The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
GENERAL CHAFFEE WAS
ONCE IN TIGHT CORNER
Arizona Residents Recall Fierce
Fight with Indians Twenty
Eight Years Ago.
SAVED list IN TIME
SAVED JUST IN TIME
New York Herald.

%NS0 4Osh ACAoA0"
Maj. Gen. Adna r. Chaffee was in COM
mand Of Fort Mcdowell. Arizona, for about
two years. from 1876. At that time General
Chaffee was in the Sixth Cavalry, with
rank of major. The present Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood was post surgeon at this
post. There are many persons in this vicin-
ity who well remember both of the officers.
Old settlers have much to say Of the COM
mandant. They refer to him as "Chaffee'
or Major Chaffee.' He was a genuine sol
der, a strict d~isciplinarian, but was fairly
worshiped" by his men. Incidents in his
military career are still told with interest
and enthusiasm.
The account of a fight with Indians,
known as the big Dry Wash battle" is
related by Major McClintock, a Rough
Rider with Roosevelt. now postmaster at
Phoenix. He says the action practically
demonstrated the effectiveness of the Amer
lean horse soldier and his ability to beat
even the Apache on the trail and in the
fray.
When grass time came one summer about
$50 Apaches, three-fourths Of them mature
bucks, left the White Mountain reserva-
ton, on the ella river, in Arizona. They
started off after ration day, well supplied
Will food and ammunition. The Indians
DdSStu lie lIlill all VI 0lODt DIT a
distance of only a few miles, gathering as
they went along about all the horses in
the vicinity. A platoon of the local home
guards, the Globe Rangers, was dispatched
TO head off the Apaches, recover the horses
and warn the settlers in Tonic Basin. But
the next day they were penned, twenty
five of them, in a cabin on Middleton's
ranch, in which no one was killed, but
where a long range fight was carried on,
and the settlers had their horses stam-
peded by the Indians. The settlers further
on had been alarmed and had fled in time
save on one ranch.
The two Sigsby brothers had about 100
head of valuable horses and had taken time
to gather them in front of the range. The
band was being held in front OF the ranch
house, ready to be driven away, when
down the valley came the thud of horses
feet. Driven by a few daring young bucks,
the Indian herd of loose ponies dashed
into the Sigsby band and stampeded the
horses up a side canyon. One of the Sigs-
bys had a French cowboy named Houdon
mounted and started after. AT the top of
the canyon they met death, but not until
they had exhausted their ammunition and
had sent five warriors 10 the happy hunt
ing grounds.
The Indians then turned their attention
to the second Sigsby, who had been
creased" across the chest by a rifle bull
let as he ran for the log house.
SiGsby's defense was a glorious one.
Though painfully wounded. he stood off for
forty hours, single handed and s~leepless
at least 100 Apaches. thirstine for his
blood and enraged at his continued resist
ance. The cabin walls and door were per-
forated with bullets, but TO no avail. The
Indians could not tarry longer. The troops
were on their trail and smoke signals on
the peaks showed immediate danger. In
the night they gathered up the bodies Of
several warriors whom Sigsby had shot
through lmprovised portfolio and hurried
away mountainward.
Chaffee, at Fort Mcdowell, getting wind
of the outbreak, sounded boots mad sad
dies" and with half of his garrison cut
across a mountain range. through Tonic
Creek valley, and over the Sierra Ancnas.
He arrived at Sigsby's only a few hours
after the last Indian had departed. and il
was his hand that first shook that Of the
brave frontiersman. But there was work
ahead. Leaving Sigsby to bury his dead,
ne pushed on at a killing pace. Thirty
two miles were covered i'm FIVE hours over
the toughest of mountain paths. Soon the
trail was lined with worn out troop horses.
But Chaffee, shrewd campaigner, had
brought with him fifty extra MOUNTS.
Indian Videttes on mountain .ops tele-
blanket the coming of the troopers. The
Indians found that they ~Outnumbered
Chafee's exhausted men, and determined
TO make a stand. In the middle Of the big
Dry Wash was a rocky hill several hun
dred feet high that commanded the entrance
to the gorge where they now were. Chanee
saw that here an ambush was intended. so
he dismounted his men under cover and.
leaving a fourth of his little force with
the horses, stOrmed the hill with the rest.
He was angry through and through. and. il
is said. beloved like a bull" His recep-
ton was a warm one.
The battle from rock to rock had ragged
for two hours. and the Indians were still
men disabled. was in hard straits. Retreat
was practically impossible. The Apaches
were beginning TO flank him. and their FIRE
was becoming more accurate and deadly.