USA > Arizona > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 71
USA > New Mexico > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 71
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
5 See military reports and correspondence of 1858-60, in U. S. Govt Doc., 35th cong. 2d sess., H. Ex. Doc., ii., pt ii., p. 278-329; Sen. Ex. Doc., ii., p. 278-329; 36th cong. Ist sess., Sen. Ex. Doc., ii., p. 256-354; H. Ex. Doc., ix., no. 69; 2d sess., Sen. Doc., ii., 51-69, with catalogue of exped., p. 199-205; report of sec. war, 1860; Brackett's U. S. Cavalry, 194 et seq. The S. F. newspapers also contain some news of Ind. troubles in 1858-9. The official reports here cited contain a large and complicated mass of details, mainly on the Navajo war, but also giving much information on Apache expeditions and depredations. See later note of this chapter for additional authorities.
662
INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
and Apache prisoners were to be brought as fast as taken, to await later decisions as to their fate, but with a plan of making this a permanent reservation for those tribes. The general's force was not suffi- cient for the full accomplishment of his plans; but he went to work in earnest, and effected much. First the Apaches were taken in hand, and by the spring of 1863 about 400 Mescaleros had submitted, and were living in peace at the Bosque, while the other bands had been forced to suspend for a time their raids, Fort West having meanwhile been garrisoned at Pinos Altos. Then began the campaign against the Navajos, carried on with such energy that by the end of the year a considerable number of that tribe were either at Fort Sumner or on the way thither, and the prospect was encouraging for complete success in the near future, though conflicts were still occur- ring in many parts of the territory, and various obsta- cles were yet to be encountered.6
In 1848-51 James S. Calhoun was general agent for the New Mexican Indians. On the organization of the territory, the governor became ex-officio super- intendent of Indian affairs, and the position was held successively by Calhoun in 1851-2, Lane in 1852-3, and Merriwether in 1853-7. Then the offices were separated, and James L. Collins, an old resident of New Mexico, served as superintendent in 1857-63, being succeeded by Michael Steck in 1863. These superintendents appear to have been earnest and capa- ble men, but their actions were so hampered by lack of means, conflicting or insufficient instructions, lack of a definite policy, and-especially in the early years- misunderstandings with the military authorities, that
6 Carleton's Correspondence of 1868-4, in Ind. Aff. Rept Spec. Com., 1867, p. 98 et seq., containing an immense mass of details. On p. 247-57 is a chrono- logie list of fights with Indians, with a tabular statement showing that in 1863-4 there were killed, in 143 encounters, 664 Ind .; wounded 227, and captured 8,793; officers and men killed 24; wounded 50; live-stock taken by Ind., 28,587 sheep, 47 horses, 359 mules, 432 cattle; taken from Ind., 36,550 sheep, 2,622 horses, 267 mules, 246 cattle, 35 asses.
663
SUPERINTENDENTS AND AGENTS.
they could accomplish but little. They were in- structed to accompany in person or by agents all expeditions, and to make treaties with the Indian tribes; but Calhoun in 1851 complained much of the difficulties that surrounded him, of lack of sup- port and cooperation by the military, of increasing depredations, and of the efforts of designing men, his enemies, to prevent his success, and even draw the Pueblos into hostility; yet he made some kind of a treaty with the eastern Apaches.7 Congress in February 1851 extended over New Mexico all exist- ing laws on trade and intercourse with the Indians, at the same time providing for the appointment of four agents at a salary of $1,500 each.8
The four agents appointed in April 1851 were R. H. Weightman, soon elected to congress; John Greiner, stationed for a time at Taos, and later terri- torial secretary; Abram R. Wooley, of whom nothing more appears; and Edward H. Wingfield, who was stationed in 1852-3 at Fort Webster, was dismissed in 1853, and who published a pamphlet in defence of his conduct.9 In 1852 Michael Steck and Spruce M. Baird were appointed in place of Weightman and Wooley; and in 1853 a new corps, consisting of Kit Carson, Henry L. Dodge, James M. Smith, and Edmund A. Graves. Subsequent changes are given
" See Ind. Aff. Reports, 1851-63. The report of '51 contains Calhoun's corresp. and complaints. There was evidently a strong feeling of antagonism between the civil and military authorities. Sumner was inclined, as we have seen, to regard the Ind. depredations and other prospective troubles as of slight importance, though his view of the territory's prospects was in some respects more discouraging than that of the governor. This antagonism par- tially disappeared in later years.
8 U. S. Statutes, 1851 et seq. Congressional appropriations, not including salaries of agents, also excluding certain amounts to be expended for N. Mex. in connection with other territories, and omitting some small amounts for de- ficiencies and other miscellaneous purposes, were as follows: 1851, $18,000 for Navajo treaty of '49; 1852 (not found); 1853, $10,000; 1854, $30,000, plus $5,000 (continued in '55-6) for Navajo treaty, plus $10,000 for the Pueblos; 1855, $25,000; '56, 847,500; '57 (not found); '58, $85,000; '59, $95,000; '60, '61, '62, each $50,000; '63, $25,000.
9 Wingfield, E. H., Defence of his Acts as Indian Agent. Wash., 1854, 8vo, 16 p. After reaching N. Mex. he was sent to Wash. on a mission by Gov. Calhoun. He was accused of excessive expenditures, and of absence from his post, having great difficulty in collecting his pay. One or two of the others seem also to have been in trouble and dismissed, but I find no particulars.
664
INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
in a note or in a later portion of this chapter in the annals of the different agencies.10
Superintendent Lane in 1852-3 was a believer in the policy of keeping the Indians quiet by feeding them, as cheaper and more effective than fighting. Accordingly, he made provisional treaties with some of the north-eastern and south-western Apache bands, agreeing to furnish food for five years, and some other aid to all who would work. A considerable num- ber in the north were induced to settle on a farm west of the Rio Grande, and a like experiment was tried at Fort Webster. We know but little of details, except that, without waiting for approval of the treaties, Lane spent about $20,000 in the execution of the plan ; and when the rations were suspended for want of funds, the Apaches became worse than ever. Super- intendent Merriwether from 1853 found the Indians for the most part hostile. His theory was that the Indian title to all lands near the settlements should be purchased, to be paid for in annuities, from which the amount of depredations should be deducted. Be- fore the end of his term in 1857 he made several treaties with different tribes, which were never ap- proved. There was a general agreement in these and later years that the Indians must be induced to settle on reservations, and aided to a considerable extent for some time, but the government was very slow to act. Efforts to promote such settlement were, however, recommended, appropriations were increased, and some attention was paid to the various agencies, where goods
10 See, besides, Ind. Aff. Reports, 1851 et seq .; the American Almanac, 1851- 61; and National Almanac, 1863-4. Several of the names are not mentioned in the official reports, and some of the appointees probably did not serve. The list of '54-6 is Carson, Dodge, Steck, Lorenzo Labadi, and Sam. H. Mont- gomery, replaced by A. G. Mayers. In '57-9 we have, besides Carson and Steck, W. R. Harley (replaced by Silas F. Kendrick in '59), Diego Archu- leta, S. M. Yost (temporarily replaced by R. S. Cowart in '5S), and J. Walker. In '61 John T. Russell appears instead of Yost. In '63-4 Carson's name disappears; José A. Manzanares and John Ward take the places of Archuleta, Kendrick, Russell, and Walker, the number being reduced to four; and Fernando Maxwell takes the place of Steck, who became supt. For acts of the legislature from session to session on Ind. affairs, see the résumé in the preceding chapter.
665
JICARILLAS AND UTES.
were distributed each year. Under superintendents Collins and Steck there was no change of a general nature to be noted. It was, for the most part, a pe- riod of constant warfare. The Texan invasion caused most of the agencies to be abandoned for a time in 1861-2. The people, legislature, and all officials be- came extremely impatient. Various views on details of policy were expressed, various petitions and protests made; the necessity of a definite reservation system became more and more apparent; and there were few who did not approve, in a general way, General Carle- ton's energetic measures of 1862-3, though some of his acts and views led to bitter controversy.11
The northern part of the territory, outside of the Navajo country, was occupied or ranged over by the Jicarilla Apaches-so named in early times from the pottery made in small quantities by their women -about 900 in number, and by three bands of Utes -also written Utahs, and in earlier times by the Spaniards, Yutas-numbering 2,000 or more. The Jicarilla country was properly east of the Rio Grande, and the Mohuache Utes also came to regard this region as their home, the agency for both tribes being at Taos, and later at Cimarron, or Maxwell's rancho. The Ute country was west of the river, stretching north-westward into Colorado and Utah, where most of the tribe lived, and the agency for the Capotes and Pauches, or Tabuaches, as the New Mexican bands were called during this period, was at Abiquiú. The Utes and Jicarillas were, to some extent, related by intermarriage, and in disposition and habits had much
11 See acts of the legislature, governors' messages, repts of supt and agents, etc. In U. S. Govt Doc., 35th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc., xi., p. 82, is Supt Collins' report of '58, on taking a deputation of different tribes on a visit to Washington. An effort was made by the legislature to obtain full reports of depredations for use in congress. The raising of volunteers also caused much excitement. There was much complaint of the evil effects of selling liquor to the Iud., and much declamation against the ' sickly sentimentality ' of eastern people. It was often pointed out that the Ind. were as bad and the people less protected than when the U. S. took possession, notwithstanding the large expenditure of money.
666
INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
in common, being roving tribes, who were naturally averse to restraint, settlement, or civilization. Both were always ready to be fed by the government, and equally disposed to steal such supplies as were not otherwise obtainable without much work. The Utes were brave, warlike, better armed than other tribes, and skilful hunters; bold in the assertion of their right to the broad tract over which they ranged, wholly opposed to farming or reservation life, but willing to be friendly and abstain from depredations if liberally supplied with food. Their ideal was to re- tain their hunting-grounds, periodically visiting an agency to receive their gifts-which must not be less than other tribes received-and having free access to the settlements, where whiskey could be procured. The Jicarillas were equally fond of whiskey, somewhat more treacherous and cruel, less brave and energetic as warriors and hunters, making pottery, and some- times planting on a small scale, and regarding theft as a natural means of supporting themselves if no easier way could be found. A large reservation near the settlements, where they could lead an easy, vagabond, drunken life, would have pleased them well enough.
At the beginning, both tribes were engaged in con- stant raids for plunder, and the Jicarillas were re- garded as among the worst of Apaches. Yet Governor Calhoun made some kind of a treaty with them in 1851; they were pleased with the distribution of goods at Taos, and in 1853 Governor Lane induced 250 of them to settle on a farm west of the Rio Grande, on the Rio Puerco. But when Merriwether was obliged to announce that Lane's treaties were not approved, and to suspend the distribution of supplies, both Jica- rillas and Utes in their disgust went on the war-path. The former, after an active campaign by troops under lieutenants Bell and Davidson, in one battle of which over 20 dragoons lost their lives, were conquered, and made a treaty in July 1854; while the latter were de- feated by Colonel Fauntleroy in a campaign of March
667
UTES AND JICARILLAS.
to May 1855.12 From this time these tribes were friendly, though committing occasional thefts, or even worse depredations, and sometimes accused of other offences of which they probably were not guilty. The frequent raids of other tribes from the west and east made it difficult in many cases to identify the real cul- prits. The Indians did not live at or generally near the agencies, and were only in the slightest degree under the agents' control. They came in to get their irregular allotments of goods, which were generally exchanged as soon as possible for liquor. They be- came, naturally, more and more a horde of drunken, pilfering, destitute, and mendicant vagabonds. At certain times and places they showed indications of a tendency to industry and good behavior, but the abominable lack of system prevented any of these rare exceptions being utilized as the nucleus of real improvement. There was no progress, but constant deterioration. Reports on their condition and pros- pects varied with the point of view. Some agents, considering their past history and present circum- stances, wondered that they were no worse, and wrote encouragingly; others, looking at the Indians as they were, and unmindful of the environment, could see no gleam of hope. The Jicarillas and Utes were, how- ever, the only 'union' Indians, except the Pueblos, during the war of 1861-2, which fact-in view of their holding, as foes of the Navajos and tribes of the east- ern plains, a kind of balance of power-with the addi- tional circumstance that the Utes resisted the Mormon efforts of 1858, made them in these and later years the recipients of many complimentary allusions. All agreed, however, that these Indians should be put on reservations, which should be far from the settlements. Indeed, the suggestion was often made, as followed
12 Gov. Merriwether's report of Sept. '54, in Ind. Aff. Rept; Brackett's U. S. Cav., 135-S; Frost's Ind. Battles, 393 8; Fauntleroy's reports of April-May '55, in U. S. Govt Doc., 34th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc., i., pt ii., 56-72. Lieut. Maxwell was killed in June '54. A memorial of the legislature for a Jicarilla reservation is mentioned in Id., 33d cong. Ist sess., H. Miscel. Doc., no. 45.
668
INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
later, that the Jicarillas should be joined to the south- ern Apaches, and the Utes to the Colorado bands. 13
Respecting the northern agencies, agents, and native bands in charge of each, there is some con- fusion, the reports of early years being vague or altogether lacking. In 1851-3 John Greiner seems to have been stationed at Taos; then in 1853-9 Christopher Carson had charge of this agency.14 In 1860-1 special agents A. H. Pfeiffer and Henry Mer- cure were in charge; in 1861 the agency was moved from Taos to Cimarron, or Maxwell's rancho, W. F. M. Arny being made agent, and his successor in 1862-3 was Levi Keithly. At the Abiquiú agency of the Capote and Pauche Utes, E. A. Graves appears as agent in 1853, Lorenzo Labadi in 1855-6, Diego Archuleta in 1857, Lafayette Head in 1859-61, and José A. Manzanares in 1862-3. Agent Head had his headquarters at Conejos in 1860, and special agent Henry Mercure was in charge of the Pauches in 1862, on the Rio Chama, and in 1863 at Tierra Amarilla.
Of the southern Apaches during this period it is difficult to present a definite and connected record. The bands belonging properly to New Mexico were the Mescaleros of the east, between the Pecos and Rio Grande, and the Mimbres and Mogollones- sometimes grouped as Gila Apaches-of the west. The number of these three bands at the first could not have exceeded 4,000, was perhaps considerably less-estimates of the time being very confusing-and
13 There was a special appropriation of $5,000 for the Utahs in '58. In '59 there were troubles between the Tabuaches and Pike Peak miners. Accord- ing to reports of '62, there were 566 Mohuaches, 960 Jic., and 2,500 Capotes and Pauches; but there is in different reports and estimates a wide discrep- ancy. In '63 the Utes are reported as behaving much worse than the Jica- rillas.
1+ Carson Papers, MS. This is a collection of Kit Carson's original papers, furnished for my use by Thomas O. Boggs, the administrator of the Carson estate. The papers relate chiefly to C.'s accounts as Indian agent, and though bulky, the matter cannot be fully utilized here; but there are a few papers which have furnished information of some value on other topics. Carson's skill in the management of Indians and his official integrity were never called in question; but he was a clumsy accountant, and he was often complained of, and once even suspended for irregularities in this respect.
669
THE APACHES.
constantly diminished before 1863; but the adjoining bands of Arizona and Chihuahua frequently entered New Mexico, as the lines were often crossed by the New Mexicans. There were few years in which some of these bands or parts of bands were not committing ravages in one section or another, and few in which other parties were not showing encouraging signs of a willingness to abandon their raiding habits. In dis- position they were not unlike the Arizona Apaches, though not so bad as the worst of that territory. They often extended their raids into Mexican terri- tory, carrying on a constant trade in plunder and cap- tives with Mexicans, New Mexicans, and Navajos.
In these early years they rarely molested the scattered herders of the frontier regions, holding also free inter- course with a disreputable class of traders, who kept them supplied with whiskey and ammunition. They were generally willing to abstain from theft on condi- tion of being fed, and in several instances engaged in farming; but they were of variable temperament, im- patient of all restraint, the victims of mismanage- ment and of frequent outrage.
In the first years but little appears about the Apaches, but from the boundary survey and overland mail and immigration records I infer that their hostili- ties were not very continuous or serious.15 In 1852-3 a considerable number of the Gila bands was collected at Fort Webster, and under the care of Agent Wing- field they were induced, under a promise of supplies for a term of years-the arrangement being similar to that made with the Jicarillas in the north-to promise peace and make a beginning of farming. It was a costly though somewhat successful experiment, but naturally, when the treaty was not confirmed and the supplies were stopped the Indians became worse than ever. E. A. Graves is named as agent at Doña Ana in 1854, resigning in June. At this time the Mesca- leros began to give much trouble, and campaigns were
15 Cremony's Life among the Apaches, 217-322, contains many items.
670
INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
made against them by Lieutenant Sturgis and Cap- tain Ewell, with such success that in March 1855 they were suing for peace,16 and in June a treaty was made by Governor Merriwether, by which a reservation was designated near Fort Stanton, a new post established at this time and named for a captain killed in the campaign. The treaty was not approved, but an agency was from this time maintained at the fort under Michael Steck as agent, and the Mescaleros, or a con- siderable part of them, kept the peace, received their goods, and in most seasons tilled the soil, for six years. There were some drunken quarrels, troubles with other Indians, and petty thefts. Once in 1856 they all ran away to the mountains on Steck's refusal to give them their supplies until stolen property had been returned. The governor disapproved the agent's action, but the Indians returned after a few months. Agent Steck had great faith in the possibility of re- forming the Apaches under a proper system, and he went to Washington in 1860 in their interest, leaving W. A. Sapp in charge at Fort Stanton.
Governor Merriwether also made a treaty in 1855 with the Mimbres, and they behaved nearly as well as the Mescaleros, planting and keeping the peace, though much demoralized by liquor and cheated by citizens. The Mogollones were somewhat less trac- table, and by Colonel Bonneville's campaign through their country against the Coyoteros and other bands of the Gila in 1857, an unfortunate movement in the opinion of Agent Steck, both they and the Mimbres were scattered, and rendered to a considerable extent hostile.17 In 1858, however, many of both bands had resumed their friendly attitude, planting on the Rio
16 On military operations of '54-5, see U. S. Govt Doc., 34th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc., i., pt ii., 56 et seq .; Brackett's U. S. Cav., 137-9; Brevoort's Sta Fé Trail, MS., 12-13. Sturgis received the thanks of the legislature for his ser- vices, as did the volunteers who aided his force. N. Mex., Laws, 1854-5, p. 99, 101, 103, 105, 111.
17 For reports of Bonneville's campaign, see U. S. Govt Doc., 35th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc., ii., pt ii., 135-41; 2d sess., H. Ex. Doc. no. 2, p. 20 et seq; Wilhelm's Eighth U. S. Infantry, ii. 47-8, and Ind. Aff. Repts. Agent H. L. Dodge was killed by the Mogollones at this time.
671
APACHES AND PUEBLOS.
Palmas and Santa Lucía in 1857-8. From this time a reservation on the Upper Gila for all the Apaches was strongly recommended, and in 1860 such a reser- vation was authorized and surveyed near the Arizona line.
In 1861 the confederate invasion put an end to all efforts of the civil department in behalf of the Apaches, and all-including the Mescaleros on the abandonment of Fort Stanton-threw off every restraint, and gave themselves up to hostile raids, the agencies being broken up. This state of affairs continued until 1863, though Agent Labadi at Anton Chico made some fruitless efforts to regain control of the Mescaleros, who, in August 1862, killed forty men and six chil- dren, besides taking some captives and a large amount of live-stock. Before the end of the year they asked for peace, but no faith was felt in their sincerity. In 1863 General Carleton's active operations resulted in bringing about 400 of this tribe together at Fort Sumner, or the Bosque Redondo, where they behaved well, according to Agent Labadi's reports, though the general regarded them as a band of murderous vaga- bonds, in whose promises no reliance was to be placed. The other Apaches were kept quiet, a garrison being stationed at Fort West. Fernando Maxwell this year appears as agent for the Southern Apaches at Mesilla. 18
The Pueblos now, as before and later, led a quiet and industrious life in their twenty communities, with about 7,000 inhabitants.19 They never cost the United States a dollar of warlike expenditure, and they re- ceived much less aid from the civil department than any of the hostile tribes. This was often noted by
18 Carleton's Correspondence, and Ind. Affairs Reports. See also Hayes' Scraps, Los Ang., vi. 113-16; N. Mex. Scraps, 19, 23; Overland Monthly, v. 222-32; Newlin's Prop. Ind. Policy, 43-5.
19 See U. S. Govt Doc., 40th cong. 2d sess., rept sec. int., p. 213, for ab- stract of different censuses from 1770 to 1864; also the successive Ind. Aff. Reports. The number was frequently given as 8,000 or more, and was per- haps somewhat more than 7,000.
672
INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
them and others as an injustice, yet it was perhaps only apparently so, since it was also remarked that a man will surrender all his money to a highway robber more readily than he will give a small sum to a de- serving applicant for charity. In New Mexico and at Washington, among officials and others, the high merit of the Pueblos was constantly remarked, but there were other more urgent appeals for money. The only aid they got was $5,000 in 1855 and $10,000 in 1857 for the purchase of implements, only a small portion of which was of any real use to them. Their agents were A. G. Mayers in 1856, S. M. Yost from 1857, S. F. Kendrick in 1860, and John Ward in 1861-3. Reverend Samuel Gorman, a baptist clergy- man, worked as a missionary among them from 1854, having a school at Laguna at times.20 In 1851 Gov- ernor Calhoun expressed fears that these Indians would be drawn into hostility, but his fears had appar- ently very slight foundation. In 1853, according to Whipple's report, the small-pox carried off many of the people, especially in the west. As a rule, there was but slight change in condition during these years. The Indians with their docility retained all their old superstitions, even putting to death several persons accused of witchcraft at Nambé in 1854. They were nominally catholics, but the church did nothing for their education, only a few pueblos having resident priests, and the rest being but rarely visited. Yet they were sufficiently under priestly control to give protestants a chance to bewail their ecclesiastical bondage. Politically each pueblo ruled itself in its
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.