Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-24
THE ARIZONA MASSACRE.

The official report of Lieutenant Whit
man, giving the particulars of the Indian
massacre, near Camp Grant, Arizona,
shows the affair to had been Il wanton,
unprovoked butchery. The slaughter fell
upon portion of the tribe Of Apaches,
who by kind treatment have been induced
to place confidence in the whites at Camp
Grant, and were giving up their barbar-
Gus habits, and gradually learning some
thing of industry aud how to support
themselves. Nearly all their women and
children were slain. The attacking party
was composed of citizens from Tucson.
If the benevolent plans of the govern
ment can succeed against the repeated
shocks which they have encountered from
the cruelty of settlers and designing spec
ulators, they must be upheld by a strong
and enlightened public opinion, which
will insist upon justice for the the Indian.
The report says: SIS
81 am confident from all that l have been
able to learn, that but for this unlocked for
butchery, by this time we would have had one
thousand persons, and at least two hundred
and fifty able bodied men. AZ their number
increased and the weather grew warmer, they
asked and obtained permission to move fur
Their up the Arayapa, to higher ground and
plenty of water. and opposite the ground they
were proposing to plant, and were rationed
every third day. Captain Stanwood arrived
about the first of April, and took command of
the post; he had received, while on the way;
verbal instructions from General Stoneman,
to recognise and feed any Indians lie might
find at the post as prisoners of war After
he had carefully inspected all things pertain
ing to their conduct and treatment, he con-
cluded to make no changes, but had become
so well satisfied of the integrity of their in
tentions, that he left on the 24th with his
whole troop for long scout in the lower part
of the territory. The ranch-inen in this Vi
cinity were friendly and kind to them, and
felt perfectly secure, and had agreed with me
to employ them at a fair rate of pay, TO har-
vest their barley The Indians seem to have
lost their Characteristic anxiety to purchase
ammunition, and had in many instances sold
their best bows and arrows I made frequent
visits to their camp, and if they were absent
from count made 1t my business to know why.
Such was the condition of things up to the
morning of the 30th of April. They had so
won on me that from my first idea of treating
them justly and honestly as an officer of the
army, had come to feel strong personal
interest in helping to show them the way to az
higher civilization; had come to feel re-
spect for men who, ignorant and naked, were
still ashamed to lie or steal, and for women
who would work cheerfully, like slaves, to
clothe themselves and children, but untaught
held their virtue above price. Aware of the
lies and hints industriously circulated BY the
puerile press of this territory, l was content
to know had positive proof that they were
so. l had ceased to lave any fears Of their
leaving here, and only dreaded for them that
they might be ordered at any time to do SO.
On the merning of April 26lh, was at
breakfast, at u a, NJ, when despatch was
brought to me by sergeant eff Company ID,
twenty-frst Infantry, from Captain Plum,
commanding Camp Lowell, informing me that
large party had left Tucson on the 2Sth,
with the avowed purpose Of killing all the
Indians at this post. Immediately sent the
two Interpreters, mounted, to the Indian eanf
with orders to tell the chiefs the exact state
of things, and for them TO bring their entire
party inside the post. As | had no cavalry
and but about fifty infantry {nearly al re-
cruits,) and no other officer, / could not leave
the post to 60 to their defence. My messen-
gers returned in about an hour, with the in
teligence that they cotld find no living
Indian that their camp was burning, and the
ground strewn with the nutilated bodies OF
their women and children.
l Immediately mounted II party Of about
twenty soldiers and citizens, and sent them
with the post surgeon with a wagon TO bring
in the wounded, If they could be found. The
party returned late in the evening, having
found no wounded, and without having been
able to communicate with any of the surviv-
ors. Early the next morning took similar
party, with spades and shoyels, and went out
and buried all the dead in and imne diately
around the camp. ..
Their camp was surrounded and attacked
at day break 30 sudden and unexpected was
1t that no one was awake to give the alarm,
and found that quite number OF women
were shot while asleep beside their bundles
Of hay, which they had collected to bring in
TO the post that morning
They say We know there are n great
many white men and Mexcans who do not
want us to live at peace. We know that the
Papagoes would not have come out after us
this time if they had not been persuaded TO
do So What they do not understand is.
while they are at peace, and conscious Of no
wrong intent, that they should be. murdered
by government arms in the hands of Papa
goes and Mexicans. One of The chiefs said
Il no longer lwantfog live II MY womcn and
children have been killed before my face, and
/ have been unable to defend them
They ask to be allowed to live here in their
old homes, where nature supplies nearly all
their wants. They ask for ~ fair aDd'impar-
tial trial Of their faith, and they ask that all
their captive children living, may be returned
TO them.
The New York Times says that Fisk is