The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-08
THE APACHE WAR.
It's Conduct, as Viewed by One Who
Lived Through 1t.
To the Editor of THE HERALD.

To the Editor of THE HERALD.
How are the people to learn facts from
the papers of the day, when there are
so may conflicting reports and varied
criticisms? One day we read about
General Miles violating orders; one day
hero, the next deserving to be a
criminal. All this comes of ignorance
or prejudice on the part of the critics.
There is none so competent to judge
the -four as the one who eats the biscuit,
not even the baker. The old lady
understands her tea better than the
grocer, because she drinks it. No one
understands better. neither are there
any so well qualified to judge and
report intelligently on the Apache
troubles as the people who have had
to eat and drink the hard and bitter
experience of years in the midst of these
cruel wars. Having been there for
long period and knowing the general
feelings, as often expressed by the
reople inhabiting the country suffering
from the depredations of these Apaches,
allow me little space TO relate how we
feel.
General Cook, years past, did good
work in Arizona, partially subduing the
the Apaches, and bringing many tribes
into submission. The history of his
labors at that time stands above crit
cism. The Indians were placed On reser
vations under the peace policy. more
properly known as the thieVing policy.
Whenever the Indians have been driven
to desperation or tempered with by
these pious appolntees until break was
made, then be military was called out
to shoot and drive them back to the
serVation. Then the army officers and
poor soldiers had to catch it from every
side, :Or lack of ability 10, catch the In
dams on the first quarter. Sometimes a
little praise would be given to some good
natured lieutenant, who happened to
meet a scri nbler in an outside saloon and
treat, whilst many of the more worthy
were never noticed. The late campaign
now offers food for the fault-fndsr.
Why not give all their credits, for GER
tainly they deserYeit General Crook,
when called to Arizona this last time,
was restricted in his orders, whilst the
people demanded OF him the subjGgation
of the Indians. The government so
| pestered him with restrictive orders
| that he was almost powerless, many
times having to wait for orders. making
delays that the Indians took advantage
| blamed for many things, such as enlist
| ing scouts that were formerly hostile,
furnishing them unlimited supplies OF
ammunition for hunting, when his in
structiOns required him to do so,
That the Indians were being some
what pressed at the time Gen. Miles
| took command is a fact, and there is
nOt-the least reason to suppose but that
| if Gen. Crook had been free TO use his
own judgment untrammeled, as was
Gen. Miles, he, too, would have ended
this war. That Gen. Miles deserves
credit, it seems to me the sin of Ingrsti-
! tude to deny either to him or to any
/ of the rank and file of those en-
! gagged in these companies. [ have
! travelled much over these dry plains
and rough mountains, under the most
| favorable circumstances, and know that
in peaceable times there Is often much
suffering attending the traveller in these
! lands. Then what must it be when
/ hunting the wild and savage Apache,
who is always leading into the most
/ inaccessible places2 Now that the
work seems done, give all engaged in
the hunt their just credit, even those
whose names have never appeared be-
fore the public. There were many gal
liant officers, the peers of any who were
in command of the posts along the line,
whose duties were hard indeed. Moth
ing to do, mOstef the time, but hold the
ground down from blowing away. No
chance of glory; never mentioned in
dispatches; nothing to hope for in all
this great war that occupied two re-
publics for several years. Men as am
| bilious as General Miles and as capable,
sat month after month; yes, s)Whole
year. watching some little spring to see
/ that an Apache did not come and
drink it dry, with hardly the discretion
to shoot him if he did. These officers
and men also deserve their share OF
credit for hard service. General Miles
statement is correct. Pins taking Of the
Indians from their county strikes a
dread among the savages and viii effect
more than killing. Killing iBciies
revenge. This removing ayes them. il
oatreaches their modes and We viii see
the good effect of this policy soon. May
it continue, if needed, until We haas
peace in this long disturbed land.
80 +-4 asa ARizoEAN..
SALT LAKE. CRY, October :. 1886. q 7,