1863 Jeremiah Green was a native of the State of North Carolina. He came to Texas in 1859 and located in Hood county. In the month of July, 1863, Mr. Green, in company with several of his neighbors, went out on the range for the purpose of gathering cattle. After they had ridden several hours in the hot sun they, as well as their horses, became very thirsty. They went to a stream near by, where they obtained water and then rode to the top of a hill, where they intended to rest awhile and graze their horses. Just as they reached the top of the hill they discovered a party of Indians, sixteen in number, within a few hundred yards of them. The Indians were sitting on their horses, with their weapons in their hands, and were gazing intently at the whites, as if they were debating the question of making an attack. Some of the whites proposed to stay and fight it out if they attacked them. Others thought they had better retreat in time, as there were but five whites altogether and but two guns among them. One of the whites seeing the Indians outnumbered them so greatly became alarmed and fled. Two more of them, who were mounted on good horses, followed him, leaving the other two behind, who were riding rather inferior animals. These two men were hotly pursued by the Indians, and one of them being closely pressed, dismounted from his mule, ran into a thick cedar brake and made his escape. Green was riding a very poor animal, was soon overtaken and mortally wounded. Those who escaped ran into the settlements and gave the alarm. A small company of men was quickly raised, who went to the spot where it was known the Indians had overtaken Green. Here they found traces of blood which they followed through the cedar brake until they came to the dead body of the unfortunate man. It was evident that after he had been mortally wounded he had dismounted and made his way into the brake, where he died. Shortly after this sad event a man by the name of Hyant was out hunting his stock in the same locality by himself. He was a brave and cautious man, but many men who were both brave and cautious have been killed by the Indians in Texas. The Indians attacked Hyant, and as he was well mounted it was evident from the sign that he ran a long distance before the Indians overtook and killed him. This same party of Indians, when about leaving the settlements, came across an old negro man, who belonged to a Mr. Bryant. He attempted to save himself by running, but the Indians caught and killed (as they supposed) and scalped him. He was found afterwards still alive, and carried home, but died in a few days. This is one of the very few instances where the Indians scalped a negro.

More Hood County Indian Depredations