Arizona Apache Indian War Diary of Lt. Walter S. Schuyler
With Al Sieber - Chief of the Indian Scouts
With Manuscript ID Documents Found on the Body of an Apache Man Killed in 1874
An original handwritten diary kept by Lt. Walter S. Schuyler during his army service in the Arizona Apache campaign of the 1870s. The volume stands as a vital firsthand document containing detailed descriptions of scouting duty with Al Sieber, chief of the Indians Scouts, as well as confrontations with hostile Native American raiding parties during the on-going Apache wars. Specifically, the journal relates to the Yavapai Wars, or so-called Tonto Wars, from 1871 to 1875.
Included here:
- Schuyler's holograph journal, covering the period March 11 to May 26, 1874.
- A pair of grisly mementos: a handwritten identification slip and a manuscript ration document for a Native American man, his wife, and two children. Pencil note by Schuyler on verso of first document: "Found on the body of an Apache killed in the fight of March 25th '87, W.S.S."
- A 1960 letter from historian Dan Thrapp to Mrs. John Dunlop (Schuyler's niece), and a 1960 retained carbon of typed letter from George S. Schaeffer (Schuyler's nephew), responding to Thrapp's letter to Mrs. Dunlop. Thrapp wrote several books related to Frontier Indian Wars, including a biography of Al Sieber, Chief of the Indian Scouts, who figures extensively in the present manuscript journal.
Lt. Walter Scribner Schuyler
At the time of present diary, Lieutenant Walter S. Schuyler was just beginning his long and distinguished army career. The contents of the volume, dating from 1874, relate entirely to the Apache Wars in Arizona. Schuyler was part of the famed 5th Cavalry throughout much of his career, particularly during the 5th Cavalry's pivotal involvement in the Frontier Indian Wars. He was in charge of Indian Scouts in Arizona, working directly with the famed Chief of Scouts, Al Sieber, who is mentioned many times in the journal offered here. Sieber lead Apache scouts against renegade Apaches, who conducted raids from within their terrain. Following his service in Arizona and after a brief leave of absence, Schuyler was made an aide-de-camp to General George Crook, commander of the Department of the Platte, and played a role in the Great Sioux War of 1876, including the Battle of Slim Buttes in September of that year.
Historian Dan Thrapp described Schuyler as "one of the better, more dependable and intelligent officers in the Indian-fighting army and was widely esteemed." In his book on Al Sieber, Thrapp stated that "Schuyler was a man of rare ability and intellect...becoming one of Crook's favorite young officers, and figured in the engagements at Muchos Cañone, the Red Rocks, Pinto Creek, Lost River, Black Mesa, Cave Creek, Superstitution Mountains, Aravaipa Mountain, the Mazatzals, Four Peaks, and elsewhere, in most of which actions Al Sieber also took part." There is also a fairly extensive entry on Schuyler in the Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography (1998):
From June 1872 until May 1873 [Schuyler] engaged in scouting and from February 1873 until February 1875 commanded scout companies taking part in numerous engagements and for them being breveted first lieutenant. His chief of scouts most often was Al Sieber and they made an effective team, Schuyler enjoying the complete confidence of Crook, then commanding the department of Arizona. On leave from February 1875 to February 1876 he visited Finland and European Russia. Schuyler was aid to Crook from May 30, 1876, until 1877, becoming a first lieutenant and taking part in the "Starvation March" and the fight at Slim Buttes, Dakota, September 9-10, 1876. He was with Mackenzie in the attack on the Cheyenne village on Bates Creek, Wyoming, November 25, 1876.
Schuyler's military career spanned numerous wars from the late 19th through the early 20th century: in addition to the Western Indian Wars, he served in the Spanish American War, the Philippine American War, and the Mexican Border War. He received several domestic and foreign awards for his service, including the New York State Spanish American War Medal, the Chinese Order of the Double Dragoon, and the Russian Order of Saint Stanislaus. Schuyler was professor of military science at Cornell from 1883-86 and from 1896-98. He became a Brigadier General in 1911. After retirement from the Army he served as President of the Sierra-Alaska Mining Company of California.
Al Sieber (1844-1907): Chief of the Indian Scouts
German-born Al Sieber was an important leader of Indian Scouts and worked closely with Schuyler. Sieber's history is fascinating: after serving with the 1st Minnesota Infantry during the Civil War, he made his way West, initially to California, and then to Nevada where he was part of the White Pine Silver Rush. Beginning in 1872 he began to play an important role in the U.S. government's conflict with various hostile tribes in Arizona. He was involved in the Muchas Cañones incident on the Santa Maria River, where several rancherias of hostile Indians were destroyed. He was put in charge of more than 80 Hualapais scouts and was commended by Gen. Crook for his leadership role. By the time of the present journal Sieber was busy at his usual job as head of Indian scouts. According to Dan Thrapp: "He continued to scout for the army throughout the decade of the 1870s and after, becoming ever better known and respected by military officers, Indians, and white frontiermen as the years progressed." Sieber is mentioned at least a dozen times in Schuyler's journal.
Selected excerpts from the journals here follow:
March 11, 1874: "Salt River about two miles above mouth of Verde... Near camp on Salt River found tracks of four (4) Indians with one (1) horse (shod and probably stolen from Tempe).
March 17, 1874: "About 1.30 PM four shots were heard in the cañon below us, and the Indians charged out of camp to investigate. They found that about 12 apaches going apparently on a raid to the Salt River settlements had killed a deer about 1 1/2 miles from camp but had discovered us at the same time. They chased the party for about four miles and forced them to drop the deer..."
March 18, 1874: "At daylight Sieber and the scouts started with a day's rations to try what could be done with respect to catching the rancheria. They took the back trail of the party seen yesterday... At noon received a note from Sieber to move on.... This march shows the utter impossibility of moving in a 'mal pais' country in wet weather. Sieber found the ranch about 3 miles from this camp, and it consisted of 20 huts, the Indians had deserted it on the morning of the 18th, taking all their property, except one (1) horse which they had killed to eat."
March 20, 1874: "Remained stationary on account of mud... My plan is to have the scouts and a picked detch't move back two miles tomorrow night and secrete themselves in a cañon, being equipped with six (6) days rations. Next day I will move out with 40 scouts and the main command and pass around the Superstition range by the south to attract attention. In two (2) days Sieber will move by rapid night marches on the trail of the Indians, whom I think are in the S. mts. S. E. of us. Should he find them he is to whip or drive them & then join me on the other side."
March 24, 1874: "...When about opposite to the first camp of the hostiles, discovered the tracks of 3 runners who had been watching our camp, but had slept too long, so that they had to travel fast, to get out of our way. Also discovered that a party had split off from the main body and passed down the cañon. The 10 Tontos who were with me followed their trail and found their camp of 7 huts about 3 miles from this camp. At dark Tontos started out to try to overtake the fugitives. They are to meet us tomorrow. This band probably consisted of 30 souls. They had two horses, one was killed by them on leaving, the other taken. The country is now changing from 'mal pais' to landstone formation."
March 25, 1874: "Broke camp at 7 am marched in broken circle S.S.E + E.S.E. and camped in gorge of Superstition Mt. on S.W. side of range. Country passed over today was mainly rolling and covered with fine grass and flowers (oat, poppy, camas, dandelion, &c). From camp travelled up cañon about 1 mile and then climbed steep hill turning to the left on top, marched on the trail travelled by the Indians when they left the reservation. They had some horses with them. About noon the Tontos came into camp from the east, having pursued the Indians over the range and some distance beyond. They think that they have gone to the [?]. About 3 PM Yarahuali party commenced to straggle in, having killed one (1) man, whose scalp + gun they brought in, about 20 Indians are still out having continued the pursuit..."
A ration document and identification for the "killed man" was laid into the diary, and is present here. This is a remarkable historical document serving as evidence of the experience of an Apache man named Dis-sa-lin, of the San Carlos Division of the White Mountain Reservation. Both the ration document and I.D. establish that he had a wife and two children. Schuyler's initialed pencil notation appears on the back of the ration document: "Found on the body of an Apache killed in the fight of March 25th 74. W.S.S."
The next day (March 26th), Schuyler described the intensified violence:
At daylight six (6) scouts came in with two (2) young squaws having killed one (1) boy. They report heavy firing on their left, whither the rest of the party had gone (this yesterday). At sundown the party came in utterly exhausted. They jumped a rancheria in the range, killing twelve (12), six (6) of whom were bucks twenty-odd escaped. They took five (5) guns and 1 bow & arrows. They destroyed the guns but brought in the powder horns, belts, hats, abouts, etc of the men killed. Sergt. Oguara was shot through the jacket by an Indian whom he afterwards killed. They brought in a squaw and child and lots of plunder. The squaw has lost her nose as punishment for infidelity.
The above entries dated March 25 and 26 record details of a major offensive against hostile Apache tribes on Superstition Mountain, Arizona. U.S. military excursions into the Superstition wilderness had begun as early as 1864 when soldiers responded to Yavapai-Apache raids on local ranches. Campaigns here ramped up by 1867, leading to nine years of consistent violence. The conflict described here formed part of the Yavapai War that lasted from 1871 to 1875.
March 28, 1874: "Marched N. E. on road and built trail to "Soldier's Camp" 4 miles from Camp Pinal. This is a beautiful little valley filled large oak timber (white & black) and with fine grass & water. In the old [row?] is buried a citizen with this board nailed to a tree 'William Sampson / Killed by Apaches / Sept. 10, 1879 / aged 26'. Trail level and up a track to foot of mountains and then 2 1/2 miles over a built trail. Scouts who went the one night report no sign. Tontos found nothing."
March 30, 1874: "Left pack trains and guard at Pinal to await my orders. Took 40 Indians and 20 men with 3 day's rations on foot Marched down Pinto Ck North, until we cut trail of party which was stuck on 25th inst. Took this trail and follow it N. E. & S. E. across a branch of Pinal Ck, up Pinal Mt. to one of their camps on top of mountains."
April 10, 1874: "Broke camp at sunrise and moved due south on old cavalry trail to head of Arivaypa Cañon [i.e. Aravaipa Canyon], where I found Sieber awaiting me. Camped in head of cañon. Plenty of water... Sieber struck the cañon yesterday about five miles below here and had a hard time getting down into it on account of the steepness of its walls. He travelled up the cañon, mostly in the water & camped at Turkey Cañon. From there sent out scouts to scout St. Theresa to this place. They found nothing. Sergt. Bill was sent into rock mts to east with a party. They went hunting instead of scouting. Ran into 4 Indians & let them get away. On their return I disarmed the men who had fired at deer (3 men), thereupon 35 laid down their arms at the pack train thinking that they were so necessary for me, as to gain terms for the others by this act I had the guns packed up, and paid no further attention to the matter. The Indians repented very quickly and look very sorry, but their contrition comes a little too late."
April 13, 1874: "Laid over, set the B[lack]smiths at work. Camp is below the post on the creek. Lt. Eckerson with a detacht of cavalry left at 3 am on the 12th inst. to attack a rancheria supposed to be in the Santa Theresas near Eureka Spgs. Stevens and two Indians accompany him, also a boy who says that he ran away from his people. It looks too thin."
April 14, 1874: "Last evening I confined 17 of the scouts who mutinied on 11th inst. Today they were ironed, wrote to Genl. Crook requesting that they be kept here for several months. Lt. Bache [A.B. Bache] returned with his command, having killed 27 near head of Pinal Ck. and captured a large number. These Indians belong to the lot whom we drove out of Superstition Mts."
April 23, 1874: "Marched to San Carlos, forded the river. Camped about a mile above post. Capt. Randall is here, also Hamilton's outfit. Eskimazin [i.e. Eskiminzin] came in with his band. [?] and seven deserted scouts were put in irons. 63 Indians (23 men)."
Eskiminzin (1828-1894) was a local chief of the Aravaipa band of the San Carlos group of Western Apache. Born a Pinaleño Apache, he married into the Aravaipa. He wanted a lasting peace between Apache and the whites. In 1871, Eskiminzin, along with a band under Chiquito, took up the U.S. government's offer and settled near Camp Grant to plant crops, in the vicinity of present day Tucson.
April 26, 1874: "N.B. Mescal Mts. are peculiar looking, rising abruptly from north, and sloping off gradually to south, look as if formerly part of Pinals, that have slid off toward river Gila."
April 28, 1874: "...Marched on Capt. Hamilton's trail, W. to Disappointment Ck. thence S.W. to Gila....When near river heard firing to left. Sent out reserve scouts as skirmishers. Party sent out on 26th struck band of Tontos in gap of Mt. Killed 12, captured 13 women & children. 3 men and 1 boy escaped. One of the fugitives wounded in thigh, had to drop his gun, a Spencer rifle. Captured 3 guns and 1 pistol..."
May 7, 1874: "...Marched generally N.W. down creek, there were broken hills to sandwash down this to Salt River.... Found a Rancheria of 5 houses which Pimos took in about 10 days ago. They must have jumped it in the night. Dr. C & Sieber went to it. Found 16 dead bodies. All were full of arrows with their heads mashed with clubs. One woman had given birth to a papoose after death. The umbilicus was still attached. Bodies burned in wickyups. Very horrible sight. 7 Bucks. Pimos took only arms. (Our scouts took what plunder there was, but would not go near the bodies except with their noses full of grass.) Sent Sieber with Indians & 5 soldiers up river to prospect for a crossing...This place is a little East of South of 'Four Peaks,' Tonoto Ck 10 miles above...."
May 14, 1874: "Broke camp at dark with scouts & 20 men. Lt. Parkhurst & 5 men from McD. leave pack train to follow on 16. Marched S. E. over sand hills & across arroyos to deep wash, take Lt. P. to show where he found Indians after men were killed near McD in April."
Mar 18, 1874: "Send wounded scout to McDowell, with escort. Sent Sieber with two bands to verify report of yesterday. They found a band of about 25 Indians on top of a rocky spur of the 4 Peaks. Attacked and killed 10. Captured 9. Sieber acted very bravely, killing 6 himself. He held thin line of retreat single handed. Came very near being killed by an Indian hidden in the rocks. Jumped down just in time. Charley shot through shirt. 1 Springfield & 1 double barrel rifle captured."
May 25, 1874: "Broke camp at 4 A.M. marched down E. fork west to Pine Ck, up Pine Ck, north to Mesa, up steep bank to small mesa... Thence north to Jaycox crossing of Hardscabble. Thence West over mesa to Fossil Ck. Descent into F. Ck. north down gulch 2500 feet."
[final entry in Arizona journal]: May 26, 1874: "... Marched generally north, west down Fossil Ck. to side Cañon up cañon north, across ridge, up small cañpm (creek) across [?] to Hackberry Run, north to Sycamore Ck. north by little west to Clear Ck. By wagon road to Camp [Wade?]. Where we arrived at 11 A.M."
Schuyler's journal presents concise and fascinating reporting on scout activity and encounters with Indians, including several references to legendary Indian scout leader Al Sieber. His entries vary in length, sometimes running longer than a page. In summary, the journal stands as a valuable day-by-day record of events during the on-going hostilities between Apaches and the U.S. government in Arizona Territory at a pivotal period in frontier history.
Rarity.
Original journals by key officers during the Apache Indian wars are very rare in the market.
The Huntington Library has a collection of Schuyler personal papers, including documents from his scouting days in Arizona. The present journal is unpublished.
Provenance.
Accompanying documentation, particularly the retained carbon of the letter by Schuyler's nephew George S. Schaeffer, suggests the journal was with Schuyler's family and heirs as late as 1960.