Carne Muerto
Encyclopedia
Carne Muerto was a Native American
War Chief of the Quahadi band of the Comanche
Indians.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsa30.html
He rose to fame first as a son of Santa Anna
, and used that status to survive capture by John "Rip" Ford
and his Texas Rangers
. In 1850 he escaped Army custody, then became known as a ferocious war chief late in the 1850s for his relentless raiding of white settlements.
and one of his wives, Carne Muerto (translated from Comanche and Spanish as “Death Meat”; the more logical name in Spanish would be "Carne Muerta", which means "Dead Meat"), as he was known in Texas, and on the Comancheria
, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsa30.html
) grew up as part of the Penateka band of the Comanches. The Penateka, in the days of Buffalo Hump, Old Owl, and Santa Anna, up to the Great Raid, were the most numerous of the Comanche. But they had borne the brunt of the fighting, and disease finished what war had started. During the cholera
epidemic of 1848-9, most of its remaining members died, and the band split up. His father dead, Carne Muerto and his mother went to live with the Quahadi band of the Comanche Indians. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsa30.html
detachment led by John "Rip" Ford
. According to the Rangers, Carne Muerto told the Rangers at once he was the son of Santa Anna, still a very well known and respected Peace Chief who had once been a War Chief second only to Buffalo Hump
, and that if he was well treated the Rangers would be rewarded. (Carne Muerto prudently did not tell the Rangers that his father was dead, which he had to know, as he reportedly was there.) Ford, no lover of any Comanche, but believing Santa Anna was alive, and knowing well what he had once done in the border wars, was aware of the potential for disaster if Santa Anna's son was mistreated or killed while in captivity. Reportedly treated with kindness, the young warrior was held by the Rangers, and then by the Army, for almost a year before he escaped.
When Carne Muerto, a prisoner at Fort McIntosh, was moved to Fort Merrill in January 1851, Ranger Andrew Walker was put in charge of the patrol to guard the prisoner. Though that patrol ended up fighting more Comanche, Walker was under orders to make sure Carne Muerto came to no harm. Both the Rangers and the Army felt that because Carne Muerto was the son of a famous War Chief, he could potentially be traded for white captives among the Comanche under the best scenario, and in the worst case, would at least serve to show that captives should be treated humanely. Ford emphasized to the Army that should harm come to a famous Chief's son, the Comanche would take a terrible vengeance on settlers (which is why Ford insisted that Rangers remain part of Carne Muerto's guards, even while in military custody). Reportedly his mother came to Fort Merrill to plead for his release. Shortly thereafter, he escaped and rejoined the Quahadi.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/fwa16.html
. He disappears from history in the early 1860s, after the Battle of Little Robe Creek
.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/fwa16.html
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
War Chief of the Quahadi band of the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
Indians.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsa30.html
He rose to fame first as a son of Santa Anna
Santa Anna (Comanche war chief)
Santa Anna was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians.-In The Early Life:Santa Anna was a member of the same band of the Comanche as the more famous Buffalo Hump. He was an important chief, though probably less influential than Buffalo Hump during the 1830s and...
, and used that status to survive capture by John "Rip" Ford
John Salmon Ford
John Salmon Ford , better known as "Rip" Ford, was a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and later of the State Senate, and mayor of Brownsville, Texas. He was also a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel, and a journalist...
and his Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
. In 1850 he escaped Army custody, then became known as a ferocious war chief late in the 1850s for his relentless raiding of white settlements.
Early life
Born in 1832 to Comanche War Chief Santa AnnaSanta Anna (Comanche war chief)
Santa Anna was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians.-In The Early Life:Santa Anna was a member of the same band of the Comanche as the more famous Buffalo Hump. He was an important chief, though probably less influential than Buffalo Hump during the 1830s and...
and one of his wives, Carne Muerto (translated from Comanche and Spanish as “Death Meat”; the more logical name in Spanish would be "Carne Muerta", which means "Dead Meat"), as he was known in Texas, and on the Comancheria
Comancheria
The Comancheria is the name commonly given to the region of New Mexico, west Texas and nearby areas occupied by the Comanche before the 1860s.-Geography:...
, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsa30.html
) grew up as part of the Penateka band of the Comanches. The Penateka, in the days of Buffalo Hump, Old Owl, and Santa Anna, up to the Great Raid, were the most numerous of the Comanche. But they had borne the brunt of the fighting, and disease finished what war had started. During the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic of 1848-9, most of its remaining members died, and the band split up. His father dead, Carne Muerto and his mother went to live with the Quahadi band of the Comanche Indians. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsa30.html
Capture by John "Rip" Ford
In June 1850, reported to be 18 years of age, Carne Muerto was captured by a Texas RangersTexas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
detachment led by John "Rip" Ford
John Salmon Ford
John Salmon Ford , better known as "Rip" Ford, was a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and later of the State Senate, and mayor of Brownsville, Texas. He was also a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel, and a journalist...
. According to the Rangers, Carne Muerto told the Rangers at once he was the son of Santa Anna, still a very well known and respected Peace Chief who had once been a War Chief second only to Buffalo Hump
Buffalo hump
Buffalo Hump was a Native American War Chief of the Penateka band of the Comanche Indians...
, and that if he was well treated the Rangers would be rewarded. (Carne Muerto prudently did not tell the Rangers that his father was dead, which he had to know, as he reportedly was there.) Ford, no lover of any Comanche, but believing Santa Anna was alive, and knowing well what he had once done in the border wars, was aware of the potential for disaster if Santa Anna's son was mistreated or killed while in captivity. Reportedly treated with kindness, the young warrior was held by the Rangers, and then by the Army, for almost a year before he escaped.
When Carne Muerto, a prisoner at Fort McIntosh, was moved to Fort Merrill in January 1851, Ranger Andrew Walker was put in charge of the patrol to guard the prisoner. Though that patrol ended up fighting more Comanche, Walker was under orders to make sure Carne Muerto came to no harm. Both the Rangers and the Army felt that because Carne Muerto was the son of a famous War Chief, he could potentially be traded for white captives among the Comanche under the best scenario, and in the worst case, would at least serve to show that captives should be treated humanely. Ford emphasized to the Army that should harm come to a famous Chief's son, the Comanche would take a terrible vengeance on settlers (which is why Ford insisted that Rangers remain part of Carne Muerto's guards, even while in military custody). Reportedly his mother came to Fort Merrill to plead for his release. Shortly thereafter, he escaped and rejoined the Quahadi.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/fwa16.html
Later years
Carne Muerto became a War Chief among the Quahadi in the mid-1850s, and led repeated raids against white settlements. He was a noted leader in the resistance against white settlement of the ComancheriaComancheria
The Comancheria is the name commonly given to the region of New Mexico, west Texas and nearby areas occupied by the Comanche before the 1860s.-Geography:...
. He disappears from history in the early 1860s, after the Battle of Little Robe Creek
Battle of Little Robe Creek
The Battle of Little Robe Creek, also called the Battle of Antelope Hills, took place on May 12, 1858. It actually was a series of three distinct encounters that took place on a single day, between the Comanches on the one side, and Texas Rangers, militia, and allied Tonkawas attacking them...
.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/fwa16.html