Page 167 - Cooke's Peak - Pasaron Por Aqui

(possibly John Lemon) and forwarded his messages to General Canby. He was later exchanged in the same negotiation that returned Captain McCleave
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to the Californians.
The reasons for Carleton’s delay in Tucson were
both water related.
clothing, weapons, and one horse. That evening several shots were fired into the soldiers’ camp and Assistant Surgeon William A. Kittridge was
First, he needed to know the condition of the water resources between Tucson and the Rio Grande so he could determine how many men could be sent through at a time and the necessary intervals in between. Secondly, his wagons were unfit for further service without con- siderablerepair. Theextremelydryweatherhad caused the wooden wagon wheels to shrink, which loosened the metal tires, and allowed the sand to grind the wood away even more. Carleton had es- tablished two repair shops by June 10 but could not
Eyre’s progress to the Rio Grande was uneventful,
considering the Indian situation, except for contact
with several parties along the route. On June 30,
they encountered two men with messages for the
commander of the Federal forces at Tucson, but due
to their suspicious behavior, Eyre took them in tow.
Later the same day he met a Mr. Milligan, traveling
with an eight man escort, with a message from
Colonel John Milton Chivington. He also learned of
Jones’ capture at this time. He sent Milligan and
another man back to Fort Craig with messages of his
191 own.
Eyre’s column continued to make contact with other small groups. These parties were miners leav- ing Pinos Altos because the Indians had totally cut off supplies. On July 1, they intercepted a group of 30 men on their way to Mexico from the mines. This group was judged harmless and released. At one in the morning on July 3, a group of 12 men and 2 women were discovered approaching the camp, a somewhat dangerous action as a picket a week before had shot a coyote at midnight thinking it was a skulking Apache. Eyre took these people, who were heading for Mesilla from the mines, into cus- tody to prevent news of his presence from reaching the Confederates.
Eyre took the precaution of having a patrol scout Cooke’s Spring before the column reached there the eveningofJuly3. Thefollowingdaytheyfailedto obtain water at Mule Spring, even after digging for it, and they had to wait until they reached the Rio Grande to obtain water. Eyre had the United States flag hoisted on July 4, to the loud cheers of the command. The next day they moved down-river three miles and occupied the twice-abandoned
1“
facility of Fort Thorn.
Carleton ordered Captain Thomas L. Roberts,
after admonishing him not to attack the Indians unless they initiated the hostilities, to proceed to the Rio Grande with another column to support Eyre. When Roberts left Tucson at half-past four on the morning of July 10, he led a group of 4 officers and 126 men supported by 22 wagon teams (with Jesse R. Allen as wagon master) and 242 animals including cavalry mounts. The units consisted of 72 First California Infantrymen of Roberts’ Company E (in-
repair more than two wagons per day.
Another reason for dispatching Eyre’s task force
was related to the Confederate situation in New Mexico. Carleton had received word concerning the results of the fight at Glorieta Pass and, in addition to assessing the water situation, he wanted Eyre to be in a position to help cut off Sibley’s retreat. After supplying the command with 30 days rations, he
187
directed Eyre to make a forced
Previously, on June 6, predating the effective date
of President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation free-
ing the southern-held slaves by six months and with
as little immediate control of the situation, Carleton
issued his assertion of martial law in the Territory,
including the Mesilla Valley. It would not be lifted
until July 4, 1865, and those who smarted under his
frequently heavy-handed ways called it “Carleton’s
Law.” Some with whom he had sharp differences,
such as Indian Agent Steck, labeled him “The Great
188
Mogul.”
On June 21, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Eyre
departed Tucson with 140 men and headed for the Rio Grande 300 miles away. 189 On June 25, while watering their horses at the Apache Pass spring, they were approached by Apaches bearing a white flag. A peace conference ensued during which the In- dians promised to maintain neutrality. This was almost certainly an Apache ploy to learn what they could of the army’s plans and strength. At the same time as the parley, three of Eyre’s men (Privates
Albert Schmidt, James F. Keith, and Peter Maloney) violated orders and became separated from the main body of soldiers. The Apaches killed them without alarming the others and made off with their
march to the river.
Chapter 5
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wounded in the head and one horse was killed.
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