New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-04
an APACHE AMBUSCADR.

THR FIGHT NEi& TUCSON, ARIZONA-A DEsPE2-
ATE ENCOUNTER.
Sergeant John Mott, the only officer left in
Lieut. Cushings Inflated scouting expedition makes an
Interesting report Of the fight between the little body Of
troops and the forces Apaches that surrounded them
IN the wilderness Some days ont in the march the sol
dcrs came on the track Of -quaw. This woman was
intended simply decoy. The Sergeant says:
followed the track about ihrecourthso a mile until
u entered canon, which was simply deep arroyo
ing that he sguaw in walking along the sand had taken
great pains 10 make clear print Of her foot At each
order 10 do this moro etectuIllY became Convinced
that we we're being led INTO trap. and determined 10
leye the canon. Scarcely had reached the top OF The
left wall when found my suspicious correct party
of Indians, about 70 in number were hid in side canon
copied my retreat had continued following the track
Being at the time well posted, thought could. with
two men, hold them in check while the third man went
of 10 signal Lieut. Gushing back dismounted 10 be
ready for them, second and much larger party on
my left running toward my rear then decmed exp'di
ent to fall back but while IN the actor mounting the IN
dams fired volloy. disabling the horse NJ private Green
and severely wOunding private Pierce these men
started on foot for tho rear, closely followed 10y the
enemy, who ran 50 close On Green - 20 snatch Ia, hat
from his head The third man, who had sgnaed Lieut..
Gushing, looking back saw how matters $1,000, ana hed
into the Indians, who. no doubt, thought that the main
body had come up. they paused, giving IA time 10
escape The 'front.' line Of me Apache5 Qhry advanced
In two lines having fired of their rifles. did not stop 20
alive. They could easily have killed us, being All
around ia with brcechlOaders and reyOlyers some OF
Indians the second Kept brisk but
less fire. Lieut. Cushing coming up, having with
him Mr. simpson "a citizen friend and private Chap
man. stated to the Lieutenant that Thought tho
Indians would capture Green If we did not go 10
his assistance but he managed 10 escape by him.
self Moving mp at once. we attacked then the rest Of
the men coming mp now I'VE had ABOUT IL men IN mel
when brisk fight ensued. In which we succeeded IN
driving the Indians 10 the hills, they leaving a. hs
point five dead IN our hands, We had three horses
killed. Sending back three 70 the pack train Lieut.
Gushing gave the command Forward" |, seeing the
disadvantage a. stood, advancing over open ground
TO attack an enemy under cover OutnubeiuS us Doon
to one said to the Lieutenant, Lieutenant. do You
think II prudent 10 20 farther| br simpson, gentle
man OF much experience also COunseed him % return
but the Lieutenant seemed to think that the Indians
"Egbt~tbat ought 10 be enough" That was the Lieu
tenant, Mr. simpson. myself and Ave prvates. We adj
vanced about 20 yards, when tho Indians opened fire.
striking Mr. simpson IN the face, the ball pass
to help him out thus reducing our number TO SIX me
Indians. seeing our party small rushed down from All
Indian. at the time about five yards in advance
OF Lieut.. Gushing, and hearing the words sergeant.
Lieut. Cushing face toward the horses clasp his hands
his breast and fall 10 the ground Calling 10 FIGHTER
TO assist me- seized the Lieutenant by tho right arm,
FIGHTER taking the left and started for the rear followed
by Green, who, noticed very lame. The other two
started to get out the horses. We carried the Lieu
tenant about ten OF tWeVe PAGES "heh ne was again
shot through the head and fell dead In our arms;
up with Yount and Mr. Simpson. when the lat
ter again shot through the body, killing
him instantly. Looking behind me | saw the
enemy within 80 or 40 yards OF me- firing as he advanced
Dropping the body OF Lieut. Cushing FIGHTER and myself
turned To sell lives dearly possible causing the
Indians 10 pause, thus enabling priyates Green and
Yount to mount Acting Corporal Kimartin opened
fire with his party, thus enabling FIGHTER and myself 10
mount, but scarcely had done when both horses
shot balls striking FIGHTERS horse in the Hank
a third mine in tine fore leg and fourth killing private
Green. Immediately mounting Lieut. Cushing's horse
detached part of command now reduced TO IA efeC
tive to out with the pack train. keeping the
remainder with me to cover the retreat. Then com
menced a running fight for about mile. until finding
drawn the enemy from under halted 10 offer
him battle (hOplng l could flank him and re-
cover the bodies; he halted also, but declined
the gage, evidently having had enough Of that
kind of fighting, preferring TO cut OFF aud
ambush the trail 10 Crenden, which passed the
foothills within and Onehalf mile of his position, l.
having 20 around the mountains could strike IL ia
about four miles Seeing through their design crossed
the Rio BarbacOma four miles above old Camp Waller,
and continued my retreat the mesas, thus placing
the swampy head OF the BarbacOma and hall mile or
ground between and the place OF ambush and the |
trail had scarcely arrived opposite this place when
the Indians uttered yes of savage rage and dlsappOn
meDt, but powerleSs TO modest me. The Indians
were well handled by their chief thick, heavy man.
who never dlsmounted from small brown horse during
the fight They not noisy or bOisterOu5 AS Indians
generally are but paid great attention % their chief
" hose designs could guess at as he delivered his IN
.tIuotions by gestures JOHN Mort,
Sergeant troop f." sd Cavalry.