After murdering Choctaw Tom’s family, the Stephenville vigilantes returned to town to warn that a revenge raid was coming. There were many young Caddo and Anadarko men who wanted to do just that, but Jose Maria, as many times before, suggested a peaceful strategy. He called on Texas authorities. Peter Garland and W.W. McNeal, another Stephenville provocateur, (yes the street is names for him) published their own contrary version of events. They explained that they had been following the trail of horse thieves that had led them to the Caddo camp where a “fierce and terrible battle” ensued and “we have no apology for what we have done.” In early January, 1859, as many as three hundred hate and fear-crazed immigrant settlers from nearby counties gathered in Stephenville in preparation for an attack on the Brazos Reserve. Not only did they endorse the Choctaw Tom massacre, they elected members of the Garland raid as their captains. Allison Nelson, known for hating all Indians, was elected commander of the vigilante army on the Bosque River. A committee was chosen to ride up to the reservation evaluate the situation, among them was the respected Ranger and surveyor, George B. Erath.

Dan Young. When the Bosque Ran Clear, unpublished manuscript, 2023.