Arizona citizen., 1877-06-23
SCOUTING IN Is75-o-7.


 copy of that letter of inferences by General Kautz, dated Prescott, A. T., February 12, 1877, and published in THE CITIZEN of May 19, have been too busy with the removal and loca- ton of the New Mexico Indians and the examination of my administration under Inspector Vandever 10 give the letter proper attention. Even now 1 only intend to give a few extracts from the records. My remarks will differ from the Generals letter in that in- stead of popular explanations" possible causes " and "reputed Opin- Ions. l shall deal in plain and direct statements. The General says that an investigation of the number of scouts that have been made in the Ter ritory since he has been in con- mand, or rather since June 1, 1S7j, reveals the fact that one hundred an ] seven Indians have been killed and sevenly-ni captured By references to the records, I find that the following reports of scouts have been sent to my office since June 1, 1875, to-wit:
 On June ?, 1875, Major Brayton reports that some Indian scouts were out hunting and were fired upon by hostile Indians, and the Indian scouts returned the fire killing six bucks. They also captured three women and seven children. This is one of the scouts referred to by the General. Same of the Indians enlisted from the San Carlos Agency while out hunting from Camp Verde killed six Indians and took ten prisoners, and at once the General claims a grand victory; on June l6, 1875, Major BrayIOn reports that he sent out party of twelve In dian scouts on the 9th of June, and rn the 14th of that month these scouts killed four bucks, and took one squaw and two children prisoners. This is another of the Generals achievements. The San Carlos scouts, twelve ID number, went out from Camp Nerd by direction of Mayor Brlyton. They made q scout without aid, guide or support from the troops, and killed four and captured three renegade In dians, and therefore we are called upon to attest the efficiency of the troops under the department com mander's direction. I have shown by the reports of Major Brayton, com manding Camp Verde, that the first two scouts after the General took com mand, were made by the San Carlos Indians without other aid. and that our San Carlos boys killed ten bucks and took thirteen prisoners for which i the General claims credit. MajOI Brayton further reports that he with small detachment of companies \ and B, Eight Infantry, and thirty In, dian scouts attacked d party of Indians on June 50, 1875, and drove them into cave and killed twenty-five Indians and took nine prisoners; and on July f, 1875, he attacked another party ! killing five and taking six prisoners | The total of this scout was thirty killed and fifteen prisoners. This was effective work by Major Brayton ana no one is more willing to give him just credit and praise than myself notice however that Major Brayton l has not stated the number of bucks killed in this last scout; it is just there fore for me to believe that the usua proportion of women and children
 were among the slain, and from my knowledge of the results of surprise attacks on Indian camps, l conclude that in such general killing not more than ten out ut a total of thirty would be men. I wish to call attention by and by to the Generals statements tha "it is only through the presence o officers that women and children art spared"
 The summary of the military record for 1875 is: Killed, six bucks, anC four bucks and thirty Indians, making forty in all; prisoners, all women anC children, ten and three and fifteen making twenty-eight; total killed anC captured, siXty-eight. Of these sixty eight not more than twenty and per haps not oyer fifteen were men.
 During tue year 1876, l find only one effective scout on the military record. This was made by Cap'aiI Porter. This officer had a fight witl some Indians August b, thirty-tiy'
 miles north of Camp Verde, in whicl he reporls seven Indians killed anC : two women and five children captured
 making a total of fourteen killed ant Icaptured. Of these 1 allow three weI'
 men. The summary of the mllitar. record for 1876 is, killed seven Indian:
 and captured seven women and chil dren. Total killed and captured, four teen Indians. Of this number, pro bablv not more than three were men . These Indians were reported out b. me on March l6, 1876, and the Genera permitted five months, less one day, t pass by without making an effort t
 capture these renegades.
 1, I know that Lieut.. Fucker kil'eC !, f.rr or fiva Indians sometime in Dc