Palo Pinto County, Texas
Capt. J.H. DillahuntyNear the close of the Civil War, and about 1864, F.C. Ham, Dick Evans, Bill Low, Ryan Herrington, Bryant Herrington, Spruell and three or four others, belonging to Capt. J.H. Dillahunty's company, and commanded by J.W. Sheek, were returning from a scouting expedition, and had stopped to warm near a fire, about three miles northeast of old Black Springs in Palo Pinto County. The two Herrington brothers, Spruell, and Bill Low, left the crowd and started home. But they had only gone about 600 yards when several Indians charged upon them. The rangers retreated back to the fire where their comrades were still warming. Here the savages whirled their horses and went about one mile south, where they were overtaken. A running fight followed and the citizens rescued a number of stolen horses.
School was in session at Old Black Springs, and the pupils could plainly hear the firing.
Note: Author interviewed Martin Lane, and A.M. Lasater, who heard the firing and who were attending school at Black Springs at the time.
The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.