The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-18
APACHE CANYON.
The Gallant Charge Made by a Company of
the lst Colo. Cav


~OMRADE JAS. e. .BIRNEY, Co. E, Sd
A u. S. Cav, is claiming n little too much
~ for his company in his article headed
"In New Mexico" in recent ISSUE
| About the skirmish in Apache Canyon he says
| that 1.-THE Colorado cavalry were in advance
and made a charge for a brass cannon; that they
| were fired into from the mountan-sde as they
passed down the road, and some were wounded.
| At this time my company dcployed to fight on
| foot and came down upon this band and took
| the whole batch prisoners-about 80 of them.
At this time the charging party were returning
| without accomplishing anything. The Lieu
tenant, when he returned and found those
rebels captured, was so delighted that he took
up one of the rebel guns, raised it with both
hands, and brought it with force to the ground,
when it went off and killed him. He was the
only man killed at this time"
In reply, quote from my article published
| in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Dec 20 1887:
March %, 1862, the dvsnce composed of $50
infantry of the 1st Colo and Co. L and our
company of cavalry, with $50 U. S. cavalry, left
San Jose at shutdown. aud reached Koslosky's
ranch at 1890 p. Lieut.. Nelson and 90 men
of our company were out on picket, and came
in next day at sunrise with four prisoners; one
Of them. Mcintyre, was on Canby's staff at the
battle of Valverde.
"Our advance of about 400 moved forward,
and the pickets soon returned, reporting the
u
Capt Howlands company of U. s. cavalry to
fall back in confusion leaving our company in
the advance. Mai. Chivington rode up and
asked our Captain Cook if we would charge.
While the rest of the forces were depoyed on
either side, our company tabout 80 mem charged
by fours and swept down the canyon. The
enemy were concealed behind rocks. but the
impetuosity of our charge drove them out.
Having feet horses they escaped with the
howitzer, but left Is killed, 30 wounded and
so prisoners. Our loss was five killed and Is
wounded Co. L losing three killed and seven
wounded-Dutro Johnson and Thompson
killed. and Bristol, Pratt, Keel, Hall, Logan,
and Patterson wounded. Capt Cook was
wounded by ball and three buckshot in the
thigh, and later received some buckshot in his
ankle. Lieut.. Marshall, of our company, while
breaking gun, killed himself"
! refer also to HOLSTERS History Of the 1st
Col. Vols, published at Denver in 1863. ION
turning a short bend we entered the canyon
proper and came full on two howitzers less
than 200 yards off. On seeing these lions in
the path the infantry divided, wing few into
either hill and the fight commenced. Capt
HowlandS company, u. s. cavalry parted
either way and filed to the rear in confusion,
leaving US in front. The Texans soon found
their position in tho road untenable and re-
retired rapidly with their little red clout
mile or so down the canyon, where their in
fantry were concealed in the rocks on either
side, and posted their, howitzers to command
the road The infantry deployed right and
left, to outliank the enemy'5 new position.
Our fankers were rapidly approaching them,
and it was arranged that simultaneously with
their attack on the wings we should charge the
center. The ground was urffavorable for the
action of cavalry; the road was rough narrow
and crooked: deep trenuh, worn by the water,
aud which the road crossed occasionally, run
ming alongside, rendered it impossible to ap-
preach battery but by column in the fair face
OF it, Our horses were weak and thin, and
there was every chance TO coiiceal heavy sup
port. The enemy had a strong natural posi-
ton. About 400 yards below us The canyon
bent abruptly to the left, then directly resumed
lis old course, leaving high, steep, rocky bluff,
like the bastiOn of fort, square in ouI front.
On this point the enemy had posted a full COM
(paIiy, aud at its base, on 4 smaller mound, their
battery was stationed, and had now worked
diligently for an hour. Below this the bluffs
aud road were alive with Texans for some dis
lance. AS soon as the order to charge left the
Majors mouth We were on the wing. fearful
lest company should win share of the
lauIels that were to crown the day. As we
approached the point mentioned above the old
u. S. musket cartridges. containing ounce
ball and three buckshot began to zip by our
heads so abruptly that many, unused to this kind
OF business, took them for Shells and strained
their eyes to see where the spiteful bulldogs
were. There were none to be seen. Diyining
our intentions they had turned tail again and
vamo5ed. Instead, however. we met
doubled shower of lead, rained on US from the
rocks above. Capt Cook was among the first
hit. An ounce ball and three buckshot struck
him in tho thigh, but did not nnseat him.
Forty rods further down his horse stumbled
and fell on BIN, badly spraining his ankle and
be got another shot in the foot. As the battle
swept down the canyon like a hurricane, he
limped to one side and escaped further injury.
We still had leader as cool and fearless as
bend in the road where the fire from small
arms was indeed terrific, and discharging few
shots from revovers at the rocks above,
dashed around the point, broke through their
center, trampled down their reserve and passed
away beyond the fight in pursuit of the coveted
artillery. But it was too 1eet-footed for u.s.
and we returned In time to help Lieut. MAJ
shall, with the two rear sections, clean out the
reserve. They had been stationed in the road,
and though somewhat confused and scattered
by our sudden advent among them, made for
cover and stood like tiger at lay. By this
time the infantry. under Capts Downing
Wynkoop and Anthony, came down on them
like parcel of wild Indians, cheering at the
top of their lungs, regardless of the shower of
bullets raining among them. The Texans
terrified at the impetuosity of the attack broke
and fed in every direction"
The comrades account of the battle of
Pigeons Ranch, or Glorieta, and Peralto are
also far from being cOrrect.-A. b. SAMPSON,
Sergeant, Co. +, lst Colo. Cav, Tucson, Ariz.