Fort McDowell Patrol
By Bob Mason
Published in A Peek at the Peak, December 2007
This is another in a series of reports written by the officer in charge immediately after the return to Fort McDowell. The exact grammar and punctuation are reproduced. Parenthetical remarks are by the author for clarity.
Camp McDowell, A.T. (Arizona Territory)
July 11, 1868
To The Post Adjutant
Camp Mc Dowell A.T.
Sir:
I have the honor to report that in obedience to instructions contained in S. 0. (Standing Order) No. 61, dated H’d Ors (Headquarters) Camp McDowell, A.T. July 4th, 1868, I left this Post at 7 P.M. July 6, 1868 with the following named command; One hundred and twenty-three Pimo (Pima) Indians, commanded by 2nd Lieut. A. Grant 1st Cav.; Ten enlisted men of “I” Co. 8th Cav., commanded by Lieut. Luff, 8th Cav.; and, Twenty-seven enlisted men of “I” Co., Ist Cav., under my own immediate command.
Four days rations were carried upon seven Pack mules.
Marched six miles and camped on the east side of the Verde river; the Pimos stating that it was too dark to travel.
July 7th – Left camp at 5 A.M. and marched about three miles – crossed to the south side of Salt River and camped. Left camp at 7 o’clock P.M., and having marched in a south-easterly direction about Twenty-six miles, camped at 3 A. M. near some tanks (water holes), which contained water sufficient for man and animals. From this point two Apache trails diverged; the one leading southeast, being the larger, and apparently much used by parties driving off animals from the settlements. This trail the Pimos did not think it safe to follow with the command then present, as the country to which it led was very rough and rocky, and occupied by large bands of Apaches; so, it was decided to follow the trail to the East, on which some fresh signs had been discovered.
July 8th – Left camp at 5 A.M. – The Pack train remaining in camp in charge of a small guard. Marched over some high and steep hills and descended into a very deep and rocky canyon. The command, which had been traveling very rapidly before, now took the gallop which soon increased to a charge and at this gait the command marched about five miles, and then came to a halt beside a bank of water.
The animals being exhausted, and the Apache signs having disappeared. After a halt of an hour, the soldiers and part of the Pimos started slowly towards the camp of the previous night. The remainder of the command moved two or three miles farther to the east, and found two Apaches in the rocks on the mountain side, and attacked them.
After about an hour’s skirmishing one of the Apaches was killed and the other made his escape. It was afterwards discovered that these Apaches belonged to a rancheria (camp and small farm plots) in the vicinity, which had been abandoned by its occupants at the sound of the firing kept up by the Pimos.
During the afternoon the entire command re-assembled at the camp. About sundown, a dozen or more Apaches appeared upon the top of a high mountain, whose sides were almost perpendicular, a mile and a half distant.
After a thorough examination of the approaches to the mountain top, and a consultation with the Pimos, it was decided that to reach, and attack the Apaches, where they then were, was impracticable. Two parties were sent to the accessible point nearest to the mountain top, and directed to open fire upon the Apaches who were in plain view. The carbine balls, which were fired at a distance of three-fourths of a mile, kept the enemy moving around very briskly, but whether any of them took the desired effect or not, I am unable to say.
July 9th – Left camp at IO A.M. and returning by adifferent route, camped on Salt River about two miles above the camp of July 7th .
July I0th Left camp at 5 A.M. and returning by an old Apache trail, arrived at Camp McDowell at 8 A.M. Total distance marched Seventy-four miles.
Very Respectfully,
Your obedient servant
C.C.C. Carr
1st Lieut. 1st U.S. Cavalry, Bvt. Capt. U.S.A. Commanding Co. “E”
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