Thanks for asking!
An good description of the military organization of 1869 within the
Arizona Territory is available in History of Arizona, Volume VIII by
Thomas Edwin Farish, Arizona Historian. The volume is published by the
University of Arizona. In Chapter VI, The Military, Farish quotes The
Observer, in St. Johns, Apache County, from the year 1911. This
edition offered a "vivid picture of conditions as they existed prior
to and during the year 1869".
"At the time the event of which this story relates, the year 1869, the
Territory of Arizona was subdivided into two military districts, the
northern commanded by Brevet Brigadier General Frank Wheaton, with his
headquarters at Fort Whipple; the southern district, and the one in
which this story is concerned, was commanded by Brevet-Brigadier
General Thomas E. Devin, with headquarters at Camp McDowell. Arizona
at that time was in the Military Department of the Pacific, commanded
by Brigadier General E. O. C. Ord. Camp Goodwin, first established by
the California Volunteers in 1864, and named in honor of Arizona's
first acting governor?not the first appointed by Mr. Lincoln, but the
first one to act?was situated about three miles south of the Gila
river, but after being occupied for a number of years, it was finally
abandoned on account of its unhealthfulness. Camp Goodwin pertained to
the southern military district, and in 1869 was garrisoned with
several companies of the First Cavalry, besides infantry, under the
command of Colonel John Green. The troops Stationed in the Territory
in 1869 were the First and Eighth Regiments of Cavalry; also the 12th
Infantry, and the 'thieving? 14th Infantry.
History of Arizona, Volume VIII, Chapter 5, The Military
http://southwest.library.arizona.edu/hav8/body.1_div.5.html
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ADDITIONAL GARRISONS AND TROOPS (1869)
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Fort Mohave | (1859 - 1861, 1863 - 1890), near Riviera (Laughlin)
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Though accounts differ somewhat in dates that Fort Mojave was
established and relinquished, there is no doubt that it was occupied
as a military garrison in 1869.
Fort Mohave was established in 1859, abandoned in 1861, then
reactivated in 1863 to protect the ferry to Needles, California. The
site was first called Camp Colorado, renamed Camp Mohave from 1863 to
1879.
Arizona Forts
http://www.geocities.com/naforts/az.html
"Founded in 1858 as Camp Colorado, Fort Mohave was home to military
personnel for two years before being abandoned. Then as more
prospectors came to the area the fort was reoccupied in 1866. This
occupation lasted through 1890."
Fort Mohave | Arizona Ghost Town
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/fortmohave.html
In 1868-69 the Eighth Regiment of Cavalry was garrisoned at Fort
Mohave, according to the following excerpts:
"In 1869 the troop and detachments travelled [sic.] in execution of
escort, scouting duties, etc., an aggregate of 8000 miles, which
indicates the arduous service performed in that desolate country."
"Troop K.?Captain S. B. M. Young, with two commissioned officers
(Lieuts. J. D. Stevenson and A. A. Reese, 8th Cavalry) and 42 enlisted
men, left Camp Mojave, January 9, 1868."
"The command returned to Camp Mojave on the 20th January, having
averaged 25 miles per day for 10 days, marching through snow, rain and
mud, over a mountainous country, besides spending much time in
scouting dismounted."
"On the 11th of December, 1868, a detachment of men under Major Price
had two engagements with Indians near Willow Grove, killing 8,
wounding several, and destroying their camps and supplies. Sergeant
Curtin C. Miller was killed.
In the same month a detachment of 10 men of Troops E and K under Major
Price, surprised a rancheria of 20 lodges; killed 11 Indians, captured
several and destroyed their supplies.
On June 7, 1869, Captain Young, with 16 men, engaged a party of
hostile Indians at Mammoth Caņon in the Santa Maria Range, killing 3
Indians and destroying a large amount of supplies.
In August, 1869, Lieutenant Carrick, commanding a scouting party of
Troops E, F and K, had several encounters with Indians, killing 8,
capturing several, and destroying their camps and supplies.
In November, 1869, detachments under Lieutenants Stevenson and Pullman
captured and destroyed a quantity of Indian property."
The Eight Regiment of Cavalry | Lieut. Charles M. O'Connor, Adjutant
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/R&H/R&H-8CV.htm
Camp Reno | (1867 - 1870) Near Punkin Center
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"Some ruins remain at the [Camp Reno} site west of Punkin Center. The
Battle of Big Dry Wash was near here in 1868."
Arizona Forts | Camp Reno
http://www.geocities.com/naforts/az.html#reno
"This area {Camp Reno] was occupied by the United States Army from
1867-1870. Their mission was to check on the Apaches. About 3 miles to
the east is an old wash this is where the soldiers battled the Apaches
in the battle of Big Dry Wash 1868."
Camp Reno | Arizona Ghosttowns
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/campreno.html
?The military, ever in advance, had established camps at several
points near the southern and western edges of this Apacheria; in fact,
Camp Reno was located well inside the Apache lines, being near the
eastern base of the Mazatzal range, and perhaps two or three miles
west of Tonto Creek. This camp was garrisoned with one company of
infantry, and the camp was almost daily harassed by the Tonto Apaches
under the leadership of Chief Da-chay-ya."
History of Arizona, Volume VIII, Chapter 6, The Military
http://southwest.library.arizona.edu/hav8/body.1_div.6.html
First Regiment of Cavalry | U.S. 1st - 1869
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Scout from Camp Lowell, January 13. Company G., One Indian killed.
and one wounded. Expedition against Arivaypa Apaches, February 2.
Detachments of Companies G and K. Eight Indians killed and 8 captured.
Expedition against Apaches in March. Company G. Three Indian camps of
105 huts destroyed. Fight at Mount Turnbull, A. T., April 29.
Companies G and K. Twenty-eight Indians killed and 8 captured.
Fight with Indians in Arizona, May 11. Seven men of Company G. One man
wounded. Scout from Camp Grant, May 22. Company K. Four Indians
killed. Fights on Rio Pinto, June 2 and 4. Company E. Twenty-two
Indians killed and 4 captured. Scout from Camp Bowie, June 30. Company
G. Four Indians captured. Expedition to White Mountains of Arizona,
July and August. Company L and detachment of K. Fifteen Indians killed
and 3 captured. Pursuit of marauders of Cochise's band, October 8.
Company G. Twelve Indians killed and stolen stock recovered. Fight
with Cochise's band in Chiricahua Mountains, October 20. Company G.
Twenty Indians killed and others wounded. One man killed and 1
wounded. Skirmish with Cochise's band, October 31. Companies C, G and
L. Two Indians killed. Scout from Camp McDowell, A. T., December 9-11.
Twenty men of Company E. Entire band of 11 Mojave Apaches killed."
Fort McDowell | (1865 - 1891), Globe
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Situated on the "west bank of the Rio Verde seven miles above the
junction of the Verde with the Salt River in Maricopa County"
History | Fort McDowell, Arizona
http://jeff.scott.tripod.com/ftmcdowell.html
"Fort McDowell [was] Originally named Camp Verde (2) but quickly
renamed Camp McDowell. Designated a fort in 1879. Became the Indian
agency in 1891. Some ruins, one wall still standing."
Arizona Forts | Fort McDowell
http://www.geocities.com/naforts/az.html#mcdonald
Camp McDowell was established in 1865 and closed in 1890. This site
was established by the United States Calvary to control the Yavapai
and Apache Indians in the area.
Camp McDowell | Arizona Ghosttowns
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/campmcdowell.html
"In the meantime, another prospecting party, headed by a saloonkeeper
named Calvin Jackson, left Prescott on September 8. This party also
intended to prospect in the same region. Both Cooley's and Jackson's
parties were attacked by Apaches, and a cavalry patrol out of Fort
McDowell, headed by Colonel George B. Sanford, therefore decided that
the two parties should be united for their own safety. The two parties
joined on 26 September 1869 near the mouth of Canyon Creek. The
prospectors then explored up the Salt River for about thirty miles,
but found no gold. It was about this time that Cooley decided that
Thorn's story was "unreliable." He returned to Swilling's Ranch before
November."
Globe Arizona History
http://www.geocities.com/~zybt/globe.htm
"George Bliss Sanford, army officer (June 28, 1842-July 13, 1908).
Born at New Haven, Connecticut, Sanford was commissioned a second
lieutenant of the 1st Dragoons (1st Cavalry) April 26, 1861, and a
first lieutenant July 30; he became a captain October 1, 1862. His
Civil record was creditable, Sanford emerging a brevet lieutenant
colonel after arduous service with the Army of the Potomac. In
December 1865 he went with his regiment to California and thence to
Arizona, where he remained about five years, much of it in command of
Fort McDowell. In September-October 1866 he led a scout and attack on
an Indian rancheria, causing some causalities. June 3-4, 1869, he led
a scout into the Pinal Mountains of Arizona, striking an Apache
rancheria and killing about 20. He led other effective scouts
December 10, 1869, and April 30 and May 25, 1870. In 1871 he moved
with his company to California and from there to Idaho; he served
briefly on detached duty at Sitka, Alaska. He was promoted to major
June 25, 1876."
George Bliss Sanford
http://www.carolyar.com/bioGeoBlissSanford.htm
Further Resources
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US Army branches of service, its regiments, through the 1880's
THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF STAFF AND LINE
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/R&H/R&H-FM.htm
Arizona Timeline
http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/arizonatimeline.htm
Arizona History and Archives Division
http://www.dlapr.lib.az.us/archives/azhistory.cfm
Search Strategy
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arizona forts 1869
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1st cavalry 1869
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arizona "camp mcdowell" OR "fort mcdowell"
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I hope you find this information useful. Should you have questions
about the material or links provided, please, feel free to ask for
clarification.
---larre |
