Apache Campaigns - Fort Huachuca - U.S. Army

under Victorio terrorized New Mexico, and renegades from the Tontos and Walapais roamed the
northern part of the territory near Camp Verde. The charge of inactivity was, however, less than
fair. There were just too many Apaches, too much terrain, and too few soldiers. A partial
response was to establish Camp Thomas on the Gila River to help keep an eye on the San Carlos
Agency.
Al Sieber with B Company of Indian Scouts. They were commanded by Lt. Wm. H. Carter in
the Chiricahua campaign of 1876.
Since 1870 Mexico had denied U.S. State Department pleas to extend permission to U.S.
troops to cross the border in pursuit of hostiles, despite the havoc the Indians were wreaking upon
their people. On 1 June 1877 President Rutherford B. Hayes authorized U.S. troops to cross the
Mexican border without seeking Mexican permission, a move that was to even further deteriorate
U.S.-Mexican relations. In February 1880 President Hayes revoked that order and Mexican
President Porfirio Diaz reciprocated by agreeing to joint operations against Victorio in September
1880.
A MAGAZINE OF THE FORT HUACHUCA MUSEUM
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