USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Vol. VIII > Part 8
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been out twenty-four hours, marching forty-five miles, and succeeding in killing eleven Indians and capturing four, besides destroying a large amount of property of great value to the Indians.
"The horses of B Troop, 3rd Cavalry, being in bad condition and the infantry having been constantly on the march, Colonel Smith replaced B Troop with E Troop, 3rd Cavalry, Captain Sutorius; and Co. A, with Co. G, of the 21st In- fantry, Lieutenant J. M. Poss, one hundred and ten men in all, including E Troop, 1st Cavalry, which was not relieved. On the 21st, near Can- yon Creek, for the purpose of moving with great rapidity, the pack train was placed in a secure position and left in charge of Lieutenant Poss with a guard of fifty men.
"Colonel Sanford started on the 25th with part of his command, and moved in an easterly direction towards the Black Mesa. About day- light on crossing the Aurora Colorado, evi- dence was discovered of the Apaches being pres- ent in large numbers, also corn fields, etc. Just before sunrise the command entered a large fertile valley bordering a beautiful stream of water, and almost immediately discovered a rancheria. The command was at once deployed and ordered to charge, which they did with a will. Other rancherias were found in various directions, and the men scattered in pursuit. About 10 A. M., the command was reunited, when about twenty-one Indians were found to have been killed, and twelve prisoners taken, also three horses and three mules captured. Large quantities of articles valuable to Indians
VIII-8
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were destroyed. The valleys for miles were planted with corn. The command then re- turned, scouting through Turkey Valley, across Sombrero Butte, Salt River, Rio Pinto, and Tonto Creek, the result of the expedition being as follows :
"Apaches killed, 33. Captured 16 animals, horses 3, mules 3, besides having destroyed large fields of wheat and corn, and numerous other things of value to the Indians. In the ranch- erias on the Chevelon the scalp of a white man was found, and numerous articles which had been taken from citizens and volunteers.
* *
* * * * *
"On the 29th of May, Lieutenant Cushing, 3d Cavalry, with Lieutenant Smith, 3rd Cav- alry, fourteen men of B, and twenty of F, troops, 3d Cavalry, and thirty men of K Troop, 1st Cavalry, started in pursuit of a band of Indians who had attacked and captured a wagon train and killed some citizens near Canyon del Oro, on the road between Tucson and Camp Grant. Having discovered the trail, it was fol- lowed for a distance of about a hundred and seventy miles, when, in the afternoon of the 4th of June, having reached the top of the Apache mountains, discovered signs of being in their vicinity. The command was withdrawn down the eastern slope of the mountains into camp without having been discovered. At mid- night the command moved towards the point where the campfires were seen, crossing the summit and moving down the western slope within about three miles of the rancherias, where the command was divided, Lieutenant
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Cushing leading the direct attack, and Lieu- tenant Smith moving on the flank. At day- light on the morning of the 5th, the attack was made. In thirty minutes the rancherias were struck by Lieutenant Cushing's party, and the Indians, taken by surprise, ran down a canyon, where they were met by Lieutenant Smith and his party, and many killed. The Indians scat- tered in every direction, thirty being wounded in the immediate vicinity. Many hostiles were reported as killed by the men and two guides. The rugged nature of the ground where the rancherias were situated made it more than probable that many Indians were killed which were not seen by the commanding officers. Large quantities of prepared mescal and prop- erty, taken from the captured Indians, were de- stroyed, also two mules recaptured, the others having been killed.
"Lieutenant Cushing reports that the men behaved throughout in a manner worthy of the highest commendation, particularly recommend- ing to the attention of the Department Com- mander Sergeants Warfield of the 3d Cavalry, and Whooten of the 1st Cavalry, and guides Manuel and Oscar Hutton.
"These expeditions were made pursuant to instructions from Colonel Cogswell, command- ing the subdistrict of Southern Arizona; and he reports them as having been in every way satisfactory.
"On the 3rd of June Lieutenant Graham, with fourteen men of M Troop, 3rd Cavalry, started in pursuit of a band of Indians who had driven off a herd of cattle from the immediate
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vicinity of Fort Whipple. Lieutenant Graham started without waiting to saddle, and pushed them to such an extent that they abandoned the herd, except three which they had killed, which he recovered, and killed two Indians.
"Expedition under the command of Captain William Ory, 3rd Cavalry, consisting of Lieu- tenant Cradlebaugh, 3rd Cavalry, acting as as- sistant sergeant, and thirty-five enlisted men of Troops A, C, L, and M, 3rd Cavalry, left Camp Verde on the 27th of May, 1870, with instructions to locate a practicable wagon road from Camp Verde to the new post in the White Mountains, and to the mouth of Cottonwood Fork on the Colorado Chiquito. Captain Ory returned on the 27th of June, having been suc- cessful in finding a practicable road to both points indicated. In one of the several engage- ments with the Indians, the command killed one and captured seven, having one sergeant and two privates wounded in the attack. The commanding officers convey their thanks to the officers and men engaged in the above operation for the energy and perseverance displayed. By such exertions they not only reflect credit on themselves but on the regiments to which they belong.
"By command of Brevet Major General Stoneman,
"E. W. STONE, "B. L. COLLINS, U. S. A.,
"Acting Assistant Adjutant General."
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CHAPTER VII. OUTRAGES BY INDIANS.
"MINER" EDITORIAL DESCRIBING TRIP THROUGH INDIAN COUNTRY - INTERVIEWS BETWEEN GENERAL STONEMAN AND INDIANS - "MINER" PRINTS PETITION TO PRESIDENT WITH LIST OF THREE HUNDRED AND ONE PERSONS KILLED BY INDIANS IN SEVEN YEARS.
On the 15th of October, 1870, the "Miner" had an editorial written by John Marion, which follows :
"On a trip through Arizona the Indians had not changed much since last we saw them in 1866, but we missed some familiar faces, and as the members of the tribes could give no straight accounts of their whereabouts, the con- clusion forced itself upon us that they had fallen while raiding upon the whites. (This is from Camp Thomas.) The supposition was that all the Indians around the post were Coyotero Apaches, and it is probably correct. We cir- culated about the post considerably during the evening of our first day there and gleaned some facts regarding our red brother and the coun- try, the relation of which may prove inter- esting to our readers. Our guide, who ap- peared to be well posted, assured us that the Coy- otero band or tribe numbered nearly six thou- sand souls, fifteen hundred of whom might be classed as warriors, which we think is an over estimate. They have four chiefs, the head one being Seskalthesala, whose chieftainship came
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down to him. His ancestors were Pedro Miguel and Chiquita Capitania. He has but one eye but manages to see clearer with that than do many of his brother chiefs with their two eyes. In a word, he is by far the shrewdest, most able Indian in the tribe. The Coyoteros profess to be at peace with the whites, but those who know them best look upon such profession as a good joke. Seskalthesala and his followers have, for years, been friendly with us, not for any love they have for us, but for motives of policy, and no truer idea of the sentiments of the tribe can be given than the fact that Seskalthesala, whom they once reverenced and styled 'Capitania Grande,' has sunk into insignificance and dis- repute among them. Yet we have some faith in the peaceable professions of the remaining chiefs, and believe that we can ally them to us by treating them squarely and properly, which is by keeping a respectable number of troops in their country, assisting them to raise crops, furnishing them with medicine, and seeing that they stay at home and do not steal away on expeditions. When all this is done the Coyo- teros may act honestly. Their country is a delightful one, and it is said they are passion- ately fond of it. Go where you will through it and you will find plenty of game, grass, tim- ber, and water, with sufficient agricultural lands to produce food for ten thousand people. They know how to raise corn, wheat, and vegetables, at least the women do, and of late years they have had particular luck with their crops and have raised enough corn and fodder to sell to the posts. We know it to be the fixed opinion
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of Arizonans that the Apache cannot be tamed, as proper measures for doing so have never been taken, but it may be that the opportunity will soon be here. We hope so at all events, and it is cheaper by far for the country to further their civilization than it is to fight them, which latter mode of dealing with them has, so far, proven an expensive way of subduing them. The Coyoteros speak the same language as their friends the Pinalenos and Tontos, and perhaps the Apache-Mohaves, which latter tribe is now normally at peace with us. All being Apaches, they visit one another, intermarry, and get along together, so that it looks ridiculous to be at peace with one clan and allow them to become acquainted with our ways and means, while fighting their friends and brothers. Al- though the Coyoteros say the other clans are anxious to make peace with us, the recent mur- ders and robberies committed by them do not look much like it. All Apaches are on good terms with the Zuni and Moqui Indians, and a brisk trade is kept up among them. On the contrary, the powerful Navaho tribe, once part and parcel of the Apache nation, and still speak- ing the same language, are deadly foes to the Apaches, killing them whenever and wherever they can and robbing them at every opportunity. The Navahos are also the scourge of the Moquis and Zunis, and, being brave Indians, all others are afraid of them. But a little while ago a party of these King Robbers killed a Coyotero and stole his horse, and soon after cut down the wheat which the poor Zunis were growing, and packed it away with them. The Coyoteros,
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male and female, are a hardy, good looking, in- telligent race of Indians. The women are noted for their virtue and industry. The men spend their time in gambling and lying around, when not hunting or stealing. They manufacture from buckskin very good monte cards, a pack of which was secured by Dr. Wirts. They are exceedingly suspicious, superstitious and re- ligious, consequently have great faith in and reverence for their medicine men. If memory serves us right, they deposit their dead in cav- erns with all their personal effects. We would be delighted to find out something about our near and very dear neighbors, the Pinalenos and Tontos, but only heard that the Pinalenos could, perhaps, muster fifteen hundred warriors, which, if true, is better for us, for they are a villainous set of robbers and murderers.
"The next morning the sun shone brightly upon the camp, and we awoke with the first tap of the drum, ate a hearty breakfast, and started down the river to look for a new site for a post, that is, Colonel Stoneman, Major Cogs- well, Major Green, Captain Smith, and all the doctors went for that purpose and we accom- panied them so as to be on hand to record any incident that might occur, for there was a steep canyon in front of the site whose depth had to be determined, and in doing it some of the offi- cers might fall down and break their necks. The new site gave entire satisfaction to all, and Colonel Stoneman accepted it for the future home of his braves. It is on a high mesa a hun- dred feet above the level of the stream, and cannot be other than a healthy location. An
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Indian powwow was to take place this forenoon, and when our party got back to camp, many Indians were squatted under the trees near Colonel Stoneman's tent, anxious to shake hands with him and eager to talk in their smooth, wild dialect. After the usual presentations were made, Mr. Miguel took the floor and addressed himself to Chairman Stoneman, saying in sub- stance that he was glad to see him; that God made man different, the white man he made rich and the red man he made poor, which was all a mistake on Mr. Miguel's part, but he con- tinued in regard to where he had made peace with Colonel Green, and had been a good man ever since.
"Seskalthesala spoke next. He commenced by saying that he had much to say and was going to say it, which remark made us feel uneasy for we were anxious to get on the road and strike on, but he continued and we were forced to listen to the whole speech. The veins in his neck swelled until they were as large as a man's finger; his mouth opened, and he said he had heard a good deal about Stoneman, and was glad to see him. God had brought them together to smoke in peace, (a gentle hint for some cigar- ettes which were immediately furnished and passed around), and what he had said or might say would be written on stone and he thought it would last. Of course this was merely a figure of speech, for neither the old fellow nor any of his tribe understood the art of writing on stone or anything else. Then in token of his love for the rations of beef that had been given to him, he said that he was always glad
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to get to eat meat; that snow would soon come and his people needed clothing. Once they were rich in horses, mules, asses, and cattle, and could trade with the Zunis for everything they needed, powder and lead included. Now they were poor, the soldiers and the frosts having de- stroyed their crops, and they did not even have powder and lead to kill game with.
"Pedro, who appeared in a green suit of manta, commenced in a begging strain. His people wanted more rations, guns, powder, lead, and clothing. He declaimed against the Nav- ahos, and ordered them kept on their reserva- tions, or, if they would not stay there, he would fight them and steal from them. He wanted a physician and an Indian Agent for his people, and expressed a laudable desire to learn some- thing about two Indians whom he once sent to Tucson and who, it was rumored, had been mas- sacred near that place. He furthermore said that one of Cochise's friends, named Cheis, had visited Colonel Green, and was anxious to make peace with the Americans, and that he believed that Cheis meant what he said. He then spoke about the Pinalenos, and said that all but one chief were tired of war. Pedro then subsided, and Miguel spoke in a new vein. He wanted hoes, axes, and other tools for his people, so that they could till the ground and make themselves comfortable. This speech pleased Colonel Green and General Stoneman better than all the rest. General Stoneman inquired if they, the chiefs, had said all they desired. Upon being answered in the affirmative, General Stoneman then com- menced by promising to do all he could for the
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Indians who had lived in peace with the whites. God, he said, wanted all people to live in peace. Away to the East were myriads of white men, and the great Father of all Indians and Ameri- cans would do right by all. This appeared to please the reds, who grunted their approval. General Stoneman then said that should the Navahos continue to war upon them, he would issue orders to the commanders of posts to send their soldiers against the Navahos. He advised them to abandon the foolish custom of burning the clothing of those who died as it kept them poor and naked. He said that he would keep on giving them rations of meat, and perhaps flour, providing they would live peaceably and assist the . troops in hunting and killing bad Indians. He tried to impress them with the idea of the great cost to the Government of flour, beef, etc., and promised them corn, etc., and said he hoped that thereafter they would raise grain and vegetables to feed themselves. He further said that the business of the soldiers was to kill bad Indians and protect citizens, and if they did not behave themselves and stop stealing from posts and settlements that they would all get killed. In two months he would be prepared to furnish them with med- icines, and would also write to Congress for an Indian Agent for them.
"The Colonel's talk being ended, Miguel, with fitting words and great tact, asked the General what he intended doing with Barbrashae, an old and bad Pinal chief, who was then in the guardhouse in a wilted condition. After in- quiring about the case, the General asked Miguel
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what he would like to see done with him. Miguel would not say further than that the prisoner was in the General's hands; that he had been a bad Indian, but was then, and would there- after be, incapable of doing harm, for the very good reason that he was in feeble health and could not last long. Finally Miguel acknowl- edged that he wished Barbrashae set at liberty and he would go security for his good behavior in the future if the General demanded it, but that he first wished to give Barbrashae a piece of his mind. In answer to this proposition the General said, in substance, that he would release Barbrashae, but that if he wanted to keep on fighting he could do so and he would
get killed. This pleased the Indians and they
applauded with a vim. After a general hand- shaking, the conference broke up. We bade goodbye to our friends, and started for Camp Goodwin, never stopping until we arrived on the banks of that noble stream, the Agua Prieta, or Salt River, which was late in the afternoon. The distance traveled was eighteen miles over a very rough country, containing plenty of wood, water, and grass. During the night Paymaster Monroe and the Honorable Sylvester Mowry arrived and told us the news."
Under date of October 14th, 1871, the "Miner" prints a petition to the President, at- tached to which was a list of three hundred and one names of people killed by the Apaches since 1864, which number was probably not one-half, but was at least ten per cent of the adult Ameri- can population of Arizona at that time. This petition and list follow :
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"The undersigned citizens of the Territory of Arizona, regarding the present anomalous state of affairs concerning the Indian difficulties in the Territory as being in the highest degree unsatisfactory and perilous to our interests as a community, respectfully represent :
"That we desire nothing more earnestly than peace with the Apaches.
"That last spring, many disheartened by our sufferings and losses from hostile Indians, were preparing to abandon the Territory where we have labored and waited for years, hoping for the subjugation of the Apaches, when the as- signment of General George Crook to the com- mand of this Department gave us new hope, and we determined to hold on a little longer, and believed that the operations inaugurated by the General were calculated to result in a speedy settlement of our troubles, but, just as his plans were being successfully put in force, we learn that the matter is taken out of his hands and turned over to the Peace Commissioners.
"That although we had no confidence in their policy, being satisfied from past experiences that no peace treaty to which the Apache is an equal party can be lasting, we were willing to give all the assistance in our power to the Commis- sioners to aid them in their plans, but since the arrival of their agent here, we perceive with dismay that the most hostile tribes refuse to treat with him, and have continued their mur- derous and thieving raids as boldly and viciously as ever.
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"That we are disappointed and discouraged by the policy of the agent in proposing to con-
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tinue the practice of giving asylum and aid at military posts indiscriminately to all Indians choosing to seek it, as the past has proven that the warriors can thus leave their families and property in security while they make maraud- ing excursions over the country, and return with their scalps and plunder to the protection of the posts.
"That we are satisfied that the party having authority to make peace treaties with our In- dian enemies should also have power to promptly punish violations of such treaties.
"Therefore, we, your petitioners, do most earnestly ask your Excellency to inform us whether it is the design of the Government to place the management of affairs pertaining to Indians in Arizona, not now living on reserva- tions, in the hands of the Peace Commissioners, or under the control of the Department Com- mander.
"And we do further most respectfully repre- sent that if the policy here inaugurated by the agent of the Peace Commissioners is to be per- sisted in, the deserted homes of our friends and neighbors, and the graves of those slain by the Apaches, which line every road and trail, and fill every graveyard in Arizona, warn us that if we remain here, we must expect a similar fate.
"One cause for this movement is that we of Arizona, and the people of California in our behalf, have exhausted, to no purpose, every other means by which we hoped and believed the protection of life and property in Arizona might be secured, and, as a last resort, appeal to the President in a manner direct.
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"That the most prejudiced against the settlers on the frontiers might be convinced that this effort has not been wantonly put forth, and at the same time to prove the terrible necessity for some means, yet untried, by which we may hope to obtain protection, we publish, in con- nection, a list of such of the Indian murders and robberies as have been recorded since March, 1864. We will permit this cause to speak for itself, to the American people, and then, without apprehension, we will leave the fair and disinterested of our fellow citizens to draw their conclusions with regard to us. Here, then, is the list :
"We will commence with Yavapai county, where, on March 4th, 1864, the savages whom we had partially clothed and fed, dug up the hatchet, and without cause or provocation, com- menced a career of murder and robbery unpar- alleled in the history of the west, by murdering five Mexicans and three Americans: Upton, Mellen, and a man whose name is unknown to us.
"March 16th, they attacked the ranch of Shel- don & Forbes, near Prescott, and killed a Mr. Cosgrove.
"June 1st, Belnap was murdered near Walnut Grove.
"June 6th, they waylaid and killed W. P. Jones in the Big Bug District, and shockingly mutilated his body.
"On the same day Samuel Harrison was slain in Battle Flat.
"July 24th, poor Jack Beauchamp lost his life while exploring the country east of Prescott. The 'friendly' Coyoteros killed him.
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"March 13th, three men, names unknown, were killed near Camp Date Creek.
"March 15th, 1865, Charles Smith was killed near Wickenburg.
"March 20th, they killed a Mr. Somers near the same place.
"April 10th, L. Cross was murdered at the sink of the Hassayampa while herding a band of animals; twenty-one animals were stolen, and seventeen arrows shot into Cross' naked corpse.
"Mr. Alexander was killed some time in this month about two miles west of Prescott.
"March 2nd, a soldier, name unknown, fell into their hands near Prescott, and was butchered.
"In April, 1865, a Mexican teamster was killed in Mohave County.
"May 2nd, a Mexican was killed near Lynx Creek.
"May 3rd, at Willow Springs, between Camp Date Creek and Kirkland Valley, Richard Bell, Cornelius Sage and Charles Cunningham fell victims to the savages.
"May 26th, John Ryan, a soldier, was mur- dered near Wickenburg.
"June 2nd, Harry, alias 'Hog' Johnson, mur- dered on Arrastra Creek, while on herd.
"July 22nd, they killed a soldier named John Whitting, near Skull Valley.
"Some time in August Sheriff Calkins and two soldiers were severely wounded, between Lynx Creek and Fort Whipple.
"In 1865 or 1866 they murdered a son of Pauline Weaver near Wickenburg.
"In 1865 or 1866 they attacked Pauline Weaver and a man named Raymond, inflicting
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upon Raymond a wound which finally caused his death.
"March 30th, 1866, Wallapais killed Edward Clower at the Willows, on the Prescott and Mo- have road.
"May 1st, John Broderick, a soldier, was shot and killed on the Rio Verde, near Camp Verde.
"About the same date a body of an unknown man was found on the trail to Walnut Grove, corpse mutilated and filled with arrows.
"In September, 1866, Wm. Boone was killed in Mohave County.
"November 8th, William Trahern, Leroy Jay and L. M. Linton were murdered while going from Woolsey's ranch to the Bully Bueno mill and mine.
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