USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Vol. IV > Part 7
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"Every desert has its oasis. When the day arrived that Arizona was to have its first Christ-
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
mas tree, and the birth of the Savior was to be fittingly celebrated, there was evidence of much humorous curiosity among the frontiersmen as to how the plan was to be carried out. Where were the goods and wares, toys, candies, and the like to be had? And where were the children to come from to brighten the occasion, as is so cus- tomary in events of this character ? A census was taken and in the skirmish seven eligible 'kids' were rounded up, together with a half a dozen others who were still young, but grown tall. Mr. Rodenburg then got into the theologi- cal harness, and, with an escort of six men went into the woods to get the tree end of the occa- sion. A beautiful fir was secured, and the In- dians permitted the party to return in safety. This tree was erected in Rodenburg's house, and thus was the 'big doings' started. A call was issued to the public for the presents to ornament the tree. In that day, over forty years ago, the stores carried absolutely nothing in the line of toys or trinkets, candies or bonbons, and it was here that the first serious problem confronted the committee. A big stock of brown sugar was purchased, and, with the assistance of a New Orleans negro, three kinds of blackjack were skillfully moulded. This settled the sweet end of the programme, the candy being encased in manilla paper bags glued together with flour paste. The tree must have illumination, so the market was searched for all the tallow candles obtainable. These were cut in two, and after being tied to the limbs with ordinary twine, an- other obstacle was conquered. There was a scarcity of ribbons to give the scene the beauty and brilliancy necessary, but the bottom of every
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EARLY CONDITIONS IN THE TERRITORY.
trunk was scoured among the ladies who had re- cently arrived from the east, and a few bolts were donated. Various crude toys and goods were then manufactured by men conversant with the handling of tools, or skilled in such handi- work. Quite a respectable collection was se- cured in this manner, everybody contributing something that he either could manufacture or purchase. But the most important considera- tion yet faced the committee, and that was to secure music for the event. An inventory of the burg disclosed that there was but one musical instrument to be found-a violin, out of tune, and minus a string. The owner was conversant with but one air-The Arkansaw Traveller. This was humiliating to the directors, but there must be melody, and after the operator was ad- monished to play something half way through and then to repeat it with a change in cadence, the day arrived for the event-Arizona's first Christmas tree.
"The little home was jammed, and the men who usually wore hard-looking countenances, and in their reckless careers were accustomed to the rougher side of human life, recalled the long ago in old New England when they, too, were young, and when they also went up to get what was coming as their names were called out by the Superintendent of the Sunday School. So they weakened, as it were, and each gave him- self up to the spirit of the day with a joyousness that was in harmony with their lives when they were home with the old folks beyond the Rockies. Mr. Rodenburg says that electric bulbs may glow in many colors from the Christmas trees of the present day, trained voices may chant the melo-
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
dies, diamonds and gilt-edged presents may or- nament the garments, children may devour the many colored sweets that are run out by the ton, but that that old blackjack was just as good, that old tree was just as handsome, and above it all there was the genuine and the devoted spirit around that old Christmas tree of long ago that cannot be duplicated, because, he says, we did not mix the occasion then, as they do now, with discrimination and commercialism- we gave them all a run for their money."
Veterans of the First Arizona Volunteer Infantry Company "B," 1865-66.
1. Cheroquis. 2. Moh Ush. 3. Machie Gulack.
5. Chaequetz Am.
6. Hamaware Quineal.
4. Moll Daker.
7. Oh Wan.
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THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
CHAPTER V. THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
GOVERNOR AUTHORIZED TO RAISE REGIMENT- FOUR COMPANIES ORGANIZED - ONE COM- PANY COMPOSED OF PIMA INDIANS-REPORT OF CAPTAIN H. S. WASHBURN-REPORT OF LIEUTENANT OSCAR HUTTON-DISBANDMENT OF COMPANIES-FAILURE TO RECEIVE PAY- BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN J. D. WALKER.
The following is compiled from original papers in the office of the Adjutant-General of the State of Arizona, which he has kindly placed at my disposal. These papers all refer to the organization of the Arizona militia, and their activities during the years 1865 and 1866.
On the 20th of February, 1864, the Governor of Arizona asked authority to raise a regiment of volunteers in Arizona for service for three years, or during the war, in reply to which he received the following letter :
"War Department,
"Provost Marshal General's Office. "Washington, D. C., April 1, 1864. "His Excellency,
"The Governor of Arizona,
"Fort Whipple, Arizona Territory.
"Sir: As requested in your letter of the 20th of February, you are hereby authorized to raise within the territory of Arizona one regiment of volunteer infantry to serve for three years or during the war. The chief mustering officer for the Department of the Pacific will exercise gen- eral superintendence over the recruitment, and
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
to him application should be made for any addi- tional information that may be desired.
"All supplies will be furnished under exist- ing regulations.
"Copies of the necessary regulations will be furnished you by the adjutant-general of the army.
"I am, sir,
"Very respectfully," (No signature.)
On the back of this letter is the endorsement : "Gen. J. H. Carleton, Oct. 4, 1864.
"Mustering officer of dept. of New Mexico will direct mustering of Ariz. Regiment."
Genl. Carleton added the following endorse- ment :
"Headquarters, Dept. of N. Mex.
"Respectfully returned. If the proclamation of the Governor be issued, instructions will be sent from here. Arizona belongs to this depart- ment.
"JAMES H. CARLETON, "Brig. General, Commanding. "Oct. 14, 1864."
Under date of April 16, 1864, the following letter was sent to the Governor:
"War Department,
"Provost Marshal General's Office. "Washington, D. C., Apr. 16, 64. "His Excellency,
"The Governor of Arizona, "Fort Whipple, Arizona.
"Sir: As requested in your letter of the 20th of February, you are hereby authorized to raise,
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THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
within the territory of Arizona, one regiment of Volunteer Infantry to serve for three years or during the war.
"The recruitment, organization and musters of the regiment must conform to that prescribed by existing regulations.
"The Chief Mustering Officer for the Depart- ment of the Pacific will exercise a general super- intendence over the recruitment, and to him ap- plication should be made for any additional in- formation that may be desired.
"All supplies will be furnished under existing regulations.
"Copies of the necessary regulations will be furnished you by the Adjutant-General of the Army.
"I am, sir,
"Very respectfully, "Your Obedient Servant, "JAMES B. FRY, "Provost Marshal General."
For some reason or other this authority to raise a regiment was not exercised until the fol- lowing year, when an effort was made, beginning in June of that year, to raise the regiment as required. In the meantime the commissioners appointed under authority of a bill passed by the First Legislature in 1864, authorizing the raising of a militia for the defence of Arizona against the Indians, and the issuance of bonds therefor, reported that it was impossible to float the bonds in San Francisco, in consequence of which this action was taken.
William H. Garvin was appointed Adjutant- General of the Territory, to whom all reports were made.
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
The records are very imperfect. There was much difficulty in raising men at that time. Those who were ready to enlist, mostly Mexi- cans, were out of employment and willing to take almost any job which would provide them with food and clothing; many of them were leaving the Territory, as, also, were many of the whites. This was particularly the case in the southern part of Arizona.
From the message of the Acting Governor to the Second Legislature, which will be mentioned hereafter, it appears that four companies were organized, one being of Pima Indians, and an- other of Maricopa Indians, the other two com- panies being largely made up of Mexicans. John D. Walker, who afterwards became iden- tified with many industrial interests in the Ter- ritory, was captain of the Pima Indians com- pany; Antonio Azul, a Pima Chief, was their first lieutenant, and W. A. Hancock, who after- wards located in the Salt River Valley and be- came identified with the early settlement of that portion of the Territory, was made second lieu- tenant. The picture on the opposite page is of some of the veterans of this company.
H. S. Washburn was captain of the First Company, which was recruited to its full strength, and Oscar Hutton was second lieu- tenant of the Third Company. I have been un- able to obtain the names of the other officers. These companies were apparently mustered in and mustered out by the Military Department of the Pacific. They were hampered at the start by the want of supplies, arms and am- munition, although it seems that until the latter part of the year 1865, General Mason, who had
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THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
succeeded General Carleton in the command of the Department of Arizona, lent every assist- ance in his power.
The only records of Indian fighting by these companies that I have been able to obtain are as follows :
"Pima Villages, A. T. "April 5th, 1866.
"General :-
"In compliance with your circular of March 30, I have the honor to state that my company is now on detached service at this place per S. O. No. 27, Hd. Qrs. Fort McDowell.
"The company left this place on the 27th ult., accompanied by two hundred and sixty volun- teer Pimas and forty enlisted men of Com- pany B, 1st Inf., A. V. Had a fight with the Apaches on the morning of the 31st, killing twenty-five Apaches, taking sixteen prisoners and eight horses. Had three Pimas wounded, one of whom died on the 1st. My company are armed with Mississippi rifles, worn, and are at present well clothed, but during the first six months service they were not. If the Territory could furnish two hundred carbines and pistols for two companies of mounted Pimas, it would be of great service in ridding this country of Apaches. The arms could be stored here and given to the men when going on campaigns and returned here again on returning, without dan- ger of being lost.
"Yours respectfully, "J. D. WALKER, "Lt. 1st Inf., A. V. "W. H. GARVIN, Adjt. Genl. Ty. Arizona." 7
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
The activities of Captain H. S. Washburn's company, which was recruited in the lower part of the Territory, are given in the following gen- eral report to the Adjutant-General of the Ter- ritory, bearing date September 20th, 1866, which gives a succinct narrative of the services and sufferings of his command up to that date :
"Hd. Qrs. Camp on Clear Creek. "Sept. 20th, 1866. "Adjutant General Garvin,
"Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 6th inst., requesting me to make out a synopsis of my service in the Arizona Volunteers, showing the number of scouts made, the number of Indians killed, prisoners taken, and the condition of my company, and in reply beg leave to say that as early as June last I com- menced a minute report of such character as you have just requested, but the continual press of duties that could not be neglected, have pre- vented,-a rough and hasty report is all that I am now able to prepare.
"On the 24th June, 1865, I received from Gov. Goodwin authority to raise a company of infantry for Indian service in this Territory, to be known as Co. E, together with the appoint- ment of 2nd Lieut., all on the same footing as other Volunteers in the service of the U. S., and was directed to take recruits to the commissary of musters at Tubac, who would subsist them till the company was organized. Eighty men was the minimum, and one hundred, the maximum authorized.
"With this authority I set to work and on the 15th Aug. 1865, eighty men had been sworn in- on the 21st, 96 men had been sworn in. From
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THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
the first the company was in command of Lt. Wm. L. Innes, Cal. Vols .; I could not be recog- nized as an officer until formally mustered into the service, which did not occur until the 3rd November, '65. While at Tubac, the men had to put up their own quarters or lay out in the heavy drenching rains, which soon engendered fevers, so that by the 20th Aug., 20 or 30 cases had occurred. On the 23rd the company was ordered to Fort Mason, 15 miles higher up on the Santa Cruz. Sufficient transportation was furnished and the transfer made in one day. Here new shelters had to be built, and a detail of ten to twenty men was required to aid in the construction of Post Quarters. Meantime sick- ness increased fearfully, and often to fill the de- tails made upon me, required more or less of the sick. I had from the first asked, begged and pleaded to be kept in the field, hunting Indians, and not making adobies, that not being the ser- vice for which my company was intended. This, the commanding officer assured me, should be done as soon as the men could be mustered into the service and clothed.
"At Tubac I had been promised that the cloth- ing would arrive in ten days. Thus things con- tinued till very soon the sickly and ragged con- dition of Company E made them the laughing stock of their countrymen far and near. On the 29th October, a small amount of clothing was issued, and on the 2nd November, 97 men were mustered into the service of the U. S. as Company E, 1st Infantry, as Volunteers, and very soon after received a tolerable supply of clothing. On the 3rd November, Lt. Manuel Gallegos was mustered in as 2nd Lieut., John
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
Van Der Mehn as 1st Lieut., and myself as Cap- tain. The 1st Lieut., who had in no way as- sisted to recruit the company, left the next morning without reporting to me, and has never done one moment's service in or for the com- pany to my knowledge. A slight variation of duty was now made for Company E. The officers were recognized as such, and a portion of the detail or fatigue parties were changed to guard duty. Owing to the frightful amount of sickness among the whole command, the duties of the well or those who were able to be up. became very onerous-for more than a week 1 served as officer of the day every other day, and that at a post where there were eight companies nearly all fully officered. For a long time some of the Cal. Companies could not muster more than seven to eleven men at roll-call. I have omitted to mention that while stationed at Tubac, two recruits were sent to the San An- tonio mine to recruit more men-three citizens accompanied them-just at night they came upon three Apaches driving a small band of stock from Sonora towards the White Moun- tains; an attack was made, one Indian was shot down and one captured-the other escaped. The stock consisted of a few jackasses, cattle and horses, which, with the prisoner, were taken to San Antonio mine. The prisoner, after being questioned closely, was delivered to Corp. Fran- cisco Rodriguez and a private, both of Company E, who took them four or five miles, where laid the bones of a Mexican, killed a short time be- fore by the Apaches. After being reminded of the barbarous warfare he and his people were waging against all around them, the captive's
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THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
spirit was soon sent a 'marching on' in search of one, who perhaps, this very Indian had assisted about two weeks before to inhumanly murder, at the same time stealing from the San Antonio mine a much larger number of stock than that now captured from them-also stolen. In October, 32 men Company E, and 8 men Com- pany F, under command of Lt. Gallegos, were sent in pursuit of a band of Apaches who had stolen 35 head of stock from the Cerro Colorado mine. Lt. G. and party were absent eight days without seeing an Indian-he attributed his ill success to the timidity and cowardice of a citizen guide. This was all the field service done by the company in the lower part of the Territory. All of November was occupied in labor on the quarters and guard duty. On the 4th Decem- ber, orders were received to report with my com- pany to headquarters at Prescott. On the next morning the march commenced with a sick list of 29 men. All had been down at least once, but only one death had as yet occurred. Trans- portation was furnished only for the baggage, so that most of the sick had to walk with the well. A corporal and two men had been sent in search of a deserter, with orders to join their company immediately after their return. Six men had deserted on account of the order to go north. Arrived at Tucson on the 4th day- found all the sick improving but two, who were worse; applied to commanding officer of that post to have them cared for-this was refused- took them both on, and that night one of them died. Left the other one, after much entreaty, with the station keeper at Point of the Moun- tains, and he died the same week. No further
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
accident of moment occurred till we struck the snows at Skull Valley. From there to Fort Whipple there was much suffering and one or two slightly frost bitten. Arrived at Fort Whipple on the 29th December, making the march in 26 days, including one day's detention at Tucson for rations, two at Maricopa Wells, and one at Date Creek, all from the same cause. This even beats mail time, for on the 17th of this month, I received a letter from Ft. Mason, dated August 4th, 1866-18 days behind Co. E's marching time to Fort Whipple, and not deduct- ing the 4 days detention, not an unusual sample of the Arizona mail service on any of the routes since 1861. At Fort Whipple the cold was ex- treme, no quarters for the men, whose condition was truly pitiable. They bore all patiently and manfully, and on the 4th January, 1866, were glad to hear the order for march to Camp Lin- coln. This order occasioned no desertions. Only two had to be left at the hospital, who, to the end of their lives, will bless Doctor Chitter, and the old hospital at Fort Whipple for the good care and medical attendance shown them. The march to Camp Lincoln was a dreadfully tedious one, owing to the wagons being loaded to twice the capacity of the mules-the bad roads-bad weather, and Grief Hill, where we were detained three days by rain. Did not ar- rive at Camp Lincoln with the last of the com- mand till the 16th January, which is still ahead of many instances of mail service in Arizona. Here we remained preparing the best temporary quarters that circumstances would permit, till the attacks a few miles above Camp Lincoln, when Lieut. Gallegos and 38 men Company E,
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THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
were ordered in pursuit of the Indians, and returned on the 31st without meeting with the Indians. On the same day, 31st, I was ordered to receive and receipt for all the public property at Camp Lincoln, both commissary and quarter- master, and next day, by ten o'clock, the com- mand of the post had changed to my hands. The command consisted of Company A, Lt. Cervantes, 35 men, and Company E, 88 men and one second Lieut. There were no shoes on hand, and but a small supply of provisions. By means of buckskin and rawhide, moccasins were soon substituted for shoes, and on the 11th, Lt. Gallegos and 45 men, Company E, left the post with 5 days' rations, to go back on their last scout to the Indian trail running east, and following it in search of the enemy. The sec- ond night out Indian fires were discovered and preparations made for an attack, which com- menced just after daylight, and lasted some two or three hours. The Indians being fortified in caves, had greatly the advantage. The lower caves, however, were all taken, and every occu- pant killed or taken prisoner. Lt. Gallegos, finding that the upper caves could not be taken without some sacrifice, concluded to withdraw. Thirty Indians were killed outside of the caves. and nearly as many more within. Twelve pris- oners were taken, two of whom afterwards died. Six men were wounded, none dangerously. A large number of buckskins and other articles of Indian use were taken. Their commissary was found to be much better supplied than ours, but we were unable to pack off more than was needed for present use, for lack of transportation; in- deed, no transportation was used on this or any
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
other scout. The scout occupied but four days' time, and on its return I had to leave immedi- ately to get provisions for the next issue on the 20th. Fearing that I might not be successful, I left orders to issue only half rations on the 20th. This most of the men refused to accept, and were on the point of disbanding and leaving in a body. By much difficulty they were pre- vailed upon to wait until a messenger could be sent to me. Fortunately a temporary supply of provisions had arrived at Fort Whipple, so that I was able to return and quell the discon- tent in camp, which came near being a very ser- ious affair. Provisions, however, arrived on the 25th, barely in time to keep off starvation, and to bring which required the efforts of 21 men, commissioned officers and privates, from the 18th to the 25th inclusive. On the 26th Private Roque Ramirez had permission to go hunting, and after his return at roll call, went out fishing, and next morning was found dead in the river about one mile below the post. He was killed by Indians, and his arms, clothing and ammunition all taken. During all the in- terval from the return of the last scout, prepara- tions were being made for another scout, and on the 1st March, Lt. Gallegos and 60 men were dispatched eastward with five days' rations, without transportation, in search of the enemy, and returned on the 6th without seeing an In- dian. Two very important items were lacking, one was a good guide, and also lances, the rifles furnished Company E having no bayonets. Application had previously been made for both, but the want of them was never so forcibly felt as on this scout. On the 20th, Lt. Cervantes,
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THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
with 26 men, all Company A, set out in accord- ance with previous orders, to find, if possible, and chastise the enemy. On the next day Lt. Gallegos, Company E, and 56 men, followed in a different direction. On the 25th Lt. Cer- vantes returned with two prisoners, and re- ported having attacked a rancheria and killing four Indians. On the 27th Lt. Gallegos and party returned, having found a small rancheria, but, being discovered, had only a fruitless chase through the brush and rocks. On the 11th March, I set out from Camp Lincoln with 27 men, Company E, for Fort Whipple, for provi- sions, and, taking unfrequented roads through the mountains to the northward of the travelled road, about midday unexpectedly surprised a rancheria, killing six Indians and taking one prisoner. Same expedition resulted in finding a much better route for wagons into and out of the Rio Verde Valley. Provisions were again procured in limited supply, and a speedy return effected to Camp Lincoln. Nearly the whole of this month was lost for the want of provisions in sufficient quantity to justify the undertaking of even a five days' scout. Nearly an average of 30 men, Company E, were kept on detached service, transporting provisions in small lots as I could get them. Twelve men had to be kept at the Clear Creek settlement, which, excepting during the months of March and April, was fur- nished by Company A. The month of May, until the 23rd, was passed in the same hand to mouth way of getting provisions, when Lt. Gal- legos was again dispatched with 60 men on an eight days' scout. On the 29th they returned, having seen no Indians on the expedition, and
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
scarcely a sign of them, although they were ordered in the direction where many smokes and fires had been seen by a previous scouting party. On the 31st I had to leave the command again for provisions, taking with me 15 men for escort purposes. Arrived at Ft. Whipple on the 1st June, and next day loaded up ten pack animals with provisions, also taking five beeves. The whole were entrusted to Sergt. Miguel Elias, with precautionary instructions to be prepared at all times against surprise and at- tack. Notwithstanding this, on the 3rd, while descending Grief Hill, the Indians suddenly attacked the whole party, in three divisions of 20 or 30 Indians in each, severely wounding the sergeant and slightly wounding one private at the first fire. The Indians captured the five beeves, killed two of the mules on the spot, and de- stroyed several of the packs of provisions. The escort all escaped, taking in eight of the mules and their packs in time to prevent starvation in camp. Before two hours Lieut. Gallegos, with 30 men, was on the ground, but the Indians had all escaped to the northward, packing off all the mule meat and destroying the pack sad- dles and provisions on the mules. He followed them until dark; their route lay over a black volcanic rocky country so that it was impossi- ble to follow them, there being no moon. On the next day I arrived with 30 days' supplies, and on the 15th dispatched Lt. Gallegos and 54 men on a scout to the northwest, in hopes of finding these Indians in their homes and by this time unsuspecting any pursuit. In this I was disappointed as they had not stopped at their old homes, but left one or two of their com-
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