Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-09-27
The Taking Of Tucson.
PROVIDENCE, R. l., Sept. l9, 1884.

PROVIDENCE, R. l., Sept. l9, 1884
 EDITOR CITIzES:-In your issue of August sth. 1884, which has been kindly forwarded to me by Capt. Wm. H. Sea- mans, of Coehise county, 1 find aD ar.i- cle entitled "A Reminiscence," which recalls old memories. and the faces of Carleton, Cutter, Fritz, Cremoney, Rob- erts. Mitchell, Cranden. Haskell, Ihomp- son, and Martin, long since dead, go marching by me. The column from California" were all gallant men, and they were only unfortunate in being held in the frontiers, when they should have had ether fields to have shown the stuff they were made Of. Tho inference of your article wouli be that the Cali fornia column" entered Tucson, August 7th, 1862, when the facts are that tLe advance detachment of the "cc!uGG' entered Tucson, May 20th, lSG2.
 On the morning of May l4lh, 1862, after a delay of nearly six weeks at Whites Mills, Pimo Villages, and long after Capt. Galloway, of Company l, First California Infantry. had attempt to reach Tucson, and encountered detachment of Capt Hunters men Gt the PicachO, where Lieut.. Johnson, HiEs. CalIfOrnIa Cavalry and three men were killed. Lieut.. Colonel J. R. West,
 ith cOmpG uies c. and K. First CalifOr- nia Infantry, and comp les E and C Fifth California Infantry. and company B First California Cavalry, left for Tue son, camping at the SacatOn, on the first night. During our stay at the PlmO villages rumOrs had been constant rife that a large force of rebels were con- centrated at Tucson, and when there We!e ready to receive us with biCody hands to hOspitable graves" Our Indian scouts, whp had been sent forward, all returned with the same story, that rifle pits extended on the road westward from Tucson for over a mile, and that there would be bloody work before we should ent-r the plaza of Tucson. In fact, no ctfer that was made to the Pima Indians by our Quartermaster could in- duce one of them to accompany the command tO act as herders tO our beef herd, SO sanguine were they that our movement was to be a useless and bloody one
 From the Sacaton We left the old overland route and kept on up the GilG rIyer, and camped the second night at Whites ranch. On the third march We passed near the Casas Grandes, and finding no water continued our march, arriving at midnight at Rattlesnake springs. On our next march we arrived at Fort Breckinridge, on the San Pedro near its confluence with the Glla, when the stars and stripes were run up and saluted. After c few hours rest the march was resumed, and late at night made camp in the Canon de Gro. The next day, l believe, short march was made. The morning of May 2Oth ! dawned bright and glorious, as 1t always does Tn your beautiful climate, and l found the command in line. every officer | and enlisted man divested of all super l tiuOus clothing and trappings, and each | man with forty rounds. Tine command | moved out with a cheerful and elastic | tramp. and when within about three | miles of Tucson a halt was had. Cap tain Emil Fritz was ordered Co proceed 1 round the north end of the town and gain I the road that entered Tucson by the east, | with one half Of his troops and Lieut. | Juan F. GuiralO. with the remainder of l E Company was to enter simultaneously | from the north. The infantry command | WIS inspected, ranks counted off and the | commands of "bGttalOn right fHce,' | column forward, march, were given | by Colonel West. Very soon after, on | ascending Gn elevated place of the road | showed us some of the most western buildings Ol Tucson, as we were march ing forward. An immense clOud of dust was afterwards seen m the direction of | Tucson, which seemed to approach us, and in few minutes afterwards. Capt | Fritz with few Ot his men met us, and | announced that Tucson had been taken | without 6 shot being fired; that. in fact, there was nobody in the place to show hOstilities. But short time elapsed l before the command. with the field . music playing patriotic airs, marched | into the plaza and stacked arms, and | Tucson was wOnl
 l will not tell you how Captain Fritz and his gallant troops, as they rode | through the vacant streets Of Tucson, threw themselves over on the sides of I their horses, when they saw long water | spOuts prOtruding from the casas of 1 Tucson, pointing in their direction. as IL was standing joke in the Column" for years afterwards, but will be satis- fled to sign myself, SIS one who was there | and who remains. Yours respectfully,
 GEO. II. PETTIS.
 Late First Lieutenant Co. k., First | California Infantry.