History of Cochise County Arizona United States of America

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Apache Pass, Ariz., July 15, 1862. Detachment, 1st Cali- Fornia Cavalry. In the summer of 1862, this pass, nearly 4 Miles Long, through a spur of the Chiricahua mountains, was the scene of some noteworthy events in connection with army opera- tions. A fine spring of water made it a favorite resort of In- dians. The Apaches occupied the whole country between the Rio Grande and the Colorado River and made it next to impossible for any small party of whites to pass through that great stretch of country. Three men who tried to convey an express from Gen. Carleton, at Tucson to Gen. Canby were attacked near the pass and 2 of them killed. The third escaped only after being pursued 40 Miles and near Mesilla was captured by Texans, his dispatches, detailing Carleton's plans, falling into their hands. On June 22, Carleton Sent Forward Lieut.-Col. Eyre, of the 1st Cal. Cavalry, with an advance guard of 140 men. At the spring in the pass, a company of infantry and a part of A Com- Pany of cavalry with 2 mountain howitzers, fought the Indians for four hours, killing several and sustaining a loss of 3 killed and several wounded. On June 25, Eyre Held A conference with an Apache chief, who had a party of 75 to 100 braves, all mounted on good horses and armed with rifles and six-shooters, and gave him food and tobacco and was assured of the Indians' friendship. That Day 3 of his soldiers who had been separated from the troop were shot through their breasts, lanced through their necks, stripped of their clothing and 2 of them were scalped. The Apaches got away with one horse. The Indians were pursued but were not overtaken.

History of Cochise County Arizona

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