The Clifton clarion., 1886-02-03
Desperate Encounter of Capt. Ora Yf1rd and lieIt. M. P.
 Maus
With the HostileS anl MeXi- cans, in which Captain
 Crawford is Killed.

tenant Maus' official report of the fight with the Mexican soldiery.
 NAcoRI. NEAR SONORA, MEX,
 January 2lst, 1886.
 ITO Capt. s. c. Roberts. A. D. C., Ft. Bowie.
 Arizona Territory.1
 Sir:-I have the honor to report that this command, under Capt. Crawford, 3rd Cavalry, after a march of eighteen hours struck on Sunday the 9th inst. the hostile camp about 50 miles to the south west of Nacori and one mile north of the Ora or Rio Grande river. The hostiles evidently fearing an attack had prepared their camp among the rocks in commanding position where a few men could successfully resist large force, the four companies of this con- mand were so disposed as to nearly surround the hostile camp; the at- tack to commence at daylight. The camp was situated in coun try SO broken that with difficulty the command was able to move at night the ground being covered with broken rock. Every one in the command wore moccasins to avoid making noise including off, cers and others. However, some burros belonging to the Indian herd, about four hundred yards from their camp, hearing our ap- proach commenced praying and alarmed some of the hostiles, three in number, who came out to the herd and ran near to the company in command of Lieut.. Shipp, 10th cavalry. Some shots were fired and the fight soon became general. The Indians flying, leaving their entire camp outfit and herd, with the exception of a few horses, which they were obliged to aban- don under our fire. A running fight ensued which was kept up for about two hours. None of them were secured and the only evidence that any of them were hit was blood left in two places on the ground.
 Some O: the scouts returned say ing the hostiles wished to send in woman to talk. This Captain Crawford assented to and hld a talk agreeing to see Matches and others the next day. The inter pretor, Mir Horn. and myself were directed to be present. The hos tiles were without any food or camp outfit and had no animals. Had this talk taken place, believe most of the band would have sur rendered. Our ten packs, left about eight miles distant, were sent for, but did not arrive that night, we went into camp about one hundred yards above the Indi an camp in the same line of rocks At daylight the next morning, Monday the 11th. the camp was alarmed by loud cries from some of the scouts, followed immediately by a shower of bullets into our camp. I, with Lieut., Shipp and Mir. Horn ran forward to stop it, as it was supp )'el to be an attack by Capt. Davis scouts, through however it was soon dis covered that the attacSing party was large force of Mexican sol diers from Chihuahua, number ing, as I afterw iris ascsrtainei from them, one hundred and fifty four. They wore no uniform, but I suppose were Nacionales. AL though We tried iu every way by handkerchiefs and calling out in Spanish who We were they continued a sharp fire for abont fifteen minutes and then it seemed we had made them understand that we were American soldiers and friends. A party of them then approached and Capt Crawford - ieat ont about fifty yards 1rosa oslr pro(>e(i iolz h the open ept hsS They did IlIt ss6e ,s5s3 z fl&eld them in 51 :tq1s sknerican sol diers, called att>nslQa to our dress, and told them we would not fire, but all the tina moved towards a hill, short distance away, a little higher than our present position with sons scattering oak woods. Capt. Crawford then ordered me to go back and ensure no more firiag. I started back when again a volley was fired, of course we all