Mike Thomasson,
.
I have at my fingertips the book: SPRINGS OF TEXAS, 2d Ed., by Gunnar Brune, pub. 2002, 566pp. It lists "Willow Springs" in 40 different Texas counties. So if you suspect that these 38 men were killed in a certain county, please don't hesitate to ask me to look it up for you.
.
Immediately below is part of a paragraph, from the 1929 article by "W.F. 'Matt" Guthrie," that describes a skirmish in which 38 men were killed.
.
******************
.
"... The first service that I rendered in this company was in June, 1860. Burleson ordered First Lieutenant J.E. McCord to take twenty five men with light packs and go to the Rio Grande River above the Big Bend and reinforce Captain [J.S.] Ford, who was having a hard time trying to keep the Mexican bandits on the other side of the river. Captain Ford told Lt. McCord to scout up the river and kill every damned "greaser" he caught up with. The third day out our scout reported a band of Mexicans at Willow Springs. McCord told us to unsaddle and rest. Just before day light, we surrounded them with orders to take no prisoners. There were twenty-eight killed and ten or twelve surrendered, who were later lined up and shot. We captured forty head of horses and some arms and ammunition. We scouted up and down the River for about thirty-eight days, away back from Junction City [Kimble County] on the big Saline River [maybe Llano River]. We had a running fight with about twenty-five or thirty Indians in which we killed three Indians and captured about seventeen ponies, after which they scattered to the mountains. ..."
.
******************
.
This question is better defined on my web page: http://www.bourlandcivilwar.com/GuthrieBourlandsRegtCoD.htm
.
Patti, prochette@Juno.com
.