El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-25
An Apache Raid.
BY Gen. George A. Forsyth. U. S. A.



the frontier, hoping to catch them on
their way back. The preceding day he
had seen cloud of dust made by some
parties rapidly hnrrying down the val
ley, and at once concluded that IL was
the Indians on their return. Postlng
his troops along the trail, be attacked
them suddenly aud with great vlgor;
but the Apaches fought desperately Tor
their lives, seeking cover ana oeIeno-
ing themselves to the last extremity.
His command numbered less
than two hundred and nifty,
but they we're we'll handed
and behaved splendidly. In this action
they had two officers and nineteen men
killed, and three officers and thirteen
men wounded Quite q number OF the
Younger warriors escaped during the
fight. in which q number OF women
and children were also killed: but this
could not have been avoided, as they
took cover with the warriors.
There were seventy-eight dead In
dams on the field and thirty-three wo-
men and children capIives, among
them the daughter OF Chief Loco. OF
father and his people were compelled
to leave the agency by the Chlrlca-
hua Apaches, who cameup from Mex
leo under command of Chief Chatto
aud Natchez, and she cOrroborated the
statement of the old squaw regarding
their losses at Horse .Shoe Canon and
in Captain Tupper's fight. AS the end
L had in view was accom-
plished, at once gave instructions
directing the three troops of the Sixth
cavalry TO return to their posts in Ari-
IONA by the route the command had en-
tered Mexican territory, while was to
move with my own six troops to New
Mexico by the shortest practicable
route. Finding that the Mexican
troops were without surgeons and me-
dical supplies, rendered the services
of our surgeons, which Colonel Garcia
was evidently pleased to accept, and
the wounded were at once attended to
and made as comfortable as possible
under the circumsta noes. l also pres
ented his command, in the name OF my
government, with some extra ratlOns
that could now spare, especially as
his own troops were on hall rat1ons
and he had nothing with which to feed
his captives.
I desire here to put upon record my
warm personal admiration for the
splendid work done by the Mexican
troops and the good discipline OF the
command. Colonel Garcia informed
me that 80 imperative we're the orders
of his government that he would have
been compelled to oppose my further
progress by force, though, as he ad-
mitted, with no reasonable hope OF
success against my larger command.
Fortunately his brilliant fight of the
previous day rendered such an advance
unnecessary. He gave me q written
protest against my presence on Mex
lean soil, and l 81 omitted formal re-
ply in writing, stating the reasons l
have already given for my being there.
The officers and troops of both repub-
lies parted with cordial good will, for
this nearly annihilated band OF Apa-
ches had given the troops on
hard days work. My command
ercamped tweuty-four miles
north of the Janos River that night,
and the next day we passed around the
town of Janos, where all the church
bells were ringing in honor of Colonel
Garcia's victory, leaving it two miles
on our right, my reason for this being
that did not wish any of the troops to
came into contact with Mexican citi-
zens, fearing possibly some trouble.
While passing JauOs the commanding
officer, Colonel Nieto, sent me by cour-l
Ter q written protest against the pre-
sence of our troops on Mexican soil,
which I duly acknowledged, and pro-
ceeded on my way. That night the
command encampsd three miles below
the town of Ascension, on the Corrali-
tos River, having marched thirty-6ve
miles; the next night we were at Mos
quito Springs, forty-two smiles from
our previous camp, and the following
day we recrossed the liue inlo our own
territory. So far as l know, only one
man of my command had anything to
do with the Mexicans, and he deserted
while we we're encamped near Ascen-
sion. This article is, as "A matter of
fact. the first public report of my move
ments across the Mexican line, my dis
trict: commander, the late General
Mackenzie, returning my official re-
port to me. saying in substance that
owing to the peculiar state of feeling
existing just at that time in Mexico, it
was not unlikely might find myself in
trouble for my action. Howev.i. If
the Mexicans did not make direct
complaint to the State Departme Mt, he
should not take action, as the result
justified the end; but the less said
about it the better.
THE END)
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