Apache Campaigns - Fort Huachuca - U.S. Army

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Edward Hatch. Photo courtesy U.S. Army Military History Institute.
Lieut. Thomas Cruse was with Lieut. Gatewood’s Indian Scouts out of Fort Bowie in
February 1880 and remembered the Victorio campaign out of all others as taking “the prize.” He
learned his lessons in the tactics of the southwest on the march from Fort Bowie, Arizona, to Fort
Bayard, New Mexico, and wrote about trail discipline:
...The horses and mules were always loose-herded, that is, without lariats or picket
ropes. Upon arrival in the designated camp they were at once turned loose, watered, and sent
out on the grazing grounds, probably a mile from camp. The Scouts would have preceded us
and carefully reconnoitered all the vicinity, especially the suspicious-looking localities.
As soon as the herd with its soldier guard reached the grazing grounds, those Indians
came into camp. Very soon, others who had rested a little and had something to eat and
especially some hard-boiled coffee, would go out and occupy favorable positions to keep a
keen lookout all over the country until darkness fell. Then the herd was brought in for water
and grooming and turned loose again, nearer to camp for the night, in a different place and
different direction from where they had been during the afternoon.
The animals would graze a bit, then quiet down and go to rest. After supper Sam
Bowman and the Scouts would come to Gatewood’s bedding roll (he never had a tent of any
kind) and after a discussion would decide on the next day’s march, and what especially to
watch out for, and exchange the latest news of the hostiles. The Indians were always invited to
tell what was their opinion of the situation.
The hostile Apache is quite different from the Comanche, Sioux, Cheyenne, or other
Indian. He never attacks at night, 36 but he is deadly poison in choosing to attack at early
daybreak, or as the command is saddling up to move out. So we all slept securely until dawn.
Then the Scouts, who had eaten an hour before, moved out quietly in groups of three or four.
They went on foot (because, contrary to the belief of many, the Apache is not a “Horse
Indian” and our Scouts were not mounted) spreading out in fan shape for some three or four
HUACHUCA ILLUSTRATED