company he was transferred from the Infantry to the Third Battalion, Texas Cavalry, on account of a crippled ankle. He remained with the cavalry through the succeeding period of the war. When young Moss returned from the war he was broken in health and without as much as a full suit of wearing apparel. With that indefatigable energy and purpose, characteristic of the man, he at once began to lay a foundation for the future. In the absence of the young men during the war the Indians had driven away many horses and driven their owners back further east. The elder Moss had taken the precaution to have his sons move the horses down on Barton's Creek, near Austin, before young Moss joined the army. A year after his return, James and his brother, Charles, took charge of their father's cattle on shares. Week after week, after working all day, they, with some hands working for them, would take the horses to some favorable grazing place and take shifts in guarding them through the night. The moonlight nights increased the vigilance of these young cattlemen, for they well knew these were the nights the Indians were most likely to swoop down after the ponies. Besides the cattle, the two young men raised many hogs. As there was no local market for these, they killed and baconed about two hundred head one winter and the next summer loaded the meat into ox wagons and took it to Austin, Bastrop, LaGrange and as far as Old Washington to secure markets for same. The weather became so hot that the boys drove at night and rested through the day. Watching every chance to turn time into money, after the spring work with the cattle, young Moss took the contract to harvest the wheat crops of Cadwell and Saeter. He hired a negro man to help him. The wheat was cradled and handbound. The shocking was done at night. In the later '60's he, with others drove cattle through to Louisiana and sold them to a United States contractor, delivering on board a steamboat on the Mississippi River at Hogs' Point, below the mouth of Red River. In April, 1869, Mr. Moss threw in with Damon Slater and started to California with about fourteen hundred head of cattle. The year before Mr. Slater found the market good out there, hence this trip. James had his brother Charles with him on this trip. The entire outfit was composed of nine cow hands, two horse herders, two wagoners and the cook. Here is, in brief, the route taken: From Llano to Concho, thence up the Pecos River, and Rio Hondo, up San Benito, a branch of the Hondo, thence across the Divide to Tula Rosa, N. M.; thence to Rio Memphis. Here they saw the first white woman they had seen since leaving Llano. She seemed perfectly happy with her husband in those wilds. From there they drove to Apache Pass, Arizona, through Tucson, and on to Gila River, crossing the Colorado below the mouth of the Gila, at Fort Yuma. They drove into old Mexico and traveled ten or fifteen miles in this country, thence across what is now the Imperial Valley in California. From here they turned southwest toward the mountains. Entering these, they drove up to the old Warner Ranch. Here they struck the Immigrants' Trail, finally arriving at Williamson Port, on the Pacific, where they wintered. The following spring the cattle were delivered some 25 or 30 miles from Los Angeles. On August 4, 1873, a band of redskins were depredating in Llano county. A company of eight men, consisting of S. B. Harrington, Arch Martin, Robt. Brown, Pink Ayers, Eli P. Lloyd, W. B., S. B., and J. R. Moss, struck their trail in the early morning and followed it for 35 or 40 miles, locating the Indians on Packsaddle Mountain about noon. The redmen had gone up the mountain from the south side and when discovered by the settlers most of them were sitting around eating some of the beef which had just been roasted. One or two were lying on the ground, either asleep or resting. There were 17 bucks, two squaws and a boy. Before giving an account of the battle it will be noted that the Indian who was supposed to be on guard was guilty of negligence that proved fatal to some of his comrades, if not himself. Had he been watching he could have seen the approaching Texans a mile away, which possibly would have changed the result of the conflict. When the settlers rode up the mountain they observed 20 or more horses stolen by the Indians but a short distance away. Beyond the horses the Indians were seen eating and resting. The white men by a quick dash ran in between the enemy and the horses. By this time the redmen were up and armed. Their weapons were Winchesters, breech loaders, muskets, pistols, and bows and arrows, though the latter was not used. The Texans all used Winchesters save W. B. Moss, who used a Colt-Ranger pistol. W. B. Moss began firing at the Indians before dismounting. Firing two shots, he dismounted and joined his comrades, all of whom save Pink Ayers had dismounted. Ayers was shot in the hip. The mule he rode was also shot, and the rider did not reenter the fight. So it was 17 to 7 against the whites. The Indians retreated to a ledge of rocks behind some black jack timber, where they quickly formed a line of battle and rushed at the Texans with a vengeful determination to make quick work of them, but they found the settlers ready for them. W. B. Moss emptied his pistol at them and was bending over to knock the shells from it when a bullet crashed into his body near the right shoulder, and passing through his lungs, lodged in his left side dangerously near the heart. The battle was now on in earnest. James Moss saw his brother fall and thought at first that he had down to reload, but noticed later he was struggling. He ran to him and asked him if he was hurt badly. The brother spit out a mouthful of blood before he could speak, then said: "Yes, I think they have killed me. I wouldn't hate it so bad if I could have fought till the battle is over." James gently turned the wounded brother over, then renewed the battle with the foe, some of whom had now rushed within six feet of the white men. Arch Martin threw his gun into position to fire. At the same instant a bullet from an Indian's gun struck the guard of his Winchester, glancing downward and went into his groin. The Indians were putting up a hard fight. Mr. Moss says that some of them were game and seemed to fear nothing. Though they were game, they soon found they were having no walkover in this fight. One fellow rushed towards James Moss, shooting over his shield at him. The Indian covered his chest with precision while he was firing. The Texan aimed just below the shield and fired and a bullet crashed into the redman's bowels. Moss then turned on another Indian who was getting too close for it to be comfortable. The savages now retreated once more to the ledge, reformed line and came at their foemen again, but showed more precaution this time, for they kept at a greater distance. When Mr. Moss had a chance to take his eye for a moment off the foe he glanced toward where the Indian he had shot fell, but he was gone. One buck who seemed determined to make his way to the horses advanced alone some distance to the right of the others. With gun raised he came within a few feet of the Texans, some of whom fired at him, then he suddenly retreated to the edge of the timber and fell forward, dead. When found he still grasped his gun. The Indians were now retreating. Some four or five of them started up a chant as they retreated, leaving three of their number dead on the ground. One of the three had moved some distance away from the fight when found. He had a bullet hole in the bowels and one in the chest. This was likely the Indian Mr. Moss shot below the shield. Eli Lloyd was shot in each arm and also had a bullet to cut the skin between his fingers. W. B. Moss' wound proved to be a serious one, as he lay for weeks before he was able to get around. The bullet was never extracted from his body. The Texans recovered the stolen horses by the Indians. In September, 1877, Mr. Moss was married to Miss Delia Johnson, daughter of Capt. A. J. and Martha Johnson. The following sons and daughters were reared in this home: Zella, bookkeeper and cashier of the Moss Mercantile Company of Llano; Matthew, president of the Llano National Bank; Edgar, a well known and prosperous stockman of Llano county; J. Ray, manager of the Moss Mercantile Company, Llano; Mrs. J. B. Gage, Austin; Inez, teacher in Dallas; W. R., engaged in oil business at Rockdale; A. J., deceased; Mary, a student in the School of Arts in Chicago; Otilla, an exteacher, now with her father in Llano; Richard Olney, assistant cashier of the Llano National Bank. Mr. Moss by habits of industry and thrift rose from cowboy to cattle king. He bought ranch property in Legion Valley, Llano county, amounting to 8,000 acres of land. He was one of the pioneers of this section in raising Durham cattle. Some years ago he moved from the ranch to Llano. His faithful companion, who shared with him the hardships and privations incident to an earlier day in Texas, passed peacefully to rest December 3, 1918. THE COWBOY'S PRAYER O Lord, I've never lived where churches grow; That day You finished it so long ago And looked upon Your work and called it good. |