After following an Indian trail for about eight miles during 1862, Capt. John Barton, Newton Murphy, Jesse Calvert, Wm. Allen and approximately four more were eating their lunch, when, to their surprise, fifteen savages began circling around them and discharging their arrows. When Newton Murphy advanced to make a charge against the Indians, he received a severe wound in one of his lower limbs. Jesse Calvert was also slightly wounded. Capt. Barton singled out the Indian chief and when the Capt. fired his muzzle loaded shotgun, feathers were seen to fly. The other Indians came and carried the chief away. After the chieftain was shot, the savages retreated from the field. It became necessary to amputate New Murphy's wounded limb. But this did not save him, for he died about the second day after the battle. Note: Author personally interviewed Allen Ater, J.F. Ater and others who were living in Burnet County at the time or shortly afterwards. The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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