June 24, 1863, Galveston Weekly News
Columbus, Texas, June 14, 1863.
Ed News.–Dear sir: I am requested to send to you for publication, the following extract from a letter received by a soldier in the hospital at this place, from his wife. The soldier is a resident of Johnson county–belongs to Col. Baylor’s Regiment, and having left his home and family to fight for his country, it is natural to suppose he would expect that country to extend to his family all the protection it was able to render.
The following is the substance of what she writes: “The Indians are very bad here–worse than they have ever been before. I think ere long they will take and kill the last horse in the settlement. They have been here constantly for the last six weeks, leaving yesterday, and taking off ten head of our horses and a number of the neighbors. They have killed and taken from us every horse we have, except one. The neighbors who have horses left are taking them across the Brazos river for safety.
“Nathan Holt was barbarously murdered and scalped by the Indians, while driving a cow and calf home in day time. Tom Hill, your brother soldier, was shot and scalped by the barbarians. I am afraid to live in this county any longer. I will go to father’s if possible. Many are leaving. Your wife,
Lucy Dennis.”