The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-09-10
The Trouble with the Apaches.

A dispatch from Fort Apache, Arizona. gives
the following account of the fight with the
Apache Indians which was at first supposed TO
have resulted in the slaughter of General Carr
and his whole command:
General Carr colonel of the Sixth cavalry,
left here on the 29th with troops D and E,
Sixth cavalry, and a company of Indian
scouts, 1O5 men and six officers, intend
ing TO arrest an Apache medicine man who
bad been endeavoring to get the Indians
to break out. He reached Cibicu creek,
forty-ive miles west of here at P. NJ on
the 30th. They found 600 Indians camped
there, and arrested the medicine man with
out any resistance. The command then
went few miles from the main Indian village
and camped, and the pack train was unloaded,
when the Indians began arriving from every
point, but keeping along the range of the bluffs,
some 800 yards off. Some Indian scouts hav
ing at this time left their own camp and come
into camp, Captain Hentig ordered them to.
leave. While doing go an indian turned and
fired. killing Captain Hentig instantly. The
fight then became general. The troops formed
g skirmiehing line, driving the Indians back
some distance. The herders we e killed by the
first volley, and the herd stampeded. The
fight began at P. " and lasted nearly three
hours, until darkness, when the Indians drew
of toward their own camp. It's impossible TO
tell how many hostiles were killed A council
was held, ami it was decided that it was i'm
possible to hold the position against such a
force. There was but one way ont of the
mp-through bad canon. TIE herd
was rounded up, and it was found
that D troop had lost thrty-three horses and
E troop pack train of seven mules, and
several others badly shot They hastily
gathered up the dead and found seven
men and an officer Captain Hentig) killed.
which, with everything but saddles and ammu-
milton, was left on the field as blind
to cover their retreat. Three badly wounded
soldiers were placed on horses, and at II
o'clock the command started on its retreat for
this post. One of the wounded men died at
o'clock next morning. The Indians did not fol-
low, evidently thinking them at CIblcu. General
Carr made forced march. not stopping any
where until he reached the post at O'Clock in
the afternoon of the 31st. The troops were
badly used up with hunger and fatigue Hos
tiles are swarming through the country, and
came within mile of this post this morning,
burned several buildings, stampeded a large
herd of cattle and then drew of to the noun
tains. Couriers, who started out were killed
within twenty miles of here, also several more
out on escort duty, besides four citizens. This
is reported by friendly Indians, who were
placed on horses to spy. The Mormon settlers
north of us must be suffering heavily. We can
do nothing but hold the post until reinforce
ments reach US. The Indians have cut the tele-
graph lines.
Later-At O'Clock the Indians began
firing into party at the graveyard who were
burying the dead and drove them into the
post, and then fired into the post from the
bluffs from every side. The troops formed a
skirmish line around the entire camp, keeping
them out of the post. The fight lasted until
dark, when the Indians drew off. Captain
Gordon, successor to Captain Hentig, was
wounded in the leg. There were no other cas-
ualties. The firing during the first hour was
very heavy from the hostiles. We believe we
can keep them out of the post, but no more.