Young County, TX - Biography - Henry and William "Willie" Dillard ************************************************************************************* This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************************* The Corsicana Weekly Corsicana, Navarro County, TX September 12, 1878 Vol. III, No. 42 Frontier Life Special Correspondence Dallas Commercial Among the many encounters with the Indians that have given a startling interest to the history of the Texas frontier, few are more remarkable than the following: On the 7th day of August, 1873, Henry Dillad, a young man about 20 years of age, was returning from Fort Griffin to his home on the Brazos. He had been to the Fort to sell a load of produce on the day before. He was driving a pair of mules, and in the wagon with him was his little brother, Willie, about 13 years old. Having attended a ball on the night previous, Dillard felt drowsy. When about 15 miles from the Fort as he was dozing on the wagon-seat, little dreaming of the fearful drama in which he was about to play so prominent a part, he was suddenly aroused by the sound of laughter and the trampling of horses. He had driven almost into the midst of a party of 30 Indians, who were moving toward him. Instantly comprehending the situation, he reached down and picked up his gun. The foremost Indian who was nearly abreast of him, now fired at Dillard, the ball cutting away his temporal lock and burning the scalp. Dillard fired a shot or two, but found that the shields of the Indians turned the bullets. He then shot one Indian below the shield, breaking his thigh and the backbone of his horse. Calling upon Willie to follow him, he then sprang from the wagon and began to move toward a ravine about a quarter of a mile to the right. His arms were a Spencer rifle and six shooter. Willie also had a six shooter. The Indians immediately surrounded them, galloping in a circle, keeping up a constant yelling and firing. They were armed with Spencer rifles and bullet proof shields. Sometimes running, sometimes walking, sometimes at bay, the two boys approached the ravine. At the first fire Willie's six shooter [paper hard to read] the blowing out of a portion of the cylinder. Henceforeward his only services was to carry the cartridges for his brother. At one time Henry fell on his face. An Indian dashed up to take his scalp, but was shot by Dillad before he rose from the ground. At another time he heard Willie cry, "Henry! Look here." The boy was running around a mesquite bush, followed by an Indian, who was trying to grasp him by the clothes. Henry ran up and shot the Indian and the two boys continued their retreat. On they struggled, the Indians charging back and forth, circling, yelling and firing, attempting to ride them down or dash them to the earth with the barrels of their carbines. On they pushed, seizing every "coign" of advantage, loading, firing, dodging, turning, but ever advancing toward the ravine, where the instinct of the young braves pointed them to shelter. The heat was terrible; their tongues were swollen and the skin slipped from the soles of their feet. But on they pressed - to pause was to die. The efforts of the savages, who were now maddened with rage and revenge, were redoubled as the boys neared the ravine. But the young heroes struggled on with undaunted resolution and at length reached it and sprang into the brush wth which it was fringer. But one of the Indians dismounted from his horse. Dillard discovering him, attempted to shoot, but his piece was now empty. The Indian seeing this, mounted his horse and dashed up to him, carbine in hand, and was shot by Dillard through the body with his pistol. He turned and rode away to the main body. The boys now retired into the depths of the ravine and the savages retreated, carrring away their dead and wounded, but leaving five horses on the blood field, besides blankets and blouses perforated with bullets and some clothing an dother articles which they had taken from the whites on this foray. The Indians having taken Dillard's mules he made his way on foot to a ranch some miles away and returned to Fort Griffin. On hearing his report, General Buell immediately sent an officer with a sufficient number of men to pursue the Indians. These had divided, the main body taking to the right, and a smaller party, with the dead and wounded, a left hand trail. In two or three days, about the head of the Wichita, they came upoon a camp which had been recently deserted by the Indians. Three beds, made of grass, and deeply blood stained were found in this camp. Noticing some buzzards circling around a mountain near by, some of the party ascended it and found where the Indians had partially buried three bodies - they had doubtless died in the camp. They also found here a memorandum book of Dillard's, which he had lost in the fight a few days before. Dillard's feet were now so sore that he was not able to walk, and the party returned to Fort Griffin without striking the Indians. This is one of the most remarkable escapes ever made. These boys had retreated a quarter of a mile across an open prairie with only an occasional shrub growing upon it, surrounded by a well-armed body of 30 mounted savages, who must have fired 500 shots at them, at the distance of only a few feet; and yet neither of them had lost a drop of blood. Besides, the horses, whose bones are still lying on the field of battle, Henry Dillad had kiled the three Indians who had died in the camp, besides those that had been carried away from the field and buried the first day. The officer commanding the troops reported that Dillard had killed and wounded 11. Mr. Dillard now lives 10 miles from Fort Griffin down the Clear Fork, not far from the scene of his thrilling adventure. He is about 5 feet 9 inches high, slender, erect and quick in movement, with brown hair and handsome features. He has a clear, penetrating gray eye. At the special request of the writer he gave him the above account a few days ago. The adventure is well known in the western country and has procured its hero a high reputation for unyielding courage. He is a native of Kentucky and came to Texas about six years ago. [Transcribers note: Henry and William "Willie" Dillard came to Young County in 1869 with Col. Edwin Smith Graham and his brother, Gustavous Adolphus "G.A." Graham to purchase land and a salt mill according to Col. E.S. Graham's handwwritten diary. The Dillard boys are referred to in the diary as the "beardless Dillard boys."]