: where he could find water in about twelve or fifteen miles. and come on into Pinal Creek with it the next day. The night was very dark and the trail difficult to follow. The guide, Mr. Jaycox having lost it several times, determined to take the direction and follow it without reference to the trail. At about 12 p. m., it being so dark we could scarcely see one another, we came upon a temporary camp of Indians situated in a deep ravine in the dividing ridge between the waters of Pinal and Mineral Creeks. They at once commenced making signals of danger; as the sequel shows, started an express immediately to their people on Pinal Creek. After having been discovered by this party, I determined that nothing would do but to go straight through to the settlement with the hope of getting there before the Indian messengers would, so as to inform them of our coming. We marched all night, and daybreak the next morning found us coming down into the Eastern Fork of Pinal Creek. At about sunrise we found water in tanks, which served much to refresh our men and animals, who were much worn by a heavy march over a rough and rocky country in the darkness of night and without a trail to follow. After having found this water I should have made camp and deferred my attack until the next day, were it not that our suspicions as to an Indian messenger having preceded us to the Campoodie to inforın them of our approach, were confirmed by the discovery of the fresh tracks of two Apaches who were ahead of us not more than half an hour, and the assurance of the guide that the rancheria was only about three miles distance. Marched until 8.30 a. m. eleventh day, July 28, when, the men being literally worn out with fatigue, we halted for two hours, when we again proceeded down the creek and struck the upper spring at 12 m. No sooner had we reached this point than the Indians discovered and began yelling at us from the very tops of the high, rocky ridges bordering the creek. I ordered the cavalry, under Lieutenant Stockwell. to charge upon a little group of wickey-ups for the purpose of ascertaining if the Indians had been apprised of our coming in time to remove all their effects. Lieutenant Stockwell reported everything removed from these shanties. I then continued my march without paying any apparent attention to the Indians, who were entirely out of my reach, until I arrived at the old camping-ground of Colonel Woolsey's party, distance from Jaycox's Spring thirty miles. Here I halted and sent the infantry forward, under command of Captain Harrover, to the lower rancheria, with instructions to take possession of any property he might find there. Upon Captain Harrover's reaching the vicinity of this rancheria a white flag was hoisted by the Indians, and also one by Captain Harrover. The Indians at this point were also on the very tops of the rocky cliffs which overhang the valley. Very soon three Indians came down with a flag and expressed a desire to have a talk. One of them, a squaw, was brought to my quarters. I told her that I could not talk with every Indian individually. I wanted to talk to the whole tribe together with their chief. She went away pleased, and said she would bring the chief into my camp, and he would have all the tribe come in and they would give themselves up, as they did not want to fight with the whites. Six Indians were in camp, one or two at a time, during the day. They all expressed a desire to surrender, and said that they were aware that campaigns were being made against them from all sides. Twelfth day, July 29.-Lieutenant Mann arrived with pack train. Sine Indians altogether in camp to-day. Two or three the most that Were in at any one time. Captain Harrover reported to me that Lieutenant Mann had shown symptoms of insanity; imagined that he was followed by an Indian through camp, and that Mr. Parker, the guide wanted to kill him. A young Indian came into camp this p. m. and said he wanted to live with us; said he wanted to be a white man. to have a hat, and boots, and clothes; said he had neither father non mother, and that he wanted to go with us. He was about fourteen years of age and had a smart, intelligent look for an Indian. I allowed him to remain in camp and gave him all he wanted to eat. He seemed much pleased, but was not satisfied until I assured him that he should go with us when we left and stay with us while we remained there To-night Lieutenant Mann was wandering through camp perfectly wild and I was compelled to put him under guard for fear he might do some injury either to himself or some one else. Thirteenth day, July 30.-Altogether about twenty Indians in camp to-day, six at one time. Had an interview with me. I think one of the number was the Chief Crooked Foot. He said he had just come fron the east; that soldiers were hunting the Indians there; that they were being hunted from all sides; that they would be compelled to submi sooner or later, and that he was going to advise all to come in at once and give themselves up while they could save something. He said, a an evidence that the Indians living on Pinal Creek were not thieves they had neither cattle nor mules; that they never had stolen stock He said the fact of there being no bones scattered about their home was evidence. He said he would bring all in with their families the next day to give themselves up. They all expressed their satisfaction at the assurances which I gave them that they would not be harmed but provided for if they gave themselves up. Fourteenth day, July 31.- The Indians continue to come into camp in about the same numbers as on the preceding days. This a. m. a old squaw came into camp and said the boy who was staying with me was her boy, and she wanted him to go with her. I asked the lad i he wanted to go and he answered no. The squaw then wanted a present for him. I asked the boy if I should give her a present fo him. He said that she was nothing to him; that he did not wish m to give her anything on his account. I then told the squaw that th boy was with me of his own choice. If he wanted to leave he coule do so; that I did not propose making a slave of him, but expected t take good care of him and give him clothes and everything necessar for his comfort. I told her, furthermore, that when the Indians ål came in and gave themselves up she should have a present similar t that given the remainder of the tribe. She left mé dissatisfied. Abou noon or a little after the boy went down to the corn-field for the pur pose of bringing up some corn, and three Indians who were ther kidnapped him and carried him off. As soon as I ascertained this seized on six Indians who were in camp at the time, telling them tha I should hold them as hostages for the safe return of the boy. At th same time I sent one Indian out to look him up and bring him int camp. This Indian returned in about an hour with a blanket which the boy had with him, but said he could not find the boy. I sent hin out again, giving him to understand that the boy, not the blanket was what I wanted. I at the same time assured him that when th boy was brought in, if he did not desire to stay he should have th liberty of leaving. This was the last Indian that came into my camp My hostages were as follows: Two bucks, two boys, and two squaws At about dark I had given directions that the hostages should be tied and when they were about to tie them one of the squaws attempted t run off, and was shot and killed by the guard. One of the boys, abou fifteen years of age, also started to run. About twenty shots were tired at him and he must have been killed, as the Indians were hunting the brush for him all of that night and the night after. The brush was so thick that it was useless for us to make search for his body. Fifteenth day, August 1.-Sent Captain Harrover with Company E, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers, with instructions to skirmish over the mountain west of Pinal Creek and north of the cañon, kill all buck Indians big enough to bear arms and capture all squaws and children he might come upon; also to examine carefully for caches of wheat. Captain Simpson was sent over the mountains south of the cañon. Lieutenant Stockwell was directed to scour the valley for Indians; all with similar instructions. I started myself with Sergeant Fergusson, of Company E, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers, and twenty-five men to skirmish the mountains east of Pinal Creek, which I did from Salt River on the north to a point one mile and a half south of the camp over a strip three or four miles in width. I succeeded in killing 1 Indian, which afterward proved to be a squaw, and capturing. 1 squaw. Captains Harrover and Simpson reported meeting no Indians. Captain Harrover reported finding several caches which had been raised apparently two weeks. Lieutenant Stockwell reported meeting no Indians. On starting up the mountains on my skirmish I met Colonel Woolsey, Arizona miners, who reported the arrival of his command. This evening at the solicitation of Colonel Woolsey, who thought by doing so he might get the chief into camp, I set at liberty the squaw held as hostage for the return of the boy. She promised to return in two days with the chief. I told her that unless the boy was returned I should kill the hostages. Sixteenth day, August 2.-Sent Lieutenant Stockwell with fifteen men of Company E, First Cavalry California Volunteers, to Camp Rigg for rations. Ordered the whole command on half rations to enable me to make a scout to Big Rump Valley. Had details out cutting and drying corn for men's rations. Seventeenth day, August 3.-Lieutenant Qualey arrived with detachment, bringing express and Special Orders, No. 126, headquarters. Apache Expedition. Hung the two buck Indian hostages at sundown. Eighteenth day, August 4. Sent Captain Harrover with thirty-five men of Company E, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers, up Pinal Creek to the Pinal Mountains at its head. Ordered Captain Simpson, with forty men of his company, to the same destination by way of Big Horse Cañon, and was preparing to start myself with a small detachment by the eastern route when express arrived from Camp Rigg ordering in all the troops. Sent dispatch immediately to Captain Harrover with orders to return to camp, and countermanded Captain Simpson's orders. 1 Nineteenth day, August 5.-Sent detachments to the various cornfields, with orders to cut down and destroy all corn and crops which remained. Broke camp at 2 p. m. and started on my march back to Camp Rigg in compliance with orders from Major Smith, commanding. Left Sergeant Fergusson in charge of twelve men of Company E, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers; twelve men of Company I, First Infantry New Mexico Volunteers, and three volunteers from Colonel Woolsey's command, secreted about camp, with instructions to kill any Indians coming into camp after the command moved out. Sergeant Fergusson was ordered to remain hidden until evening unless the Indians should discover him at an earlier hour, in which case he would Join the command at once. Marched nine miles up the Eastern Fork of Pinal Creek and halted for the night in the midst of a terrific storm. The creek, which was perfectly dry before, run a depth of twenty feet of water within the short space of thirty minutes. Several men and animals were cut off from the main command and were unable to join it until the next morning. Twentieth day, August 6.-Sergeant Fergusson reached camp with his detachment at daybreak and reported that in about three hours after the command left camp fifteen Indians approached. His men fired upon and killed five of the number. For particulars I respectfully refer you to Sergeant Fergusson's report, which is herewith transmitted. Broke camp at 8 a. m. Marched to Camp Rigg, where we arrived at 8 p. m. Here the troops were turned over as a part of the garrison of that camp in command of Captain Frink, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers. At 1 p. m. August 7 I started, in company with Colonel Woolsey, Doctor Allcott, and the guides, Jaycox and Parker, for this post, where I arrived at 11.30 p. m. In conclusion, I would respectfully say that the cause of failure to surprise the camp of Indians on Pinal Creek was, the distance being greater than we had been informed, we were unable to make the mareli in the time allowed. Another unfortunate circumstance was meeting the party of Indians at midnight while on our march to make the attack. Had this accident not occurred we might have made camp and deferred our attack another day. At the time I received my orders to come in with my command I was fitting out an expedition to Big Rump Mountain, distant from the camp on Pinal Creek in a direct line about twenty miles, where a large number of Indians have concentrated to resist the whites. I believe I should have had a fight here had I not been ordered in.. The results of the scout may be briefly summed up as follows= Number of Indians killed, 10; number of Indians captured, 2; amount of corn destroyed, 20 acres, besides a considerable amount of beans, pumpkins, &c. The two captured Indians, one of them, however, the boy, was one of the hostages, were sent into Camp Rigg in charge of Lieutenant Stockwell, to be turned over to the officer in command at that camp. All of which is respectfully submitted.. THOS. J. BLAKENEY, Major First Cavalry California Vols., Comdg. Detachment. Lieut. JOHN LAMBERT, Fifth Infty. Cal. Vols., and Adjutant Apache Expedition. [Inclosure.] CAMP RIGG, Rio San Carlos, August 7, 1864. MAJOR: I have the honor to report that agreeable to orders I remained in camp three hours, when fifteen Apaches were seen approaching the camp. When they were within thirty yards of us we fired upon them. They were thrown into confusion and fled in every direction. throwing down their arms and everything that could retard their flight. We immediately started in pursuit, but the close proximity of dense brush prevented our finding but one. We trailed four others into the brush by their blood. I am satisfied that 5 were killed or mortally wounded. We also took 2 blankets, 1 lance, 1 bow and several arrows and 2 pairs of moccasins. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FERGUSSON, Sergeant of Company E, Fifth Infantry California Vols. Maj. T. J. BLAKENEY. JULY 19, 1864. - Skirmish on the Benton Road, near Little Rock, Ark. HDQRS. THIRD REGIMENT CAVALRY MISSOURI VOLS., Camp near Little Rock, Ark., July 19, 1864. LIEUTENANT: Early this morning the patrols on the Benton road, some four miles from my camp, were fired upon by rebels from an ambush, killing 1 and wounding 2. I sent out a reconnoitering party, but they failed in discovering the enemy. I suppose it to be the same parties who have been between here and the Saline River for some time past. Very respectfully, &c., T. G. BLACK, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Third Regt. Cavalry Missouri Vols. Lieut. C. H. FROST, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Brigade. 1 JULY 19, 1864. - Attack on Webster, Washington County, Mo. Report of Capt. F. Kellermann. POTOSI, July 20, 1864. GENERAL: Last night twenty-five bushwhackers robbed the town of Webster, fifteen miles southwest of Potosi; took $1,500 worth of goods; killed 1 man, 6 horses, and took 2 men off with them. They traveled from there in a western direction and passed about three miles west of Potosi on their route. They are going toward Jefferson County. I telegraphed to Captain Montgomery. We have five soldiers here, and the citizens no arms. Can't you send us by morning train some ammunition and guns? We will organize our company to-night, and tomorrow I will send the rolls by mail or bring them in myself. Firing was heard during the night northeast of Cadet. Yours, very respectfully, Brigadier-General EWING, Saint Louis. F. KELLERMANN. JULY 19-25, 1864. - Operations on the White River, Ark., and attack (24th) on the Steamer Clara Bell. Itinerary of the U. S. Forces, White River, Ark., commanded by Brig. General Steele's line of communication via the White River being threatened, Major-General Canby on the 11th instant directed Brigadier-General Gordon, then at Memphis, to proceed to the mouth of White River, assume command of troops which had been sent there, and use them as circumstances might require. These troops consisted of the First Brigade, Third Division, Nineteenth Corps, with a battery, * From monthly return. |