, 1861.Ĭourtesy of The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin, Texas.

A Texas Pioneer by August Santleben