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Capture of Bud Davis

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.

Wise County, Texas

    About 1870, Mike Davis sent his son, Bud Davis, about 10 yards west of the house, to bring in a staked pony. The Indians captured Bud Davis, and took him and his horse away. About three miles further north, the savages attempted to catch Bud Sloner's horse, but being unsuccessful made Bud Davis unhobble and capture them. The horses were afraid of the Indians, but not the white boy.

    In a short time, citizens were on the Indians trail. When they reached East Mounds, about five miles south of Bridgeport, in Wise County, they came upon the savages, butchering a beef. The Indians ran, and when they reached the West Fork of the Trinity, it was up. The Indians crossed, but here the citizens turned back. Bud Davis was taken to Fort Sill, and when his presence was known among the Indians, the officers demanded his surrender. So the savages brought him in, and said, "We were in Texas, and this pale face boy followed us off." Bud Davis was only gone about one month, and returned home with some teamsters.

    Note: Author personally interviewed: Dole Miller, a neighbor of Mike Davis at the time; and several others.

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

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