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Indian Fight About Nine Miles Southwest of Bertram in 1862

Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Burnet County, Texas

    After following an Indian trail for about eight miles during 1862, Capt. John Barton, Newton Murphy, Jesse Calvert, Wm. Allen and approximately four more were eating their lunch, when, to their surprise, fifteen savages began circling around them and discharging their arrows. When Newton Murphy advanced to make a charge against the Indians, he received a severe wound in one of his lower limbs. Jesse Calvert was also slightly wounded.

    Capt. Barton singled out the Indian chief and when the Capt. fired his muzzle loaded shotgun, feathers were seen to fly. The other Indians came and carried the chief away. After the chieftain was shot, the savages retreated from the field. It became necessary to amputate New Murphy's wounded limb. But this did not save him, for he died about the second day after the battle.

    Note: Author personally interviewed Allen Ater, J.F. Ater and others who were living in Burnet County at the time or shortly afterwards.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.

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