The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-29

ton, which was undertaken IN q ueaPoraOS
emergency and pushed with undaunted
energy and daring, was to forestaIl the
Confederates in the occupation of the
southern route to the gold coast, and pre-
vent the founding of a southwestern terri
tory under Confederate rule. The summer
of 1861 had been an eventfUl one in the
states and the Union authorities had paid
scant attention TO affairs beyond the Mis-
sissippi. As open rebellion never sleeps,
and every malcontent is a soldier and an
organizer to a certain degree, the COnfed-
crate cause grew day by day in the far
away empire along the Rio Grande and the
ella BY the first of August all the forts of
southern New Mexico were in the hands
of the Confederates, and the commander,
Col John r. Baylor, by proclamation con-
stituted the Confederate territory of Ari-
IONA. Soon afterward Gen. II. II. Sibley
arrived and assumed command of the Con-
federate Army of New Mexico" and set out
to capture Fort Craig, the extreme south
erly post of Union forces in the territory.
About this time Gen. E. r. S. Candy was
sent from Washington to organize the
Union militia and make what defense he
could of eastern New Mexico.
The Union commander on the Pacific
coast was Gen. II. O. Wright, and to him
occurred the bold idea of striking the Ari-
IONA Confederatcs in the rear by a force
organized in California; to march across
the desert, recapture the government forts
along the southern border, reclaim all the
region to the Union and open the old
southern mail route between Santa Fe,
New Mexico and Fort Yuma, Cal. The
plau was Immediately approved in Wash
ington and troops were designated TO form
the expedition. Col. James II. Carleton,
of the First California volunteers, was
chosen leader The intention was to move
during the winter. and thus spare the men
and animals the exposure to the burning
Colorado and ella deserts, which in sum-
mer are considered impossible. The dis
lance to be marched from the rendezvous
on the coast to the Rio Grande was upward
of 600 miles, and that nearly all through
a region of complete desOlation. But an
insurmountable obstacle TO the winter
march presented itself at once in the shape
of UNPRECEDENTED rains. The country was
flooded, open plains became quagmires,
and cattle and horses were swallowed up
without a chance Of rescue. Vehicles of
transportation could not move, and after
long delay supplies were sent around by
water through the gulf of California to
Fort Yuma, and depot was established
there.
The volunteers for the enterprise were
California miners and pioneers, and they
came to the camps from all parts of the
mining country on foot. When the rains
ceased they began to move from the western
coast toward Fort Yuma. Here desert
Of ,,,ilaa iv,tav.,-nna1 so -
the water disappear that wells had to be
dug along the route to supply men and
horses When the rear of the column
came along there was so little water in the
freshly made wells that it had TO be dipped
in pint cups. By the middle of April the
column was ready to move eastward from
Fort Yuma. The number, including en-
ployes, was about ] 800, and was organized
as follows: First California infantry; Fitch
California infantry, three companies; First
California cavalry, five companies; Second
California cavalry, one company; Battery
A, Third United States artillery.
The points of supply between Fort Yuma
and the Rio Grande were Tucson. a half
way station, and Pima Villages, the homes
OF an agricultural tribe of Indians, be-
tween Fort Yuma and Tucson. Agents
were sent forward TO buy wheat and hay
OF the Indians and hold it for the troops.
The Confederates occupied Tucson and
were pushing westward. and Cartoons
advance encountered them within fifty
miles of Fort Yuma. Gen. Sibley's in
structions on taking command Of the Ari-
Iona Confederates had been to enlist volun:
teers promptly in all that region, TO open
negotiations with the governors Of MeXi-
can territory for supplies, and as soon as
the Union forces could be driven from
New Mexico on the east the Confederates
would move toward the coast with the cry
ION to San Francisco
This point gained, the Mexican states ad-
joining would enter the alliance, and an
outlet for African slavery and a supply of
treasure would be ensured TO the south at
one grand stroke. To prevent tie consum-
nation of this there were but twoforces at
work, both under extremely hazardous
conditions, namely, Col. Cartoons strug-
CHING column in the arid plains westward,
and Gen. Csnby's garrisons of the forts on
the Rio Grande, between Sibley and his
base of supplies in Texas With his at