W.G. Freeman's Inspection of Fort Worth, September 7, 1853

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Colonel W.G. Freeman, inspection report of Fort Worth, 1853

96.

except a small party of Caddoes and Ionies. About 100
of these tribes live with their chief, José Maria, on the Bra-
zos, 35 miles from Fort Graham, and 60 miles from Fort Worth.
In connection with this subject, Bvt. Maj. Merrill, who has
spent a number of years in Texas and has had excellent
opportunities of ___[?] and information, furnished me with
a statement of the number of Indians visiting in the State
and also of those who occasionally came within its limits to
buy or steal. A copy of Maj. Merrill’s statement, marked Z,
is appended to this report. It will be perceived he puts
down the whole number of Indians living in Texas at 1,570
of whom 250 are warriors, and the other class at 680, making
a total of 2,250 men, women and children.

The garrison of Fort Worth consisted of Company B,
2d Dragoons, under Capt. and Bvt. Maj. H. W. Merrill of that
regiment. At the time of my visit orders had been received
to break up the post and Bvt. Maj. Merrill was only await-
ing transportation to remove his company to Fort Belknap. I
reviewed and inspected the command, September 7th. Then saw
present on parade [?] Capt. H.W. Merrill, (Bvt. Major,) 2d
Lt. J.P. Holliday, and 60 men. The only _____[?] officer was
the 1st Lieut. (A.D. Tree) who is the Regimental Quartermaster.

The company had only fatigue clothing of the
old pattern, but some of the men wore sky blue, instead
of the dark blue jackets. They were armed, like the two
companies of the same regiment at Fort Mason, with mus-
ketoons, sabers, and Colt’s revolver pistols. They were reviewed
as foot, but inspected and required to exercise both on horse
and foot. The clothing, though not new, was in good order
and generally well fitted; the arms and accoutrements clean
and, except the musketoons, serviceable. Three out of every four
of the musketoons had some of the smaller parts broken.
The horses (60) are all serviceable, and in finer condition
than those of any mounted troops in Texas. Their equipments
were also neat and well preserved.

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Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W.G. Freeman's Inspection of the 8th Military Department, 1853. Manuscript Collection, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.