New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-20
THE PURSUIT OF THE APACHES.
COLONEL GRIERsoN's REPoET-TnE I%DIAN DEPART
MENT CFNsuRED-D IN CATCHING
D..

COLONEL GglERSoNs REPOET-TllE INDIAN DEPART
MENT CFNsuRED-DIFFICULTY IN CATCHING
vICTORIVs BAND.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPtTCHi
W.sUIxGToN Aug. 19.-The War Department re-
ceived to-day a detailed report from Colonel B H..
Grierson commanding the 10th Cavalry OF the
operations of his command in New-Mexico in pur-
SUIT of hostile Indians in the vicinity OF the Mesca-
lero Agency and of the disarming OF the Mescaiero
Apaches at that Agency. on April 10.
I'm his report Colonel Grerson says he was ordered
nv the Department Commander on the Goth of last
March. to proceed with cavalry to the Mescalero
Agency. Ncw-Mexico, and cooperate with General
Hatch in the dlsarmIng of the MescGero Apaches.
Near the mouth of Black River NewNleXicO, it was
fouud that the Indians had been repeatedly raIding
in that vicinity and their trails, which were fol-
lowed by the troops led invariably in the direction
of the Mescalero Agency. Colonel Grierson III his
report then says
Iadvised the surrounding and complete disarming and
dsmounting OF all tue Indians at the Mescaei0 Agency
aud tb.r removal to Fort Stanton. where they would be
under the direct control Of the military authorities
The agency had for long time been simply sort ol
commIssary Tor Indian women and children, ahd saie
refuge and convenient place for younger ana more ac
tive Indians obtain supplies, 10 enable tem 10 con
TIME heir rang and depeda lions In Texas and else
where The agency too mad also become FiriuaiIy Il
snppy camp ior VictOra's band. wh0 IN addlIiOn 10
such means OF subsistence by most remarkable
manifestation OF generosity ON the part 81 ns inua
Depa tmcnt, having their families ied ana Ah! care"
for Mt the Carlos Agency
Thus y" Colonel Grierson says, the troops were re-
aurcd to puls sue hunt up and fight Victoria and ms
hand OF maruudcrs whe they were kept on The war
path srenglheued aud reinforced and dOuby supplied
by the Indirect and direct aid of the Government
On the 10Th of April between three and four hun
drcd Apaches had come in, and it was decided that
they should be dsarmcd at 2:3O i'll the afternoon.
About o'clock however, the Apache chief Nant-
lila and n large part of his followers broke away for
the mountains The troops at once started IN pur-
suit and succeeded in driving back and surround
ing all Of the Indians except about forty including
the chief Nautzi a. vino made their escape.
With reference to the military operations OF
General Hatch, Colonel Grierson says:
Those VINO are so quick 10 censure WHY ana ABUSE
General Hatch and his nardwOrked officers ana men ior
moi nj once capturing destroying victoria ana MS
hand of mAraudrrs. stop TO consider the great
| Il nlcnltie- TO be encountered In consummatnS tDls
| desired result They to forget or are not awar,
Of The nature extent of the territory 10 he secuted
| over . Tue troops, however, Dy keeping sleauIiy
and perslseny pursuit OF the indais' WIN WOiiS
Inem ont aud in compel their surrender uniess
KIND trends of the maralIders step ill., aud through
their Influence with the Inteuor Department save the
Indians humanity sake and Tor use i'll future wars
Colonel Grerson is of the opinion that the reserya-
ton of the Mescalero Apachcs is the most unsuitable
nlace for an Indian reservation which could possibly
| have been selected