IRVIN McDOWELL, Major-General, Commanding Division and Department to General Drum, March 23, 1882

General McDowell to General Drum.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of copy of a communication from the late Mexican minister at Washington reporting depredations in the State of Sonora by the Chiricahua Indians who escaped from the San Carlos Reservation, and asking that renewed vigilance be exerted in that quarter to prevent similar occurrence in future, and also reply of the War Department thereto, dated March 6, 1882, forwarded by your indorsement of the 15th instant; and in answer thereto, I herewith inclose copy of my instructions, of the 17th instant, to the commanding general Department of Arizona on the subject.

I call attention to the fact, that our troops were in close pursuit of these Chiricahuas when they crossed into Mexico, greatly crippled, and that the commanding officer was prepared and desired to continue the pursuit across the boundary line, but was prevented from so doing by the protest of the Mexican authorities.

Had the Mexican troops taken up the pursuit of these savages when they first entered Mexican territory, or had the military authorities permitted our troops to continue operations against these Indians instead of protesting against their crossing the boundary line, even to get water, the request of the Mexican Government for redoubled vigilance on the part of the United States military authorities to prevent the repetition of incursions would come with more force.

I may be pardoned for saying that newspaper reports received here stated that the Mexican authorities tried to make a treaty with these Indians, and it was only after their endeavor in that respect had failed, and after the Indians had repeated in Sonora their murders and outrages, that the Mexican troops were sent in pursuit of them.

Very respectfully, &c.,