Building a State in Apache Land | Page 7

New Bramfels, where I could find some educated
German miners, and as he was going to Austin I accompanied him as
far as New Bramfels, and received the benefit of his introduction. There
were plenty of educated German miners about New Bramfels, working
on farms and selling lager beer, and they enlisted joyfully. The rest of
the company was made up of frontiersmen (buckskin boys), who were
not afraid of the devil.
We pulled out of San Antonio, Texas, on the first day of May, 1856,
and took the road to El Paso, or Paso del Norte, on the Rio Grande, 762
miles by the itinerary. The plains of Texas were covered with verdure
and flowers, and the mocking birds made the night march a serenade.
I carried recommendations from the War Department to the military
officers of the frontiers for assistance, if necessary. The first military
post on the road was Fort Clark (El Moro), and a beautiful location.
The post was at that time under the command of the famous John
Bankhead Magruder, whom I had known in California.
Magruder had recently returned from Europe, bringing two French
cooks; and as he was a notorious bon vivant, it was not disagreeable to
accept an invitation to dinner.
After breakfast next morning I went to take my leave of the officers,
but Magruder said:--
"Sir, you cannot go. Consider yourself under arrest."
I replied, "General, I am not aware of having violated any of the
regulations of the Army."
"No, sir, but you are violating the rules of hospitality. You shall stay
here three days. Send your train on to the Pecos, and I will send an
escort with you to overtake it."
So I remained at Fort Clark three days in duress, and never had a
prisoner of war more hospitable entertainment. Texas overflows with

abundant provisions, if they only had French cooks.
After a toilsome and dangerous march through Lipans and
Commanches we arrived on the upper Rio Grande, at El Paso, in time
to spend the Fourth of July. El Paso at this time was enjoying an era of
commercial prosperity. The Mexican trade was good. Silver flowed in
in a stream.
After recruiting at El Paso we moved up to the crossing of the Rio
Grande at Fort Thorn, and prepared to plunge into Apache land.
Camping the command on the green-fringed Mimbres I took five men,
and with Doctor Steck and his interpreter made a visit to the Apaches
in their stronghold at Santa Rita del Cobre.
There was an old triangular-shaped fort built by the Spaniards which
afforded shelter. There were about three hundred Apaches in
camp,--physically, fine looking fellows who seemed as happy as the
day was long. The agent distributed two wagon loads of corn, from
which they made "tiz-win," an intoxicating drink.
Their principal business, if they have any, is stealing stock in Mexico
and selling it on the Rio Grande. The mule trade was lively. They
proved themselves expert marksmen; but I noticed always cut the
bullets out of the trees, as they are economists in ammunition if nothing
else.
Deer and turkeys were plentiful, and we feasted for several days in the
old triangular fort and under the trees. Doctor Steck told the Apaches
that I was "a mighty big man," and they must not steal any of my stock
nor kill any of my men.
The chiefs said they wanted to be friends with the Americans, and
would not molest us if we did not interfere with their "trade with
Mexico."
On this basis we made a treaty and the Apaches kept it.
I had a lot of tin-types taken in New York, which I distributed freely

among the chiefs, so they might know me if we should meet again.
Many years afterwards an Apache girl told me they could have killed
me often from ambush, but they remembered the treaty and would not
do it. I have generally found the Indians willing to keep faith with the
whites, if the whites will keep faith with them.
After leaving the camp at the Mimbres, we crossed the Chiricahua
Mountains, and camped for noon on a little stream called the San
Simon, which empties into the Gila River. We had scarcely unlimbered
when the rear guard called out, "Apaches!" and about a hundred came
thundering down the western slope of the mountain, well mounted and
well armed. Their horsemanship was admirable, their horses in good
condition, and many of them caparisoned with silver-mounted saddles
and bridles, the spoil of Mexican foray.
A rope was quickly stretched across the road, the ammunition boxes
got out, and everything prepared for a fight. The chief was a
fine-looking man named Alessandro, and as a fight was the last thing
we desired, a parley