Mercer's Gap

Fight Near Mercer's Gap in the Comanche/Brown County Territory

About 1861, J.H. Christman, T.D. Saunders, Ambrose Lathen and Pat Gallagher, who were on their way from Camp Colorado to Gatesville, met several Indians driving a caballada of stolen horses. The Indians were discovered at a point between Pecan Bayou and Blanket Creek in Brown County and not a great distance from Mercer's Gap. The Texans examined their arms and made ready for war. When the Indians were within one hundred yards, J.H. Christman, who led the small command, ordered his men to charge. As they advanced, the citizens continued to motion their hands as if calling others in the rear. This, of course, caused the Indians much consternation for they seldom fought when the citizens stood their ground. The Indians fled and were charged by the four citizens for a short distance. After gathering up the thirty-six head of horses, which had been stolen, the whites hurried on to the home of Jesse Mercer, which was in Comanche County. Here the horses were penned for the night and the following day driven to Hamilton and then to Gatesville.

Note: The author personally interviewed Dave Cunningham and Mrs. Joel Nabors and others who were living in Brown and Comanche County at the time.

Further Ref.: Wilbarger's, Indian Depredations in Texas.

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