USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Vol. V > Part 12
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I append a table of approximate distances, from source to mouth of the Rio Colorado, col- lected from the most authentic sources, 925 miles of which were traversed and measured by Major J. W. Powell :
APPROXIMATE DISTANCES BY RIVER. GREEN RIVER.
Miles Total in Miles.
Intermediate.
From headwaters of Green River to Green River Crossing (on the U. P. R. R.) about. . 130 130
Through valley to mouth of
Henry's Fork 60 190
Through Uintah series of Canyons 70
260
Through valley past mouths of
Uintah and White rivers ..... 50 310
Through Lower Green River sys- tem of canyons to junction of Green and Grand 190 500
181
EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS.
RIO COLORADO.
Miles Intermediate.
Total in Miles.
Through Cataract Canyon
45
545
Through Mound Canyon 7
552
Through Narrow Canyon to mouth
of San Juan River
68
620
Through Monument Canyon to
mouth of Paria River. .100 720
Through Marble Canyon to mouth
of Little Colorado
36
756
Through Grand Canyon. 238
994
Through valley to mouth of Virgen 43
18
1,055
Fort Mojave
75
1,130
The Needles
25
1,155
Mouth of Bill Williams's Fork
60
1,215
Fort Yuma 190
1,405
Head of the Gulf of California .150 1,555
1,037
Through Callville
This was the first scientific investigation ever made of the Grand Canyon. Major Powell made a second expedition two years later, full accounts of which have been written by F. S. Dellenbaugh in two books entitled "The Ro- mance of the Colorado River," and "A Canyon Voyage."
Dellenbaugh brands White's story as a fab- rication, but the fact remains that White was taken up at Callville in an exhausted condition. Everyone who knew W. H. Hardy, who is quoted as one of the persons who interviewed White, knows that the old gentleman was the last man on earth to be imposed upon by any fictitious story. According to White's story, a few days
182
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
before arriving at Callville, he was drawn out of the water by a band of Indians. These In- dians were, unquestionably the Havasupais, who had inhabited that portion of the Colorado Canyon for many years, how long, no one knows. Whipple, in his survey in 1854-55, speaks of them, and they are cultivating the same land to this day. White was by no means a boaster. He was a quiet, industrious, peaceable man, and after recovering his health, his only ambition was to return to his old home in Wisconsin. I would not detract from the laurels Major Powell has honestly earned. He was an indefatigable explorer and scientist, and as this history pro- ceeds it will be shown that he did much for the conquest of the arid West.
183
THE MILITARY.
CHAPTER IX. THE MILITARY.
GENERAL MASON'S REPORT-DIFFERENT INDIAN TRIBES-FORTS IN ARIZONA-GENERAL Mc- DOWELL'S REPORT - PRAISE FOR ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS - EXPEDITIONS AGAINST IN- DIANS-CONDITIONS IN ARIZONA BY MAJOR GENERAL HALLECK.
General John S. Mason's report shows the condition of the Territory at the time he as- sumed command, and the necessity for vigorous operations on the part of the military. His recommendations were certainly wise so far as the employment of Arizona native troops for operation against the hostiles were concerned. All subsequent commanders for several years afterwards agreed with him that the native troops, Papagoes, Pimas, Mexicans, and also volunteers of our own race, were more effective in the Indian warfare than were two or three times the number of regular troops.
Tucson, at that time, according to General 'Mason's statement, was but little more than a village, and, while in the northern part of the Territory, and along the Colorado in the neigh- borhood of Yuma, there was quite a large popula- tion of whites and others, yet in all their enter- prises they lacked the protection of the Govern- ment. General Mason was superseded before he had an opportunity to make effective the policy outlined by him in this report, which follows :
184
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
"HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF ARI- ZONA.
"Camp on the Rio Gila, Sacaton, April 29, 1866. "SIR: In compliance with your letter of the 30th ultimo, I have the honor to submit the fol- lowing report of operations in this district since I assumed command of the same in May last.
"Before leaving San Francisco, neither the general commanding the department nor myself could learn anything definite as to the actual number of troops in the Territory, their status, nor the state of their supplies; but we were as- sured there were small garrisons at Fort Whipple near Prescott; Fort Goodwin on the Upper Gila; Fort Bowie at Apache Pass, and at Tubac.
"The seventh California infantry volunteers, four companies of native California cavalry volunteers, and one company of the first Cali- fornia cavalry volunteers, were assigned to duty in the district. They commenced leaving San Francisco in April, and the last arrived in September. Supplies for six months, for the troops destined for service south of the Gila and east of Tucson, were sent to Guaymas, to be hauled through Sonora to the depot to be es- tablished at Tubac. Three months' supplies for the post at Fort Yuma, and those north of the Gila, were sent direct to Fort Yuma by water. It was understood before I left San Francisco that the companies of the seventh in- fantry would be distributed as follows : one com- pany at Fort Mojave, two at Fort Yuma, four at Calabasas, or at some point near the site of
185
THE MILITARY.
old Fort Buchanan, and three at Fort Mc- Dowell, a post to be established north of the Gila, and near the country of the Tonto Apaches. The four companies of native cavalry were to be stationed at the post near Fort Bu- chanan, and the company of the First Cali- fornia cavalry at my headquarters, which we then supposed would be at Prescott. On my ar- rival at Drum barracks, learning that the gar- rison at Prescott was weak, I sent one of the companies intended for Fort Yumna to that point. On my arrival at Fort Yuma, on May - , a deputation of citizens of La Paz, a town on the Colorado river, about midway between Fort Yuma and Mohave, waited upon me with an urgent request for troops at that point, in- forming me that the mails, and, in fact, all intercourse with the interior was entirely cut off; that Prescott and Wickenburg were sur- rounded by bands of hostile Indians, out of supplies; that all the farmers had left their farms, and the whole road was deserted, and the garrison was too small to render any assistance. I ordered a company of infantry to proceed at once by steamer to La Paz, with orders to pro- ceed to a point on Date creek, and establish a camp. I enclose a copy of instructions given to the officer in command, marked "A." The stores shipped via Guaymas were not permitted to land at that point. The vessel brought them to Fort Yuma, and we were compelled to haul them from there to their destination. Much difficulty and delay was experienced on account of the very limited amount of transportation in the Territory. My want of knowledge of the
186
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
nature and extent of the Territory, of the num- ber of hostile Indians and their haunts, and the fact that I could find no person who knew much more on the subject than I did, determined me to visit as much of the district as I possibly could before either going to Prescott, the Capi- tal, or establishing my headquarters at any point.
"Governor John Goodwin accompanied me on this tour. On our arrival at the Pima vil- lages, he made arrangements to raise two com- panies of Pima and Maricopa Indians for the Arizona volunteers; also, for a company of Mexicans at Tucson, and one at Tubac for the same regiment. The result of observations on my tour led me to the following conclusions : That the country bordering on the Colorado river was inhabited by the Yuma, Chemehua- vies, Mohave, and Pinto tribes or nations of In- dians, at peace with the whites. Between these tribes and Prescott and Wickenburg were the Hualapais, on the north, and the Yavapais south ; both wild Indians who had seen but little of the whites, and who would not hesitate to attack small parties, although overtures for peace had been made by them.
"The country east of Prescott, to the eastern line of the Territory, and north of the Gila, is inhabited by the Tonto, Pinal, Sierra Blanca, and Coyotero Apaches; in fact, most of the hos- tile Indians dwell north of the Gila river, or in the mountains contiguous to that stream, and east of the Rio Verde. One small but very hos- tile band, probably the very worst Indians on
187
THE MILITARY.
the continent-Cochese's band-dwell in the Chiricahua and Huachuca ranges of mountains.
"At the time of my arrival in the district, I believe every ranch had been deserted south of the Gila. The town of Tubac was entirely de- serted, and the town of Tucson had but about two hundred souls. North of the Gila, the roads were completely blockaded; the ranches, with but one or two exceptions, abandoned, and most of the settlements were threatened with either abandonment or annihilation. The mere es- tablishments of posts in the vicinity of the set- tlements is of no practical importance. The Apaches, differing from almost all other In- dians, in consequence of the difficulty of sub- sisting large parties, or of finding sufficient water, make their forages in small parties, join- ing forces at such points as they may have agreed on before hand, then separating again after an attack. The nature of the country is such that from the isolated mountains in the midst of extended plains they can watch the approach of any party, and as, from the great scarcity of water, they can always prepare an ambuscade, they seldom or never attack parties who are prepared or watchful, but depend en- tirely upon a surprise. If they fail in this they give up the fight. They are the most expert thieves in the world, having stolen from the people of Sonora for generations. They can come in small parties and steal stock almost in sight of the posts. To pursue them is useless. Soon they reach the rugged mountains, scatter into small parties, and can then defy either our infantry or cavalry; consequently I concluded
188
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
that the only true way to obtain a peace was to push into the country where they lived, where they had their wives and children, and their winter's supply of provisions and by destroying their rancherias and provisions in midwinter compel them to sue for peace. With this idea in view I issued a general order for a united and vigorous campaign.
"Colonel Wright, with eight small companies of his regiment arrived in October last. Col- onel Wright with five companies, was sent to reoccupy old Fort Breckenridge now known as Fort Grant; and Colonel Pollock with the re- maining companies, was sent to Fort Goodwin. Both posts have done a great deal for their sec- tions of the Territory, being admirably located with reference to hostile Apaches. The post at Fort Grant will enable settlers to come in on the rich valley of the San Pedro. That at Fort Goodwin protects such Indians as may give themselves up and come to terms. The troops were at their stations, and the increase of ex- pense to keep them on the move but trifling. Owing to several causes the results have not been as great as anticipated; the great trouble in bringing up supplies ; the disinclination of some of the volunteer troops, who expected hourly to be ordered home, to take long scouts in mid- winter; the extreme severity of the winter it- self, the thermometer ranging as low as 14º below zero for days; the snow at a depth of twenty inches; and, finally, the withdrawal of volunteers and substitution of regulars at a time that broke into the campaign, when we expected the most success-using that time in
189
THE MILITARY.
making the transfer instead of scouting-all have tended to prevent great results; yet some- thing has been done. A few days ago I for- warded a synopsis of the scouts made, and a map of the country showing the stations of the troops.
"I am satisfied that the only true policy is that at present adopted. By pressing the In- dians from all points, and giving them a reserva- tion where they can be protected and fed, we will succeed in the end. Already we have near nine hundred Indians on the reservation at Fort Goodwin, and they are reported as coming in daily. The Yavapais during the year have been induced to abandon their country and come in with the Mohaves. The Hualapais are de- sirous of doing the same thing, unless the late report of their murder by whites be considered a cause for renewal of hostilities. Numbers of the Tonto Apaches are moving down into the junction of the Gila and Colorado with the Yuma. The different valleys have been reoc- cupied, many new settlements have been started, and the year promises much for the develop- ment of the Territory. The troops now here are inadequate for the service. The district is immensely large, the distance over which sup- plies have to be hauled very great, requiring strong escorts to guard the trains, and with the very small number of men in the different com- panies, and but one officer with each company, most of the posts, for the present, can do but little more than hold their posts and escort their supply trains.
190
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
"Efforts are being made to throw in a grass supply at once, which will enable us to dispense with many escorts. The different posts now occupied are mere cantonments, no money hav- ing been expended in their erection, so that should it be deemed advisable to abandon any of them and curtail operations in the district, there would be but very little actual loss to the government. I would recommend that au- thority be given to raise two or three companies of mounted scouts from the men who have been raised on the Sonora frontier, and have been fighting Apaches for years-men who are ac- customed to travel for days with a little pinole and dried beef, and who can follow a trail with the certainty of an Indian. Such companies would, in my judgment, do more efficient ser- vice than thrice the number of regulars.
"Your obedient servant, "JOHN S. MASON,
"Brig. Gen. Volunteers, Commanding District of Arizona.
"Brevet Brigadier General R. C. DRUM,
"A. A. G., Department of California, San Francisco.
"Official : "JOHN P. SHERBURNE, A. A. G.
"Official :
"JAMES B. FRY, A. A. G."
As we have seen, a strong effort was made by the people of Arizona to continue in the service the Arizona volunteers, who had proved the most valuable aid to the military in subduing the hostile Indians. General McDowell, in his
191
THE MILITARY.
annual report to the Secretary of War for the year 1866, speaks in high commendation of the Arizona volunteers.
This report on conditions in Arizona was : "The regular troops in this district consist of the first and third battalions of the fourteenth infantry, four companies of the first United States cavalry, and one company of the second United States artillery. Until very recently there were also several companies and frag- ments of companies of Arizona volunteers. The latter have been ordered to be mustered out on the expiration of their year's term of service, and most, if not all, have by this time been dis- charged. They were the most effective troops for the service in that country that we have had, and have done more than all the others together. In fact, it is not too much to say that they only within the last year have inflicted any consider- able injury on the hostile Apaches. The regu- lar troops, used to a different kind of warfare, unused to the kind of life necessary to obtain any results against the Indians in Arizona, seem to acquire very slowly the experience necessary to enable them to be effective for offensive operations.
"There has been a good deal of uneasiness within the year at several points along the river, particularly at La Paz, the mouth of Bill Will- iams's fork, Hardyville, and El Dorado Canyon, and it has been impossible to furnish the pro- tection asked for, except to a limited extent. The hostility existing between the River In- dians and certain bands of the Pi-Utes and Chemehuevis has caused alarm to the white in-
192
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
habitants who have been and are, friendly to the Mohaves. The killing of the head chief, Waba Yuma, of the Hualapais, by some whites on the road from Hardyville to Prescott, has also unsettled the good relations heretofore existing with those Indians.
"The hostilities on the road from Camp Cady to Fort Mojave with the Pi-Utes seem to have extended their effects to the Indians of that or kindred tribes further to the north and there have been offensive movements against the im- portant mining settlements at El Dorado can- yon. This has given alarm to those engaged in the enterprise of opening a line of trade by way of the Colorado river to Utah, and they fear their boat with its supplies may be in dan- ger. At their repeated and earnest request I have ordered a guard of ten men to be detached from Fort Mojave to be stationed for sixty days in El Dorado canyon. This, I since learn, will take every man, not on special duty, away from the post, the others being absent escorting cattle to Fort Whipple.
"The Indians, who have heretofore been quiet on the road from La Paz to Prescott, and have confined themselves to limits prescribed by the military commander and Indian Superinten- dent, were found in large numbers beyond their limits in Skull valley. It is claimed they were there with hostile intent, and that they attacked a private train under escort of some Arizona volunteers. The result was an engagement, in which a large number of Indians were killed and wounded; it remains to be seen whether enough to subdue the tribe, or only to reflame it.
193
THE MILITARY.
"The Arizona volunteers, heretofore sta- tioned in Skull valley, having been mustered out of service, their place has been supplied by the company of the fourteenth infantry, from Date Creek, and the stations at the latter place and at Wickenburg have been abandoned.
"The post of Camp Lincoln, on the Upper Verde, has proved so favorable for operations against the Apaches that it will be maintained by a company of the fourteenth infantry, though the force, both in quality for this kind of ser- vice, and quantity, will not replace the volun- teers whose places they take.
"The post at Fort Whipple, near Prescott, will be kept up for the present.
"The post at Fort McDowell, on the Lower Verde, now occupied by three companies of the fourteenth infantry and one company of the first cavalry, has, together with the post of Camp Lincoln, inflicted so severe a chastisement in repeated combats with the Apaches, that they have compelled them to beg for peace. This, heretofore, has been offered them on condition they would go to the place reserved for Indian prisoners at Fort Goodwin. But they repre- sent that they are at enmity with the Fort Good- win bands, and cannot live with them.
"I am not sure they are sincere in their de- sire for peace ; but as they may be, and as I have now lost the force most competent to further chastise them, I have given instructions to grant them peace on the terms proposed to them by the late excellent commander of Fort McDowell, which will provide for their coming in as pris- V-13
194
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
oners, in the vicinity of that station, and there plant and keep the peace with the whites and their allies, the Gila Indians, the Pimas and Maricopas.
"The post of Fort Grant, (two companies of the fourteenth infantry) at the mouth of the San Pedro, has been recently destroyed by the floods of the river, and the station has been re- moved to the site of old Fort Breckenridge. I hope soon to change it to the heart of the Apache country, where the climate may prove healthy, and there is an abundance of wood and grass, as well as pure mountain water.
"The post of Fort Goodwin, occupied by three companies of the fourteenth infantry, is the place I have assigned for such of the Apaches as have surrendered themselves, and claim to wish to live in peace with the whites. At times several hundred have been on the res- ervation, but the difficulty of at all times hav- ing supplies for them has made it necessary to relax the rule for their constant presence, that they might lay in a store of mescal, etc., for food. This may have been taken advantage of in some instances to escape and commit depre- dations on the settlements. I do not expect in one season to reform a people whose whole life has been one of plunder, but I have no doubt that a combined system of kindness, when they do well, and chastisement when they do ill, will have the same effect on Apaches as it has on other men, as well as animals.
"Owing to sickness in the valley, the small post on the San Pedro, above Fort Grant, has been abandoned.
195
THE MILITARY.
"The camp on the upper San Pedro, near Barbecoma, is still maintained as a protection for the settlements, as are also the stations at Fort Bowie and Tucson. The companies sta- tioned at Fort Mason, (so called) on the upper Santa Cruz near Calabasas, have been tempo- rarily removed (by the district commander, on account of sickness) to the vicinity of old Fort Buchanan, whether to any good purpose re- mains to be seen.
"The cost of transportation is so great into Arizona that I have felt it good economy to do everything possible to raise, and stimulate others to raise, supplies in the country.
"I am glad to say that the experiment of a government farm on a large scale in the valley of the Verde, at Fort McDowell, has proved a success, and an abundant crop of corn and sorg- hum is about to be harvested, to be followed by a second crop of small grain.
"Like results are expected from the farm ordered to be opened at Fort Goodwin, so I hope that next year will show a reduction in the cost of maintaining the troops, to be followed by re- ductions in every succeeding year, for there is an abundance of good arable land in the country to support a large population.
"A great drawback to the service in the de- partment is the lack of officers, both staff and regimental.
"There should be at least four officers of the quartermaster's department in Arizona alone. There are but two there now, and they belong to the volunteer service and will undoubtedly soon be mustered out.
196
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
"The lack of company officers is such that at times companies are without a commissioned officer. At one time a post of two companies in Arizona had only one officer, a subaltern, to command the post, the two companies, and do the duty of quartermaster and commissary.
"Under authority given me from division headquarters to raise a hundred Indian scouts, I have directed the district commander in Ari- zona to enlist seventy Pimas and Maricopas and twenty tame Apaches."
The most important military expedition against the Apaches during the year 1866 was commanded by George B. Sanford, Captain 1st U. S. Cavalry, the official report of which fol- lows :
"HEADQUARTERS FORT McDOWELL,
"Arizona Territory, November 20, 1866.
"I have the honor to submit the following report of the expedition against the hostile Apaches, made in compliance with Special Orders No. 119, dated Headquarters, Fort Mc- Dowell, Arizona Territory, November 10, 1866.
"The expedition was composed as follows:
"Captain George B. Sanford, company E. first United States cavalry, commanding.
"First Lieutenant Camillio C. C. Carr, Com- pany E, first United States cavalry.
"Company E, first United States cavalry, (47 enlisted men).
"One enlisted man of company B, fourteenth United States infantry accompanied the com- mand, as acting hospital steward.
197
THE MILITARY.
"Mr. Max Strobel, accompanied the expedi- tion as a volunteer.
"Eight (8) Maricopa and five (5) Pima Indians also volunteered for the expedition.
"Mr. Thomas Ewing acted as guide. Total sixty-five (65).
"The rations consisted of pinole, jerked beef and coffee, which were carried by the men on their saddles. Four pack-mules were taken, but they were so lightly loaded that they were able to keep up with the command at a gallop. None of them carried one hundred pounds, and they might have been dispensed with entirely, but I wished to have some extra animals along in case any of the soldiers' horses should break down or be wounded.
"WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 .- The expedition left Fort McDowell just as the sun was setting. Crossed the Rio Verde, and marched on the Pima trail to a small valley on Sycamore (or, it is sometimes called, Cañon) creek, where we camped. The camp was reached at 10 p. m. Distance from the fort, twenty-five (25) miles; direction, northeast. Wood, water and grass in abundance. The valley was so situated that it was almost impossible for the Apaches to dis- cover us, without coming right into the camp.
"NOVEMBER 15 .- Remained in camp all day, grazing the animals. At sunset saddled up and marched through Sunflower valley, and over the Mazatzal mountains, crossing the ridge by the pass at the North Mazatzal. Camped at 11:15 p. m. in a cañon about two (2) miles from Tonto creek. Distance from last camp, twenty-one (21) miles. Water and grass good.
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