Unknown, August 25, 1861

SIR:

I have the honor to report the capture of a detachment from Fort Craig of 9 men and a Captain Hubbell, of the New Mexico volunteers. From them I learn that there are now at Craig 350 regular troops and

Report of Lieut. John R. Pulliam, C. S. Army.

FORT STANTON, ARIZ., August 25 [2], 1861.

SIR: Oaptain Walker having left post this morning for Fort Bliss, I came in command. The condition of the country being such as to render it necessary to keep out spies in the direction of Forts Union and Craig, have thought it a matter of precaution to have men on the lookout to prevent a surprise from the Federal troops, who were concentrating at the before-mentioned forts. The following day I detailed four men to march to the Gallinas Mountains, distant about 75 miles, in a northwestern direction, where they could obtain a position commanding a view of all roads leading to Fort Stanton by which an enemy might approach.

August 29.—Dr. R. H. Dryden, in company with McComb and Hall’s train, arrived. The former was furnished quarters, and took his position as post surgeon. Orders were issued calling for suplus stores over the company’s rations fortwo months. The train was loaded, and started for Fort Bliss the-following day.

September 1.—Last night a spy party returned, and reported having seen no indications of any advancing enemy. At sundown detailed 4 men—T. G. Pemberton, Joseph V. Mosse, Joseph Emmanacker, and Floyd A. Sanders—to proceed to the Gallinas Mountains. My instruetions were, in consequence of the situation of the water and dangerous proximity of hostile Indians, very explicit. My orders were to reach the water.on the morning of the second day, water the horses, fill up canteens, leave the spring, and noon at a safe and sufficient distance ` away; but on aecount of feeling convinced that there was no danger there, the men, contrary to orders, camped at about 100 yards above the Spring in a grove of pine trees, where they and their fire were visible to any person going to the spring from the road. While in the act of cook- – . Omar XL] OPERATIONS ABOUT FORT STANTON, N. MEX. 25 ing breakfast three Indians were seen running over an adjoining hill. The men immediately saddled up their horses, and while in the aet of doing so they were assailed by a shower of arrows, and found themselves totally surrounded by an overwhelming force, who poured in an incessant fire. Each man took up his position behind a tree, and on. their attempt to fire their rifles, to their horror found that they would – not go off. Revolvers were immediately drawn, and after several shots had been fired the men were dislodged from their positions. Every tree Shielded an Indian for considerable distance on all sides. The fight, which was a running one, was continued for nearly two hours, when Emmanacker, Pemberton, and Mosse having fallen, Sanders took his horse, and putting spurs to him, galloped down an almost perpendieular mountain, and amidst a shower of arrows escaped to tell the fate of

the horrible massacre of his three comrades. He reported having been

followed for 10 miles by the Indians, and had his horse not been fleeter than the Indian ponies he would certainly have shared the fate of his comrades.

The same evening that Sanders returned 1 ordered fourteen men,

. accompanied by three citizens, who volunteered to accompany the com- . mand, to proceed to the scene of the unfortunate encounter, and at sundown they left the fort. Shortly before night Captain: Walker arrived and took command.

September 8.—Since the captain’s return preparations have been made to evacuate the post. About noon the scouting party returned, and reported having seen no Indians. They were at the Gallinas Mountains;

Saw evident marks of the poor fellows who were killed having fóught

with bravery and a determination to sell their lives as dearly as possible, as almost every tree was marked by blood shed by the inhuman savages, who, when they outnumbered our men ten to one, attacked them, and were able to carry off their scalps as laurels of victory. The bodies of Pemberton and Emmanacker were found, and buried as well as circumstances would admit, with a salute fired over their graves, and a cross eut in a tree to indicate the spot. Mosse’s body was not found. His fate seems to be doubtful, although Sanders says he saw him shot through the head and fall dead before he left the ground. The same evening word was brought into the fort that the Indians had attacked the Placito, a Mexican settlement 10 miles below the fort. I was ordered to take fifteen men there and protect the citizens; did so;

had an engagement with them (the Indians), and killed five, Returned

to the fort amidst a pouring rain at 2a.m. The next morning we started from Fort Stanton, and arrived at Dona Aña, Ariz., September 21, 1861. JNO. R. PULLIAM, First Lieut. Co. D, Second Regt T. M. R., C. S. Army. Lieut. Col. Joun R. BAYLOR, … Comdg. Second Regt T. M. R., C. S. A., Doña Aña, Ariz.

AUGUST —, 1861.—Skirmish with Indians near Fort Bliss, Tex. Report of Lieut. Col. John R. Baylor, C. S. Army.