The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-09
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
APACHE CANYON.
Etory or Fierce Fight in the Rockies Not Much
Talked About.

Talked About.
EDrToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Few persons
east Of the Mississippi River have any idea OF
the important part which the infant Territory
of Colorado played in the great civil war. The
majority of histories which have been written
upon the subject make no mention whatever of
the great raid of the Texas Rangers, made Tor
the purpose of carrying this part of the Union
into the Coniederacy. Ii was certainly Of vast
importance that the Mississippi River be held
by the Union; that all the ports of the Con-
federacy be blockaded; that the enemy's forces
be divided, and that the Gulf of Mexico be
brought under the control of our ships; but
was il not also important that the gold OF Colo
Fado and California be kept out Of the treasury
Of the aspiring Government?
One of the principal weaknesses of the Con-
federacy was her worthless paper currency, and
had it been possible for her TO obtain gold in
abundance, she would have been much more
formidable as sn enemy. 1t was the plan OF
the Texas Rangers to march through New Mex
leo, surprise Colorado, and carry her into the
Confederacy; to advance upon Utah, force the
Mormons into the service, enter California and
obtain gold for a solid currency supply for the
new Government.
But old settlers Of Colorado will remember
that that Territory was not completely sur
prised The news of fighting in the East was
slowly borne to the sturdy miners and mount
aineers of the West and during the Summer of
1861 companies began TO form for the defense
Of the interests Of the Territory. Whispers of
approaching Rangers were heard, and the mil
itary spirit began 10 draw the minds OF the
people away from their mines and ranches.
As companies began TO form, ] enlisted at
Buckskin Joe. now a deserted mining camp,
between Leadyile and Fairplay, in October,
1861. A few days afterward, our company
being fall, we organized at the little town OF
Canyon City, under Capt. James Ford. We
~ A Sc = En11o r11lr lf
the mountaineer and hunter about US than of
the soldier; but it will be remembered that
we were capable Of much endurance and hard
fighting. A short time after organization we,
with Co. B, were ordered 10 Fort Garland,
where, In December, we were mustered into
the United States service by Maj. Whiting We
lay at Fort Garland. happy in the young SOL
dier's dream of glory, for about three weeks.
Our happiness might have been greater had
rstions been more bouDtiful and various, but as
the early settlers Of Colorado were not at any
time accustomed 10 any great superabundance
Of food, we were easily resigned 70 slight hard
ships in that direction. But at the close of
three weeks of yarn telling and peering into
the future, q midnight messenger aroused Us
with the news that the
TEXAS RANGERS,
1000 strong, were rapidly advancing upon
Santa Fe.
We were at once ordered to that point. In
order to reach it we were compelled TO cross
many Of thespurs aud side ranges Of the Rockies.
Mountains are beautiful in pictures, and ex-
ceeedingly enchanting TO Summer tourists, but
] have taken other walks which l enjoyed
mere intensely than / did that march IN the
face Of icy winds, amid the deepsnows of early
January, through thegulchesan and over the crests
of the 6Rngre De Christie. The majority of the
soldiers were slow 70 see the romance of il, and
those who cut their names upon the quaking
sspens did so with benumbed and shaking
fingers. But youth and mirth combatted
bravely with ice and snow, and some Of the
boys proposed to get even with the cold
weather By making things unusually hot for
the Rangers.
We found one company Of Regulars at Santa
Re, frightened and preparing to retreat They
were breaking up, burning and destroying
what property they could not take with them,
Ia order 10 keep il from beneftiDg the ap-
preaching Rangers. We retreated with them
60 Fort onion, marching 20 miles per day on
half rations Of bareback, bacon and coffee. At
this time the Rangers were within 80 miles Of
Santa Fe, so it bebooved US TO make haste. Ar
irving at Fort Union We began TO fortify under
orders from Gen. Candy. The fort was low
ngly building, with heavy adobe walls. We
used Cesars plan Of terrifying with wall and
ditch; but the wall was rather an old struct-
ure. We hauled trees and brush and wedged
them thick about the walls Of the fort. We
then sharpened the ends Of the limbs which
extended outward thus making it impossible
20 take the place by charge. Without this wall
Of wooden bayOnets We constructed earthworks
and bitches, making the place as nearly i'm
pregnzble as il was possible for q rude frontier
fort 70 be. Bot we were few IN numbers, and
notwithstanding the advantage Of our posi-
ton we were very glad 70 see the LIST Colo. ap-
pear. They had also arrived from forced
march, and were hungry, battered and tired.
Nr fr7F -
not spread much Of a banquet for their recep-
ton; but if they were hungry for hurrahs and
hearty words Of we come, am sure that their
appetites in that particular direction were sat
isfed. We had orders from Gen. Candy to
hold the fort at all hazards; bat Col. Slough
and Maj Chiyingt0n-the impetuous, indom-
liable CblVington, whom Indian transgressors
will long remember as the hero Of Sand Greek
preferred 70 90 out TO meet their guests, il
order 70 more fully insure them OF the warmth
Of the
WELCOME THEY WOULD RECEIVE.
We accordingly left the fort in charge of 8
srnsll guard and marched back toward SAINTS
Fe.
Good water is scarce in New Mexico, and on
thirst was often very great. But about two
days out from the fort we reached a cleal
spring near the mouth Of Apache Canyon. /
deep gorge opening between the crests of ont
Of the southern spurs Of the mighty Rockies
In high spirits we stacked arms and began q
drink; but before half Of the boys had been re
fneshed we we're aroused by Bugler Williams
who had been in advance, rapidly returnini
and iuriously blowing the calls to Rally " an,
To arms." We snatched our guns and fallin-
into line Of battle advanced rapidly. 1t wa
soon plain 10 be seen what had caused the rap
i'd return Of Bugler Williams at the mouth Q
the canyon furious fighting was going on.
TIE RANGERS WERE ADVANCING
upon the troops who had arrived in advance O
MS; we rushed forward to the relief and tb
hard-fought battle Of Apache Canyon, whici
history has well-nigh forgotten 70 chronicle
was fairly begun.
Before our arrival had occurred the cele
brated charge down the deep gorge Co. ]
,nountedl lst Colo, arriving at the mouth O
the canyon found there a detachment Of Ia
Rangers. They at once gave battle, but after
short, fierce fight the Rangers We're compelle
10 yield their ground. They gave way and ral
frantieally down the canyon pursued bv III
Colorado troops. Then came a fierce runnin
fght; the Rangers defended themselves bravely
and the mountaineers did fearful executio
with their pistols. The race continued alfnos
10 the camp Of the Rangers, the Colorado troou
making terrific slaughter and capturing all III