The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-06-22

company of forty-two men. of the Sixth Cav
airy, and rat1ons for two months, on mules,
and followed the hostiles. The Chiracahua
country is of Undesirable roughness, and
number of mules lost their footing, and
stepping from the trail fell down precipices
and we're killed.
The stronghold of the Chiracahuas is in the
very heart of the Sierre Madres The posi-
ton is timely watered and there is a dense
growth of timber and plenty of grass. They
had been camped near the head of the
Bavispe, occupying prominent elevated
peaks sffording fine lookout for miles, and
rendering surprise almost impossible, and
their retreats were made secure through the
rough adjacent canon. Captain Craw-
ford, with Indian scouts, early ON the
morning of May Is surprised the
village of Chata, the chief who led the recent
raid into Arizona and New Mexico. The
fight lasted all day and the village was wiped
out. The damage done cannot be estimated.
A number of dead bodies we're found. but
the indescribable roughness of the country
prevented count being made. The entire
camp, with the stock and everything belong
ing to il, was captured.
1t was learned from the prisoners taken
that the Chiracahuas we're unanimous for
peace, and that they had already sent two
messengers to try to reach San Carlos. On
the 18th they began to surrender. They said
their people we're much frightened by our
sudden appearance in their Businesses and
had scattered like quail. They asked me to
remain until they could gather all their
bands together when they would go
back to the reservation. By the terms of
the treaty my operations were limited to
the time of the fight. l told the Chira-
cahuas to ather up their women and children
without delay. They answered that they
could not get them to respond TO the signal,
the fugitives fearing they might be sent by
our Apache scouts to entrap them. They
told us they had white boy who was in the
village and jumped by our scouts. He had
run off with the squaws who escaped, and
who had not yet been heard from. They as
sured me every one of the band should come
in if l would remain short time, but the
terms of the treaty embarrassed me greatly
and, being in that rough region, with rations
rapidly disappearing, there being between
300 and 400 Chiracahuas to feed, was COM
PEELED to return with the Chiracahuas.
We found six Mexican captives-fve
women and one child-taken in Chihuahua
in May. They are now with the command.
These women say they were captured near
the Mexican Central railroad at a
state that when the Chiracahuas dis
covered that the Apache scouts were
in the country they became greatly alarmed
and abandoned on the trail the three hun
dred head of cattle they were driving away
from points in Western chihuahua. The
cattle were afterward picked up and driven
off by a body of Mexicans. We marched
back as rapidly as the condition of the stock
and the strength of the women and children
would permit. We found the country de-
populated for a distance of one hundred
miles from the Apache stronghold.
The Chiracahuas insist that they always
lived in the Sierra Madres, and that even
when the main body went on the reserva-
ton some remained in the MONTANA OF
these who now went out there are number
who state that they have never been on the
reservation. l have strong hopes of being
able to clear the mountains of the last of
these.
There are now with US Loco and Mana, who
were so often reported killed, anddhe fami-
lies of other prominent chiefs. Saw no Mex
lean troops, and after leaving the settle
ments in Northeast Sonora did not see a
Mexican other than the captives rescued. l
have such assurances that the white boy will
be brought back that l am looking for him
every minute and will inform you by
courier.