The Texans were unaware how much their war with Mexico affected the Plains Indians. As the war ended with Mexico an unofficial war with the Plains Indians began. Texas land was extremely cheap and any man who fought in the Revolution received free land. During the war the newly formed Texas Rangers attacked Indian villages killing women and children and the Commanche did the same.
Still the Texans were advancing on Indian lands at an unprecedented rate including the land belonging to the Penateka Comanche which included the land around what is now Burnet Texas.
This was where a wealthy Virginian John Webster had purchased a large tract of land and where he intended to settle. Aware of the potential dangers he brought with him 12 armed and mounted men to accompany his wife, 8-year-old son Booker and 3-year-old daughter Martha Virginia.
The attack on Webster’s group was well planned. For days the Penateka scouts tracked the group, waiting for them to enter the small narrow prairie where the attack would take place.
THE PROGRESSION OF THIS BATTLE FROM THE WEBSTER PERSPECTIVE:
At sunset on August 28, 1839, by accident 2 men in Webster’s party spotted a large group of Commanche. The settlers had a conversation and went over their options and made the decision to retreat.
They retrace their path backwards.
It was 4 days after the full moon, so they had good lighting.
When they made it to the San Gabriel River they stopped.
Crossing the river at night was not an option.
The children slept, everyone else was wide awake and terrified.
After the moon set this anxiety increased as it became pitch black
Mr Webster sensing the fate of the group made the statement “the pain of death is but little to those willing to die.”
When the sun had barely risen, they crossed the river.
They traveled as fast as they could for 2-hours until they entered a narrow prairie.
That was when approximately 16 Comanche appeared behind them.
With sounds of the Comanche war cry they began shooting at the Webster party.
The men in the Webster party were on horseback and returned fire and ran toward the Comanche.
2 of the Comanche were shot and fell from their horses. Luzena with Webster’s party had a musket ball graze his head and his horse was shot.
The Webster party then hurried toward a creek that they intended to cross thinking the dense thicket would give shelter.
But the Commanche were already in the creek bed and the Webster party was surrounded.
The wagons were brought together for shelter.
The Commanche way of warfare was to advance rapidly toward their foe shooting guns, arrows and shouting and then retreating.
The first of the Webster Party to fall was Luzena, who already had a head injury. During the fight he stood staring, not moving and then suddenly started running straight toward the Comanche and into the battle dying quickly.
The next to fall was Perry Reese. As he was recharging his gun he was shot through his chest with an arrow which then went through the fleshy part of Booker’s arm. He had been lively and encouraging lifting the group’s spirits as he had experience battling Indians and felt hopeful.
(At this point 8 Commanche were dead and within 50 yards of the wagons)
Each man perished in this order:
John Webster was shot through the chest with an arrow dying immediately.
Nicholas Baylor
Mr. Bazley was a stout educated man from Scotland and never discharged the gun he was holding.
James Martin was shot in the shoulder soon after the battle began and shot with his other hand.
William Reese
This is when hand to hand combat began.
Nelson Flesher ( Dolly’s nephew) was shot through the thigh with an arrow and as the Commanche closed in, used the butt of his gun to fight them off but was felled by many arrows. As was the fate of:
John Stillwell
Albert Silsbey
Milton Hicks
The last, Nelson, a slave who was not familiar with guns and so never shot his gun. After the battle ended, he had been shot through the thigh. He begged for his life but due to the extent of his wounds was shot.
In Dolly’s account a man named Houston died during the hand-to-hand combat. This could have been William Rice or Martin Watson because she does not mention either and they were part of the group. She mentions that Bazley was from England but was probably Martin Watson who was most likely from Scotland.
Martha Virginia screamed the whole time.
Booker made not a sound.
A total of 15 Comanche lost their lives in the Battle and 2 on the way back to their encampment. 14 in Webster’s party met the same fate.
Resources:” A Narrative of the Captivity of Dolly Webster” by Dr. Benjamin Dolbear 1843, Paper published by W W Makemson “ Historical Sketch of the First Settlement of Williamson County” 1904, “Recollections of Early Texas” by John H Jenkins edited and published by his son, “Indian Depredations in Texas by J W Wilbarger” 1889.
