The Apache sentinel., 1943-07-16

the rugged ridges of the Hua-
chucas (called by the Indians
s'Mountain-with Water" and
beyond the camp rose the rocky
outlines of the WhetstOnes and
down across the San Pedro Valley
were the fOrmida BILE walls of COchise
Stronghold. THE date was March
3, 1871
1t was indeed a fortunate choice
of camp site as later developments
were to prove. 1t was also the begin
ming of an eXpeditionary mission
that was to succeed in more ways
than one-as later developments
also proved.
Purpose of the expedition was to
establish new border post to meet
the crisis of Apache revertint to the
Warpath under the hostile leadership
of the ace of all Apache warriors,
Geronimo Natchez, following the
death in 1874 of Chief Cochise of
the Dragon -Chiricahua Apaches.
In charge of the expedition was
Capt. Whitside, cagey, seasoned vet
eran of the Civil and Indian Wars.
Under Capt. Whitside's command
were his own company, Co. B, 9th
Cavalry and Co. M, 9Th Cavalry,
commanded by Capt w. A. Raj
ferty; and Co. d, Indian Scouts
under End 1t. Robert Hanna.
Indians Getting Out OF Control
With the Indians getting out of
control, because of poor manage
ment, outright robbery and trickery
or other faults of agents appointed
by the Indian bureau, Capt. Whit
side had been appointed by "tele-
graphic authority Headquarters De-
tachment of Arizona (Hq. D, of A.
Prescott, to direct the temporary es-
tablishment of detachment, 9th
Cavalry, in the vicinity of the Hua-
chuca mountains"
"USe your best Judgment" Capt.
Whitside was told by his command
ing officer in his office at Camp
Grant, Arizona Territory, "but Sc
lect a location that permits of easy
access to the valleys of the Sonoita
and Santa Cruz and yet permits
control of the San Pedro Valley
and within striking distance of the
Puerto de Los Mulos where damned
ApacheS have been crossing"
Being familiar with the location
that troops had been using for their
overnight camps in expeditions
against the. Indians in the area, it
was natural that Capt. Whitside'S
party should head unerringly for
the strategic point in the Huachu-
cas-.
Likewise it is natural that the site
selected by that expedition 66 years
ago should later become a perma-
nent camp and the original work
ing base of the present fort.
The job of Capt WhitSide's eX-
pedition was to break up the bands
of thieving and numbering Indians,
who came up from the valleys of the
Sonita and Santa Cruz, and crossed
over the Whetstones, killing and pill
laging in the Valley of the San Pc
dro, crossed through the Puerto de
Los Mulos pass in the Mule Noun
tains) down into what is now Bis
bee Canyon and then eastward or
back into Mexico sidetracking both
American and Mexican troops.
Site Declared Permanent Camp q
On December 10, 1877, a point
near what is now Garden Canyon
was designated as Camp Detach-
n1ent, 9Th Calalry, Huachuca Noun
tains, Arizona Territory" (Remem-
Der Arizona did not become state
Mntil 1922 On January 81, 1878,
this place was declared a perma-
nent camp by the Commanding
General Department, Arizona, and
supplies in bulk were ordered ship
ped there for issue (G.I. y. The
camp was located about eight miles
frern. old Camp sMallen, and the
nearest Post Office, and telegraph
etatieEagas. Tucson, ito which mail