The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-08-15
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The Cry Of the Veterans

mated the bold idea of striking them III
the rear with force organized in Cali
fornia. The plan was to march across
the desert, recapture the government
forts along the southern border, re-
claim all the region and open the old
mail route between Santa Fe and Fort
Yuma, Cal. Colonel j. II. Carleton,
First California volunteers, was chosen
leader. The intention was to move dur
ing the winter of 1S61-62 and thus
spare the men and animals exposure to
the burning Colorado and Gila deserts.
which in summer are considered inn
passable. The distance to be marched
from the rendezvous on the coast TO
the Rio Grande was upward of 1000
miles through a region of almost COM
plete desolation. But an insurmounta-
BILE obstacle to winter march present
ed itself In the shape of unprecedented
rains. The country was flooded, open
plains became quagmires, and cattle
and horses were swallowed up without
Il chance of rescue. Vehicles of trans
portation could not move, and after
long delay supplies were sent around
by water through the gulf of California
to Fort Yuma and depot established
there
Carleton's men were miners and pio-
neers, and they rallied from ali parts of
the mining country at Fort Yuma. The
column, including civilian employees.
numbered 1900. organized as follows:
First California infantry; Fifth infan-
try, three companies; First cavalry, five
companies; Second cavalry, one com
pany; Battery A, Third United States
artillery.
The points between Fort Yuma and
the Rio Grande were Tucson, a half
way station, and Pima villages. the
homes of an agricultural tribe, be
tween Fort Yuma and Tucson. The
Confederates occupied Tucson and, I'M
der General Sibley's orders, were push
ing westward. Carleton met them
within fifty miles of Fort Yuma. Sib-
ley's orders to the Arizona Confeder-
ates were to open negotiations with
the governors of Mexican territory for
| supplies, and as soon as the Federals
could be driven from New Mexico on
the east the southerners would move
toward the coast with the slogan. "On
to San Francisco This point gained
the Mexican states adjoining would en-
ter the alliance, and an outlet for slav
cry, with supply of treasure, would
be secured TO the south by one grand
stroke.
AS Catletons column advanced the
Confederates retired, destroying all
! forage on the route. The sun beat
fercely upon the alkali desert. causing
intense suffering TO men and animals.
| 1t is a pathetic story that is told in the
records of this wonderful march-how.
day after day, in addition to the IA
tigue of travel, a long and fruitless
J search was made for grass and drink
ing water.
After hosting the stars and stripes
over old Fort Breckenridge. on the ella,
the column pressed on TO Tucson, which
the enemy abandoned without a strug-
gle. The artillery was moved with diff
iiculty. Water for the horses was car
ried along in a 600 gallon tank placed
on a truck. AT Tucson, reached June
5, Carleton bought supplies from across
the Mexican lines and refitted the ex-
pedition for the journey to the Rio
! Grande, sending forward messengers
to notify General Candy OF his coming.
For this purpose Expressman John
Jones, Sergeant Wheeling of the vol
unteers and a Mexican guide were
chosen. The wild Apaches were at
war with every white man regardless
of the color of his uniform. and Wheel
ing and the guide soon fell under the
scalping knife. Jones escaped. but was
captured by the Confederates. and his
dispatches gave Sibley the news which
fastened his retreat to San Antonio.
Jones also got word through 10 General
Canby's camp. Candy dispatched a
column to meet the Californians, aud
they We're halted in northwestern Tex
as, where supplies were awaiting them.
They reached there Aug. 10. having
had but one sharp fight, and that with
Indians at Apache pass. Two volun-
teers were killed and two wounded.
Survivors of the California column
were the first to organize veteran asso-
Citations on the coast. The first G. A. X.
post was chartered at San Francisco in
1867. The first post in New Mexico
took the name of McRae. In honor of
the hero of Valverde.
GEORGE l. kILMER.