Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-10-15
WAsHINdToN, Oct. !, lsOG.


White Man and ThirIy-three Indi-
ans Killed. '.I" -I'tt '..' i
I .' H''.'" WASHINGTON, Oct. !, 1866.
n The Superintendent Of Indian Affairs has
just received from Mr.. George w. Leihy,
Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the
Territory of Arizona, the following ac-
count of a fight that occurred near Pres
colt in August last, between small party
of whites and a large number of Indians:
w.i OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, q ,
.a. La PAz, a. T., August ~, 1865
SIR-It becomes my duty to report to
you the circumstances of a serious fight
which occurred between party of citizens
and soldiers and large body Of Indians on
the 18th inst, at Skull Valley, on the road
between La PaZ and Prescott, aud about
thirty miles from the latter place. AS
soon as the news reached me of the fight,
l hastened to the scene of the encounter, to
gain from the parties engaged correct
version of the transaction, and to learn
from the prisoners captured the tribes
that were therein represented. The cir
cut1stances, as near as | can learn, are
as follows: On or about the 1st instant
Mr.. Freeman, with five teamsters, in charge
of six loaded wagons, left La Paz for Pres
colt. They reached Skull Valley in safe
ty, and on the 1lth instantleft the station
in the valley and took the road to Prescott
This station is held by a detachment Of
Arizona AOlunteers, consisting of about
twenty-five men, under Lieutenant Hutton.
The train under Mr.. Freeman had travelled
only eight or nine miles when Indians were
discovered lurking in the bushes and be-
hind the rocks on the left of the road
The men of the train Immediately prepar-
ed themselves for an attack by wheeling
their animals around aud tying them to
their wagons. When the Indians ascertain
ed that they were discovered they rose, to
the number of seventy five or one hundred,
and approached the wagons. Mr.. Freeman
warned them Off and told them If they
passed a certain line he would fire on them
They then halted and held a talk with the
whites, saying in Spanish that they did not
wish to kill the whites or have any trouble.
AS soon rs Mr.. Freeman discovered the
Indians he dispatched man on horse
back to the post for assistance, telling
the Indians he had sent back for an
interpreter to ascertain what they
wanted and why they were so far from
their usual range. They answered hatthey
had been sent away from the river by the
uperintendent; that the water, the grass,
the corn, and the cDuntry were theirs, and
that they intended to have the horses of the
Freeman managed to capture one of their
party, and threatened to Kill him if any at
tack were made upon him. On the APP
proach of the soldiers sent for the Indians
drew back, and Mr.. Freeman was permit
ted to return to the station unmolPsted.
The Indians, however, followed him back,
and even approached within talking dis
tance of the station. On the 18th inst. Mr..
Freeman and party, escorted by five citi-
Zens and four soldiers, started again for
Prescott. They had travelled but two or
three miles when Indians were discovered
around them., The party immediately drew
np for defense. when the Indians rose and
approached them, first depositing their bows
and arrows in a pile, and coming up
apparently unarmed. On the first alarm
of Indians one OF the citizens rode back
to the post for assistance; and Lieutenant
Hutton, having his horse saddled, started
forward instantly, ordering portion of his
command to follow as quickly as possible.
1t was found impossible to keep the Indi-
ans at d distance, and the whites simply
placed themselves in line by their horses
and wagons, and for a time only struggled
TO prevent the Indians from getting through
to them. On the arrival of Lieutenant
Hutton he demanded Of the Indians why
the train had been stopped. They answered
dSdlu LIltb' buC WdJtI, LlC RIdSS, anu IL6
country were theirs; that all the whites
must leave the valley in six days; that the
Americans Of the train could go, leaving
their goods and teams, but that the Mexican
soldiers { arizona yolunteers) must surren-
der to them, ......
On being Informed where the bows and
arrows had been deposited, Lieutenant
Hutton ordered the whites to leave their
teams and place themselves between the
Indians and their arms, which was done.
He then demanded that ten Of their NUM-
ber should be delivered up to him as
hostages. On learning this demand, the
Indians drew their knives, which had be-
fore been concealed in their belts aud
breechcloouts, and attempted to force their
way TO their bows and arrows, One of the
indians struck at Mr.. Freeman, but was
knocked down by soldier just in time, as
his knife cut partly through his clothing.
On rising, the Indian struck at soldier,
who caught the blade and was severely
c1t in the hand. He Instantly raised his
revolver and shot the Indian dead. From
this moment the firing became general and
rapid. The citizens aud soldiers were well
armed, and In so close a contest their weap-
ons did terrible execution. The Indians
soon began to retreat, ana were followed
up by the whites Until they came within
DOW-sh0b range Ol another party OF Indians,
stationed on a hill about halt u mile from
the place where the train was stopped.
One soldier was killed by accident by a
comradc, and one wounded by the Indians,
which make up the total Of cas- ualty to the
whites. Twenty three Ind ans were found
dead upon the field, and since the fight ten
more have been found at greater or less
distances from the battle-ground, making
in all thirty-three that are known to have
been killed. NJ '"' .H'.-