Report of Captain George Crittenden Bittick, May 12, 1864, 3rd Frontier District, Texas State Troops

[*see note below]

Document

Report of Captain G. C. Bittick of Burnet County,

May 12

About the last of April/64, a party of Indians came in ___

the North part of Burnet County, not far off from the head

Waters of San Gabriel.  They drove out some horses (Number

unknown)  They also went to Lieut Sekfeel’s [?] place and

stole 2 horses from him in open daylight and killed an

other one near the house.  his wife saw them going off

with the Horses they had stolen.  As soon as I was informed

of the news I started a party of my men after them but

they made their escape.  On the 4^th of May Sergeant

Reeves of my Company with a party of men struck a trail

of about 20 head of Horses driven by the Indians on the

Head of deer Creek and the last I heard of them they

were still in close pursuit after the Indians with dogs

on the Trail.

            I certify that the foregoing is a correct Statement

of the Reports from Captains & Lieutenants commanding

Companies and Squads in my District.

Head Quarters

3^rd frontier District  T. S. T.                               James M. Hunter

Fredericksburg May 14, 1864                           Major Commanding 3^rd frontier Dist.

                                                                        Texas State Troops.

[This report was found in the basement of the Texas State Archives in a miscellaneous file of letters by Johnny M. & Janie Bittick.]

*Texas State Troops were precursors of the modern Texas Rangers.  During the Civil War, the Frontier Regiment (1861-1863) and the Frontier Organization (1863-1865) were organized to provide frontier defense.  Known as Texas State Troops, these companies of men were commanded by officers employed by the State of Texas and not part of the Confederate States Army.  (For additional information, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum:  http://www.texasranger.org/ReCenter/captains.doc )