The Arizona Miner
Prescott, Arizona Territory
July 31st, 1869
Full, Graphic and Reliable Account of
Lieutenant McCleave's Recent
Fight with Apaches.
Vulture Mine, Arizona, July 12th,
'69.
Editor Arizonå Miner: —
In accordance with promise, I send you a
sketch of our recent scout under Lieut. Wm. McCleave, 8th U.S.
Cavalry: We left Kenyon's Station, Gila River, at 2 PM on the
3rd inst.,
crossed the river 6 miles below; marched 20 miles a
little west of north, and camped until daylight. July 4th. —
Started at sunrise, travel led 2 miles and found living water;
encamped until dark, then started train for Eagle Tail Tanks.
Scout was ordered to Forked Mountain. July 5th. — Arrived at the
mountain at early dawn; found neither water nor Indians; joined
the train at Eagle Tail Tanks,
found a little water ( only two
quarts for each animal) and some Apache sign. Started, after
dark, for Hoc—qua—hala Springs ,
in Pen—hatch—I—pet Mountains ,
distant about 35 miles in a north—easterly direction; travel led
all night. July 6th.
Saw, at sunrise, 3 Indians, who fled for
the adjacent hills, but were soon overtaken and dispatched to
the happy hunting grounds. We here saw the sign of about 50
Indians, but owing to the famished condition of our animals,
were compelled to push on to the water, where we arrived at 9
AM. We found plenty of water and sufficient grass for our
purpose, and what pleased us most, plenty of Apache sign, which
indicated, to us, that our fondest hopes would be realized. So,
for the purpose of bringing on the fight, our daring commander
ordered our camp to be pitched on the site of an old Indian
village on the south side of the canyon, one—half mile from the
entrance to the canyon, knowing, full well, that we could have
marched and camped on the open plains until doomsday without
getting a fight. The calculation was— whether we got a fight or
to go out on the plain, camp for the night, and then
not—
maneuver around the point until our rations gave out, or until
we got a fight. They did not keep us in suspense long, for they
soon had the country black with smokes, and at 3 PM, began to
make their appearance on hugh granite bluffs south of and above
our position. By 4 0'clock, we were completely surrounded, but
it was plain that, except on the south, they had only a thin
line of skirmishers ,
who contented themselves with yelling ,
building large fires, and shooting, at long range. But, those on
the south, and above us, meant business. Up to 2 0 'clock, not a
shot had been fired by the enemy's main force; nor had we. Our
veteran commander was busily engaged posting and encouraging his
men for the approaching struggle, which, all knew, must end in
death or victory. At a few minutes past 4, a tall, powerful—
looking Indian appeared on a high point, overlooking our camp,
waved his gun high in the air, and sounded the war—whoop, all of
which was the signal for battle. Then opened one of the most
The McCleave Fight— Continued.
terrific Indian fights I ever had the pleasure of witnessing .
The yells of the Indians, the shouts of the soldiers, whiz zing
made up a scene hard to imagine,
and singing of bullets,
impossible to describe. After the first half hour, it was plain
that we could drive them at will, but the old man, (as the boys
call McCleave,) thought it best to keep them close to us until
we wanted to retire to the plain below. Our men fought Indian—
every man from behind a rock. Had they been exposed
fashion ,
they would not have lasted five minutes. At 6 0 1 clock, orders
were given to saddle and pack up. The Indians saw the move, and,
sure of victory, rushed furiously to the charge. It was a dear
charge for them, as, during the few seconds it lasted, we hurt
more Indians than we had in the previous two hours' fighting.
Numbers fell and were dragged back into the rocks, and three lay
when our men withdrew. We had one man
dead, in full view,
wounded, severely, in the head. We forced a passage to the plain
and encamped for the night. At intervals during the
below ,
night, the enemy fired both bullets and arrows into camp, but
fortunately, did no damage. The Apaches evidently thought they
as we were leaving the caåon, the
had won the fight,
for ,
evening before, they yelled and whooped at a terrible rate. July
7th. — At daylight, the cliffs at the entrance of the canyon, and
below the water, were black with the red devils, apparently busy
fortifying. Knowing that we were compelled to have water, they
were using every exertion to prevent us from getting it. At 8
o ' clock AM, after having grazed our horses and breakfasted,
orders were given to saddle, pack, and fall in. After detailing
a rear guard, and every fourth man to hold or lead horses, we
had only 13 soldiers and 2 citizens to face the enemy. This
small band was drawn up in line, and, after a few stirring words
from our chief, we deployed as skirmishers, on foot. The Apaches
welcomed us with loud shouts, waving of bright lances and guns
in the morning sun. They had evidently been reinforced during
the night, and being now well fortified, were eager for the
contest. We marched directly towards the fortified hill, until
when within 500 yards of it, we diverged to the right, crossed
the canyon and gained the high ground on the north side. This
move was executed in full view of the enemy, who appeared to be
completely stupefied. As soon as we faced about and bore down
towards the water, they sullenly left their fort, hurried around
and crawled into the rocks overhanging the water. As they were
shifting from the fortified hill, we had an opportuni_ty of
approximating their number, and I think that at least 60 left
the hill and passed into the rocks, where, also, were others.
Our train was halted within 400 yards of the water, and we were
ordered to advance. Our advance was a succession of charges or
rushes, from one cluster of rocks to another— one half our force
covering, while the other half charged. In about an hour, the
water was cleared, and about one—half our fighting force had
crossed the canyon and occupied the rocks lately in possession
of the savages. The train and horses were now ordered to the
water. The Indians rallied and made a desperate attempt to
The McCleave Fight— Continued.
regain their lost ground, but failed signally, losing one of
their chiefs, quite a number of warriors, and leaving us masters
of the field. Thus ended two of the hardest contested Indian
fights I have ever witnessed. I think they outnumbered us, the
last day, 5 to 1. The fighting was almost entirely done by the
soldiers,
as besides myself, there was but one citizen, Wm.
Four r, in the fight. Our leader proved himself well worthy of
the great reputation he bears. He was everywhere, and always at
the right place.
I am unable to state the correct number of Indians killed. We
got three, ten miles from the water, and during the two fights
in the canyon, six were seen to fall, and their bodies lay in
full view for some time; besides,
I think there were a great
many wounded. One thing is certain: they were the worst whipped
Indians I have ever seen, for, when we left the canyon, an hour
after the fight, not an Indian was to be seen or heard. We
proceeded to Culling's well,
lay over a day, left our wounded
and sick and started for Wickenburg. Arrived there in due
rested our animals and started for the Vulture mine ,
season ;
with the design of surprising an Indian rancher ia said to be
about 20 miles southwest of the mine. Left, at night, for the
place indicated; arrived there and found no Indians. We then
returned to the mine, from which place Lieut. McCleave and
command started, at 4 0'clock on the morning of the 12th, having
accomplished more, in the last eight days, considering the force
engaged, than has ever before been done in this Territory by the
same number of men, in the same length of time. I shall leave,
this evening, for Agua Caliente.
King S. Woolsey.
