20196. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, April 16th, 1875. Camp Date Creek (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory April 16th, 1875 Camp Date Creek: was our next halting place. Not a soldier was to be seen in or about the place; although it is not many years since soldiers were thick as bees here and around about. The adobe houses are fast going to ruin; the “fort” is now garrisoned by Jim O’Neill and a Mexican. Jim has a large flock of sheep in the vicinity, and the Mexican is herding cattle for C.W. Beach. I visited the “bivouac of the dead;” found many graves caved in, and the walls of the cemetery almost level with the ground. The place contains remains of a great many soldiers, many of whom were murdered by Indians. The military authorities would do well to fix up this decaying village of the dead. We spent the night at the home of William Gilson, a brave old pioneer, who with his sister and her bright little girl have a charming home on Date Creek, two or three miles below the post. Mr. Gilson has a large band of American cattle, fine farm, orchard and other good things.