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Captain Lynch Killed in Lampasas County

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.

Lampasas County, Texas

    In 1838 a party of surveyors and others under the leadership of Captain Lynch pitched their camp between Salt and Cherokee Creeks in the present county of Lampasas. Twenty-five men composed the party. Work progressed rapidly and game was found in abundance. But just at the critical hour when the men were breaking camp to return to their homes, they were unexpectedly surprised by forty Indians. Since most of the surveying party were experienced frontiersmen and veteran Indian fighters, order was soon restored and the Indians forced to retreat. The white men immediately reloaded their rifles, preparatory for another attack, which soon came. But again the Indians were repulsed. Again and again they charged, and discharged their shower of arrows, but after fighting for nearly an hour and losing several of their warriors, the Comanches craved no more fighting and made a final retreat. The Texans also suffered a severe loss. Captain Lynch, during the thickest of fighting, was instantly killed on the battle ground.

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

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