Huachuca Illustrated - Fort Huachuca - U.S. Army

Captain Turner related their situation and the refuge they sought on the top of a little rise
that would become known as Mule Hill.
The enemy in considerable force showing themselves at short distances from our route
throughout the day. Before reaching camp, and near sunset, it became necessary to pass near
the base of a hill, which we discovered to be in possession of the enemy, from which an
incessant galling fire might have been poured into us as we passed. So it became necessary to
drive the enemy from this position: the men being dismounted the order was given to charge
up the hill on foot: the order was nobly executed notwithstanding we were in open field and
the enemy were protected from our fire by large rocks on the crest of the hill, from behind
which they fired upon us continually—they stood their ground until we approached them
within gun shot when they abandoned their secure position and fled precipitately: as they
stepped from behind the rocks to make their escape we fired at them and killed and wounded
several—they made their escape so rapidly that many of them dropped their arms in their
flight. Finding ourselves again in possession of the field and in a commanding position secure
from attack, at the same time that we could subsist ourselves and animals, on the recommendation
of the surgeon it was determined that we should remain here for several days for the
purpose of resting the wounded men.
Another attempt had to made to get through to San Diego for help. Kit Carson, Lieut.
Beale and Beale’s Indian guide slipped out of camp that night and for hours crawled on their
stomachs, with their shoes tied around their necks, until they were clear of enemy lines. They
split up to increase their chances of success and began the walk across the spiny terrain to San
Diego. They were barefoot, having lost their shoes in the scramble to evade sentries. Within
twenty-four hours all three would find Stockton’s headquarters, but not until exhaustion and strain
almost did them in. Beale took two years to recover his health and Kit Carson lay recuperating
for a number of weeks.
Back at the San Bernadino, the cut-off Americans were slaughtering mules to keep themselves
alive. An unexpected feast was had when the Californians drove some fresh horses
through the camp in an effort to stampede the soldier’s mounts. The horses were snatched and
barbecued. Lieut. Emory was moved by the suffering of his fellows in this desperate position.
Don Antonio Robideaux, a thin man of fifty-five years, slept next to me. The loss of
blood from his wounds, added to the coldness of the night, 28 degrees Fahrenheit, made me think
he would never see daylight, but I was mistaken. He woke me ask if I did not smell coffee, and
expressed the belief that a cup of that beverage would save his life, and that nothing else would.
Not knowing there had been any coffee in camp for many days, I supposed a dream had carried
him back to the cafes of St. Louis and New Orleans, and it was with some surprise I found by
cook heating a cup of coffee over a small fire made of wild sage. One of the most agreeable little
offices performed in my life, and I believe in the cook’s, to whom the coffee belonged, was, to
pour this precious draught into the waning body of our friend Robideax. His warmth returned,
and with it hopes of life. In gratitude he gave me, what was then a great rarity, the half of a cake
made of brown flour, almost black with dirt, and which had, for greater security, been hidden in
the clothes of his Mexican servant, a man who scorned ablutions. I eat more than half without
inspection, when, on breaking a piece, the bodies of several of the most loathsome insects were
exposed to my view. My hunger, however, overcame my fastidiousness, and the morceau did
not appear particularly disgusting till after our arrival at San Diego, when several hearty meals
had taken off the keenness of my appetite, and suffered my taste to be more delicate.
24 HUACHUCA ILLUSTRATED