Robert Owens, second son

  

Robert Jackson Owens was WSB Owens' second son, born August 25, 1835.  Robert was 18 years old when he migrated to Texas.  He married Priscilla Ellen Gusset(who was 16 years old at the time), in 1856 on Valentines day.  For eight years Robert and Priscilla lived in the Fort Inge, Uvalde and Coleman County areas and produced five children.

John J Dix posted a flyer in the newspapers

TEXAS RANGERS ATTENTION!

DO NOT WAIT TO BE DRAFTED

The undersigned having been authorized by his excellency, the Governor, to raise a company of Rangers, under the provisions of the frontier of Texas, and approved December 21, 1861, has been granted the privilege to receive men from any portion of the State, with a view to select the very best material the country affords, that efficient service may be rendered. The act requires each man to furnish his own horse, arms and accoutrements, and I need not say that I wish them to be of the best kind available—double-barreled shot guns, light rifles and six-shooters, if possible.

The pay offered by the State Government is very liberal and equal to the most favored troops in the service—equal to the pay of any troops of the same class in the Confederate Army.
All persons desirous of availing themselves of this last opportunity of serving their State, are invited to rendezvous at Concrete, De Witt co., on the Guadalupe river, on the last day of February, 1862, for the purpose of enrollment and organization the following day, from which time they will be provided for by the Government.
JOHN J. DIX
McMullen Co., Feb. 11, 1862.

Robert served in the Texas military in 1862-63 as a private under Captain John J. Dix Company H Texas Frontier Regiment and received a total of $1054.57( or there about) for his military efforts ($12 a day plus 40 cents for his horse, minus his clothing issued in the amount of $31.54, plus and minus other expenses).  He served from August 9th, 1862 until February 4 1863.  During this time, the Texas Rangers were stationed at the two bases, one in Camp Dix (Uvalde-Sabinal Road at the Frio river) and the other Camp Nueces (san antonio-eagle pass road where it crosses the Nueces river).  They would leave base on patrol with one Lt and five privates and prevent Indians, Mexican raiders from attacking, and draft dodgers from escaping.  

In 1864, as the story goes according to Jesse Sumpter,  a man and his wife of the Wood family (camp wood, reading wood black, etc) left to Eagle Pass to purchase supplies.  They left their 14 year old daughter and their 12 year old son in the care of "a negro man and a Mexican man".  The day after Wood left, the Mexican murdered the boy by beating his brains out with a club while the boy was asleep.  The beat the Negro and left him for dead.  He took the girl and started for the Rio Grande.  "The negro regained consciousness and sent out the alarm to Wood and his wife at Eagle Pass, who immediately returned."  All ranchmen and troops were notified.  Three days after the boys murder, the Mexican and the girl reached a ranch four miles below Eagle Pass on the bank of the Rio Grande.  The ranchman saw the Mexican coming towards his house but also saw the girl's dress in the as she was hiding brush where she had been instructed to stay.  The ranchman guessed this was the kidnapped girl.  The rancher threw his gun and captured the Mexican, tied him up and went after the girl.  The rancher took both the girl and the captured Mexican to Fort Duncan and delivered them to Captain Hiram Mitchell.  Wood, his wife and the Owens boys (Robert and others) arrived to the fort three days later and the Mexican prisoner was turned over to them with the intention that they would deliver him to the proper Uvalde authorities.  In the evening, they took the murderous Mexican behind the hills of the San Antonio Road just out of site and built a fire.  Some troops gathered as well as the Mexican population, thinking there would be a hanging, but instead, as the fire was being built, they began to mutilate the Mexican.  They cut off his nose, his ears, his other members of his body.  They stuck their knives in his hands and feet "and split them out".  Finally they threw him in the fire.  He struggled to get out but they continued to burn him until he died.  Jesse Sumpter stated that he did not want to be part of the lynching he thought would occur, and had not stayed.  He had no idea they would torture the captured Mexican.  

Nueces River near Camp Wood

Then Woods and Robert Owens went across into Mexico to get provisions from Piedras Negras, Coah. Mexico.  Woods took his provisions immediately back, but Robert lingered.  He became drunk and boasted of taking part of the torture and killing.  He still had blood on his boots, as he so pointed out to the patrons at the bar, which enraged the Mexicans.  Jesse Sumpter heard some shots ring out across the river and he saw Robert Owens running down the bank of the river, jump into the water and start to swim across.  The Mexicans ran up the the edge of the water and emptied their pistols at Owens, apparently missing him.  As a ferry boat crossed the river, Owens swam to it.  With intention of boarding it, he caught hold of the boat as though to raise himself into it.  The Mexicans standing on the bank of the river yelled "Matalo" (kill him).  The boatman struck at Owens with a pole, missing Owens but successfully getting him off the ferry edge.  Owens drifted downstream and a skiff was crossing toward Mexico.  Owens made for the skiff and grabbed on as if to climb aboard.  The Mexican rowing the skiff put down one oar and very leisurely, got up and took the other and hit Owens in the head with it.  Owens was not seen again until nine days later when he rose to the top of the water.  Every skiff man made for the body and dragged him out on the bank on the Mexico side.  Owens' brother, seeing that the body was left on the bank after a time, sent over for permission to bring the body back. "Come over and take the dog away" was the reply.  Owens sent some men over and placed the body in a coffin and took it away to be buried.  Robert was survived by his wife, Priscilla, and five children William Milton, Mary Jane, Arena Priscilla, Robert Jackson and Albert Jackson Lee.  Arena Priscilla never married but lived with her mother and William, the oldest son, would later die in a shoot out in New Mexico over a 50 cent debt.  The killing of Robert Owens is detailed in the book "Paso del Aguila" where Jesse Sumpter records his memoirs.