USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Vol. V > Part 15
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"Arizona was placed under my command in the spring of 1865, and has been under me a little over two years. I visited it as soon as I was able, and I believe I have seen more of it than any department commander ever has; more, I venture to say, than the commander of the de- partment of Missouri has of New Mexico, or the commander of the Gulf has of Texas, or than either of them is likely to see of those countries in the next five years.
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"I do not concur in the idea thrown out that I am to visit every post in my department, once a year, if not oftener ; I think I have done more of this than is usual; I would do more of it than I do, if I consulted merely my personal inclina- tions; but I find my presence is more needed, constantly, at headquarters than at any one post of my command. If I am absent my adjutant general or aide must do much in my name with- out being able to consult me. It should be as little expected of me as that the division com- mander should visit all the division every two years.
"As an argument for having Arizona under one commander, he refers to the time it took him to make an inspection of the posts in that coun- try, eighty-four days. Of this time but ten to fourteen days were necessary to reach Arizona, and as many to reach this place from that coun- try. It was the very fact he mentions, the time it takes to go from one end of Arizona to the other, and the bad results that came of having a commander, even in a central point like Saca- ton, who was to control points, places, and frontiers he could not readily communicate with, that caused the making of several smaller districts, within each of which the commander could be free to act at once, without the necessity of referring to any one on any matter connected with his active field operations.
"This is entirely practicable in Arizona, where no concert of action of any moment exists or is likely to arise on the part of the Indians, who are dispersed over a large extent of broken country, and there is nothing more required of
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the commander than activity and energy in his movements, and a thorough study of the coun- try and the habits of hostile Indians.
"The district commanders have no restric- tion placed on them by me in any matter con- cerning their movements against those hostile Indians. Their contracts have to come here for my approval, as they would have to do in any case for that of the division commander. Administrative questions connected with the care of public property, money and accounts, have to come here for the same reason.
"Courts are not assembled often in Arizona for the same reason that they are not in Nevada and northern California-the want of officers. The remedy for this is not with me, and would not be with a commander at Sacaton.
"So, at one time since I have had command, there was no mail communication whatever be- tween Arizona and New Mexico, and letters be- tween the Territories went by way of Denver and Utah.
"As to the suggestion made, of mounting in- fantry, I will not repeat here what I have already said on the subject.
"The assistant inspector general writes with much emphasis as to the necessity of providing storehouses, hospitals, and quarters for troops in Arizona. He has specially referred to this subject in each of his reports, and he is sus- tained in his general proposition, that increased protection in the way of buildings for men and property should be given, by the recommenda- tion of General Crittenden, and in fact most if not all the district commanders in the Territory.
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General Crittenden says as follows in an en- dorsement on estimate of the commander of Camp Wallen :
"'I am perfectly convinced, since my arrival in the district, that the troops at all posts in this district should be quartered in adobe buildings, for both the health of the troops and as a matter of economy to the government. Indeed I think it is impossible for the troops to retain their health while in tents, especially during the sum- mer season.'
"With respect to this I transcribe the follow- ing from the instructions to Colonel Lovell, of November 8, 1866, in answer to a letter from the commanding officer of Camp Wallen, recom- mending the erection of buildings at that place, the one concerning which General Crittenden makes the recommendation I have quoted :
"'By orders of April 23, 1866 (Special Or- ders No. 80), the troops ordered to the upper San Pedro were directed to go into camp, or provide themselves with such shelters as can be made with the means at hand by the labor of men.
" 'The camp was established May 10, and yet up to September nothing seems to have been done by any one in Arizona towards providing these shelters for the men, such as have been made hitherto throughout this country, from Washington Territory to the Sonora line.
" 'The troops, wherever sent, have always soon made themselves comfortable by their offi- cers' direction, and by their own labor, and hutted themselves in the same way prospecting miners have done, and are continually doing,
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by the use of stone, wood, adobes, poles placed upright and filled in with clay, turf, sods, reeds, willows, etc., and this in places more destitute than at Camp Wallen.
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" 'You will order that, in making these shel- ters, the commanding officer shall put them up in the order of time prescribed in General Or- ders No. 39, for the huts to be built at the camp to be established northeast from Fort McDowell, (Camp Reno). The same provisions as to extra pay to the enlisted men, therein made, will apply in the case of the new camp.'
"I have not authorized more permanent quar- ters than those which the men could make by their own labor, with the materials at hand, be- cause it was not known, nor could it be ascer- tained at once where permanent posts would be required.
"The population in this country is so fluctuat- ing (on account of the uncertainty of mining operations), that it frequently happens that be- fore a permanent post is finished the necessity for it has ceased."
The recommendations of the Inspector-Gen- eral that a division commander with headquar- ters in Arizona, be appointed, were afterwards adopted when General Crook was placed in com- mand with full authority to direct the campaign according to his judgment without interference from a superior officer twelve hundred miles re- moved from the theater of conflict.
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
CHAPTER XI. THE MILITARY (Continued).
GENERAL ORDERS AS TO LOCATION OF TROOPS IN ARIZONA - REMARKS OF GENERAL Mc- DOWELL - EASY TIMES FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS - GENERAL GREGG ORDERS THAT ALL INDIANS OFF RESERVATIONS BE TREATED AS HOSTILES-INTERFERENCE WITH ORDER BY INDIAN AGENT DENT - GENERAL GREGG'S ORDER COUNTERMANDED BY GENERAL MCDOWELL - GENERAL MCDOWELL CRITI- CISED BY GOVERNOR MCCORMICK-GENERAL MCDOWELL'S SECOND ANNUAL REPORT-RE- PORTS EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS.
"(General Orders No. 39.)
"HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF
CALIFORNIA.
"San Francisco, Cal., October 31, 1866.
"I. The troops heretofore at Fort Grant, and, since the flood there, at the site of old Fort Breckenridge, will be withdrawn from those places, and the stations there abandoned. The public property and stores will be sent, under the direction of the district commander, to such other stations as may be best for the service. The troops will be sent to Fort McDowell, and thence will proceed to establish themselves, as soon as practicable, at the most eligible point beyond the Sierra Ancha, in what has been called Meadow Valley, about eighty-five miles
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northeast from Fort McDowell. This place is reported to have good water, an abundance of grass, oak, and pine wood, and some arable land. It is in the midst of the hostile Apaches, and is at present inaccessible to wagons. The district commander is specially charged with the duty of seeing that timely supplies of quartermasters' subsistence, and medical stores and ordnance are sent to Fort McDowell, and afterwards to the new post, for this command.
"II. Preliminary to establishing themselves as above, the companies will proceed to make a good trail from Fort McDowell to their new station, to be improved as far and as soon as possible into a wagon road.
"III. The huts and shelters at the camp will be made by the labor of the enlisted men from the materials at hand, and in the following order, viz .:
"First. The shelter huts for the men and company laundresses, including the mess-rooms ; nothing else in the way of building to be com- menced until they are finished and occupied.
"Second. Shelter hospital.
"Third. Shelter storehouses.
"Fourth. Shelter huts for officers.
"Fifth. Shelters for horses.
"Dimensions of the huts for officers will be furnished the commanding officer by Colonel Babbitt, and these dimensions will not be exceeded.
"IV. Whilst working more than ten days continuously on the trail and wagon road, and on the huts and shelters at the standing camp
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for themselves and their supplies, the enlisted men will be allowed the extra pay provided by the act approved July 13, 1866. Care will be taken to see that the provisions of that act are fully complied with.
"The assistant inspector general is very de- cided in his language as to the insufficiency of the shelters provided in Arizona, and I submit that, in view of his condemnation of the hos- pitals at Tucson, Whipple, McDowell, Mohave, etc., which were all found good by the medical director, the building used at Whipple is the finest one in Arizona-his opinion should be re- ceived with some allowance. It depends on the standard of comparison whether these shelters merit the condemnation with which he visits them. I know nothing of the huts in Ireland; but have seen plenty of negro cabins that were very comfortable as compared with a tent, and this is the comparison to make. I lived ten years in Mexico, most all the time in a tent, and found the Mexican hacal comfortable in com- parison.
"If the officers and men, like at Camp Wallen, prefer to suffer rather than exert themselves, as those before them have done, and had rather live under a shelter tent than to make them- selves comfortable, as they have been authorized and ordered to do, their discomfort merits re- proaches rather than sympathy. It is seen, from recent reports, that the commanding offi- cer of the camp is now making the shelters which he should have made long ago.
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"I sent a saw-mill to southern Arizona, to be used in the pinery to get out lumber for quar- ters, but it was never set up, and not long since a report of a board of survey came to me con- demning the mill as old and worn out, or useless. No one took the trouble to see about it. It was a new mill which never had been used.
"One of the causes of the unsatisfactory state of affairs in Arizona, and which has not been touched upon by the assistant inspector general, is, that of the few officers whom it has been possible to get there with their companies many are not yet suited to the particular kind of ser- vice required in that country, and of these many show but a feeble disposition to adapt them- selves to it. Coming out of a war of immense proportions, in which many of them have borne a prominent and distinguished part, having passed through all the excitement that it created, they want rest, and the service in Arizona is peculiarly fatiguing and disagreeable. Many look upon the very act of being sent there as a
punishment. Again, many have married since the war, or have but rejoined their families since peace was made, and they have their families with them, under circumstances of great priva- tions to those of whom they are naturally most solicitous; many times with young children and no servants. They do not want to live the life of Indian-trackers, and accommodate them- selves to that kind of service which only can in- sure success. Of course there are many excep- tions, but this will apply to a large number with whom the personal comfort of their families
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and themselves is the most prominent question, and to which all else has to yield.
"I passed an officer, going to his post, carried in an ambulance drawn by four mules, with a six-mule team carrying his baggage, and that of his infantry escort, who were scattered along the road, with their muskets in the wagon. Though cautioned about the danger of moving in this way, he was soon afterwards attacked and killed by the Apaches.
"I met another officer going along with his company, encumbered with his family in such a way as to destroy his efficiency. This was shown when the officer above referred to was attacked, and, when the latter was ordered to go in pursuit, he pleaded that he could not leave his wife alone. He has since resigned.
"In saying what I have, I do not wish to be understood as questioning the gallantry and intelligence of the officers in Arizona, but only as stating that the life and service there is one for which their antecedents have not qualified them.
"IRVIN McDOWELL,
"Brevet Major General Commanding Depart- ment.
"Official :
"JAMES B. FRY, A. A. G."
In his remarks General McDowell called at- tention to the orders issued by him to those in command of certain posts, to provide them- selves with shelter for men and officers, using such materials as were at hand, and employing soldiers to do the work. This would seem to
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have been a very good policy if it could have been carried out. The expense of building houses on any of the reservations was ex- cessive, when done by private contract. It was said that every adobe made at Camp Grant cost the government twenty dollars, gold.
There is no doubt but what at this time con- tractors of all kinds, supplying either food, forage or labor for building, had a "picnic." Even if, as was charged, they had some times to divide with quartermasters, yet it required but a few contracts of any kind, made with the military, to place the contractor upon easy street financially.
In the paper accompanying these reports it is shown in one case where about eleven thousand tons of hay disappeared, the inference being that it was taken by "trade rats" of the biped species who, in exchange therefor, received a quartermaster's certificate.
The ordinary trade-rat is found everywhere in the Arizona desert. He surrounds his hole with cholla cacti to protect it from rattlesnakes ; he robs mines of candles and cabins of food and articles useful to him, leaving a rock or some- thing useless in place of the thing taken.
The general calls attention to the reduced cost of produce to the army posts, on account of the increased production of necessaries of life by the farmers of the Territory, which however, was attended by great loss of life and property.
About this time the River Indians were on the warpath according to the statement of Charles B. Genung, contained in Volume 4 of this his- V-16
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tory. This was caused by the lack of food and employment on the Mohave Reservation. George W. Dent, a brother-in-law of President Grant was general Indian Agent for the Terri- tory. President Grant's loyalty to his friends has never been questioned, his one weakness being to stick to his friends, right or wrong, pro- tecting them at every mark of the road. Dent was either lacking in administrative qualities, or else he possessed too much of that peculiar kind which sometimes enriches the individual at the expense of the public.
General Gregg issued an order instructing his subordinates to treat as hostiles all Indians found off their reservations. When this order was promulgated, Dent immediately interfered, and wrote the following letter to the Commis- sioner of Indian Affairs:
"TERRITORY OF ARIZONA,
"Office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
"La Paz, March 5, 1867.
"SIR : I have to report to your office another melancholy massacre of American citizens by the Apaches of Central Arizona.
"On the 2nd instant, two teams belonging to a resident of La Paz, returning from Prescott in charge of two drivers and accompanied by five other men, were fired into with guns by a party of about forty Apaches, at a place in the open country sparsely covered with sage brush, and the two drivers and one traveler killed. The scene of the casualty was about eight miles on the La Paz side of Date Creek. Two of the
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travelers were wounded and escaped, and the two remaining escaped unhurt. The Indians destroyed part of the harness of the teams, rifled the wagons and ran off the stock, consist- ing of eighteen mules and four horses.
"About three hours after the occurrence an- other train of wagons came up, and, being pre- pared, attempted to recover the stock. They followed them to a canyon in the mountains to the north of the road, when they were charged by the Indians and repulsed and the Indians thus made off with the entire booty. After burying the dead by the roadside they pro- ceeded to town and reported the foregoing.
"This depredation occurred on a part of the road heretofore regarded as safe against the hostiles, and is additional proof of the increas- ing boldness of the Apaches. By recent order of the military commanding officer a military patrol will be stationed between here and Date Creek, and the efficiency of the troops will be tested.
"It is somewhat believed here, but I cannot report it officially, that some of the young men of the Yavapais and Mohaves join with the Apaches in their depredations. Such is the strength of sentiment and belief that should a reasonable proof be made of such coalition, the whites would retaliate on the friendly river Indians and sacrifice them mercilessly. I have steadily aimed to keep down this spirit, while the real proof is pending; but if, as I say, proof should be had of such joining with the Apaches, no force, either the influence of the Indian de- partment, the check of truly friendly chiefs, or
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the military arm can prevent a general massacre of the river bands. It is to be hoped that the presence of troops soon to be placed on the road where the late depredation was committed, with orders adequate to the occasion, will check and prevent any coalition of the bands.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "GEORGE W. DENT,
"Superintendent Indian Affairs, A. T.
"Hon. L. V. BOGY,
"Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C."
He enclosed the following copy of a treaty he said he had made with the river Indians:
"At a convention held at the office of the Arizona superintendency at La Paz on the 21st day of March, A. D. 1867, in the presidency of G. W. Dent, superintendent of Indian Affairs, between delegations of the Mohave Tribe of Indians and the Chemehuevis tribe of Indians, for the purpose of concluding peace between these two bands, and restoring and confirming amity :
"The Chemehuevis were personally present by Pan Coyer, their head chief, and certain of his captains and head men, and the Mohaves were personally present by Iretaba, their head chief, and certain of his captains and head men, and after full conference the two bands agreed upon the following terms, to wit:
"1st. All hostilities heretofore existing be- tween Mohaves and Chemehuevis cease on and after this day, and perpetual amity shall exist between the two bands.
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"2nd. The Mohaves shall occupy and culti- vate the lands on the left bank of the Colorado river, and the Chemehuevis the lands on the right bank of the Colorado river; provided that Indians of either band may freely visit and travel over either country, and shall not be mo- lested therein either in their persons or their property.
"3rd. It is also agreed between the parties to this agreement that they will use their best exertions to prevent the members of either of the tribes from committing any depredations upon the persons or property of American citi- zens in the country occupied by them, and should any such depredations be committed that they will endeavor to recover property taken and bring the offenders and deliver them to the superintendent of Indian Affairs at La Paz.
"In testimony of the above agreement we have set our hands and our seals at La Paz, Arizona, on the day and year first written.
"IRETABA, his + mark (Seal), "Head Chief of Mohaves. "PAN COYER, his + mark (Seal), "Head Chief of the Chemehuevis.
"Signed and sealed in the presence of- "G. W. DENT,
"Special Indian Agent, Colorado River In- dians.
"CHARLES HUTCHINS.
"Official :
"JOHN H. COSTER, "Aid-de-camp."
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The order of General Gregg referred to was: "(General Orders No. 3.) "HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF PRES- COTT.
"Camp Whipple, A. T., April 23, 1867.
"The increasing number of Indian depreda- tions committed throughout this district ren- ders it necessary, in order to remove doubt, to announce what tribes are considered hostile and against whom hostilities may be carried on.
"The following tribes are announced hostile, viz .: The Hualapais, the Chemehuevis, the Tonto, the Apache Tonto and the Apache Mo- have, and all other tribes or parts of tribes within the limits of this district, including the Mohaves and other Indians, purporting to be friendly, except when the latter are found within the limits of the reservations on the Colorado river, or when acting in conjunction with the troops as guides or otherwise.
"By order of Brevet General GREGG: "A. E. HOOKER,
"First Lieut. and Adjutant 8th Cavalry, A. A. A. G.
"Official :
"JOHN H. COSTER, A. D. C."
On May 18th, 1867, General McDowell, ac- knowledged the receipt of General Gregg's order, through his Adjutant-General, and made the following order countermanding the same:
"I am instructed by the department com- mander to say in reference to those orders that,
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as he is at present informed, and so far as he can at this distance judge of them, it seems to him you have declared war on many Indians with whom it might be possible to continue friendly relations. You unquestionably 're- move doubt' as you express it, but you have given the doubt in favor of hostilities against tribes of all kinds whatsoever who may not be on the Indian reservation.
"With respect to that reservation the follow- ing is from the last annual report of the Com- missioner of Indian Affairs:
" 'Arizona. * * * Plans to colonize the tribes known as the River Indians, the Yava- pais, Hualapais, etc., upon a reservation on the Colorado river, set apart for them by Congress two years ago, have been considered and pre- sented to the department, but for want of nec- essary funds nothing of a permanent character has been done. Nevertheless, the superinten- dent and Agent Feudge, who was more directly in charge of the enterprise, succeeded in induc- ing a considerable number of the Mohaves and of the tribes above named to commence plant- ing. By the August report it appeared that the tribes, many of the members of which had been disposed to hostility, were peacefully at work, and that for the first time in months trains were moving between the river and Prescott, the capi- tal of the Territory, without interruption. The first crops planted by the Indians were swept away by a flood in the river, and another rise had also occurred, the effect being so to saturate the ground as to assure the Indians of a success- ful crop.'
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"The foregoing extract (given in full) shows that there is but one reservation on the river for all the tribes named in your general order. This is understood to be below Williams Fork, and therefore beyond the limits of either of the districts (Upper Colorado and Prescott) now under your command. This reservation, though set apart by Congress, is not yet established, and the Indian department is not in a condition at this time to support these Indians on it. Yet, by your general order, if the Indians whom the agent has succeeded in drawing to the reserva- tion are found away from it for the purpose of hunting, under a condition of things where they must hunt or starve, you order that the permit of the agent shall not be regarded, and the Indians shall be declared hostile.
"Many of the Mohaves and the Hualapais have hitherto been living quietly in the vicinity of Fort Mohave and on the bottom lands along the Colorado river, raising food for themselves and for sale, and procuring wood for the steamers plying on the river, transporting the supplies for the government, and the miners and other settlers in the Territory. By your Gen- eral Order No. 3 these Indians are declared hostile, and war is to be waged on them.
"Thus far the Indians complained of have, as is alleged, confined themselves to stealing stock, and it must be said that if the government has as yet made no provision for them in the one reservation set apart for them, and you forbid their being allowed to go hunting because some of them have abused the privilege, they have some excuse to plead also, as the whites have
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