New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-02
THE HOSTILE APACHES.
COLONEL FoRsYrHE's OPERATIONS.

BILL AND
1HlsEE OTHER SCOUTS KILLED-THE INDIANS
ATTACKED AND ROUTED.
CHICAGO, May 1.-Lieutenant- General Sberi-
dan furnishes the following from the report OF Colonel
George A. Forsythe to General r. s. Mackenzie his
recent operations against the hostile Apaches The
report is dated STEMS Pass Station. April %:
Il fed my horses at $3.50 IN. the 23d inst. and
watered 80 possible from n tank which had
ordered here from San simon Station. I got of at 6,
oared directly the ella plains strike the direct
road to Richmond; ordered Lieutenant Mcdonald to
take the six scouts belonging TO the Craig Companies
tInounted) and two enlisted OF Captain Calahan's
company and try and cut any trails along the south
eastern end of Stems Pass AT his request dsmouuted
one OF bis own scouts and gave him Yuma Blu, who
spoke excellent English and regarded best
Indian scout also sent six dismounted Indians
along the base Of the though farther
the foot hills When about or three miles camp
Lieutenant Mcdonald sent word that he had struck
trail twelve hours old OF ten Indians dismounted who
were going in direction. He also asked for an ad-
du0na enlisted man. whom sent hOnr later He sent
word that fifteen Indians had joined the trail and
had with them mule and two horses sent back with
ms messenger two more enlisted men, and continued my
march. He had now turned the southern end of the
pass and was moving along the base Of the range
nOrthwesterly direction
II was moving across the plain. and was probably
eighteen miles my way. when OF the Indian
scouts came IN with his horse dead run. and stated
that four OF the scouts killed. including Yuma Bill
and that Lieutenant Mcdonald and his men we're hold
Ing in check large body of Chircahuas and must
hasten to save them. turned at and roted and
gaoped sixteen miles to the point indicated by the
Indians. l met Lieutenant Mcdonald about twelve
miles from where started who told that the
were falling back foot, the Indans not following
them. He had been chased closely by another small
band OF mounted Indians, who came near cutting him
III. m wit ne NJ he Dartv VIII
were all right, the attacking force Of Indians having re-
treated on seeing my command approaching so rapidly
IL seems that the Apaches had the trailing party
and ambushed them from rocks, firing upon them
when not twenty feet distant. MORALLY wounding
Yuma Bill and killing three other scouts Instantly
Yuma Bill them about three or four seconds before
they fired. and shouted. Watch out. Lieutenant"
Liutenant Mcdonald quick enough to turn his body
and horses head Just they fred. and the only
one OF the advance party who escaped found the
Indians strongly entrenched left side OF the
and In the middle OF it, witch had outlying
OF rock. about 400 feet in height and little to the
right OF the a small line OF rocks connecting the
left and the centre.
" realized that The body Of Indians great
~ in excess Of twenty-five, and dsmonnted my
entire force, formed two thanking parties Of two COM
panies each and moved company directly in their
front left flank. Captain Davis commanding and be-
gan the attack In about hour banked them ont
"A
tion which again drove them from and thence back
into the end among the mountains and high rocks "
the They scattered all through the rocks
firing from points 500. LOO and 1000 feet above
Most Of them evidently cimbed from crag and
suppose, eventually worked back TO the other side
OF the mountain range. / such q
rugged place nor better adapted for defence was
delighted To how very much superior marksmen
10 the Apaches. The latter dared 10 fire
a bird shot from behind auv particular rock "a our men
flaV fTflfn
their bullets right the particular spot from whence the
~ rs ar O a srtn1 tbaI baci mi 9ye eg ~
The action lasted from o'clock until $3.50 O'clock and
our men were completely exhausted in climbing the
sides of the mountain and going up the canon
-" The Apaches abandoned about thirty ponies and
miles We killed ten or twelve day OF the fight
took with mount scouts upon yes
terday when returned there. killed the rest which
sraying among the rocks concluded after the action
over that nsd been Aght ng Indians who were
the way 20 Join Geronimo aud help him bring down the
women and children a. the tran followed by Mcdonald
leading around the base OF the range, toward AcA
mond therefore concluded to cross the Gila plains
that night anu go 10 tchnohu, near Where hoped 10
Ind Loco and Geronimo. | reached the main road
within less than miel came across a citizen on ms
way to Me1eo Tthermqre t tHat the Gaa
and men were about exhausted here teegTaphed you
that would 20 10 the Ga Tor water bat IN the morn.
ing decided 70 come back mere At o'clock a. IN
was joined by Captain Gordon Of the Win cavalry,
with siXty-two men, and Lieutenant Gaewo0d, with
with L Company, IYth cavalry TOOK the back trail
this place Horse shoe where there
small springs which my got water for their cot
fee. scarcely any for tine hOrsesn fact, they d.
their canteens OF with the poor animals.
Rested four hours there, made coffee, grOOmcd the
horses then pushed In here where arrived at $3.50
D. H. had telegraphed for forage aud r4tlons from my
supplies sepIr and Tor two tanks Of
water, which were here on my arrival
Ny animals had reached seventy eight miles.
sixteen al Ealiop, rough country, and had been
forty hours without water few Of them gave out but
| hope they viii follow on the tran this morning.
We finished watering at 1870 o'clock this morning. |
shall have 70 for another tank OF water to-day.
Half OF horses refused % eat last night but they
all right this morning. shall SHOE up aud push out on
the trail mo stein Pass range Oi mountains,
and cross railroad about eight miles below here,
heading Tor the Chirl Cahua range They have good
many animals Win them
II you 30 hear me for some time give your
self NO uneasness. shall follow the trail persstently
until light those Indians. Major Perry all PROBABLY
send pauies OF cavalry 10 follow ami join
ano Captain Cuaace with ten and u company
indian scouts viii join at the Bowie road, ug
the trail. Please send the original reports OF the
company commanders and copy Ot my Otici-l report
10 Fort Cummings for nle \ few OF my sick
und must be back, including with broken ribs.
causeI by kick horse The command Is urst-
class spirits. though sOmewhat tired. expect Lcutcn-
ant Hail and his Indian scouts JOIN here this
ing. Kind regards To al al headquarters.
an well satisfied With the officers and Of
re glmeut. There has not been word Or com pan O1
any We viii leave good shape"