The National tribune., 1902-12-11

of elder trees and other bushes, affording a
fine ambush. Here the owners OF the
stolen stock, with their herders and the
squatters from the Caroa, pOunced upon
the stolen herd, surrounded the Apaches,
and a short but furious combat ensued, for
which the Apaches were not prepared, and
in which the firearms of the well-aIming
S1uatters were used with deadly effect.
The Indians were defeated and fed, leav-
ing seven dead upon the field, an almost
lnheard of thing with them, showing that
they could barely make good their escape,
as they invariably carry off or hide their
lead whenever they have any possible op-
portunity to do so.
The deed was done: the herd recaptured,
and the American allies received their re-
ward; but on that day was born relent-
less feud of 80 years duration, which had
in its train innumerable murders of men,
women and children, rape and rapine and
the destruction of hundreds of homes es-
tablished by the hardy pioneers of the
West COchise might have forgiven the
recapture of the herd, but never the killing
Of his warriors, who had hitherto observed
n strict abstinence from all violence
against the American population. From
this time dates the relentless warfare, II
the cOwardly way of the Apaches to kill
from behind may deserve that name, which
retarded for generation the develop
ment of those regions, and which began
with the complete destruction OF the set
tiers of the Canoa, their families Ito the
smallest baby and their homes by band
led by Cochise in person.
/ fail to find in BancrOfts History OF
Arizona and New Mexico the smallest
| mention of the occurrence here related. Re
| ferring to the unsettled state of the coun-
try and the frequent depredatiOns of the
| Apaches, he says, on page JO2, Vol. xvii:
! "Hostilities became more frequent and
general, and were greatly aggravated by
| bad management and injustice on the part
of the officers, by which COchise. proml-
nent Chieftain, was made the lifelong foe
of the Americans"
| LIFE AT CAMP BOWIE.
| During the short time of our stay at
Fort Bowie nothing of interest occurred
except the firing of sentry at the com
manding officer on a dark night. Ihis
| gentleman, being aware that we were now
| in the midst of the Indian country, mad
given strict orders that after night fall
all sentries should give but one challenge
and if not answered fire at once at the
approaching object. This precautionary
measure was well taken, as many i'll
stances were known of Apaches prowling
about at night with view of ascertain
| ing how the stock of a camp was guard
ed and perhaps of stealing now and then
stray animal. But Maj. Brown almost
invariably forgot to answer sentry S
challenge when he made the tour of the
camp at night, in order to ascertain for
| himself if due vigilance was observed by
the camp-guard. This he did frequently.
As he was the tallest man present, he
was generally recognized by the sentries
even in the dark by his stature, and had
thus far escaped being made target Of
| But when, ON a very dark night, he made
| his solitary rounds and came suddenly
upon the sentry posted at the mule cor
| raj, who received no answer to his prompt
and loud challenge, he was fired at, the
| ball passing through the top of his high
hat, whereupon he found his voice quickly
may as well mention here that Capt
w. Harvey Brown possessed very few sol
dierly qualifications and a very Indifferent
school education: he knew next to nothing
of the army regulations; but as the nd
ministrator of recently established
colony, he would have been a great sue
cess, being practical farmer, who knew
well how to obtain as much work out OF
men as their physical development would
ipermit.
The New Mexican volunteers soon en-
tered upon their home march to be mus
tered ont. Our two drummer boys wer,
sent to Fort Goodwin, where the head
lquarters of the battalion had been estab
lished and our time was for the most par
taken up by manual labor in repairing th'
old buildings Of the fort.
AN APACHE RAID.
Towards the end of May the mail ride
brought the news that recently estab
lished new post on the Upper San Pedr,
River had sustained a great loss. bein:
, attacked by the Apaches, who capture,
} all of their horses and cattle and drov
them off. This news was confirmed OIL
the following dav bg exnA.ss :::aa.
who brought the order for our instant re
, moval to that bereaved camp. We wer
soon ready and on the march toward ou
new destination, returning upon the sam
road upon which we had come as far a
the San Pedro Crossing, where We turne,
south and arrived in camp on the evenin,
of the fourth day Of our march, June 4
1866.
The location of the "New Camp ON tn
, Upper San Pedro" as it was officially call