Bastrop, Texas. 1839. In the late-winter chill of a placid evening, the citizens of this small village east of Austin find themselves largely engaged with chores, and preparations for evening meals.
While Texas is an independent Republic, having established its independence from Mexico in the Texas Revolution of 1836, it is still a slave-holding territory.
Several of the wealthier citizens of Bastrop are slave-owners, and thus many of the local inhabitants are slaves, subject to the dehumanizing effects of chattel servitude even here on the bleeding edges of Western civilizations' westernmost expansion. Adding to the cultural milieu that is commonplace here in 1830’s Texas, are several Kichi natives, as well as Tejano citizens, native Texans of Hispanic descent.
Though all are subject to the stratified racial and economic hierarchy of early 19th century America, here on the Texas frontier, they live under the auspices of a singular fear that is shared by all: That of the incessant, horrifically violent raiding being carried out all across the Texas frontier by the dreaded Lords Of The Southern Plains: The Comanche.
Time and time again in the preceding decade, Texas settlers found themselves subject to acts of violence and degradation that had scarcely- if ever- been seen by their predecessors east of the Mississippi.
Countless homesteads across the Texas frontier had been laid waste to, with entire families killed or carried off into slavery. Torture-killings were common, as were all manner of assaults.
The attacks did not discriminate by race, gender, social class, religious affiliation, nationality, nor age. The Apache, the Tonkawa, the Carancawa, the Spanish, and the Mexicans who have inhabited Texas since the early 18th century, have all fallen victim to the Comanche. The inhabitants of Central Texas in 1839 are but the latest iteration of a people living on the fringes of what had become known to the Spanish as “Comancheria”.
The threat of raiding is in fact so pervasive that the town of Bastrop has its own warning system, instituted by Texas Ranger, Texas Revolution veteran, and Texas Army chief-of-staff Colonel Edward Burleson.
In the event of a Comanche raiding party being sighted, citizens are instructed to sound of with a long retort from a bugle-like brass horn, followed by two gunshots in rapid succession.
Upon hearing this, the neighboring homestead is to repeat the signal, until it reaches the vicinity of the town of Bastrop itself.Here, a small cannon will be fired, serving as the call for the local men to muster and prepare for a Comanche attack.
However, as the hue of dusk begins to settle over the city of Bastrop and it’s surrounding farms and plantations, the threat of Comanche violence seems a world away.
Then, suddenly, just as most of the town’s habitants are getting ready to settle in for their evening meal, the high-pitched, monotone intonations of a bugle can be heard in the distance, followed quickly by 2 gunshots.
Less than a minute later, even nearer to the center of town, the same piercing retort of a bugle, followed by two gunshots can be heard.
Moments later, the cacophonous rumble of a small cannon can be heard roaring from the town square. The Comanche, it seems, have struck again.
Now, The Rangers and local volunteers are left with the daunting task of locating the Comanche, engaging them in a fight, and retrieving the hostages that have been taken. This will entail venturing out into the Texas wilderness, in order to engage the Comanche on their own terms, in their own territory.
For some of these men, as well as their enemies, this will be their last day on earth.
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