[From J. Marvin Hunter’s Frontier Times Magazine, November, 1928]

Among the most noted frontiersmen and Indian fighters whose deeds of daring are recorded in the annals of Texas, the name of Captain Shapley P. Ross, father of the late Governor L. S. Ross stands in the forefront. He was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, six miles from Louisville, January 18, 1811, and in his early manhood removed to Iowa, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1839, when, with his family, he emigrated to Texas and settled at what was known as "Old" Nashville, on the Brazos river, in Milam county, planting a small crop of corn and killing buffalo to supply the family larder.

The Ross family and others afterward removed to Little River, in Bell county, and formed a settlement for mutual protection against the Indians, with whom they had many encounters. On one occasion during Mr. Ross's absence the savages made an incursion and stole all his horses. He returned with a fine mare, which he turned out to graze, and when he went in search of the animal discovered indications of the presence of Indians in the vicinity. The next morning Mr. Ross learned that several horses had been stolen in the settlement and it was decided to go in pursuit of the savages.

The pursuing party consisted of Capt.S. P. Ross, Sharpely Woolfork, a nephew; Capt. Monroe, and a man named Bryant. The trail of the Indians was soon discovered and on it were plainly to be discerned the tracks made by a herculean savage known as "Big Foot" a chief noted for his powers. The trail was however, lost and the pursuers returned to Bryant's house, where they were joined by two more settlers, and the next morning resumed the pursuit, traveling in a rainstorm until they reached a point known as the "Knob," within a few miles of where the town of Temple is now located. Here they overtook four Indians with the stolen stock, who immediately fled.

Thinking further pursuit useless two of the party returned home, leaving Captain Ross and three others to continue the trail. Within a short time the Indians were discovered in the act of butchering a buffalo they had killed. The savages had covered up their blankets to protect them from the rain.

Ross and his party immediately charged, but their flintlock weapons had been rendered useless and the gun of Capt. Ross was the only one which did not miss fire, and his discharge resulted in no damage. By this time the Indians had their guns uncovered and took deliberate aim at the four Texans, but their powder being also damp the weapons missed fire.

Although the pursuers had approached the savages suddenly, the latter succeeded in catching their horses and attempted to seek safety in flight, when Bryant rushed in and striking one of them with his gun killed him. Both parties then clubbed their guns and the death struggle began.

At this juncture Captain Ross saw the notorious "Big Foot" advancing on him. "He tried both of his pistols," says Wilbarger in his account, "but neither would fire. He hurled one of them at "Big Foot" hitting him on the shoulder, and then started to strike him over the head with his gun, and unaware of the presence of an Indian just in the rear, who would have dealt a fatal blow had it not been for the timely aid of his nephew (Woolfork), who knocked the Indian from his horse, but in falling the savage dismounted Woolfork and then jumped up behind "Big Foot," who was riding a fine mare which he had stolen from Captain Monroe.

"The two Indians were almost out of sight before Captain Ross and his nephew started in pursuit, as they were considerably delayed in catching Woolfork's horse. Having succeeded in this, Ross and his nephew were soon in hot pursuit of the fleeing savages and were fast gaining upon them. Captain Ross was riding a fine animal, which, being fleet of foot, soon put him some distance in advance of Woolfork.

"Big Foot" and his companion were so closely pursued that when they came to a steep bluff the animal they were riding suddenly stopped and the Indians plunged headlong into the mud and water. Ross seeing this, checked his horse within about forty yards of the Indians, but Woolfork was not so fortunate, and as his horse reached the bluff he made a similar tumble to that of the two Indians, and before he knew it was right in among them.

"At this juncture Captain Ross rushed up and ran in between them in order to separate the Indians, whereupon "Big Foot" made for him with his butcher knife. They were both now on the ground; both had on moccasins. "Big Foot" had on a pair of leggins and was wearing a checked cotton shirt, while his long plaited hair hung down his back between his shoulders.

"Captain Ross spoke to “Big Foot” in sign language as he was approaching telling him to surrender and he would not be hurt, but the defiant chief had no idea of being taken prisoner, and shaking his finger at Ross in a taunting manner began to advance. As he came to close quarters, made a furious lunge at the Captain with his butcher knife, but as he did so his foot slipped and he missed his aim, and before he could recover himself Ross with one hand grasped his plaited hair and with the other drove his hunting knife up to the hilt in "Big Foot's" body, killing him instantly.

In the meantime Woolfork dispatched and scalped his antagonist. Just after they had started back to the others Woolfork asked his uncle what he had done with “BigFoot's” scalp, and when Captain Ross replied that it was still on his head, he begged him to go back and take it off, as otherwise the boys would always believe that "Big Foot" got away. The Captain returned and "lifted" the hair from “Big Foot's” head.

When Ross and his nephew had rejoined their two companions they found the bodies of the two Indians whom Bryant and Monroe had dispatched. After exchanging congratulations over their hard earned victory they gathered their stolen horses and returned home. This was indeed a remarkable fight. It was fought without the firing of a gun and without the shooting of an arrow. Not a white man was hurt, and every Indian was slain.

Captain Ross survived for many years after this encounter, spending the evening of his day in Waco, where he passed away September 17, 1889, a few months more than seventy-eight years. of age.

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