Indian Depredations in Texas

by J.W. Wilbarger

"This volume is the most thorough compilation of accounts of Indian warfare in the Texas 19th century." — John Holmes Jenkins, Basic Texas Books Tensions between white settlers and Native American tribes were at their height in the mid-nineteenth century. Frequently the two groups resorted to violence assert their rights to the lands. J. W. Wilbarger’s remarkable book Indian Depredations in Texas contains more than 250 separate narratives of attacks and counterattacks that occurred from the 1820s to the 1870s. Wilbarger, a pioneer who had emigrated to Texas in 1837, was fully aware of the dangers that he faced by living on the frontier of the American West as his own brother had miraculously survived being scalped and left for dead in 1833. Over the course of the next fifty years Wilbarger compiled accounts of Native American attacks that formed the basis of his book. Yet, rather than simply relying on hearsay and rumors of attacks, he sought out the victims and as he states in his Preface, many of the articles had been “written by others, who were either cognizant of the facts themselves or had obtained them from reliable sources." This book is fascinating work that remains an importance source covering the early settlement of the region by Americans, based on stories told by surviving pioneers. "unique among pioneer chronicles." — J. Frank Dobie J. B. Wilbarger was a Methodist minister, author and pioneer. He first moved West to Texas in 1837 at the urging of his brother Josiah Pugh Wilbarger. His book Indian Depredations in Texas was first published in 1889 and he passed away in 1892.

Genres: History, Native Americans, Nonfiction

594 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Anthony Whitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent work for those seeking to discover the truth about the early days of settling Texas. Told from the perspective of the men and women that endured the harsh times of trying to scratch out a living in a poorly defended wilderness. Graphic accounts bring to life the reality's of the era that are eye opening to our modern sensibilities. Not for the squeamish.

[Zane Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Book!

J. W. Wilbarger does an amazing job of chronicling the true story of life in early Texas. The struggle between the settlers, who sought to tame the land and the Indians who ruled the land, were waged on a daily basis. The results were often disturbing, yet a true time in our history.

[Santos Campos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Indian Depredations in Texas E

A hodge-podge and repetitious of supposedly 1st hand accounts that gets boringe quickly. In the prologue the writer states his racist views ie: the white race is superior to these depraved mongols that never succeed to rise to the level of civilization that the whites did. These ” 1st hand accounts” are heavily edited by, if not rewritten by the author. If you took out the words ”noble, gallant, brave, fearless, hardworking, etc. that he uses to describe the white settlers the author would be at a loss for words.Historical value Is scant, at best

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a record of Indian raids and destruction in Texas. Included is the Great Comanche raid that reached the Gulf Coast. During the Civil War the Indians pushed the line of settlement in Texas back over 100 miles.

[Mary Havens · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s funny to me that I “finished” this book a year after starting it. And by finish I mean decided that this book would be a great read if I were working on a paper/dissertation on Indian attacks in Texas but is not a leisure read.
It is easy to read in the sense that the accounts are easy to visualize and the language isn’t so antiquated/stream of consciousness (like Smithwick or even Graves) that it’s hard to follow. But it is hard to read in the sense that I can only read so much about attacks and see so much damning language before I need a break.
I thought about skipping around but I don’t like doing that. Life’s too short, and I have too many books, to invest in a 700 pager when I’m forcing myself to get through it. I made lots of excuses too - o.k., I’ll finish this and THEN read something fun - o.k., I’ll read some graphic novels so I don’t have to carry this around. To be honest, I’ve carried around larger books than this because I was interested in them.
Great book if you want to visualize Texas back in the day (settlements and raids on 15th/Pecan street in Austin?? Impossible!!) and you want to read lots, and I mean LOTS, of raids and attacks. But it’s very “eye for an eye” and that gets sad and old after a while.

[David Schutte · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT FOR THE TIMID - READER DISCRETION ADVISED

The book is a classic of early Texas history. I wanted to read it because I knew that it chronicled the murder of my g-g-g-grandfather in Parker County in1866, but it includes much, much more valuable, historical information.
Most importantly, it seems to be very comprehensive, mentioning what must be many or most of the violent incidents between settlers and Native Americans in the relevant time period (roughly from 1828 in northeast and southeast Texas, until1878 in northwest Texas.) It is unavoidably and graphically violent. Events are organized roughly chronologically, and consequently roughly geographically (following patterns of settlement over time), but there are some jarring exceptions to this. The last few chapters seem to have been inserted as an addendum just prior to publication, with no regard to the particular years in which those events actually occurred.
It is also unavoidably repetitive: each chapter gives a brief history of a settler or family, describes the violent encounter, and briefly mentions where any surviving settlers were known to be living at the time of publication. In virtually every chapter, someone (often many people) will be attacked, murdered, scalped, mutilated, raped, taken captive and/or redeemed for a ransom.. Much of this treatment was also suffered by horses and livestock.
The author's perspective is nothing like that of the objective modern historian. His brother survived scalping and his nephew was murdered in Indian raids. His purpose is to convince the reader that the Comanches, Apaches and several other tribes were irredeemably evil, and that the settlers were usually innocent (if sometimes surprisingly careless) victims. He even describes incidental atrocities inflicted by settlers upon Native Americans without further attempt at explanation or interpretation. But that was entirely characteristic of the period in which it was written and published.
All of this granted, I am very glad that I stuck with this book to its conclusion.
Intensely memorable experience!
Highly recommended, but only once in a lifetime!

[Nick McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primary Source accounts of life on the American frontier as told by the war veterans and survivors who were there at the time. It is raw and authentic. Ironically in its opening prelude it cautions future readers that what is contained inside is not colored by politically motivated sophistry and romantic revisionism.

A reading of this book, paired with a book penned by Olive Oatman (A girl who was kidnapped and sold into slavery by Mohave Indians) called "Life Among the Indians" is absolutely essential in understanding the kinds of conflict that will arise between democratic settled societies and late neolithic warbands. There are dozens of other sources you can read on the subject but these two in particular are probably the most accessible to the modern English speaker.

There is a perverse and pervasive instinct to cleanse history and repair the images of "misunderstood" "confused" villains. I find it fascinating that the slow erosion of facts on this subject is written of with foreboding as early as the 1890s. This book recounts the experiences of its contemporary subjects with the appropriate gravitas but more interestingly it predicts the future rose colored reinterpretations of the era with absolutely perfect precision.

[Leif Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting collection of tales about the depredations the Native Americans tribes facilitated against the settlers in Texas.

[Jeannine Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have seen movies depicting the ole west with Indians and cowboys fighting it out,well this book goes one step further, it’s the real thing. An amazing history of Texas life in the 1800’s. I know you will appreciate the lives lost fighting for life in those rugged times. The book tells it all, true, not fiction!

[RONALD GOVER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading about a time little known

Enjoyed reading this collection of stories little known. Some of the passages have been used as background stories in movies I did enjoy reading first hand accounts of the happings.

[Connie Clapier · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reading format was poor

The paragraphs ran into one another which made reading this book rather difficult, should have been formatted better.
Otherwise it was an interesting book.

[David W · Rating 5 out of 5]

early Stories of Indian Wars in Texas

This book is full of good information of early pioneer life in Texas and the battles with Indians. Not sure of the validity but it was written in 1888 by a person who was there!

[Biggus · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I know why many people who rate this one star, do so, but that's not my reason. I expected history, instead, I get anecdotes and heresay. Nah, no way I can last 26 hours of short stories, tall tales and true.

[Daniel Patitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many stories were referenced in bad order to prior stories or later stories making some of the action confusing.

[Sandy Collier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indian depredations. In tx

It gave alot. of details about the indians treatment of the whites

It contains some. DetAils

That are hard to believe

[Thomas W. Bush Jr.]

I’m rereading he book!

[Rich Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Books like this aren't written anymore.

[Matthew Gabino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guy does not like natives... a great resource for early texas pioneer and indigineous interaction tho