Erath County, TX - History - The W. C. McGough and other Fights ************************************************************************************* This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************************* The W. C. McGough and other Fights During 1864 Jno. W. Middleton, from Stephensville, was preparing to go to his home on the Kickapoo, about fifteen miles northeast. He met Mark Stone and a young boy, going the same day in a wagon. So the two men and the boy rode along, reasonably close together for mutual protection. When they had gone about five miles Middleton, Stone and the boy came upon several Indians. Mr. Middleton, who was riding a young pony, rode back toward Stephenville. The boy was wounded, and Stone made his escape unharmed, for just at the critical moment, W. C. McCough, Wm. Blair, Geo. Ground, Narbo, and others, who bad been trailing the Indians since the preceding day, arrived on the scene. When they did, the savages fled. The pursuing citizens continued the chase. The citizens caught the Indians when they reached the headwaters of Barton's Creek, about sixteen miles northwest of Stephenville. Here a short fight followed, and the citizens recovered about fifteen head of stolen horses, and some Indian blankets. During this exciting chase the whites ran on the Indians in the act of burying one of their dead, which had been killed by Mark Stone prior to the arrival of the rangers. Note: Author interviewed: W. C. McGough, who was in the fight; Ike Roberts, and others who were living in Erath and adjoining counties at the time. Further Reference: History of the Regulators and Moderators, by Jno. W. Middleton. The following story is from the books: The West Texas Frontier or a Descriptive History of Early Times in Western Texas Volumes 1 and 2 by Joseph Carroll McConnell