Sky Walker's braves dismounted along the east wall of the fort. Iron Shirt's signal was the sign for them to attack the front gate. The blood-chilling yell of the Indians struck fear and panic into the residents of the fort. The Indians were pouring into the front gate and met Rachel with James Platt. Rachel grabbed a hoe, swinging it at a warrior who was reaching for James Platt. The warrior caught the hoe, jerked it out of

Rachel's hands, and hit her on the forehead. The other Indians drove lances into Elder John, Samuel, and Robert Frost. Silas, carrying his unloaded gun, ran to Rachel's aid. He used the gun as a club to fight off the braves around Rachel. Silas knocked many of the braves to the ground, but there were too many for him by himself. Silas saw Granny Parker running out of her cabin towards the back of the fort. She was over taken, stripped of her dress and pinned to the ground with lances. Silas, with a spear sticking out of his back, fell to the ground.

High Wolf led his braves around the back of the fort to cut off the people running out the back door from reaching the brushy woods. Big Tree of the Kiowa led his braves and some Caddo around the other side. The Caddo braves took Elizabeth Kellogg captive. The braves took her to the front of the fort where Rachel and James Platt were held.

The Indians inside the fort were having a good time. They were searching every cabin looking for booty in old trunks, medicine bottles, rifles, gunpowder, and bullets. Brightly colored clothes were fought over by the finders. Books were high on the Indians' list of needs. They used the paper in the books to make their shields. A shield was made out of a buffalo hide by heating and steaming until it was thick. It was then packed with an inch of paper between the two thick hides.

They carried the feather mattresses outside, cutting them up and looking for something hidden. The feathers flew in the air like snow. They gathered up all the iron tools that were useful in making weapons. Any item they didn't want they tore up just for the fun of it.

Lucy Parker was carrying Orlena and pulling along Silas Jr. and John. Cynthia Ann, holding John's other hand, was pulling him along. Peta saw them, and raced his pony at top speed jerking Cynthia Ann upon the pony. He never slowed down, turning the pony with his knees. He looked back and a warrior was swinging John onto his pony and was riding hard behind him. They rode to where the captives were held. Peta stayed with Cynthia Ann and the other captives.

Cynthia Ann saw her Aunt Rachel, James Platt, Aunt Elizabeth, and John were also captives. Rachel had dried blood all over her face, and it made her sick to look at her. She knew she had to be brave because John was puckering up. Each time James Platt let out a cry, the guard would hit him. Rachel tried to quiet him and then the guard hit her. She wondered what happened to her father, mother, her sister, and her brother.

Sarah Nixon, by luck, made it past the Indians to the fields without being seen. James, her father, Levin Nixon, her husband, and Luther Plummer, her brother-in-law, heard her screaming and ran toward her. Sarah told them the fort was surrounded by Indians. James Parker sent Plummer to tell the other men in their fields a half-mile away. James and Nixon, unarmed, headed for the fort. They were half-way to the fort when they ran into James' wife and children. Nixon agreed with

James that James should take his family away to safety. He led his family towards the Navasota River.

Lucy, running as hard as she could carrying Orlena and dragging Silas Jr., was worn out. Silas' short legs just couldn't keep up without the help of John and Cynthia Ann. As she looked back she saw the Indians were gaining on her. When an Indian on horseback made a pass at picking up Silas Jr., Lucy's dog had enough. He turned, jumped into the air, and grabbed the horse by the nose, throwing the rider into a gully. The Indians, on foot from the fort, were catching her. She

thought it was all over for her and the children.

Luckily for her Levin Nixon emerged from the brush unarmed. His appearance slowed down the Indians. He quickly placed himself between the Indians and Lucy. The Indians, realizing Nixon was unarmed, rushed him.

At the same time, David Faulkenberry ascended from a ravine with his rifle. He knew if he fired a shot, the Indian would kill him before he could reload. He worked Nixon, Lucy, and the children behind himself. With them behind he could sweep the rifle more freely back and forth. But the Indians were making dashes toward them and were closing the distance between Nixon, Lucy, and himself. He knew time was running out.

High Wolf's braves on horses were ready to attack in a group effort. Their goal was to kill David and Nixon, and then capture Lucy with the children. When Silas Bates, Abram Anglin, and Evan Faulkenberry, armed with rifles, stepped out of the brush, the five men formed in a ring around Lucy and the children. The braves backed off and started to regroup for attack when Luther Plummer, Rachel's husband, appeared with fifteen men.

Iron Shirt, not liking the odds now with no shots fired, decided it was a good time to quit. Iron Shirt raised his lance, moving it in a slow circle, to signal the Indians it was time to withdraw. The Indians left Fort Parker area as quietly and as quickly as they had appeared. The captives were placed in front of their captor as they rode away. Cynthia Ann was scared. Here she was, riding away from her family, and a bad smelling Indian had one arm around her holding her on his horse.












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