Country-Fried BULL

The four men weren't the best and they probably weren't the worst, but they were Texas Rangers, and that said a lot back in 1844. Some of our modern western writers are criticized for painting their characters "bigger than life" and "tougher than possible." Believe me, these four put most modern book heroes to shame.

In 1844, Texas was a republic seeking admission to the United States, but still fighting its own battles on the frontier. President Sam Houston had effectively disbanded most of the Texas Army shortly after independence. It was filled with troublesome people and was far too expensive for the Republic to maintain. Instead, the new nation depended on "ranging companies" of men. The president would appoint a captain and he, in turn, would select appropriate citizens to solve certain problems.

Ranger Captain John Coffee "Captain Jack" Hays picked his men in San Antonio and sent them west. Kit Ackland, Rufus Perry, James "Red" Dunn, and John Carlin were to scout the area west of San Antonio for about one hundred miles to where Uvalde is today and then turn north into the canyons of the Nueces. It was August and there were rumors that the Comanches were on the move.

Now, that part of Texas is rough. It always has been and always will be. US 90 will take you through there today in a couple of hours but in 1844 it meant about a week of dry rocks, brush and thorns - and in August, it was H-O-T.

Without incident the four rangers reached the canyons of the Nueces one day about noon. So far, there had been no sign of the reported Comanches. The big cottonwoods along the river were shady, and the water was cool. After lunch, Ackland decided to take a nap and, while Perry stood guard, Dunn and Carlin left the saddles and all of their gear (including their clothes) on the bank and took the horses for a swim in the river. No one saw the Comanches until they rode out of a gully next to the camp.

In the first flight of arrows, Perry fell with two through his body and one through his face. Ackland, roused from his nap, returned fire but also fell with two arrows in his body and one through his mouth which knocked out several teeth and tore through part of his tongue. Dunn and Carlin didn't have a chance. They were stuck in the middle of the river with the horses. Seeing their comrades filled with arrows and with nothing between them and the Indians but a wet skin, they both jumped on one horse and headed into the brush in the general direction of San Antonio, some 120 miles away. ing with glee, the Comanches followed in hot pursuit.

Today, those who ride those limestone and cedar covered ridges wear heavy jackets and chaps. They don't call them "bush poppers" for nothing. Dunn and Carlin didn't have a stitch, much less a saddle. Now folks, that is really bare backed riding. They couldn't move into open country. Only the thickets would hide them from the Comanches. And, they had to keep moving. Ride through the brush and you leave a trail. But, ride through the brush they did, all 120 miles of it. By the time they reached San Antonio they both looked like slightly underdone hamburger. there they made their report. The rumor was true, the Comanches were on the move. Their comrades were dead.

Well, like the stories say, "Meanwhile, back at the camp - -", Perry and Ackland looked like a pair of road kill porcupines. The Comanches were off playing hide-and-seek with Dunn and Carlin in the brush. Perry was too weak to move so Ackland, arrows and all, picked him up and carried him to the river. they knew that the Comanches would soon be back and their only chance was to hide well enough so that they wouldn't be found. Since both were leaving a blood trail that wouldn't be easy. The cool water revived them somewhat and, as they drifted downstream, they came to an area where flash floods over the years had deposited several acres of dead trees and brush. Places like that are prime habitat for snakes and other assorted forms of unfriendly wildlife. Normally, neither man (being normally prudent about such things) would have ventured into it on a bet. But, in a choice between snakes and losing your hair, the snakes win every time. Although it was hard for him to talk, Ackland let Perry know that he would try to hide him in the mess and then try to hide himself. After the Comanches left, he said, he would come out and decide what to do. With a strength and fortitude that some folks write about, he was as good as his word. Perry was hidden beneath a variety of branches, tree trunks and shed snake skins and then Ackland disappeared to find his own hidey hole.

The Comanches came back, and stayed for two days looking. Both men reported later that they heard the Comanches walking above their hiding places but they were not found.

Time flies when you're having fun. For Perry and Ackland, it stood still. Loss of blood from their wounds, exposure and lack of food and water took their toll. Perry came to in the dark and unable to see because of the blood dried over his eyes. By sound he pulled himself out of his hiding place and crawled to the river where he drank the first water in two and one half days and washed the blood from his face so that he could see. Not knowing where Ackland had hidden, whether or not he had been found by the Comanches, and afread to call out for fear of attracting unwanted attention, he began his long dry walking and crawling trip back to San Antonio.

Ackland emerged from his lair like a battered groundhog only to find Perry missing. He was certainly in no better shape than Perryand his swollen tongue made it difficult to breathe. When he found Perry gone, he assumed the worst and he, too, started for San Antonio afoot.

They never saw each other, nor did they see their brother rangers dispatched to find and bury their bodies. Six dry, hot days and 120 miles later they both staggered into San Antonio within two hours of each other - Perry first and Ackland second. Their wounds were festered and their faces so swollen and disfigured that their messmates didn't recognize them, but they were alive, and they had their hair.

Now, the next time you question the exploits of some fictional character, remember the bare-backed riders and those who walked and crawled. All four lived to fight other battles and serve under other flags. But, in 1844, they served Texas.

From Legendary Texas, Volume 1, Unsung Heritage, by Jeff Carroll
jcarroll@acmail.blinncol.edu
To find our more visit Amazon.Com and "search" for Jeff Carroll.

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