The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 26

The Southwestern Historical Quarterly

ernor of Chihuahua, and the miners in the Apache infested regions
all agreed to co-operate and place forces in the field. As a result
of this combined effort some three hundred sixty-three Indians were
killed and one hundred forty wounded. Allowing for loss of ani-
mals to the Indians, their foes made a net gain of ten thousand
six hundred and forty-six head of stock. Two. thousand Navajos
were sent to the Bosque and thirty of the western Apaches also
found their way there. Hostile's were still in the mountains and
more bitter than ever against their would-be conquerors. And the
war of extermination went on, the regular troops being ever stirred
to greater activity.
Military re-organization.-When the Military was re-organized
at the end of the Civil War and General Halleck was placed in
charge of the Military Division of the Pacific under which Arizona
lay, he said, "It is useless to negotiate with these Apache Indians.
They will observe no treaties, agreements, or truces. With them
there is no alternative but active and vigorous war, till they are
completely destroyed, or forced to surrender as prisoners of war."
His successor General Ord was an even more enthusiastic ex-
terminator. His own words reveal only too clearly his attitude
and the course of events in the latter 60's. "I encouraged the
troops to capture and root out the Apaches by every means, and to
hunt them as they would wild animals. This they have done with
unrelenting vigor. Since my last report (1868) over two hundred
have been killed, generally by parties who have trailed them for
days and weeks into the mountain recesses, over snows, among
gorges and precipices, lying in wait for them by day, and follow-
ing them by night. Many villages have been burned, large quan-
tities of arms and supplies of ammunition, clothing and provisions
have been destroyed, a large number of horses and mules have been
captured, and two men, twenty-eight women, and thirty-four chil-
dren have been taken prisoners." That mercy found little part in
the treatment the Apache received during these dark days is evi-
dent. That gross injustice and bitter cruelty did find place is all
too evident. Repeated instances of this might be cited but one
will suffice, the one chosen being a story which in its repetition in
the east, did much to bring about a change in government policy
regarding the Apache.