Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-10-19
GENERAL MILES REPORT.

mander of the Military Department Of
Arizona and New Mexico, which has
been received at the War Department,
is a voluminous document, containing a
full history of his operations against
Geronimo and his band, together with a
statement Of his position in regard to the
terms of surrender. 1t is learned that
this part of his report sets forth mi.
nutely the official orders received by him,
his own orders placing Captain Lawton
in immediate command and the system
of signalling adopted, and afterwards
~recites substantially the following de-
tails: Some days prior to the surrender a
deserter from Geronimo's band came into
General Miles camp with the informa.
tion that the renegades were short of
food, clothing and ammunition; were
f~ootsore and nearly exhausted from long
marches, and could not hold out much
longer. Thereupon General Miles or.
dered Lieutenant G~atewood, who knew
Geronimo and Matches well and spoke
the Apache language, to take a guard of
two men, obtain a parley if possible with
Geronimo and see if he would surrender.
This mission Lieutenant Gatewood &C.
complished successfully. He informed
Geronimo, in answer to the chiefs ques-
ton, that he had no authority to offer
him terms. Geronimo then asked to be
taken to Captain Lawton, who was in
the immediate n~eighborhood. This was
done, and, on repeating the question
asked Lieutenant Gatewood, Captain
Lawton told him that he could make nc
terms and that he must surrender.
Geronimo then wanted to see General
Miles, and both parties, Captain Lawton
and Geronimo, Natchez and their band.
set out for the north, travelling for som
days on parallel lines and within sight of
each other. In the meantime q mes
senger had been sent ahead to notify
General Miles of their approach. On
coming into General Miles camp Gero-
nimo, as before, asked what terms would
be given him if he surrendered. The
General replied that he had no terms to
offer; that if he and his band surrendered
at all they must surrender as prisoners
of war-that they must lay down their
arms and trust the President of the
United States. Upon this Geronimo
laid down his arm and signited his
willingness to surrender, but Nachez,
who had in the meantime kept out of
reach and refused to come in, sent word
that he wanted to 60 to the White
Mountains for a month, whereupon
Geronimo went out after Nachez and
returned with him. Geronimo, in ex.
PLANTATION and justification of his con-.
duct, said that he left the reservation
for the reason that there was a conspir-
acy afoot there, headed by Chatte, to
murder him. Geronimo, Nachez and
two others were loaded into an ambu.
lance, followed by the rest OF the band
in charge of Captain Lawton, and taken
to Fort Bowie station and shipped to
Texas.
General Miles, in his report, argues
at some length the question of punish.
ment, and calls attention to the fact that
heretofore in such cases removal has been
deemed sufficient. He cites several cases
in.which no greater punishment has been
Inflicted, speaks of the great good done
Arizona by their removal, and suggests
that they be treated as other Indians
have been treated under similar circum.
stances. He highly compliments Cap
tain Lawton, Lieutenant Gatewood and
the officers and soldiers generally for
their meritorious services during the
campaign.