The Indianapolis journal., 1883-08-06
CROOKS INDIAN CAMPAIGN.


Official Report of the Indian Fighter to the
War Department.
WAsHINeToN, Aug. 4.-General Crook s re-
port of his campaign against the Apaches in
Mexico has been received at the War De-
partment, After recting the facts which
led to the pursuit of the Indians. and the
support so willingly offered by the Mexican
officials, he says:
We emOved southeast, down the San Brruardio
the most nOrtherly branch of rte Enijiu, tho
largest river of western Mexico Far three days
we uld not see human being. The whuie couh-
try had been lald waste by the Apuche-, ana
much land OF value aud formerly cutivat ed had
grown ND into jungle cane and mesquite.
We followed the trail, which our Cnde
peaches" assured me had heen made by hostile
Chrcahuas On the 9th of May We passed hy the
hnmiets OF Bavispe, San Miguel and Boreaca,
whose Inhabitants welcomed us with exuherHnt
joy. The authorities of Bavlspe offered to come
10 our assistance with every nun, If needed, and
also offered the services of four guides conver-
SAINT with the foot hills of the Sierra Madres.
These off rs did not accent for want of trans
portatlon and supplies, and not believing that
any guides could be equal to those whom We had
been following.
On the 18Th of May scouts discovered camps
and Indians, which We're afterward found to he
those of ChatO and Bonito In accordance with
my careful instructions, they would nave been
surrounded, but for the fact that some scouts
lncauTlOusy fired npon buck ana sQuaw. The
surprise was complete, ana IN subsequent
fight, which lasted several hours, the Indians
were thoroughly beaten, the camps and their
conte nj captured, and five hdf-Srown girls and
young boys taken prisoners. Nine dead Indians
were found afterward, that had been killed in
the fight. The extremely ragged nature OF the
country, the camps being situated half way no
the face OF a precipitOns mountain, gaSned with
ravines and arroyos. preventing any exact count
being made without extreme danger from the
Indians, who might he wounded or hidden in tho
rocks, aud vino couid have killed at their will
|. without exposing themselves.
There was considerable property, stolen from
Americans and Mexicans, found in the camp,
| and about forty horses and mules.
Early ON the 1Sth n Cnricahua entered my
camp. He Is NOT chief hut one of the most
prominent men IN his tribe, noted for intelli-
genee aud bravery. He said the country to
which we had penetrated was looked upon AZ
impregnahle; that Mexican truops had never
succeeded in getting into il, bnt had alWay
been met and driven back with rocks as well US
bullets. as soon as they mad passed the foot
of the hills. He explained that the sense of
security was so great That large number of men
were then absent ou raids III Sonora and
| Chihuahua. He told me where the different
chiefs were residing. 1t was also stated that
| witirChHto'a band was "a small white hoy. cap
tured in New Mexico, and corresr ding so
closely in description 10 Charles McCU,Uas mat
have no doubt il Is he lie said in consequence
Of the attack the Chiricahnas had scattered 70
the mountains like so many quail, and that he
would 90 back ana gather them together and rr-
turn, "but," said he, ''you have Apache soldiers
with you and my people will not respond TO my
smoke Signals, because they'll lie sure your
scouts have made them" He went on to say that
| the captive boy was alive and in good spirits,
hut had gone off with the s1uaws who had
broken away from the camp upon discovering
| that our scouts were closing IN uDOn them.
| From that on Chircahuas came in rapidly from
| all points or the compass, men, women und chill
| dren. All the chiefs surrendered themselves up.
All chiefs at last fairy begged To be taken back
! to San Carlos replied that they were asking
| a great deal, that had no power to put them on
| the reservation, and that could not close my
| eyes TO the atrocities of which they had been
| guilty. Many OF the Americans wanted their
| band rooted out, and that II took them to SaiI
Carlos no doubt cry would be raised for theip
| blood. They hau not only to face Americans +,
| hut Mexioans, also whose people they had mur-
| dered In cruel M 4nner. They could not ex-
pect me- to fight their battles or Dalliate their
| villainOus conduct Tue chiefs then said: I'VE
| give ourselves up, do with us as you please"
| They begged me tn remain where was for n
| few davs LONGER, and explained what scarcey
| needed explanation, that the country was so
| fearfuly rough hat they could not gather up
! all their people ~ once, as they were 80 much
scattered, TO this could not RtHent, the 6ull-
! ply of ratOns for the command making such =
delay impossible. We mad by this time 81
/ Chiricahua Indians and six Mexican oRptvee II
feed, and II WAS about as mncn ns wa could do IN
/ get back 10 our base without danger of starva-
/ don. Heron! mo then sald ii W. would 80 AlOEg