Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-02-25
FIELD MANGUvRES.
Result of the Autumn cs.apaign InauE- sratsd by General Mnes in This
 Department. HEADQUARTERS DRPARr. OF ABIEoNA,
 Los Angeles,

field msneuvres directed by General Orders, No. "A. c. G., and subsequent tsle- graphic instructions, the Commanding General calls the sttep tion of troops serv- ing in the Department ts the necessity for more extensive field service, and its importsnos, ss tending to increase the efh ,iency of the commands. This series of practical military operations. which. in view of their Initiory or experimental nature have been in the main quite sat- isfsctory, aye not without their lessons, and the experience gained by the officers and troops that were engaged in them will be of incslculshle advantage in the future.
 While the principal object of station ing troops ss present in this Depart ment, is to hold under surveillsnce and restraint the thousands of turbulent and weil-srmed Indians living on the vsri- ous reservations, and to give prompt and effective protection to the scattered set- clements. it is duty of the military, even while enjoying 6 condition of perfect peace, to be st all times in condition to render the most effective service, and to make themselves thoroughly fsmsliar with every seotion of the country ID which, at some future time, they may have to campaign.
 When emergencies have arisen re- quiring active field service. in some in stances request and reports like tbe following have been received st these headquarters: Request authority to employ scouts, "guides." experienced trailers,n linen familiar with the habits of 1ndisns and the topography of the country" etc, etc.,: Trails sosttered, "Lost trail and command returned to station" e Misled by euides,' etc, etc. A corditiou of affairs indicated by such
 applications and reports should not eI- ist. Troops serving any considerable
 time Tn s. Department, should them
 selves excel in SD accurate and thorough knowledge of the country, and in skill in the pursuit of the enemy. While
 garrison duty, target practice. drills and
 psrsdes in garrison are in themselves important, yet there Is another service of vital necessity ihe moment s com-
 mand tales the field. for which all ether CT service is but preparatory, and the object of these field msnevres is 10 de- velop the skill snd judgment ot the off, OCT in command as yell ss the intelli- gencs and individuality of the soldier.
 The element of strength possessed by the Indians that is most difficult to con- tend with, is their skill in rapidly psss- ing over 6 country, noti1g every feature of it, and observing their enemies with out exposing themselves or being, dis covered. This is the result of following the life of hunter and warrior for gen. erstions. Possessing more intelligence, the same art, the same Rrt csn be re cured with careful practice by white men with almost. if not quite, equal suc- cess. While this field duty, which has been directed at the most favorable and agreeable season of the year for march ing and csmping, IS intended to prsc- tice the troops SO ss to enable them in times of actual hostility to make the country unten able for 6 savage enemy, yet, at the same time, It is sD .experi- ense from which can be obtained iu- struotion that will be invaluable to the officers fn case they should be suddenly called upon tor service in civilized war fare, for the same Ofhoers that may be in this practice or io Indian campaign ing be followed by 8 sm all detachment of troops, gre liable to be suddenly re- quired to lead 6 division or corps of troops against civilized enemy.
 The services of the cavalry during the late war was in development of the enc mys position and strength hsrsssing their Hanks, frequently making 6 complete circuit of the opposing army and often operating entirely ID the rear and upon the lines of communicafion, capturing snd destroying the depots snd supplies of the army against which they were and DO better school of prsotice can be furnished, especially for young officers, than that insuRursted by the present system of field practice.
 The movements directed during the months of September and October were continued during parts of October and November, and embraced the country between Fort Huschucs, Arixops, and Fort Stanton, N. M-, and Fort Wingste N. M., snd Fort Apache, A. T., a noun, tsinous region Of 300 mile east and west, and nearly the same distance north and south.
 The results of ten distinct field msneu- vers covering sn area of hundreds of miles in extent, may be stated ID brief, as follows: On Ave different occasions the raidina parties were overssken and captured by the troops In pursuit com-I mapded respectively by Captains Chsffee and Stanton, and Lieutensnts Pershing, Scott, and Pershing, notwithstanding that every devlce was adopted to annoy and deceive the pursuers, by dispersipg, destroying trails, by driving herds of cattle over them, by false maneuvers, etc.
 On i've occasions different detsch- ments commanded by Captains Wint, Wallace, and Kendall and Lieutenants Richards and MoGrsth. misled and eluded their pxrsuers, but were discov- cred and intercepted by the troops in advance, who were lying in wait for then
 Csptsin wallsoe started from Fort Baysrd, N. M., captured the command sent in pursuit of him, snd. avoiding the troops in advance, succeeded in resoh- Ins Fort Stanton. N. M., but was oap- tured by Lieutsnsnt Pershing in endeav- oring 70 return.
 Captain Wint started from Fort Low ell. A. T., escaping from his pursuers, and eludine the troops sent to intercepi him, remained several days in their vicinity, and succeeded in reaching Fort Apache, A. T., with the loss of but four men captured. Returning, he skiIlfully misled and avoided the command in pursuit, capturing . second command endeavoring tO intercept him, but was finally captured by 6 third command ,o which one of his csp,ives had deserted and given information of his presence. This was the longest and most successful expedition of ths series
 The results obtained were noet grati- lying. The excellent judgment and iD- teliigenct displayed by the commanding officers of the districts of observation, in the tisposition of their troops, the use of the means of observation and communI- cation, the Tsal and skill exhibited by officers in the field. and the very great interest taken in these operations by the troops. have all been very gratifying to the Department Commander and have added to the confidence be already re- posed in the commands. Too much st- tention csn not be given this important subject, not only in the careful prepsrs- tion of the commands for any military problems that msy be given them in the next autumn msneuvers, but for the more serious campaigns against hostile Indians that may occur m the same sountry st sn earlier period, or at any lime.
 Although the Cavalry troops have l taken the most prominent part in these |