Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-05-28
..c,vo ,be Devil His Due.- Se.

EDITOR CIrIzES:-I have just return
 ed from the upper country, tof Sonora)
 near where the recent conflicts between
 the Mexican troops and Indians took
 place. While I do not wish to detract
 one iota from the well merited praise and
 fame of Generals Reyes and Garcia and
 their troops, yet, knowing the facts m
 the case, I am anxious to give honor
 where honor is due"
 I grant that in general, our army IS no
 better than it should be. yet at the same time, we have some brave and meritori- ous officers who do their full duty, and lt is but just that they should not fall un- der the general criticism.
 General Forsythe and his officers and men, not only drove Loco and his band out of Arizona, but, taking all chances, for the general good of the citizens of both Mexico and Arizona, followed them across the line, in hot pursuit, being on- Iya a few hours behind them, through one of the toughest countries Tn the southwest and into the very hands of the Mexican troops who happened to be in that vicinity. So near was Forsythe to the Indians when the battle took place, that the fir ing was heard from first to last, and but few minutes after the last shot was fired, Forsythe appeared on the ground and requested leave of General Reyes to view the field, which request was courte- ously granted. General Reyes and Gar cia, soldier like, give all praise to Gen. Forsythe and his men for their persever- ance and courage and freely grant that had the American troops not driven the Indians into their hands they might not have been able to encounter them and | obtain their signal victory. As to the battle itself the entire praise is due to | the Mexican troops alone, as the Amer ican troops did not arrive till after the | engagement. The perseverance and en- durance of the American troops in fol- lowing the Indians SO closely through | one of the widest and toughest districts in the country is fully appreciated herr if not at home. In justice I must say the hardest of the fight was borne by the citizen soldiers of Babispe, From teras, etc, and to them is justly due their need of praise. As to the battle itself, I have learned from those who took part in the action, and after wards viewed the field, that the Indians numbered about three hun dred bucks, squaws and papooses, that after the first discharge all but twenty bucks ingloriously fled the field; that these twenty in almost iuaccessi- ble positions, continued the fight until twelve Of their thunder had been killed, when the surviving eight escaped, in what condition is not known. On view ing the field after the engagement, the following were found to have been the causalities viz: Killed. Captain Rada and ten men of the 9th Infantry of the line, five citizen soldiers of Babispe aud five ditto of Fronteras; wounded, nine teen, among whom was Major Ceron Of the staff. Of the savages, twelve bucks and sixty-siI squsws and papooses were killed, no wounded-(oi course not, as here a savage is a savage and not a government petl-and twenty eight sauaws and paDoOses prisoners. Twelve improved Springfield rifles were among the capture. As near as I can learn, General Reyes had about four hundred and fifty troops and seventy-fve to one hundred citizen soldiers with him. From ten to fifteen Americans have been killed and wounded in Sonora since the outbreak. Troops, stores and ammunition are still going forward to the front, and unless the savages escape back to the shelteriDg arms of the worst Indian policy the world eve saw, you will hear n re music from this quarter ere long. as General Reyes of Sonora, and General Fuera of Chi huahua declare that their respective States are too small to hold their troops and Uncle Sam's armed hell hounds.
 Yours truly, CALLETASo. Hermosillo, Sonora, May l5, 1882