Below is a transcription of the report Lt.McRae sent about this incident. Notice that he still refers to them as the
enemy even though they did not fight for the Union.

AUGUST 10, 1862. – Affair on the Nueces River near fort Clark, Tex.

Report of Lieut. C. D. McRae, Second Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex., August 18, 1862

Sir: I have the honor to report, for the information of the general commanding, the result of a scout under my command, consisting of detachments from Captain Donelson’s company, Second Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles; Captain Duff’s company, Texas Partisan Rangers; Captain Davis’ company of State troops, and Taylor’s battalion; amounting in the aggregate to 94 men, rank and file. I left camp on the morning of the 3d instant on the Perdinalis and
proceeded up the South Fork of the Guadalupe River.

On the morning of the 6th instant struck the trail of a party of horsemen, numbering, as I suppose, from 60 to 100; pursued the trail in a south westerly direction four consecutive days, and on the evening of the 9th instant, about 3 o’clock, my advance guard reported a camp in sight on the headwaters of the Western Fork of the Nueces River.
I immediately diverged from the trail to the right, secreting my command in a canon about 2 ½ miles from the enemy, and at once proceeded, in company with Lieutenants Homsley, Lilly, Harbour, and Bigham, to make a careful reconnaissance of the position of the enemy’s encamp-
ment, which we were fortunate enough in effecting without being discovered. Returned to camp, and proceeded to make my dispositions for and attack at daylight on the following morning.

Accordingly, at 1 o’clock that night, I moved my command to within 300 yards of their camp, where I divided my command into two equal divisions, placing one under the command of Lieutenant Homsley, whom I directed to take position on the right of the enemy, in the edge of a dense cedar brake, about 50 yards from their camp, which he suc-
ceeded in doing without detection. In the mean time I had had equal success in obtaining another cedar brake with my division within about 40 yards of the enemy, on their left. These movements were accomplished about an hour before daylight. Shortly after having secured our positions a sentinel on his round came near the position of Lieutenant Homsley’s division, which he had the misfortune to
discover; whereupon he was shot dead by Lieutenant Harbour, which caused an alarm in the enemy’s camp, and a few shots were exchanged between the parties, and all became quiet again for the space of half and hour, when another sentinel hailed us on the left, and shared the fate of the first. It being still to dark for the attack, I ordered my men to hold quietly their positions until daylight. The enemy in the mean time were actively engaged preparing to resist us. The moment it became light enough to see I ordered the attack to be made by a steady and slow advance upon their position, firing as we advanced until within about 30 paces of their line, when I ordered a charge of both divisions, which was executed in fine style, resulting in the com-
plete rout and flight of the enemy.

They left on the field 32 killed. The remainder fled, scattering in all directions through the many dense cedar brakes in the immediate vicinity. From the many signs of blood I infer many of those escaping were seriously wounded.

We captured 83 head of horses, 33 stand of small arms, 13 six-shooters, and all their camp equipage, and provisions for 100 men for ten days. The arms I turned over to the commanding officer at Fort Clark. The horses are en route to this place. The provisions were consumed by my command.

Although the surprise and rout of the enemy was complete, I regret to state it was not unattended with loss on our part. We had 2 killed on the field and 18 wounded.

The fight occurred about 20 miles north of Fort Clark, to which point I sent for assistance, both surgical and transportation, for my wounded, which was promptly forwarded by the commanding officer, Captain Carolan, and Assistant Surgeon Downs, to whom I am greatly indebted for many kind attentions to myself and command, as also to
Mr. D. H. Brown. My wounded are all well provided for and are doing well.

I have learned from on of the party whom we fought, captured some for or five days subsequent to the fight, that the party was composed of 63 Germans, 1 Mexican, and 5 Americans ( the latter running the first fire), all under the command of a German by the name of Fritz Tegner. They offered the most determined resistance and fought with desperation, asking no quarter whatever; hence I have no prisoners to report.

My officers and men all behaved with the greatest coolness and gallantry, seeming to vie with each other in deeds of daring chivalry. It would be invidious to attempt to draw any distinctions when all did their part most nobly and gloriously.

Inclosed find a list of killed and wounded of each company.

I remain, with great respect, your obedient servant,
C.D. McRae

First Lieut., Second Regt. Texas Mounted Rifles, Comdg. Scout.