Page 158 - Cooke's Peak - Pasaron Por Aqui

Herbert immediately gave up to the authorities and was quickly tried and acquitted for lack of evidence. Other citizens who were sympathetic with the Con- federacy were enjoying a more peaceful life. Sam Bean was appointed to serve as Justice of the Peace for the Fourth Precinct (Mesilla). At approximately the same time, Henry Skillman was selected as the
sutler for Confederate Fort Fillmore for a term of three years, replacing another sympathizer, Samuel
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J. Jones.
All was not quiet, however, as two heavy skirmishes
were fought between the Confederates and Federal units from Fort Craig. On September 25, the first engagement occurred at Canada Alamosa and the second, on the following day, near Fort Thorn. Men from both sides were either killed or wounded and several Federals, including Union Captain John H. Minks, were captured. The Confederates were led by Captain Coopwood and Captain Charles L. Pyron. Captain Robert Murry Morris from Fort
Craig led an unsuccessful rescue, that resulted in the
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second fight.
At Pinos Altos the situation was tense because the
Apaches had again cut off supplies and carried out attacks on anyone they could despite the best efforts of the Arizona Guards. The Guards had been or- ganized on July 18, 1861, by Thomas J. Mastin, with about 30 men (including “Hank” Smith). On August 8, following the Battle of Mesilla and the capture of Fort Fillmore and its garrison, the unit was mustered
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into Confederate service for a 12-month period. Shortly after the Freeman Thomas massacre, probablybetweenJuly25andAugust8,theApaches perpetrated two more attacks within Cooke’s Canyon and claimed another 24 American lives. A notable member of the newly formed provisional government was one of several killed in the first attack. WilliamC.Wordsworth,ofSonoitaValley near Tucson and appointed General of the nearly nonexistent militia, was traveling east with his wife and several others of the Ake party to join the Confederates. Near Mas- sacre Peak, the party was attacked by Apaches and Wordsworth was
125 fatally wounded.
Felix Grundy Ake was familiar with the southern route. He had driven cattle from Arkansas to California in 1849, and in 1853, moved his family there. By 1861, however, they were ranching in the Yumaarea. Withtheoutbreakof the Civil War, the Akes and several other families and individuals decided to return to the east, probably to join the Confederacy. One of the members of the party was The Great Western, Sarah Bowman. They were joined along the way by Wordsworth, Sam Houston (a nephew of “the” Sam Houston), “Mose” Carson (“Kit’s” brother), andseveralothers. Accordingto Felix’s son, Jeff Ake, there were 47 men, 7 women, and 16 children in the group when they left Tucson. 126
The day before reaching Cooke’s Canyon, the caravan was warned by someone who came into the camp from the north, probably Pinos
Figure 40. Christopher “Kit” Carson. Photo courtesy of the Museum of New Mexico, #9825.
Confederate Invasion and Withdrawal