Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-08-30
SUCCESSFUL INDIAN BATTLE.
Thirteen or More Warriors killed.
From the Arizona Citizen

FROM the Arizona Citizen.
Capt. Ell. NJ Smith, with his compa
ny oflnfantry, accompanied by trains
laden with the company property, and
supplies for the post trader at Camp
Bowie, whittier all were going, left
Tucson early last week. When about
eight miles beyond Cienega station,
the "outfit" being stretched out for q
mile, a large band Of Indians made an
attack on the rear wagons. The COM
pany were mostly in advance The re-
ports vary as TO the details of the fight,
but all agreed that thirteen or more
warriors were killed, and circumstances
seem to warrant that not less than
twenty had good reasons for not leav-
ing the battlefield.
We are convinced that an attempt has
been made to have Captain Smith un
justly reported, and when we get full
report, If 1t materially differs from the
one below, we shall present it to our
readers. It is our earnest desire to i'm
partially credit all officers with their
share IN battles, and are of the opinion
that III this instance Captain Smith
acted with bravery Summing up ali
reports, we strike an average as fol-
lows:
When the attack was made, the men
with the train made as ivel y fight as
possible, until Captain Smith and
Lieutenant E. r. Theller arrived from
the front. AS soon as the officers heard
the firing, they returned rapidly with
all but a Corporal's guard of men
Captain Smith on horsebacks and the
Lieutenant in the ambulance with his
wife. Arriving on the ground, a charge
was ordered and made with telling
effect; at the same time an order was
given to park the train, bot it appears
that Mr.. A. H.f Cargill, who was in
charge of it, directed the teamsters to
move on, which direction was permit
ted to be observed. the bugle sounded
and the victorious and fighting soldiers
called off when dealing death to the
sayages.
The battle ragged in the brush over
the hills, and to mile about. 1t
seems the soldiers promptly obeyed
the bugle, and probably expecting to
return to the fight, did not make a close
examination of the results of their VIC
tory, but thirteen dead warriors were
seen by them, and also by others who
passed by there a couple of days later.
The troops lost one prlvate-W. ID.
Harris-killed, and three wounded.
Three oxen were slightly wounded, but
no mule killed, as at first reported.
The command moved on to San Pc
dro, where private Harris was buried
with military honors. Our last report
says Mrs. Theller was in the midst of
flying balls, and at the side OF Harris
when he fell Our conflicting reports
prevent us from speaking specially of
the action of Captain Smith and Lieu
tenant Theller, BUT it seerhs that both
acted promptly and bravely. Whether
A. H. Cargill was permitted to thwart
the real purposes of Captain Smith, we
are not prepared to say, yet such re-
port comes to us from an ambulance
driver on the ground at the time, who
asserts that the Captain ordered the
train parked, but Mr.. Cargill objected,
and carried his point.
Much more of what may or may not
be truth, has been reported, but we
shall omit it. We have to get Captain
Smiths report, and promise to correct
any material errors credibly shown to
be stated in this account, written with
some doubts of it's accuracy, except to
the killing of thirteen or more Indians.