Apache Campaigns - Fort Huachuca - U.S. Army

efore, the 28th. Forsyth said Tupper’s scouts located the enemy, “cautiously moved out and
attacked them, hoping to surprise them, and did succeed in capturing part of their herd and killing
some of them; but they managed to fall back and get into a mass of great rocky crags near the
swamp, and his force was inadequate successfully to dislodge them.” 85 Running out of ammunition,
Tupper cut off the engagement and fell back with the herd and his wounded.
Forsyth had a difficult decision to make. He said:
...We were now in Mexico, miles across the line, and I knew it, and, worse than all, I had
strict orders in my possession on no account to enter Mexican territory, as at that particular
time relations were somewhat strained diplomatically in that direction, a certain agreement,
running six months, I think, permitting the troops of either country to follow the raiding
Apaches on either side of the line, having expired, and the Mexican sentiment was against a
renewal of it.
After thinking the matter over, I decided to follow the Indians. They had murdered and
plundered our citizens, believing we dare not follow them into Mexico, and that once they
were there they were safe. Captain Tupper had taught them otherwise, and I had determined
from the start to follow them as far as I could, no matter where they went, as our people were
entitled to government protection, and an imaginary line ought not to bar the pursuit of
raiding savages. Furthermore, we were in a wild country, and might possibly find this band,
and, with the force I could now control, defeat and completely scatter it, and get back to our
own side of the line without the knowledge of the Mexican government. Accordingly, at
daylight the entire command, including Captain Tupper’s forces, moved out and down the
valley to the scene of his fight on the previous day. The Indians had left their position in the
rocks and started southward. We took up the trail and followed doggedly on. About ten miles
from where Captain Tupper’s fight took place we found a poor old wounded squaw on the
trail. She was very much frightened, expecting to be killed. She told us that Captain Tupper’s
command had killed six braves the preceding day, and they had lost thirteen killed at Horse
Shoe Canon, besides many wounded in both actions. Giving her some water and bread, we
left her on the trail. ...At daylight the next morning I heard the sound of reveille by Mexican
bugles, and my command had not moved out over a mile when Lieutenant Hall, who had the
advance, reported a Mexican camp a few miles beyond.
After marching about two miles I was met by Colonel Lorenzo Garcia, of the Sixth
Mexican Infantry, who with his adjutant came across a small ravine to meet our forces. He
most courteously desired to know if I was aware that my command was upon Mexican soil. If
so, what authority, if any, I had for crossing the line, as I must know that his government had
issued stringent orders against any armed forces being allowed to enter Mexico from the
United States. Quite as courteously, but nevertheless decidedly, I told him that my orders
looked to the capture or extermination of a band of hostile Indians, part of whom had come
from Mexico, and who had murdered citizens of the United States in the Territories of Arizona
and New Mexico, burned their homes and stolen their cattle, and whom I had pursued redhanded
from our side of the border to the present spot; that parts of my command had fought
these Indians twice and followed them over two mountain ranges, and we were still in pursuit
of them; that the citizens of Arizona and New Mexico were terribly exasperated over these
outrages, and righteously so; that these same Indians had for the two preceding years raided
the said Territories and committed many murders and other atrocities, and finally taken refuge
in Mexico; that my sold object was their pursuit and punishment, and that he might rest
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HUACHUCA ILLUSTRATED