Arizona miner., 1867-10-19
Ex-MARsnAL DUFFIELD's LETTER

The following letter from M. B. Dufield, formerly United States Marshal of this Terri tory. appeared in the New York Tribune of August 27th, and has been copied into scy eral of the California papers. We have been prevented, by the pressure on our columns occasioned by the publication of the Acts, etc, of the Fourth Legislative Assembly, from giving it due attention heretofore:
 To he Editor Qf he Tribune Sir--I have been quoted as authority for the number and hostility of Apache warriors in the Territory of Arizona, and the inefiiciency of regular troops for offence and defence in dealing with them. l can fully indorse all that has been said of their present number, their in- creasing hostility, their boldness in their attacks, the small check that they receive from the regular troops, and the disastrous effects these forays are having, by preventing immigration to the Territory, and delaying the opening of her rich mines. There are probably not over 60u Apache warriors iii all Arizona, at the farthest 1 GOO; and the rcgu- lar troops do not give protection, nor bring the Indians to terms of pea,e, and yet millions have been and are being expended by Gov ernment. Nor do doubt but 1000 volun- teers, mounted, such as could be had in Cal ifornia and Arizona used to the Indian char acter and mountains of Arizona, would con quer peace in less than twelve months after they took the saddle.
 On the 24th of June friend writes me from Tucson that seventeen men were killed in my county, (Pima and herds driven off and in this county there are regular soldiers stationed The Indians have come down in the daytime and taken animals from the Government corrals in sight of soldiers Whiskcy, cards, fandangos, and prostitutes have been occupying the military in Arizona since the first organization of the Territory | Although there mdy bc a few exceptions yet they are so few as to evidence the perfect demoralzation of the whole force while the Indians, emboldened by this state of things become more and more vigorous in their ae- tion, and seem likely to depopulate and de- spoil the whole country, as they did under the Mexican Government.
 Arizona seems kind of Rogues Para disc" for class of Government contractors and quiet, pleasure seeking officers ]; and to 2 give the appearance of action, occasionally we read ac cunts of successes obtained by tue troops, first appearing in the Arizona MINER, published at Prescott. I do not hesitate. / over my own signature to declare them false. , In Pima county, where seventeen men were murdered m lew weeks, only one Indian was killed and he by a Mexican. The h. dans were pursued only short distance, and the pursuit was then given up by the troops, who followed them to the Gila river, and, fearing the water, turned back
 The Indians on the plains east of the Rocky Mountains are quite numerous, and large force may be required to conquer them. But l It is different in Arizona. The Apaches are isolated from other tribes, havs no grievances to complain of, are simply murderers and robbers living from pillage, and when once conquered are forever subdued.
 NJ. B. DUFFIELD.
 We "do not hesitate" on our own respon- {. sibility, to declare Mr. Dufiield's statements generally incorrect. We will dispose of them categorically. H
 lst. The number of hostile Indian warriors -Apaches and their allies in Arizona, is said by gentlemen who have resided here for years, and whose means of information are at least equal to those Of Afr. DaffieId. to be as naAr sir shoss~aa as six hundred cor. resPohdenf ef thr San F,pncilco CgR, who pro-