Page:Travels in Mexico and life among the Mexicans.djvu/646

638 one hundred and ninety-three Apache scouts, under Captain Crawford, assisted by Lieutenants Gatewood and Mackay. The accompanying map, kindly furnished me by Lieutenant Fiebeger, shows the devious trail and the site of every camp and skirmish. The campaign cannot be more tersely described than in the modest despatch of General Crook, sent in immediately after his return to United States territory.

2em

"Left here May 1, with one hundred and ninety-three Apache scouts under Captain Crawford. Got Lieutenants Wood and Mackay, with Captain Chaffee's company of forty-two men of the Sixth Cavalry, and rations for two months on mules, and followed the hostiles. The Chiricahua country is of indescribable roughness, and a number of mules lost their footing, and, stepping from the trail, fell down precipices and were killed. The stronghold of the Chiricahuas is in the very heart of the Sierra Madre. The position is finely watered, and there is a dense growth of timber and plenty of grass. They had been camped near the head of the Bavispe, occupying prominent, elevated peaks, affording a fine lookout for miles and rendering surprise almost impossible, and their retreats were made secure through the rough adjacent cañons.

"Captain Crawford, with Indian scouts, early on the morning of May 15, surprised the village of Chatto, the chief who led the recent raid into Arizona and New Mexico. The fight lasted all day, and the village was wiped out. The damage done cannot be estimated. A number of dead bodies were found, but the indescribable roughness of the country prevented a count being made. The entire camp, with the stock and everything belonging to it, was captured.

"It was learned from the prisoners taken that the Chiricahuas were unanimous for peace, and that they had already sent two messengers to try to reach San Carlos. On the 17th, they began to surrender. They said their people were much frightened by our sudden appearance in their fastnesses, and had scattered like quail. They asked me to remain until they could gather all their bands together, when they would go back to the reservation. By the terms of the treaty, my operations were limited to the time of the fight. I told the Chiricahuas to gather up their women and children without delay. They answered that they could not get them to respond to the signal, the fugitives fearing they might be sent by our Apache scouts to entrap them. They told us that they had a white boy