The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-13
CROOKS NARRATIVE.



During the Campaign.
SAN Francisco, June 12.--The following
dispatch from General Crook was received at
military headquarters this afternoon:
''SI1vERstREEK A T. June FL left here
May LIST with 1913 Apache scouts, under
Crawford. Gotwood and Mackey, with
ChafIee's company of forty-two men and
sixty cavalry | took rations for two months
on mules. l followed the hOstiles into
country of Undesirable roughness. A num-
Der of mules lost their footing. stepping from
the trail and, falling down the preclplces,
were killed The stronghold Of the Chiraca-
has's was in the very heart OF the Sierra
Madres. The position was finely watered,
with a deus. growth of timber
and plenty of grass. They had
been camped near the head of the Bonispe,
occupying prominent elevated peaks
af1ordng fine lookout for miles, rendering
surprise almost impossible, and making their
retreats secure through the rough adjacent
canons.
Captain Crawford, with the Indian scouts,
early on the morning of May 15 surprised
the village of Chala, 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 es-
timated. A number of dead bodies were
found, but the indescrbable roughness OF
the country prevented a count being made.
p,
thing belonging to II, was captured 1t Is
learned from the prisoners taken that the
. ChiraCahuas are unanimous for peace. and had
already sent two messengers TO try TO reach
San Carlos. On the 18th they began
to surrender. They said their people were
much frightened by our appearance ia their
Businesses, and had scattered like quaiis.
They asked me to remain until they could
gather all the 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 Chiracahuas to gather up their
women and children without delay They
answered that they could not get them to re-
spond to their signals the fugtives fearing
they might be beset by our Apache scouts.
who would entrap them. They told us they
had white boy who was in the village,
jumped by our scouts. He had run off
with the squawS who escaped, and who had
not yet been heard from. They assured me
that every one of the band should come
in if | would remain short
time. The terms of the treaty embarrassed
me greatly, and being in that rough region,
with rations rapidly disappearing, there be-
ing between 800 and 400 Chiracahuas to feed,
l was compelled to return with the Chraca-
huas.
We found six Mexican captives five women
and one child, taken at Chihuahua early in
May. They are now with the command.
THESE women say thel were captured near
the Mexican Central railroad a place called
Carmen. They further state that when the
Chiracahuas discovered that the Apache
scouts we're in the country they became
greatly alarmed, and abandoned Oh the trail
the 300 head of cattle they were driving
away from points in western Chihuahua.
The cattle were afterward picked up and
driven off by body OF Mexicans.
We marched back as rapidly as the condi-
ton OF our stock and strength of the women
and children would permit I found the
country depopulated for a distance OF 100
miles from the Apache stronghold. The
Chracahuas insist that they have always
lived in the Sierra Madres that even when
the main body went on the reservation some
remained behind in the mountains OF
those who went out there are a
number tho state that they had never
been on the reservation. l have strong
hopes of being able to clear the mountains OF
the last OF those now with us are Loco and
Mana so often reported killed and the fami-
lies of other prominent chiefs | saw no Mex
lean troops and after leaving the settlements
in northeast Sonora did not see a Mexican
other than the captives rescued lhave sGch
assurance from the Indians that the white
boy will be brought back alive that | am
looking for him every moment, and will in
form YOU by courier"