Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1877-02-17
ARIZONA INDIAN AFFAIRS.
to Department Commanders In
emcie0ey and other Features
TrcsoN- Fehrnarr Il 1S1.

NN1O-Ns 4 VI AtsA H. A'tt
EDITOR CITIZEN: The continued dep
relation by Apache Indians in South
eastern Arizona, since last April; and
the very extensive recent raid by them.
which has resulted in the murder of al
least eight men and the loss IF a large
amount Of properly, induced me TO send
brief message TO the late Legislative
Assembly which caused that body to
adopt prompt and, so far as in its power
lay, efficient measures 10 place in my
hands the means 10 restore peace and
order, and to give protection to the suf-
fering citizens of this Apache afflicted
section of the Territory. And for the
promptness and unanimity which char
acterized the action of the Legislature,
the thanks of the people are due that
body. To inteiligently deal with this
question and effectively cure the evil,
it is necessary that clear understand
ing be had of the situation, and
to that end l propose to submit
few facts.
The Chiricahua or Cachise Indians
were placed on the Chiricahua reserva-
ton in 1872, by Gen. Howard They
were given large area Of country and
allowed to do as they pleased, except
that they we're prohibited from mur
dering or robbing in Arizona. The
result was that a constant wall came up
from Sonora, of their depredations
committed in that State. Large amounts
of property, such as horses, mules
arms, ammunition, money. and even
women's clothing, were brought to the
reservation and disposed of, while the
Savages spent most of their time on the
reservation in drunkenness, often heat
ing and killing their own women. THIS
condition of affairs continued from
1872 10 the It'll day Of April, 1876, when
they broke the peace in Arizona and
killed Rogers and Spence at Sulphur
Springs on the reservation, about TWEEN
ty miles west Of Bowie, and on the fol
lowing day, \ 3ril 8, they killed Lewis
on the San Pedro, and took the horses
belonging to the ranch \ company of
soldiers followed these Indians ana
overlook them in a mountain south Of
Bowie. The Indians challenged the
soldiers 10 combat; few stray shots
were fired; no one was hurt, and the
soldiers retired in good order 10 Camp
Bowie, leaving the Indians master of
the situation. Ire Indians then fol-
lowed the soldiers into the Post to.
obtain rations and enjoy little rest.
after this bloOdless fight Among them
were the well known murderers OF
Rogers, Spence and Lewis, with their
hands yet red with the blood of their.
victims They all went to Camp Bowie,
and with lordly stride loafed - around 4
the Post, drew their ratIons and made
purchases with their ill-gotten gains.
The reader will naturally enquire, were
not these murderers promptly arrested I?
and if not, what caused this derelicuon
of duty? That may not be charged
with prejudice IN this matter, | viii
allow the officer who was then, and is
now in command of Camp Bowie to
explain for himself and in his own
words. Capt Curwin B. Mcclellan. IN
a letter TO Agent Jeiords, dated Camp
Bowie. May %, 1876, says:
The first knowledge l had of their
(the murderersO return, was conveyed
to me officially by you, | never asked
you whether you intended to take meas
ures TO have them arrested, nor did YOU
refuse to take any action in the matter.
but on the contrary reported to me that
you were at all times ready to assist
in making the arrest Of the murderers.
Capt Mcclellan was backed by two
companies of cavalry, yet no attempt
was made TO arrest these murderers, nor
was the least effort put forth TO punish
the Indians who had deted the soldiers
and driven them 10 the Post
About this time l was telegraphed
from Washington for my advice as to
what disposition should be made of
these Indians, and | replied that they
should be removed at once, either to
the Hot Springs in New Mexico, or the
San Carlos, as might be found best.
Learning that the latter was chosen by
the Indian Office, FASTENED to Pres
colt to confer with the Department
Commander, to secure, if possible, hi,
cordial cooperation | found he was
not inclined to act unless so instructed
by the Secretary of War l then tele-
graphed to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs the situation, and asked him to
obtain instructions from the Secretary
of War. which he did, and shortly
afterward War Department instructions
were given the Department Command
er to give full cooperation in the reno
yal of the Indians; and about three
weeks Afterward he obeyed the instruc-
tons and came to Tucson and thence to
Bowie. The removal of a part of the
Indians was effected \ part of them
to go, aggregating little over
200 men, women and children, and
when these left, they made broad
trail, taking with them horses and all
their effects. They were followed