New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-21
FROM ARIZONA.
rvr spscpr waR-NDns DEPREDfTioSs-
SUPERIORITY OF RANGERS OVER REe.LAh

TBr spasHF WAR-fkDAH DtPht"f'"''"
SUPERIORITY OF RANGERS OVER REe'Lah
SOLDIERS.
srtro Qns UwE coUesIasdent.
TuBAc, Dee. 80, 1889.
In NOV former letters to THE TRIBUNE j repre-
,entea the necessity OF a campaign against tas
Apacbes. AMI urged that troops be sent ont TO
drive them into thc:r mountain businesses. After
years Of despoliaiion and thef, until our citizens
were Upon the verge Of forming ranger companies
To rid the country of Apaches, GOVernment az
Ter oh listened TO orr oft repeated petitions, and
SEPT out an expedition of some 300 men uader tue
! command OF Lieut.. Col. Reeve vi Fort Buchanan.
The ttoops tok the field on the 9TH of Noyen-
Der. There we're 100 Dragons ani loO infantry
| The commander designed prosecuting the campaign
with yiQor and pushed on into the Indian country
with the intention of compelling them 10 peg ior
peace, with a promise that dePredatIons shouin
| cease Before the lapse OF three weeks, however
the entire force had returned 10 fort boc9a,.h,
having. in this time, destroyed deserted Indian
village. taken four prisoners only, and captured
| some twenty horses, which were shot IN order 10
prevent their recapiure by the Apaches. The cause
assumed for this small result after so much tr0uoe
| and exnensa ia the Indians showed no resistance,
but would come into camp with every demonstra-
ton Of friendship and the troops We're eit tne ael-
native of shooting them down when colnpletey M
| their power. OF returning without ehectlng any
| thing. -,
| The troops arrived at Fort Buchanan on the 9th
Noyember-their horses, as ! learn, having gwen
out, so that they could not proceed. ms some
what surprising state of affairs, Is only what exs
pected. Last January three Sargeants from tett
buchanan, whose terms Of enlistment had expired.
| were attacked within twenty mites OF tne fort'
while returning to the States with their ianiles,
and two of them killed. The night preceding, cat
tie were stolen from the Comnissarys corral at the
Fort; and on the following night, Capt: Ewlfs
private stock of cows were taken, both within the
line Of guards. Capt. Evil, who was then IN com
| mand 81 the post, was q1xlOns TO pursue the say.
ages. and visit them with signal vengeance, Du'
scarcely dragon horse OUT Oh tne TWO CONE
penies then at the Fort, was shod, ehd campa'gs
| pto the Indian country could not eo undertaken
a demand for shoes mad been made months betore
| hut no attention was paid TO IL, How can We eX
pect eur military 10 be efficient when so little atten
ton is paid TO the furnishing Of supplies NO"
eleven months have elapsed, aud still the horses ar
| not in a condition to withstand VIgor"oS cai'i
| paigR over a rough country. 80 4,
The fault hes not with Gel Reeve bat Win IN
commander Of the Department ofthe Army m rev
Mexico Part of the anmais came IRON the III
Grapde, distance of 300 miles, and were To-
) pesrly worn out before the campalge was opene
to be used with propriety. After recruiting 10
about a week at Fort Buchanan, ire eapeaiI IL.
again started into the field this time taking oil
| ferent direction. We have as yet heard nothin
| fyom them but hope their efforts THIS time WI
} produce a widely different result.
For several weeks after the Indian campaign wa
J | opeped there was an almost entire cessation
depredations in this vicinity. Now, however, the
| have again commenced with more dsTing than be
1 Al - la faur
| stolen from Mr. j. NJ. Turner, seventeen mile
| above Tubae. The animals were plcketed out nea
z n baystack within thirty feet Of the deer ana "
the sayages were alert that the horses VET
before the alarm was given, ana "hen 'ii'
, nth his assistants rushed to the door, tue indian
~ere making good their escape aud left the partle
| with no horses to follow them. An examination {
| the trail next morning. showed that there were 9
least twenty Indians in the party; and we sha
i doubtless hear in few days of other depreciation
I committed by the same band.
In previous letters, have alluded to the super
, ority of rangers over regular troops. i am no'
enabled TO give you significant proof OF. the col
| Yectness Of my argument. On the 18th OF NOven
! Der, band Of Apaches made descent upon ID
! Overland Mail Station known a. 'Suttons," on tn
'Gila River. They set fire to the house OF Mr. SUI
ton, stole several animals belonging to the Ma
: Company, and wounded several persons very sc
, yerey. Two days after this event. the same Ind
ans surprised the cattle herder at the next Station
sixteen miles distant, and took from him the cattl
, under his charge. The Overland Mail Compan
and the few settlers in the vicinity, fitted out
, small party TO pursue them. Theywere out som
time when the trail became partially Obiterated b
rains and receiving information that.a third attac
, had been made at home in their absence they re
: traced their steps, and took the fresh trail. Tn
party, consisting only of ten men, left the STATIC
on the 5th inst, with the full determination Of fol
lowing this fresh TRAIL if necessary, 20 the home
, of the thieves. After hard tramp of $50 Mules
the Indians were overtaken, surprised, ant
much property recovered Unfortunately, thei
animals were under guard, and at the first alarm
they mounted and started the herd Off Mr.. Mon
tieth leader Of the party was unable to pursue
his men being mounted on broken-down animal
at the start which, of course, had not improved BY
the trip. Eight of the Indians were killed, and
large number wounded, while the attacking party
were not injured. This party consisting of tel
man, poorly mounted and prOvisioned, started GU
on this campaign and in eleven days accomplished
more than the Government expedition of 200 troops
well differed and proyisOned. They seized large
lot Ofbooty left by the Indians in their hasty flight
consisting Of blankets, buckskins, large amount
Of dried meat, 1000 arrows, IL bows, and nu
nsereus ether aKiicles. This expedition cost the
Government nothing. That under Liept. Col
Reeve will cost Thousands, and yet, tho tea men
younteers have done all the fighting, gained sll The
victories and shed all the blood in the Apache
War!
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