Parker County, TX - History - Capt. John Robert Baylor

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The White Man 
Weatherford, Parker County, Texas 
Saturday, Sept. 15, 1860


Correspondence of the Gazette Galveston, Aug. 21, 1860 Mr. Editor: The Austin
Intelligencer of late date says: We are authorized by Gov. Houston to pronounce
the report that should have called Capt. Baylor a horse thief, a base falsehood.
Capt. Baylor, his brothers, Walker and Henry, and his uncles, among them Judge
Robert Baylor, have served Texas loyally in the days of her greatest need. Capt.
BaylorÕs father, (Dr. Baylor, U.S.A.) and several of his teachers, served in the
United States gallantly, in the last war with Great Britain on the Northern
Frontier. Capt. BaylorÕs grand father served in the Thirteen Colonies in the war
of the Revolution, an ensign in his brotherÕs regiment, raised on his own estate
in Virginia at his own expense. A man with so honorable connection with the
history of his country, is not apt to be a horse thief. Capt. Baylor has always
proved as industrious honest course in Texas; his occupation for years in
Fayette county, where he married and settled, was that of a farmer, and he
commanded there the entire respect of his neighbors. He educated himself for the
bar duing his few leisure hours, and in the State Legislature, where he served a
few years ago, so man stood higher for industry, clear views and honesty of
purposes. During his subsequent career, as Sub-Agent of the Comanches, he gained
the confidence of those wild savages, by impartial, firm, yet friendly rule; and
after his sudden dismissal, and when trouble with the tribes began to agitate
the Frontier, some of the Comanches visited him at his home a long way from the
Agency, complained bitterly of the treatment they received from the new Agent,
and entreated him to return. It has been charged against him, and Gov. Houston
has publicly and recently intimated his belief in the charge, that he was
removed from his Agency because his accounts with the Government was not
correct. An examination of the proper records at Washington will show, so I have
been informed on good authority, that instead of Capt. B. being in debt to the
Government, the boot is on the other leg. This is not the first time Government
Agents, both in the Civil and army service have been cruelly injured by such
statements - injuries to be tardily repaired by indifferent Auditors, after
years of suffering by the victim of unjust reports. Capt. BaylorÕs leadership of
the frontiersman, in the Reserve difficulties last year was not of his own
seeking. He was just the man for such a position, from his coolness and courage,
his long and intimate acquaintance with frontier life and Indian habits, and the
confidence of the people in his manly qualities. He could not retreat from the
position, without being recreant to his sense of duty toward his neighbors and
friends and subsequent events have fully shown that the action of the
frontiersman were justified. To allude to one only - the Brazos regiment have
gone many miles beyond the State line, to punish the Indians charged with the
murder and depredations on the frontier last spring. They have not found, and
will not find them; but within the line just after this regiment started, three
parties of marauding savages, proved beyond doubt to be from the Reserve, were
met by Capt. Baylor and his young brother George and four other frontiersmen,
and nearly all of them killed in fair fight, Capt. Baylor killing three of the
Indians, George five. The evidences of the guilt of these Reserve Indians in
robbing the settlers of their horses, was in this instance undeniable. Capt.
Baylor has earned nothing but trouble, danger and losses by his course on the
frontier. His farm cultivation has been stopped, and his stock dispersed and
lost; with a family growing up around him, it would have been the part of
prudence for him to have removed from so unsettled and dangerous a region. Ñ
That he has not done so is owing, doubtless, to a manly determination to remain
at his post, while his name and honor are impunged by those who were glad to
have his influence in their favor in the election last year Ñ an influence so
exerted, and successfully too, because Capt. B. thought the result would be
ample protection for the frontier, but who have since, with the obliviousness of
services gratuitously rendered, so characteristic of old political hacks, repaid
their bold nad unbending advocate with the vilest calumnies. Capt. Baylor owes
Gen. Houston no thanks for the denial published on authority by the
Intelligencer. It is pretty well known what Gov. Houston think s of Capt.
Baylor; he has too often openly expressed his opinion on that topic, to leave
any doubt whatever on that. His former endeavor to connect an honorable and
brave TexanÕs name wit the band of Òwhite and Indian thieves and murdersÓ on the
frontier was too patent for his present attempt at disculpation to suffice.
Justice