Battle of the Neches facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of the Neches
Part of the Texas-Indian Wars
Date July 15 & 16, 1839 Location West of modern Tyler, Texas Result Texan Victory
Belligerents
Republic of Texas Tonkawa Indians	Cherokee Nation Delaware Nation
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Kelsey Douglass Gen. Thomas Rusk Col. Edward Burleson Chief Plácido	The Bowl† Big Mush†
Strength
Approx. 500	600–700
Casualties and losses
8 killed 29 wounded, incl. Vice President Burnet	More than 100 killed

The Battle of the Neches was a major fight during the Texas-Indian Wars. It happened on July 15 and 16, 1839. The battle took place near what is now Tyler, Texas. This conflict was part of the Cherokee War of 1838–1839. It happened because of the Córdova Rebellion and President Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar's decision. He wanted to move the Cherokee people out of Texas. Many Cherokee had moved to Texas from the southeastern United States. They came to avoid being forced to move to Indian Territory.

Why the Battle Happened

Early Peace Efforts

During his first time as president of Texas, Sam Houston tried to keep peace. He used diplomacy and gifts to get along with the Comanche and Kiowa tribes. He also worked with his allies, the Cherokee. Houston had lived with the Cherokee. He was known among Native Americans for being fair.

The Cherokee were not happy. Promises to give them legal ownership of their lands had not been kept. Houston had made these promises to keep them neutral during the Texas Revolution. In February 1836, Houston made an agreement with them. However, the Texas Legislature would not approve the part about land titles. This was not the first time the legislature refused Houston's agreements with Native Americans.

Growing Tensions and Suspicions

In 1838, news spread that Mexico was talking with the Cherokee. Mexico supposedly offered them land titles. In return, the Cherokee would help Mexico in a war against the Texians.

People from Nacogdoches found a camp of armed Tejanos. President Houston was in Nacogdoches at the time. He told both sides not to gather or carry weapons. Vicente Córdova and other leaders of this group made demands. They were joined by about 300 Native American warriors. They then moved towards the Cherokee settlements.

General Thomas Rusk was told not to cross the Angelina River. But he sent 150 men under Major Henry Augustine. They defeated the rebels near Seguin, Texas. The Cherokee were involved, and documents showed Cherokee chief The Bowl was linked to Mexican agents. Even so, Houston believed the chief's denials. He refused to have them arrested. Houston wrote letters to The Bowl, promising them land titles on the Neches River.

Lamar's Stance on Removal

Later, Native American warriors attacked settlers. This event was called the Killough massacre. After this, and stories of people being captured, Texas's second president, Mirabeau B. Lamar, had different ideas. He believed the Cherokees could not stay in Texas.

Lamar said that "the white man and the red man cannot dwell in harmony together." He believed "Nature forbids it." Lamar told his officers to tell the Cherokees this message:

that unless they consent at once to receive a fair Compensation for their improvements and other property, and remove out of this Country, nothing short of the entire distruction [sic] of all they possess, and the extermination of their Tribe will appease the indignation of the white people against them.

If the Cherokee refused to leave, Lamar's orders were clear. His forces were to:

to push a rigorous war against them; pursuing them to their hiding places without mitigation or compassion, until they shall be made to feel that flight from our borders without hope of return, is preferable to the scourges of war.

Moving the Cherokee was one of the first things Lamar did as president.

The Battle of the Neches

Negotiations and Texan Advance

President Lamar demanded that the Cherokee leave their lands. They had never had legal ownership of these lands. He offered them money and goods for their land and homes. They were to move across the Red River into the U.S. Indian Territory. Sam Houston disagreed, but it did not change anything.

General Kelsey Douglass was in charge of making sure the Cherokee left. He camped with about 500 Texan soldiers. Their camp was six miles south of the main Cherokee village. On July 12, 1839, he sent a group to talk with the Native Americans.

The Cherokee first agreed to sign a treaty to leave. This treaty would guarantee them money for their crops and moving costs. But they delayed for two days. They did not like a rule that said they had to be escorted by armed guards. On the third day, the Texan commissioners told the Native Americans that the Texan army was marching on their village. Those who wanted to leave peacefully should fly a white flag.

First Day of Fighting

On July 15, 1839, the Texan Army moved up Battle Creek. They crossed the Neches River. Their goal was to stop any Native American reinforcements. They also wanted to catch any Native Americans trying to escape north.

The Cherokees were waiting on high ground. They attacked the Texans. The Native Americans were pushed back. They retreated into a nearby ravine. The Texan army failed to block them because their guide made a mistake. The battle continued on and off throughout the day. By the end of the day, three Texans were killed and five were wounded. Eighteen Cherokee were killed.

Second Day of Fighting

The Cherokee moved back several miles during the night. Colonel James Carter's spy company found them. They were near the Neches headwaters in modern Van Zandt County.

Colonel Edward Burleson's company joined Carter's group. The Cherokee then attacked. Rusk's company soon joined them on the left side. The Texians charged the Native American position across open land. Then they chased them into the Neches bottom. The Texians lost two killed and 27 wounded (3 of whom later died). An estimated 100 Cherokee and Delaware were killed.

Aftermath

Many Texians were injured in the battle. These included Vice President David G. Burnet and Secretary of War Albert Sidney Johnston. Both were praised for their actions in the fight. General Hugh McLeod and Major David Kaufman were also wounded. John Reagan was also there.

Chief The Bowl was shot from his horse. He was still carrying a sword that Sam Houston had given him. McLeod later gave his hat as a gift to Houston.

After the battle, the Cherokee tried one last time to reach Mexico. They tried to go around the north of the Texan settlements. But they were eventually moved to Indian Territory.