The Portland daily press., 1872-05-18
WASHINGTON.
Horrible Massacre on the Mexican
Border.
Eleven Persons Murdered and
others wounded.
Shocking Details of FiendIsh Atrocities

WASHINGTON, May IA report has been
received at War Department. giving the details
of the massacre by Indians, Mexicans and
negroes, combined of persons in charge of
train OF supplies en- route to Fort Stockton at
Howard's Wells near Old Fort Lancaster. The
OF the Ninth Cavalry, under date of April
9th, from Fort Clarke, are as follows: 77 81
On the Goth inst, arrived with the cavalry
of my command at Towards Wells a few hours
to late to prevent one of the most horrible mas
sacres that has ever been perpetrated ON this
frontier A Mexican train loaded with United
States commissary and ordnance stores, on its
way from San Antonio to Fort Stockton was
attacked by Indians. They plundered and
teen souls in all were killed or wounded, ex-
cept one women. My command buried eleven
bodies and brought in three wounded men and
one woman into my camp. Before arriving at
the burning train the first intimation we had of
the horrible disaster was the charred and black
ened corpses of some of the poor victims. But
no one was alive to tell the horrors of the af
fair. supposed up to this time that Capt
Sheridan with infantry of my command was in
camp at Towards Wells, about one mile from
the scene of the massacre, and while yet some
distance from the point, the smoke of burning
wagons was mistaken for his camp fires. What
confirmed me in this belief, was that knew at
least that Sergeant and four men were at the
Well in charge of forage. The command NOV
in charge of the detachment at the point was
met, and he pointed out the course the Indians
had taken with the stolen animals belonging to
the train. In less time than it takes to relate
it, the trail was found and rapid pursuit at
once by companies A. and H. of the Ninth
Cavalry, commanded respectively by Capt.
Cooney and Lieut. Vincent. After following
the trail some seven or eight miles, the cavalry
came upon the Indians in force on the summit
of steep and almost impassable bluff. Here
E.l~A
Lieut.. Vincent fell MORALLY wounded, while
bravely leading and attempting to control his
men. He died shortly after returning to camp
about 10 o'clock that night. Capt. COoney was
painfully, though not seriously injured by his
horse falling, while moving at a rapid gait
He however re-mounted and retained his COM
mand. The men of his company behaved very
well, but being in great part recruits without
experience in Indian fighting, which is the case
in Co. 81. to a still greater extent, they squand-
cred their ammunition, and the lack of ammu-
milton and supplies found a protracted pursuit
of the Indians impracticable. A woman who
escaped, reports that six Indians were killed in
the fight. Words fail to convey an idea of the
sickening atrocities committed by the demons,
who overpowered the train men. Several of
them were taken alive and tied to the wagons
and burned.
An old woman was carried some distance
from the place of attack and then shot and
scalped. Her grand child had its ears cut off
was Scalped and had Its brains dashed out,
while her daughter, the mother of the child,
who witnessed it all, as also the death of her
husband at the train, was carried off by the
fends More than one poor wretch crawled
from the burning wagons after the ropes which
had bound them were burned off, only to burn
to blackened unacceptable masses, with their
charred hands and faces raised in positions of
entreaty. The train had nine men with it. The
remainder of the party were women and chill
dren.
1t is feared that one woman was taken away
by the band though it is possible that she as
well as the other body unaccOunted for, was
burned to ashes with the wagons. 1t is report
ed that the band consisted of from 125 to 100
men and was composed of Indians, Mexicans
and deserters from the army. A number of
arms and ammunition were taken from the
train by the band before burning it. How many
arms cannot say. 1t was the supply which
was lately sent from the arsenal at San Anto-
MO to Fort Stockton. Gen. Anger, in this re-
port expresses the opinion that the Indians
came from Mexico, and this belief is sustained
by the fact that the Mexicans and deserters
from the colored regiments. were with them,
such deserters universally escaping into Mexico.
Combinations.
The Senate has confirmed Capt Daniel AM
men as Commodore, and Thomas Fl. Cole, Col
lector of Customs, at Saco, Me- ~
Revenue Consolidation. E
An executive order has been issued, CONSOLE
dating the 9th and 31st Internal Revenue Dis
trict at New York. aR.ls u' alu