Apache Campaigns - Fort Huachuca - U.S. Army

ground between officers’ quarters and barracks on the far side.
This was only to draw attention to that line. A mounted party of fifty-odd Indians
jumped into sight below the sawmill, five hundred yards from McGowan’s position. They
charged the post trader’s buildings, whooping and shooting and waving their guns as they
came.
Old McGowan was a veteran of the famous California Column and he had been
stationed in Arizona and New Mexico throughout the Civil War. He was an old hand at this
business and now he held his men quiet, watching for the precise point at which the charge
would be too far advanced for easy retreat. Then he gave his orders and three nicely spaced
volleys crashed into the hostiles. That band fairly evaporated, those unhit whirling their
mounts to get back to cover. McGowan was troubled no more that day.
The Apaches tried a blow at my line, soon after their repulse by McGowan. We noted
twenty or more Indians worming their way uphill toward the hospital, which stood on a point
somewhat isolated from the other buildings of the post. When they had got into easy range my
detachment opened up sharply, and with the rattle of our fire and the hum of our bullets
around them they lost all interest in the hospital and scurried for cover.
Beyond the reservoir another sheltered party of the hostiles loosed a heavy volley that
whined high over Stanton’s line and struck eight hundred yards away near the Adjutant’s
office. Lieutenant Gordon fell with a severe wound in his leg. He remarked grimly that he
had got his bullet and billet on the same day; his wound and his advancement to command of
Troop D.
The firing continued, now light, now heavy, during all the afternoon. We let them
shoot away their ammunition without often trying a shot, because of the extreme range and the
excellent cover they had. About sundown they sent a crashing volley into the post from across
White River, in the rear of our officers’ quarters. In spite of the hail of bullets dropping we lost
no men from that fire, but two or three were slightly wounded.
With darkness all shooting stopped. We kept an alert watch during the night, merely as
routine. For a few of us expected the Apaches to break their custom and try an attack, even on
the isolated post trader’s buildings or hospital.
Next day there was not an Apache in sight.... 64
Reenforcements were rushed to the Arizona theater. Troops from Fort Wingate in New
Mexico were sent to Apache and six troops of the Fourth Cavalry under Colonel Ranald Mackenzie
were transferred from Colorado. Troops were also moved from California. General Sherman in
Washington fumed, “I want this annual Apache stampede to end right now, and to effect that
result will send every available man in the whole Army if necessary.” 65 John Clum said that
“twenty-two companies of troops—eleven from New Mexico, and eleven from California (which
included three batteries of artillery) were rushed into Arizona.” 66
The troop buildup convinced most of the fugitive Apaches to return to the reservation.
The five Apache Scouts in Carr’s command who had mutinied were court-martialed. Sergeant
Dandy Jim, who shot Capt. Hentig, Sergeant Dead Shot and Private Skippy were sentenced to
death. They were hung on 3 March 1882. Two others were jailed at Alcatraz. Carr and his
superior Willcox officially argued over who was at fault for what the press had mistakenly called
a massacre. Carr had to face a court of inquiry that found him, in the summer of 1882, guilty
“only” of errors of judgment. Apparently the squabble did not damage Carr’s career for he was
promoted to Brigadier General and subsequently placed on the retired list in February 1893.
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HUACHUCA ILLUSTRATED