20140, 20141. Letter written by 1st Lieutenant William J. Volkmar, commanding Co. "E" 5th Cavalry at Camp Date Creek, A.T. (letter)

The following letter written by 1st Lieutenant William 3. Volkmar, commandi ng Co. “E” 5th Cavalry at Camp Date Creek, AT, to his friend Stephen Perry Jocelyn— was copied from pages 170— 72 of “Mostly Alkali” by Stephen Perry Jocelyri II. Caidwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers LTD., 1953. The letter refers to two major events in Arizona Territorial Military History. The August 29th, 1872 death of Captain Philip Dwyer, Co. “E” 5th Cavalry at Camp Date Creek, A.T. (who at the time of his death, was the only commissioned officer stationed at the post) and the tragic Camp Date Creek Incident of September 8th, 1872. Camp Date Creek, A.T. October 15th, 1872 My Dear Jocelyn: Your very welcome letter of Sept. 18th reached me last evening. It is, indeed, only too true that poor Stewart has fallen a victim to savage cruelty. He was on his way from Critteriden to Tucson as Judge Advocate of a Gen. C.M. to convene at the latter place. He rode on a small buckboard, accompanied by Corporal Black of “F” Co., 5th Cay. An escort was following behind in a wagon. Stewart got some distance ahead of the escort and was “jumped” in bjoad daylight by a band of a dozen Indians. He received five wounds and was shot, I am told, through both heart and brain. It was mercy that he was instantly killed, for Corporal Black was captured alive, carried off some distance and there brutally tortured before death put an end to his cruel sufferings. The escort coming up a little later, found poor Stewart’s body, stripped, plundered and mutilated. An officer reports, over his official signature, that he firmly believes the outrage to have been committed by the Camp Grant Indians, and he thinks a thorough search among them might disc over Stewart’s watch and class ring. The body of our poor friend was brought into Tucson and there buried with the last military honors. A thrill of horror has gone through the entire country and already blows of harsh retaliation have been struck by the troops. I would like greatly to write you at length about affairs in Arizona but I am very much pressed for time just now and can send you only these hastily scrawled lines. I was in the field when Captain Dwyer suddenly died here and a special disp atch was sent to me, Aug. 29th to proceed here immediately and take command of the post and “E” Company. I was quite alone here for weeks- had to inventory and take up every species of company, Q.M., C.S. and ordnance property and funds— an almost endless job, and at the same time had a terribly disordered state of Indian affairs to manage, which itself terminated finally in a desperate fight, right on the parade ground of the post. I was heartily glad when Capt. Henton’s company arrived here and I was relieved of part of my many and pressing duties. I am now commanding “E” Co., 5th Cay, and am also on duty settling up the public and private business of Capt. Dwyer, deceased, which last job will carry me up to December, at least, for he was so sick during the last months of his life that he could attend to nothing and his papers are all confused and incomplete.... Capt. Henton, who was stationed at Warner, is in command here and joins me in every good wish for your happiness... Your obedient servant, William J. Volkmar- 1st Lieutenant Company “E” 5th U.S. Cavalry.