HkKSKNTKl) liY THE MACKENZIE RAID INTO MEXICO By Captain Eoftert (jloltrtfjtoaite Carter U. S. ARMY THE MACKENZIE RAID INTO MEXICO ""^^ Captain J^obert (§olbtf)toaite Carter U. S. ARMY /A I T ^' WASHINGTON. D. C. GIBSON BROS., PRINTERS, 1919. mm MAY n)sti THE MACKENZIE RAID INTO MEXICO BY Capt. R. G. Carter. U. S. Army* Fort Clark — Its Location FORT Clark, Texas, is situated in Kinney County, latitude 29°i7' North, longitude 23° 18' West, at an approximate elevation of 1,000 feet above the sea. It is 125 miles west of San Antonio de Bexar and 45 miles north of Fort Duncan, at Eagle Pass, opposite Piedras Negras, Mexico, on the Rio Grande River. Its location is on a rocky ridge of limestone, at the foot of which is a magnificent live-oak grove. Amidst its cool, inviting shadows, bubbling and sparkling from a clear and crystal pool, a series of beautiful springs, called the Las Moras (the Mulberries), emerge into a smooth and narrow, but sluggish, stream. It forms the source of the river or creek bearing the same name, which, flowing on some eighteen or twenty miles, mingles its waters with the "Rio Bravo" or Rio Grande, our International boundary line. Clark was an old infantry post in 1852, which had been built by the First United States Infantry, just after the Mexican War. In May, 1873, it ^^'^ ^^ot been rebuilt, and the dilapidated and limited quarters, many of them rude log huts, proved anything but inviting to the wearied troopers of the Fourth United States Cavalry, just arrived from Fort Richardson, one of the line of extreme western posts, and now bivouacked among the delightful live-oaks *This story was first published in the Outing magazine in 1886. It was ilhistrated by Zogbaum, Remington, and other artists. It has long been out of print. The plates for illustrating have been destroyed. It has now been rewritten at the urgent request of many friends and brother officers. As recon- structed it contains many additional details and incidents not before included in the original story. 3 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico referred to, waiting for the Ninth Cavalry to vacate the post. The heat during the first hours of the day was almost overpowering, but in the early afternoon a cool, refreshing breeze from the Gulf of Mexico sprung up, tempering the air to a soft balminess, and from that time until midnight all of the garrison lived out of doors, under the low, broad, vine-covered verandas or porches — ^built about all the quarters — from which our te-na-jas or water coolers (for ice was unknown) swung from their blanket covers in the air. The evenings were particularly fine — warm and dry — requiring no outside wraps. We were, indeed, in a tropical climate. The water from the deep springs was cold and delicious, and the water- cresses, everywhere in the greatest abundance along the banks of the Las Moras, furnished us with a crisp and delicate salad for our morning and evening meals. Le Boulevard de Brackettville Opposite the post, beyond the creek, on a low, flat piece of land, almost in the mesquite chaparral, is a small town named Brackettville, or Brackett, the county seat of Kinney County — the exact counterpart of Jacksboro, near Fort Richardson, the ulcer of every garrison, an inevitable fungus growth, sometimes improved, but scarcely ever eradicated without much care and trouble. Its composition varied somewhat, but there were the inevitable adobe houses, Mexican ranches or "shacks" — huts, "jacals" and picket stores, profusely plastered with mud, used for whisky shops, gambling saloons, etc. Mexi- can ' ' greasers ' ' — half-breeds of every hue and complexion — full-blooded descendants of the African persuasion, low- down whites and discharged soldiers, with no visible occupation, composed the population, and at night a fusillade of shots warned us that it was unsafe venturing over after dark on the one crooked, unlighted and wretched street — Le Boulevard de Brackettville. The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico The Cavalry "Bailie" and Inspection On the nth of April, the Secretary of War, General Belknap, and General Sheridan arrived, which created no little stir in camp, for we did not then know the object of their visit. The command was carefully inspected, and at night a brilliant "bailie" or hop was given by the Ninth Cavalry, partly complimentary to our distinguished guests, and especially in honor of the arrival of the Fourth Cavalry. On the occasion of this inspection, by direction of General Ranald S. Mackenzie, then commanding the regiment, I acted as regimental adjutant. It was a mounted field inspection, and the Secretary and General Sheridan reviewed the command. They both expressed great satisfaction, and Mackenzie seemed much pleased, for the regiment was then, after several strenuous Indian campaigns for some years past, at the full maximum of its field efficiency in horses, arms, equipment and rigid dis- cipline. Its personnel in enlisted men, especially in its non-commissioned officers, some of whom had been officers in fighting volunteer regiments during the Civil War, could not have been excelled in any army in the world. Later (about 1888), General H. W. Lawton, who had been regimental quartermaster (later killed in the Philip- pine Islands), told the writer at the War Department, when he was a major and assistant inspector general, that the inspection reports for years had placed the Fourth Cavalry at the head (No. i) of all the cavalry regiments in the United States Army in general merit. The regiment left Fort Richardson, March 4, 1873, the headquarters having been transferred to Fort Conoho, Texas, a few weeks before. We arrived at Fort Clark, April I, after a long, hard and very tedious march during which I acted as quartermaster. Prior to these dates and for some months before receiving our orders to relieve The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico the Ninth Cavalry on the Rio Grande, the Indians and Mexicans had been raiding across the river in both large and small marauding bands, plundering and killing the settlers and ranchmen, and running off their horses, mules and cattle. A joint commission was then in session at Eagle Pass, near Fort Duncan, trying to adjust claims amounting to millions of dollars made by the ranchmen. There had seemed to be more or less indifference or inde- cision by General Merritt, then commanding the Ninth Cavalry, in dealing with these murderous cut-throats, bandits and thieves. The Mysterious Conference A few days after our arrival, there was an important conference at General Merritt' s quarters between the Secretary of War, General Sheridan and Mackenzie. I was not present, but later Mackenzie told me the sub- stance of it, when I was so suddenly called into his con- fidence. It was almost word for word, from my subse- quent notes, as follows : General Sheridan started it — "Mackenzie, you have been ordered down here to relieve General Merritt and the Ninth Cavalry because I want something done to stop these conditions of banditry, killing, etc., etc., by these people across the river. I want you to control and hold down the situation, and to do it in your own way. I want you to be bold, enterprising, and at all times Jnll of energy ; when you begin, let it be a cam- paign of annihilation, obliteration and complete destruction — as you have always in your dealings done to all the Indians you have dealt with, etc. I think you understand what I want done, and the way you should employ your force," etc. Mackenzie, for the moment, was completely obsessed by Sheridan's manner, and of his complete confidence, not only in his initiative, but will to carry out any plan he (M.) might make. "General Sheridan, under whose orders and upon what The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico authority am I to act? Have you any plans to suggest, or will you issue me the necessary orders for my action?" Sheridan, much to Mackenzie's amazement, replied in his most impressive, vigorous, vehement manner. He pounded the table as he spoke and gestured: "Damn the orders! Damn the authority! You are to go ahead on your own plan of action, and your authority shall be General Grant and myself. With us behind you in whatever you do to clean up this situation, you can rest assured of the fullest support. You must assume the risk. We will assume the final responsibility, should any result." The Nocturnal Visit The regimental headquarters with "I" Troop were daily expected from Fort Concho, and pending their arrival and the adjutant, Leopold O. Parker, I was summoned rather unexpectedly one night, by General Mackenzie, who came to the door of my quarters. I was officer of the day, and, with my sash on and saber unhooked and lying across a chair, was waiting for midnight so that I could inspect my guard and patrol the town of Brackettville to quell any disturbance that might occur among the mon- grel crowd that, in those days, generally infested a border town. It was nearly 12 o'clock. Mackenzie was very intense in speech and action. He said: "Is Mrs. Carter abed and asleep?" The question rather startled me, but upon answering in the affirma- tive, he continued: "What are you going to do now?" I answered : " I am about to inspect my guard, and then patrol B." "Very well. As soon as you have performed that duty, and without letting anybody know where 3^ou are going, I wish to see you at my quarters as soon as possible." Upon arriving at his house, about the only frame build- ing then in the garrison, I found him very nervous and uneasy. I felt that he had something very important on his mind, or in his system, which he was feeling compelled to get rid of. I was inwardly guessing whether I was to The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico be made a victim of some charge he was about to spring upon me, and ransacking my brain as to what I could possibly have done, and whether I had better plead guilty in advance. There was evidently a great mystery incubat- ing. He frequently arose before stating his business, looking about the rooms, and, going outside, walked around the quarters and closely watched to see that there were no listeners. He then, in strictest confidence, informed me that through some renegade Mexicans and half-breeds he was possessed of certain knowledge with reference to the Indians who, just previous to our arrival at Fort Clark, had raided up the Nueces Valley, and committed the massacre at Howard's Wells. He had ascertained their exact locality, number, etc. ; their trail, with stolen stock, led back across the Rio Grande, and he should immediately commence preparations for an expedition against them. He proposed to punish them for the past and check their raids in the future. At this interview he gave me in detail all that had passed between the Secretary of War, General Sheridan and himself, at their conference in April. He had selected three guides to do the scout work, etc. One was Ike Cox, the post guide, a reliable and trustworthy man; the others were half-breeds — Green Van and McLain, both first class men, who knew the country even better than Cox. Both owned ranches along the river on the American side. They, vv^ith Ike Cox, had lost some of their stock. They were sent over the river some time in advance of our move, to the villages of these Indians, some 60 to 70 miles in Mexico, to ascertain their numbers, and to locate all the accessible roads, routes and trails leading to them, especially for rapid night traveling, with nothing but the stars for points of direction. These fine scouts and guides were absolutely faithful, truthful and trustworthy and did their work most thoroughly. Relying upon General Sheridan's declaration of absolute support, Mackenzie said he should not hesitate to take the risk. It was "make or break." The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico Confidential Adviser At his dictation (no telegraph stations, automobiles, stenographers or typewriters were available at that period), I wrote a detailed letter to the department com- mander, the nature of which it might not be proper or wise for me, even at this late day, to divulge; and having enjoined the strictest secrecy upon me until the expedi- tion had proved a success or failure, I left his quarters at daybreak a very much burdened soldier — for my wife was included in the sacred pledge he had exacted. I was a marked man for four weeks. I was, in the meantime, shown a reply from department headquarters, authorizing the necessary supplies, on requisitions which I had made out on that night, for an expedition, the destination of which was known only to Mackenzie and myself. Preparations went steadily on until about May 15. Horses were carefully shod, pack animals and saddles overhauled, ammunition obtained in large quantities, sabers ground, etc. The companies were sent singly, or two or more together, into grazing camps near the post; some at Piedras Pintos, Turkey Creek, etc. This was for the ostensible purpose of recuperating the horses which had been somewhat reduced in flesh by long marches. Kere the men were drilled and subjected to the most rigid discipline; target ranges were laid out and carbine practice given every day; company, platoon, and every movement in column and in line, mounted and dis- mounted, was thoroughly worked out, especially rapid fighting on foot to the right and left. This dispersion of the command would also admit of its movement without disclosing the object to prying eyes about the post, who, interested in the stolen stock, closely watched the garrison. Besides, there were many Mexican spies who professed to be living in Brackettville and engaged in business. As the town was but a few hundred yards away, it was easy for them to cross the creek and lurk about the post, especially at night. 10 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico McLain, the scout, had been in the Indian villages, had reported his knowledge gained to the General, and all was now nearly ripe for the start. Upon more than one occasion I felt that Mackenzie had doubted my good faith, or at least that, for some reason or other, his suspi- cions had been aroused. A Burdensome Secret At "stables" one evening, he beckoned me to him, with an impatient snap of his finger stubs (he had lost parts of tv/o during the Civil War). "You have told L — the secret I reposed in you." "I beg your pardon, sir, but I have not." "You have, then, told your wife." "You are mistaken, sir; I have not told a soul, unless in my dreams. Why do you doubt my absolute loyalty and sincerity?" "Well, but L — says he knows that you know, and says he can find it all out through you or your wife, just where this secret expedition is going." "Yes; but. General Mackenzie, that is an entirely differ- ent matter. He has not found out a thing through me, nor will he. Of this you can absolutely rest assured." And yet L — was his trusted assistant, making prepara- tions in detail to go — where, he knew not. The "L" here referred to, was H. W. Lawton, then a first lieutenant, and regimental quartermaster. During the Spanish- American War he became a major general of volunteers, and was killed at San Mateo, P. I., December 19, 1899. He was a great favorite of Mackenzie's, not only on account of his splendid war record, having been mustered out of the service in 1865 as a lieutenant colonel, commanding his regiment (30th Indiana Vols.) at the end of the Civil War, but particularly because of his intense energy and purpose, and exceptional ability as a quarter- master, both in construction work in a post, and in the field, where his knowledge, practical common sense and The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 11 resourceful makeshifts made him especially valuable to a man of Mackenzie's peculiar temperament and demands. Lawton was then unmarried. He would, however, and generally at the wrong time — and this was generall}^ known throughout the old Army — indulge in a weakness, and when in this condition grew very loquacious and con- fidential. At all other times he was always singularly reserved and reticent, sometimes painfully distant. At such times, when he grew talkative, Mackenzie always deemed it wise not to confide any of his campaign or military secrets to L — , especially now when he was taking so much risk, even jeopardizing his future career, and when so much depended on absolute secrecy for his probable success. While General Augur, commanding the Department of Texas, knew, and possibly through General Sheridan, the probable object of this expedition, neither Lawton nor, as I have stated, any of the troop commanders had the slightest clue. I was especially directed to see, in as quiet a way as possible, that all sabers in the command were ground to a razor edge. This stunt was a very great "puzzler" to all the old captains, especially to Wilcox, O'Connell and McLaughlin, who in some of their "kicks" and grouches" against such a "fool proposition" came near "spilling all the fat into the fire, " and some doubted my authority for such an almost "unheard of" thing, for we had never, thus far, carried such encumbrances on an ordinary Indian campaign. But I finally carried my point, by quietly quoting that well-worn old Army phrase, "It is by direc- tion of the commanding officer." All this time I was acting as adjutant. Most of the officers quizzed me, Law- ton among the rest, and generally he was the most stren- uous, saying: "I ought to know." My company was Troop " A, " commanded by Captain E. B. Beaumont, brevet Colonel, U. S. A., who had grad- uated from West Point in May, 1861, served as a staff 12 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico officer on General John Sedgwick's staff, commanding the old Sixth Corps, and was with him when he was killed at Spottsylvania C. H., May 9, 1864; also on General James H. Wilson's staff when he commanded the cavalry troops of the Western Army, which rode through the heart of the Confederacy in 1865, and captured Jefferson Davis. Beaumont was given personal charge of him (D.) after his capture. He was one of the finest types of an "all-round" efficient cavalry soldier I have ever known. The "Alarm" and "Pack Up" Our camp was upon the Piedras Pintos (Painted Stones) Creek. I had just returned from a moonlight tour among the luxuriant chaparral, everywhere about our delightful camp, after an unsuccessful search for mescal and aguar- diente (brandy) peddlers, who, knowing that the men had been recently paid, had ventured forth from the slum depths of Brackettville to demoralize them. I was officer of the day. I had inspected my guard, and was lying by the side of Colonel Beaumont, half drowzing, when the loud clattering of hoofs was suddenly heard, causing both of us to sit up in our blankets, and Major Clarence Mauck rode hurriedly into camp from Fort Clark and gave orders from Mackenzie to "pack up" and "saddle up" immedi- ately. He got up from a sick bed to carry this order. It v/as between 2 and 3 a. m. Colonel Beaumont turning to me, said: "What is the meaning of this — where are we going?" I quietly replied: "Ouien Sabe! Perhaps across the Rio Grande." He asked me no further questions. There had been no time given to say farewell to our families. We had not seen them for a week or more. All was soon busy preparation. Crackling camp fires were at once started so that we could see to pack by, and, at early dawn, led by Ike Cox, the post guide (McLain and Green Van being with Mackenzie), we filed out of our comfort- able camp, and marching rapidly across country, arrived The JMackenzie Raid into Mexico 13 about 8.30 o'clock at our rendezvous and, dismounting, awaited the arrival of General Mackenzie, with two troops from Clark, and troop "M" from Fort Duncan, which, having lost its way, did not arrive until nearly i p. m. This was May 17, 1873. An hour later the entire column of six companies. A, B, C, E, I, and M, and a detachment (20) of Seminole Negro, or half-breed enhsted scouts, under the command of First Lieutenant John L. Bullis, Twenty-fourth Infantry, nearly 400 men were moving slowly for the ford of the "Rio Bravo." There was no immediate need of haste, for our object was to delay crossing the river until after dark. In this extrem^e southern latitude, the sun, now high in the heavens, beat down with terrific force upon our heads. There were no sunstrokes or heat prostrations, however, for we had before found it necessar)^ to protect our heads with wet sponges fitted into the hat of every officer and man in the command, and all were now provided with them. The heat was scalding, almost stifling. Several short halts were made, and at the last one, shortly before dark, at the ford near the mouth of the Las Moras where we were to cross the river, Mackenzie briefly explained the objects of the expedition, the probable results, the possible risks every officer and man wouM incur in our invasion of Mexican soil. If wounded, capture might mean hanging, the death of a felon, or, with back against a wall, his body riddled by Mexican or Indian bullets. This talk had not, however, yet released me from my "burdensome secret," for the fact that he was acting with- out orders or authority from our Government, or that he was taking the precious lives in that column over the Rio Grande, with merely the implied permission which General Sheridan had given or suggested to him at their conference in April at Fort Clark, he had not disclosed in the talk at this last halt, and, as will later be shown, such disclosure only came about purely by accident. I was still pledged to secrecy, and it weighed heavily upon me. 14 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico All officers in the command believed implicitly that he had those orders from the War Department, and nobody thought then of asking any questions or suggesting other- wise. Only Mackenzie and myself in that trusting com- mand knew to the contrary, and the possible outcome of failure or disaster from any indeterminate or unforeseen cause. He (Mackenzie) had revolved all these chances in his own mind, and doubtless had carefully canvassed pro and con all probabilities and possibilities. He had told me on the night I had spent with him writing letters, making out requisitions, and assisting him in his plans by suggestions, etc., that he expected he might be placed in arrest and tried by court martial for what might possibly prove to be a wrong interpretation of Sheridan's hints and strenuous urging, and his dismissal demanded, but he should, nevertheless, rely implicitly on Sheridan's assurance that in whatever action he took both he (S.) and General Grant would back him up to the utmost limit, and he did not fear that should the country be aroused through international complications or a hostile press, either Grant or Sheridan would permit him to become the "scapegoat." They were not that kind of men, and he knew both to be his warm friends. General Grant refers to him in his personal memoirs as ' ' The most promising young officer in the Army." The Start— Ford the Rio Grande Notwithstanding the spectral ghost of a gibbet or a blank firing wall before our eyes, and the already tired condition of those who had then marched over twenty miles, all were in excellent spirits and full of hope and con- fidence. The river was reached shortly after eight p. m., sufficiently dark to cross without being seen. We waited for some time in the middle of the stream, the water being about up to our saddle girths, for the head of the column to gain the opposite bank, which, steep and treacherous, retarded its advance. Our reflections were only disturbed by the murmuring of the water and the impatient splashing The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 15 of our animals. All talking was ordered to cease. A low "forward!" We stemmed the swift current and a few moments later scrambled over the low but steep bank, into the dense canebrake that borders the stream above and below the ford.* We debouched from the chaparral upon open ground. It was now too dark to distinguish anything but the dim forms of the moving horses and men. We were indeed upon the soil of Mexico, and without further delay the start was made for a night's ride upon the dis- tant Indian villages. "Terreno Desconocido" West of Fort Clark and the Rio Grande in the Mexican republic Hes the Bolson de Mapini, a dreary, almost waterless waste of mountains and trackless deserts. Secure in this wild region the Apaches for three centuries defied the efforts of the Spanish troops, necessitating the presence of large garrisons on the route from New Mexico via Chihauha to Monterey, to protect the settlements and supply escorts for trains and travelers. So little was known of this desolate region by the whites that it appears on the maps as Terreno Desconocido (Unknown Land) and a remnant of the once powerful Apaches dwelt among its mountains, but had changed the scene of their depreda- tions to the soil of Texas. They had a good market in Mexico for their stolen horses, mules and cattle. This, however, is in strict accordance with the laws of com- pensation, for it is not much over a quarter of a century since powerful bands of Comanches and kindred mur- derous thieves, whose villages lined the banks of the Llano, San Saba and Concho rivers, plundered the frontiers of Mexico and found a market in Texas. Fredericksburg, a *Five miles southeast of the mouth of the Las Moras is the town of Quemado, Texas, and opposite to it is Moral, Mexico, southeast of Jimenez. Somewhere between Quemado and the mouth of the Las Moras the column crossed going in. Neither the Mexican Int. R. R. nor the G. H. & S. A. R. R. had been built in 1873, and there were no defined roads. We either followed mule trails or those the guides made from their knowledge of the country. 16 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico German frontier settlement about 75 miles northwest of San Antonio, was a regular horse mart and there are living to-day (1888) old citizens of this little settlement who have witnessed the return of bands of plunderers exulting in their fine show of horses, and scalps of wcfmen and children, and whose savage, drunken orgies ha\^e chilled the life blood of the peacefully disposed citizens of those Texas border towns. Detailed maps of this Unknown Land were non-existent. Joined with the Apaches were bands of Lipans and Kickapoos, all actuated by deadly hostility to the Texans. Issuing from their mountain retreats, they traveled by night across the plains and mountains, hid by day among the numerous ravines and cedar brakes, and then suddenly swooping down upon some unprotected ranch, cruelly murdered the wretched inhabitants, drove off the stock, and sometimes carried off the helpless women and children into captivity. Small parties drove off the horses and mules from dift'erent parts of the country, and, assembling far out on the "Staked Plains" where few white men had ever dared to venture, and where lack of water made it dangerous to penetrate without a guide, they rested and leisurely retreated into Mexico. Of the period of which I write, their broad stock trails crossing the more narrow buffalo trails were everywhere visible. The Kickapoos were, if possible, the most relentless toward the Texans, by whom they were wantonly attacked while peacefully emigrating during the Civil War from their reservation in the United States. The Texans, it is reported, were routed with great loss, but from that day Texas was considered fair ground for Kickapoo raids, and all murders there as justifiable retaliation. Rumor has it that the Texans refused to recognize a flag of truce of the Kickapoos, and killed a squaw by whom it was carried. To the credit of the Texans it is also said that the command to a large extent were opposed to interfering with the peaceful march of the Kickapoos, who were committing then no depredations, The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 17 but the hot-headed young men insisted upon fighting and fired upon the flag. It is to be hoped that the latter bore the brunt of the fight and the well-merited punishment which the Texans, it was reported, duly received. These affiHated bands of Indians then — Kickapoo, Lipans, Pottawottamies and Mescalero Apaches — were the ones we were to attack and punish as soon as we should arrive within striking distance of their far-distant villages. The Night Ride In Mexico At about lo o'clock the head of the column emerged from the dense canebrake and chaparral, and interminable river bottom, and winding through a rocky ravine ascended to open rolling ground, when the order to trot was given, and away sped the somber troopers, startUng the dwellers in the lonely ranches when the dull thunder of tramping hoofs rose and fell as the rapid human torrent poured across plains or plunged into ravines. Lights dis- appeared from dwelHngs as if by magic, and perhaps many a devoted mother clasped her babe to her breast in mortal terror at this unusual and ominous roar at the dread hour of midnight. The night was soft and warm. The moon rose, but, partially hidden by a hght haze, shed an uncertain hght upon the moving column. The gait increased. We rode rapidly, going where, we knew not, led by the half-breed guides on their fox-gaited beasts. They knew the impor- tance of reaching the villages by daybreak, as planned, in order to surprise the enemy; also had measured the dis- tance, and spared not their horses. Our gait, therefore, was constantly changed, increasing from a fast walk to a "trot out," then a slow gallop or lope, again to a pushing trot and a rapid fox-gait, in speed between a walk and trot. Sometimes the dust so obscured the column it was with the greatest difficulty the rear com- panies could be "closed up;" every break or arroya would 18 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico string the animals out "by file," which required later a gallop to close up on the advance. The Dilemma The file closers or duty sergeants were kept busy. It was now becoming painfully evident, however, that our pack mules, no longer in sight, could not keep up such a speed, and would so impede our progress before morning as to make our arrival on time uncertain, for it was ascer- tained that the train had sagged so far behind that it was then several miles to the rear. The mules had been heavily packed, and such a rapid gait had proved too much for them. We were then using the old "Saw-buck" pack saddle, the Aparejo not yet having come into use. The more experienced packers of a later date could, by read- justing the loads, and lightening them, or even cutting them down to half rations, have avoided much of this condition which was now becoming serious, for a column such as ours, scheduled to attack at daybreak, can only move as fast as its slowest unit, and this slowly impeding unit was the slowest mule in that pack train. It has been said that only the Lord or a "mule whacker" could inspire fear and speed in a pack mule. Lieut. George A. Thurston of my old Troop ("E") had charge this night of the pack train and whatever rear guard was with it, and Thurston was neither the Lord nor a mule driver, but faithful, loyal and slow. It was, besides, more than probable that this serious situation had not yet occurred to him, and he was doing his "level best." It suddenly dawned upon somebody, too, that there was an ever-growing danger that the Indians or Mexicans, or both, upon discovering our trail from the river, might cut it at almost any moment, and get not only our food packs but all the mules if in sufficiently strong force to attack the rear guard. Captains Wilcox and Mauck came to me at this moment, between 12 and i o'clock, and urged me in the strongest The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 19 possible manner — and this request was at once vigorously backed up by Beaumont — to ride to the head of the column and suggest that the "packs be cut loose," presenting this problem in all its dangerous possibilities to Mackenzie. "You know him better than the rest of us," was the appeal. "You have been his acting adjutant and con- fidential adviser in the preparations for this expedition. You know how to reach him," etc., etc. All this was reechoed by all. No time was to be lost. Mackenzie thus far seemed to be in blissful ignorance of such a situa- tion or of its possible results. I felt that it was a bold suggestion, to sacrifice all of our precious and much needed rations at the outset of an Indian raid, or invasion of foreign soil. But I also felt and knew that such action was absolutely necessary and at once. I hesitated, and they saw it. I knew, even before we had started how nervous, irritable and irascible Mackenzie had been. However, there was no time to lose; I must risk it. I went up the length of the rapidly pushing column at a "hand gallop," mounted on a three- fourths thoroughbred silver-roan horse that nothing could tire. He was in the "pink" of condition. I passed C, B, and I Troops, and reached General Mackenzie. The guides on each side of him were tense, every muscle set. As I surmised when I asked him, up to this hour he was absolutely ignorant of any difficulty in the rear, or that all was not going well. I modestly opened up the subject. Well, for about a minute one would have known that something besides the pack train had "turned loose." But my persuasive language, after he had somewhat exhausted his vocabulary, soon became convincing, and I was rewarded with — "Cut the Packs Loose!" "Yes! tell the troop commanders I'll halt, and give just^z;^ minutes to 'cut the packs loose.' Tell the men to fill their pockets with hard bread." 20 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico Time was very precious. At Mackenzie's suggestion, I went to the rear, the entire length of the column, shout- ing this order, and then on back until the pack train was reached. I urged Thurston forward. The mules were fast becoming exhausted with their heavy loads and mov- ing at such a pace. I helped him to close up, and super- vised the cutting off of the packs and filling the men's pockets with hard bread. The knives flashed, and the mules, freed of their burdens, trotted along Uke kittens the remainder of the night. But, although we had no further trouble with them, now running loose with the column, they had already, by this delay, prevented our reaching the villages at daybreak and attacking at that hour; also the probable capture of many Lipans who, it became known later, had gone out hunting at a very early hour, before our arrival. We again moved forward, not always on an air line, but along the path of least resistance, heading many ravines and arroyas, our general direction being southwest. Sometimes when crossing a ravine, and when the rear was delayed, the only general guide we had was the almost blinding dust ahead, through which the moon's rays faintly glimmered. Sleep almost overpowered us, and yet, on, on we went. Conversation had long ago begun to lag. Nothing was heard save the ceaseless pounding of the horses and the jingle of the saddle equipment. It seemed as though the long night of fatigue, discomfort and thirst would never cease. The gray of early dawn slowly crept upon us. Then the first faint gleam of daylight streaked the horizon. When day breaks upon the prairie nature appears the personifi- cation of death — cold, dreary and hopeless. The faces of the troopers are pallid and corpse-like; but when the glorious sun pours its golden flood of light upon the plain, the earth smiles and life and hope return. A dazed, exhausted feeling had begun to steal over our weary bodies, and we seemed sustained only by the excit- The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 21 ing novelty of the occasion, and hope of success. For the first time we ascertained that the guides, even with their accurate knowledge of the country, and their unerring skill and judgment, had, notwithstanding our tremendous gait during the night, miscalculated the distance, and we were still some miles from the villages. They had not made sufficient allowance for our delay through the exhaustion of the pack mules. It was now suggested to the General to increase the gait to a swinging gallop, but even now the pace was beginning to tell upon our animals, and his judgment was opposed to it. He dared not wind them before making the final charge which he had planned at the decisive moment. The pace was slightly increased, however, and mile after mile sped rapidly by. At the head of the column, as the dayUght gradually increased, the half-breeds, Green Van, McLain, and our sturdy old post guide, Ike Cox, could now be seen constantly plying their braided quirts, and with their heels vigorously helping their beasts along, never swerving a hair from the general direction taken the evening before. Those tireless guides had seemed, from the start, full of dash and daring, and were fully inspired with the spirit of the enterprise, now so dependent upon their loyalty, skill, indomitable energy and powers of endurance. Mackenzie and his adjutant, who had joined in time to accompany him, rode with the guides, all followed by a small escort of selected orderlies. Then the Seminole negro enlisted scouts, with ebony faces, flat noses, and full lips, but with the characteristic high cheek-bones of the Indian, their long, black, crinkly hair plentifully powdered with alkali dust. In the rear, the men, in column of fours, their bronzed faces also covered with dust ; their slouched hats, of every conceivable shape, plentifully sprinkled with the same. Their features, haggard with loss of sleep, and the strain of the all-night ride, gave them a kind of hard, desperate appearance that would remind one of pictures in our boyhood days of brigands in their raids for plunder and ransom money. 22 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico An occasional laugh, the nervous, shifting movements in the saddle of these leg-weary troopers to relieve the aching limbs, the short "dudheen" pipe to console the tired frame and empty stomach, all went to make up a picture such as was not the good fortune of any "Our Artist on the Spot" to witness, much less to faithfully interpret. On, on, we rapidly sped ! The exhilarating breezes, of the Santa Rosa Mountains now clearly visible, cool, dry, and life-giving, gave us new strength and action. We now commenced winding down into a lovely valley, daylight streaming all over the land, and soon had the satisfaction of hearing tinkling bells and seeing several pony herds which scampered off at our approach. The Rey Molina Immediately after we struck the rocky bed of a stream, thickly skirted with chaparral and small trees. Large, round stones washed clean and smooth, and thrown to the surface by many a flood, somewhat impeded our progress at every step. The stream, a mere thread, soon became a series of water holes or pools, from which man and beast now drank in pleasurable companionship, washing the dust from their long parched throats. This was the Rey Molina (Remolino).* We were now close to our objective — our mission of death. "Dismount!" This with no bugle calls. We slipped from our horses and, shifting the saddles, word was passed along to recinch or tighten the girths. We were making ready for the charge. We were in the bed of the stream, concealed by its banks. It was broad daylight. The sun tipped the mountains *The Rio San Rodrigo, just west of Remolino, on which Cabaceras is located, may have been the stream we called the Remolino, which we crossed just before making the attack. The mountain range west of Remolino, which we called Santa Rosa, is designated as "Serrenias Del Burro," although we could distinctly see the more distant and higher peaks of the former. The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 23 with its golden touch. The blue azure of a cloudless Mexican sky, a calm and peaceful day, was full upon us. It was an inspiring sight as the column, again in motion, wound its way under cover of the fringe of bushes, toward the object of its terrible task. We were rapidly approach- ing the Indian village. All talking ceased, and the clatter of the horses' hoofs upon the stones, the jingling of spurs, and the rattle of equipments grew almost painful. Prepare to Attack ^ The column was rapidly but silently closed up — every man in his place. As we debouched from the dry bed of the stream, and were beginning to wind around the base of a hill, we saw hurried preparations made ahead, which indicated our very near approach to the scene of con- flict. Men began earnestly to look at their weapons and quietly prepare for the fight. Runners from the front traversed the length of the column with hurried orders which were repeated in low commands to the men. They were now fully alert and as steady as clocks. The pack trains were "turned out," "fours" were counted, file closers and aU noncommissioned officers were cautioned in their duties. We commenced to descend a long slope, upon which, scattered here and there, were thick patches of prickly pear, many cacti of every variety, and the ever- present mesquite. At the foot of the slope we could now clearly see the huts stringing out a long distance, and the general outline of an Indian abiding place. As the fringe of chaparral grew thinner, the lodges burst suddenly upon our view. We listened almost breathlessly for the cracking of the carbines in the advance. The head of the column, now lost to view, again reappeared, this time at a gallop. An order was now passed hurriedly to the rear to "form platoons," to "prepare to charge," to hold the horses "well in hand," and "not to scatter out." 24 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico The Charge A shot, followed by another and a third, then a front- line volley, and the gray horses of "I" Troop (McLaugh- lin's) in the lead could be seen stretching down the slope upon the villages, now in full view. "Left front into line!" "Gallop!" "March!" rang out from front to rear. "Charge!!!" And then there burst forth such a cheering and yelling from our gallant little column as that Kick- apoo village never heard before. It was caught up from troop to troop, and struck such dismay to the Indians' hearts that they were seen flying in every direction. The distance was nearly a mile over fairly open but rough ground. Our reserve ammunition was neither carried on the pack mules, with a possible loss by stampede, nor in the saddle-pockets on the horses, as was done by Custer in the battle of the Little Big Horn, and captured by the Indians when the dismounted men became separated from their mounts, but on the persons of the troopers, safely stowed in the pockets of their blouses. Although it was an uncomfortable burden, Mackenzie, as a successful Indian fighter, never took any doubtful chances in action with such a sUppery enemy who always took advantage of any culpable errors. Our formation for the charge was in column of platoons. The order was for the leading platoon to deliver its fire ahead by volley, then, after turning down the length of the villages, to wheel to the right, each succeeding platoon to do the same from the front to rear of the column, and then reloading and falling in rear, still continue following down the length of the three villages until again uncovered ; wheeling this time to the left to fire, and so on in succes- sion. The leading platoons of "I" Troop were to pursue the fleeing Indians out on open ground, through and beyond the lodges. I had witnessed the battle of Upperville, Virginia, during the Civil War (a running fight from Aldie, Virginia, to The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 25 Ashby's Gap) between the cavalry corps of the two armies (about 25,000 men) under Generals Alfred Pleasanton and J. K. B. Stuart, on June 22, 1863, the First Division (Griffin's, of the Fifth Corps) in which I had served, hav- ing been detached from the Army of the Potomac for the purpose of supporting the cavalry of that Army in this battle. I saw many charges over fifteen miles of country dm^ing that day, but I never saw such a magnificent charge as that made by the Fourth United States Cavalry on the morning of May 18, 1873, at Rey Molina, Mexico. As has been stated, we had been drilling our men every morning at Fort Clark and in our camps in platoon forma- tion and in column of fours at all gaits, and in dismount- ing and fighting on foot; and, barring casualties, liable to occur in any action, and the breaking up of tactical units incident thereto, their drill and execution thereof was as well night perfect as human effort could devise. The Fight The sudden charge proved a complete surprise. The leading company was soon among the grass lodges. Car- bines were banging, rifles were cracking. The men were incessantly cheering and scattering in pursuit. The war- riors were yeUing and flying in every direction, many half naked, from their huts. It was a grand and impressive sight. Sharp and imperative commands alone held the men in ranks, or kept them from dashing individually into the villages. Over mesquite bushes, rocks, prickly- pear, and the long, dagger-Uke points of the Spanish bayonet, dashed the mad, impetuous column of troopers. Here could be seen a horse gone nearly crazy and unman- ageable with fright, and running off with its rider, who was almost or wholly powerless to control him. Small, mesquite trees had to be avoided, and what with con- trolling the men, dodging obstacles over rough ground, 26 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico and handling our horses, a more reckless, dare-devil ride we never had. Soon the rear companies struck the villages, and, dis- mounting and "fighting on foot," were closely engaged. It was short work. "I" Troop was pursuing the flying warriors across the low, swampy ground, everywhere cut up and intersected by irrigating ditches, and covered with fields of grain, com, pumpkins, etc. On the left were the pony herds and stolen stock, the former seemingly as intent upon getting away as their masters. Mackenzie, remembering Sheridan's injunction to make this a campaign of "annihilation" and "destruction," gave the necessary orders for that work to be done. "Fire the villages!" The dismounted men, already told off for this purpose, making torches of the long pampa plumes and other rank grasses, ran in and quickly fired the tepees or grass lodges, which, being of these coarse rushes or grasses, with walls about four feet high and roofs heavily thatched and as dry as tinder, flashed up, roared and burned like powder. The fierce crackling of the flames mingled strangely with loud reports of carbines, sharp crack of rifles, cheers and yells. The destruction was complete. War's Sad Spectacle Taking a part of "A" Troop, by Mackenzie's order I struck across to the left for the herds, now stampeding in the distance, and, after much hard riding through the chaparral, which everywhere skirted the villages, expect- ing momentarily to be ambushed by small parties of Indians who had fled in that direction, I succeeded in rounding up most of the animals, and started back. As I approached the small stream bordering the smouldering lodges, riding at a rapid walk, one of the men shouted, "Look out. Lieutenant, there are Indians under the bank!" Turning quickly, I saw, under a large, over- hanging bunch of flags, what appeared to be the form of The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 27 a large Indian in the act of pointing a weapon. It was about 30 yards and nearly concealed. I was the only officer who had brought a carbine. Raising it and firing immediately, the Indian fell. The men then opened fire which was replied to from the bushes. Dismounting shortly after and ordering "Cease firing," I approached the rushes, and, parting them, witnessed one of those most singular and pitiable spectacles incident to Indian warfare. A small, but faithful, cur-dog was at the entrance of what appeared to be a small cave far under the bank of the stream, savagely menacing our advance. Near him, almost underneath, lay stretched the dead body of a gigantic Indian, and behind him seemed to be more bodies. It was necessary to kill the dog before we could proceed further. The men reaching in, then drew forth two small children, respectively two and four years of age, badly shot through their bodies. One was dead, the other nearly so. Opening the bush still further for more revelations, way in the rear we saw the form of a young squaw, apparently unhurt, but badly frightened. Her black, glittering eyes were fastened upon the group of blue-coated soldiers with a fascinating stare, not unlike that of a snake, expressing half fear, half hatred and defiance. We made signs for her to come out, but, as she refused, she was quietly, and without harm, dragged forth. We thought this was all, but almost covered up under the immense flags, we found still a third child, a girl of about twelve, badly wounded. It was one of those cruel, unforeseen and unavoidable accidents of grim- visaged war. They all had weapons and had fired upon my party. Gathering up our prisoners, we found that we had about forty, with nearly two hundred ponies and horses, most of the latter being branded stolen stock. Only nineteen warriors were reported by General Mackenzie as killed. He would never report as killed only those that had been officially counted. But many more were counted by several officers at various distances 28 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico from the villages and in out of the way places where they had fled for safety, especially in water holes and under the banks of the stream concealed from view. Mackenzie did not go over the ground himself. The exact number will never be known. There must also have been many wounded, but, as was usual in an Indian action, none were found. They had probably been carried to places of safety, or, perchance, were burned up in the lodges when the latter were destroyed. Among the prisoners was old Costilietos, Chief of the Lipans, who had been caught by a lariat thrown over his head by one of our Seminole scouts as he was darting through the bushes. Another prisoner brought in, but, through some neglect, not disarmed by his captor, nearly ended the life of one of our captains. A Close Call This was Captain Clarence Mauck, who died some years later as a major of the Ninth United States Cavalry. After returning with the prisoners and ponies which I had captured, I dismounted, and stood within the circle of quite a group of officers and men, within a few feet of Mauck. Wilcox was near me, also O'Connell with two or three of his men on the other side of Mauck — none of us more than ten or fifteen feet apart. My Spencer carbine, with a cartridge in the chamber, and at a half cock ready for instant action, was resting on my right toe. I was facing the Lipan Indian whom the Seminole had just brought in, and watching his face and every movement. The moment I saw the look of rage at what he had wit- nessed come over his face, I feared trouble. As soon as he had recovered from his apparent stupor and fairly reaHzed, by the blazing villages, prisoners, women and children standing under guard, etc., what had happened and how he had been duped, with a defiant whoop, he brought his rifle down like a flash upon Mauck. The; Mackenzie; Raid into Mexico 29 A Captive's Tragic Death As I saw him raise his rifle, I as quickly brought my carbine to my hip with a rapid motion, and cocking it and pointing it at the Indian without aim, fired at the moment he had begun to press his trigger. He gave a loud, pierc- ing yell, threw up his gun, which went off, and toppled off his pony, dead before he touched the ground. Corporal Linden of Troop "M," so O'Connell told me, at the same distance on the other side, had observed the motion of the Indian at the same time, had fired, and the report of his carbine followed mine, his shot striking and whirUng him around. For a brief moment Mauck's deadly peril seemed to paralyze all who had witnessed the scene. Success would have been too dearly purchased by the sacrifice of so gallant and efficient an officer. But our Army records will show scores of noble soldiers who, after years of usefulness to their country, have ignobly died in much the same way in action with these savages, notably General Canby. Mauck had quickly dodged behind his horse's shoulder, but it would not have saved him from the Indian's rifle. Thrilling Incidents There were many thrilling incidents and adventures during the fight. Captain McLaughlin, that sturdy and intrepid old soldier, whose troop led in the pursuit, shot at and wounded an Indian, who fell and permitted McLaughlin to ride up to him. What was the Captain's astonishment to see the Indian rise up, deUberately level his rifle and make a close shot at his head. But a miss is as good as a mile. The next moment he fell by McLaugh- Hn's six-shooter. Another had his pony shot from under him. Quickly jumping from his body and running at full speed, he overtook and leaped up behind a mounted Indian and rode off under fire. Some of the men's horses 30 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico bogging in soft ground just at this moment, they both escaped. Sergeant O'Brien of "A" Troop, a gray and grisly old soldier who knew no fear, was pursuing an Indian, both afoot. He had fired and missed, when the savage, thinking he had no time to reload, turned suddenly, and, whirling a heavy, brass-bound tomahawk, threw it with such pre- cision as just to graze the Sergeant's head. Walking deliberately up to him with his carbine, throwing a cartridge quickly, as he advanced, into the chamber, O'Brien said, "I have you now, you old Spalpane" and shot him dead at fifteen paces. Some time prior to this action Mackenzie had bought a dark bay, thoroughbred colt about three years old. He was a magnificent animal, but he had a bad, glaring-blue, crazy eye. One day when Mackenzie was riding him near Fort Richardson, Texas, the colt bolted with him into some post oak timber, knocked him out of the saddle, cut his head badly, ran into the post, and Mackenzie never rode him again. When we made the charge upon the Indian villages, Mackenzie's "striker," Matthews, a discharged soldier of the Ninth Cavalry, was riding him, and with a snaffle bit. The mad rush proved too much for the blooded colt; he ran as though he was in a race, absolutely uncontrollable. Away off on the flank of the madly charging column Matthews could be seen cHnging to him like a monkey. The colt bounded over the mesquite Hke a frightened deer. He went over and through everything; jumped the widest irrigating ditches, and, going nearly a mile from the flaming lodges, gave one last leap into the air, broke his heart, and dropped dead in his tracks, Matthews flying over his head like a rocket into the soft earth, badly bruised, but no bones broken. It was a thrilUng sight in full view of the entire command. Without unsaddling, but staking the horses out with watering bridles, and a strong herd guard, and, remaining The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 31 just long enough to treat the wounded (one mortally), to amputate an arm and set a leg, to construct horse litters or travois, and assign the prisoners to ponies for the ride back, we prepared for the return march. Fire and Desolation Ruin and desolation now marked the spot — a cyclone could not have made more havoc or a cleaner sweep up — and danger lurked in the homeward path, for a few hours' march distant was a town and well-settled district of Mexicans and Indians which, as soon as this invasion became known, would send their rancheros to avenge the insult to their territory. Mackenzie thoroughly under- stood the situation, but, confident in the excellence of his troops, carefully and deliberately made all these arrangements for the transportation of the wounded and prisoners. We started. Beyond the Kickapoo village, about one- fourth of a mile, was that of the Lipans. Still farther beyond, to the west, in the distance, stretched the Santa Rosa Mountains, whose peaks were now bathed in the mellow sunhght, seeming only a few miles distant, toward which many of the Kickapoos and the Lipans fled when they first became aware of our hostile approach. Mac- kenzie, when first informed of the relative strength of the Indian villages, was told that he would be compelled to make his main attack upon the largest — the Kickapoo village. While it was still uncertain when the command would reach its objective, and some time before the charge was made, the guides, who were perfectly famihar with the location of the villages and the lay of the land, strongly urged him to divide his force, sending a part around the Lipan village in the direction of the mountains, thus cutting off their escape in that direction, whi e the remain- ing companies made a vigorous flank attack upon the Kickapoos. But the General, who was strenuously 32 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico opposed to dividing a command when about to make an attack, especially now that he was engaged in an invasion of foreign soil, and having left his food suppHes on trail, and in the strong belief that the Kickapoos were more numerous, would not listen to the guides' advice. It must be borne in mind that Mackenzie's wise decision and sound judgment was made more than three years before Custer made the fatal error at the Little Big Horn in adopting such a risky plan of approaching and attack- ing a numerous enemy — above all, a wily, tricky, shifty, evasive, mobile bunch of Indians who would not, or did not play the game fair, to the extent of working into any cut and dried programme, prepared in advance by a white strategist whose war games they always ignored and despised and continually held up to contempt and ridicule. This division of the command might have worked out. At all events, the guides thought so, and argued later, when it became known that nearly all of the Lipans had escaped, before they could be reached over the swampy approaches to their stronghold. Again, it might have proved a disastrous Custer massacre, for like that gal- lant cavalry leader, we had no base to fall back on in case of an unforeseen crisis. The sun was now high in the heavens ; the heat had become more intense. The Hated "Gringos" We mounted and commenced our retrograde march. Our course lay through the Uttle Mexican settlement of Rey Molina. It is in the State of Coahuila. Everywhere we met the black, mahgnant scowls of El Mexicano. It was a novel and most astonishing spectacle for them to behold a body of United States Cavalry, with Indian prisoners, swiftly traversing their territory for safety beyond "El Rio Bravo." We felt that their hatred fore- boded evil before reaching American soil. Their occa- sional exclamations in muttered almost incoherent Span- The; Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 33 ish, such as "El Gringos!" indicated anything but a friendly spirit to "Los Americanos." It was a scalding day; not a breath of air stirred. The heat hung over the earth in tremulous waves, parching and roasting our little command, until in our already wearied condition we could seem to bear it no longer. Had it not been for the numerous lagoons met with fre- quently during the day, our sufferings would have become intense, almost intolerable. Our trail had been discovered going in, and the results of our raid had been communi- cated by rapid runners or couriers up and down the river. Even then the "long roll" was beating from Piedras Negras to the upper fords for volunteers to gather and intercept our march. It was ascertained that a few miles away was a town or another Mescalero Apache village (Zaragoza)* a well-settled district. These Indians, long resident in Mexico, were sworn allies of the Kickapoos and Lipans, and were capable of sending many warriors against us. The Return March As darkness settled about us our anxiety increased, which, added to the exhausted condition of the men and animals, left us in no very cheerful frame of mind, or pre- pared for our long night ride and a possible fight in ambus- cade. We did not feel safe, and we fully realized that the worst was before us — this interminable night of gloom and uncertainty. The moon, yellow and tropical, but dazzling bright, rose and illuminated our trail, now glitter- *On a "General Map of the State of Coahuila de Zaragoza, made under the direction of the Government of the same State by T. S. Abbott, Engineer, 1905," "Traced by 3d Battalion of Engineers," "Road data given by First Lieutenant C. A. Seoane, January 13, 1914," is shown several towns near Remolino, the nearest one being Cabaceras, about two miles northwest, on the Rio San Rodrigo, Esmeralda, about 10 milos east; Jimenez, N. E. ; Zaragoza, about 10 miles S. S. E., and Las Vacas, N. N. E. The latter is west of Fort Clark, northwest of Jimenez, and nearly opposite Del Rio, Texas. There are shown on this map at least ten arroyas, which we either headed or crossed the first night, but on the return trip we avoided them by taking the longer route up the river. 34 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico ing with myriads of dew drops that everywhere flashed hke diamonds under our horses' feet. Night of Agot.iy and Horror We wearily rode on. The heavy, overpowering clutch of sleep was upon every officer and man. This was the third night that many of us had been absolutely without sleep or rest. The Indian prisoners v/ere heavily guarded in rear, and our Seminole scouts steathlily hovered on our flanks, to guard against ambush and surprise, while the guides, our advance guard, and selected scouts rapidly felt their way ahead. It was a long, long night. Every- where the men drowsed and swayed in their saddles. Officers, obliged to forego even this luxury, were on the alert to keep them awake, and, at every halt, to urge them to renewed efforts. Men became alternately depressed, excitable, irritable, morose and quarrelsome, and, lying down during a halt, with arm through bridle rein, could Vvith difficulty be roused, and the officers had to be con- stantly on the watch to prevent their being left behind, to keep them from coming to blows, and to bring them back to a condition approaching the normal. However, notwithstanding their state of almost utter exhaustion, and when it seemed that a surprise attack might be necessary to restore the mental balance and morale of those whom we had hitherto regarded as our very best Indian scrappers, yet, while their spirits were at this low ebb, there was latent a certain "Esprit," and both their morale and discipline were found to be perfect whenever they could be aroused to a full realization of their sense of duty and warned of the imminent danger of a possible ambush or surprise. This was most remarkable, for our nerves were nearly raw and almost worn thread- bare. We felt that the entire command had expended about every ounce of energy and strength. Many men in the The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 35 command, under all of these existing conditions, were subjects for a close study of the psychological changes which those forty-eight hours of physical suffering and loss of sleep had wrought upon the mental faculties and traits of all. These conditions made the strain on the officers almost intolerable on account of their much greater responsibil- ities for the success of this last stage of our expedition. Threats and persuasion seemed alike to have lost their effect. It was seldom, however, that we used anything more than the mildest force, such as pushing them upon their feet at our short halts, and shaking them. Sleep was the one rehef sought for, and uppermost in their minds. They seemed to care for little else, nor con- sidered for a moment their peril if left behind, and their sure fate if dealt with by a sullen, revengeful body of merciless savages. Woe betide any sleeper who might be caught off his guard, for the rear was being dogged by raging, cruel foes who had their homes and kindred to avenge. We had read of the execution of Chinese criminals by sentinels keeping them awake with bayonets until death reUeved their sufferings. All night long the officers rode the column, seizing the men by their shoulders and shaking them into an upright position in their saddles. The eyes seemed strained out of our heads. The tension was so great that our heads seemed full to bursting. The physi- cal pain endured can not be conceived or described. Only through one's imagination or the experience of those dreadful hours could there be a full reaUzation of our agony. The imagination pictured all kinds of objects to our overstrained minds. Now in the bright moonlight a huge boulder loomed up before our bewildered eyes. Again, we were passing through hamlets and large towns, all commenting upon the extravagant illumination which the people had resorted to. We were at all times dodging and stooping to avoid imaginary objects which, to our 36 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico dazed senses, seemed real, and for many years afterwards were declared to be tangible. One man, wandering from the column a short distance, while it was at a halt, to enjoy an undisturbed rest, and eluding our vigilance, awoke only to find the column gone, and a Mexican stand- ing over him. He jumped up, fired at the enemy, ran through the chaparral, and, following our trail until morning, finally crossed the river and joined the command. Such was our mental condition — one of hallucinations — our minds bordering upon the insane. Prisoners Lashed on Ponies Toward morning the Indian papooses or children, in some cases mounted with the squaws in threes or fours upon the ponies, began to be troublesome by falhng fast asleep and tumbling off on the trail, which occasioned frequent short halts in order to have the rear closed up for safety. They were finally lashed on with lariats. Several times the Seminoles in the rear and on the flanks came in and reported the enemy in sight. At these times word was passed along, and renewed efforts were made to keep the men waked up and up to their fighting pitch. But we were not attacked. The Irish Captain's Peril and a "Life Preserver" About 2 o'clock, when everything seemed darkest, most dreary, almost hopeless, and it seemed more than probable that we might not get through without serious disaster, and had reached the lowest possible ebb, a mere chance, or factor of safety, on account of the approaching exhaus- tion of officers, men and animals — the most critical and alarming period of that almost endless night — word was passed along to me that our old Irish captain, O'Connell, was in distress, threatened with a stroke of apoplexy, perhaps paralysis. I went to him. He seemed to be in a most desperate condition, almost in a state of collapse. The; Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 37 but still sitting upright in his saddle. We were at a halt. He begged to be left behind, declaring that his case was hopeless. There was no time to ride to the head of the column and try to find our only doctor, Acting Assistant Surgeon Donald Jackson, a very valuable and efficient contract surgeon. Nor was there time to construct a travois. We had no ambulances or stretchers. Taking in the situation, I determined at once to take what I firmly believed to be the only chance, and, in the writer's judgment, a very doubtful one, and at very grave risk. I had, when we left our Piedras Pintos camp, packed a small, flat cedar keg filled with whisky on a troop pack mule. It held about six pints. It was painted a sky blue, and was bespangled with small silver paper stars, having been used at a tin- wedding celebration in honor of Lieuten- ant and Mrs. C. A. Vernou, the year before at Fort Rich- ardson, Texas, by my wife, who had impersonated a French Vivandiere (Daughter of the Regiment) when all had gone in costume and were masked. When the packs were cut off about I a. m. the previous night, I had personally attended to the saving of this valuable piece of property, and distributed its contents among several officers, among them Beaumont, Mauck, and Wilcox, that alert, prac- tical, efficient, and sturdy troop commander. I filled my own canteen. So far I had not "sampled " it. I gave our fine old soldier a big slug of this whisky, and then stayed with him to see that he did not fall out of the saddle from weakness. After repeating the dose several times later, he got across the river, and I shall always believe that it was the result of my prescription. It proved to be a "Ufe preserver." At all events, it convinced the old man, for he always declared: "Ca-a-ther, you saved my life!" He entered the service about 1851 in the Old Dragoons ; was a corporal on duty at West Point with the cavalry detachment; was commissioned later in the Fourth Cavalry, and did magnificent service during the Civil War, especially in the great cavalry charge at Love- 38 The Mackenzie; Raid into Mexico joy's Station, where he was wounded and his horse killed. He died a few years after the Mackenzie raid, of paralysis, at Oakland, California, always declaring, in letters received by the writer, that those nights of horror were directly responsible for his condition, and that it was the greatest ride ever made by him during his entire service. Major O'Connell's letter (extract) and statement of his recollections of the Mackenzie raid follows : So Broderick and 14th Streets, San Francisco, Cal., May jo, i8g4. My Dear Carter: I received your letter yesterday, and I will never forget our trip to Remolino, Mexico. It was the hardest ride I ever had in my life. Of the 18 officers, there is only one left in the regi- ment now. I was seized, about two and a half 3'ears ago, with a paralysis of my right side, but I think in time I will get well of my trouble. * * * j blame my trouble to our great ride into Mexico and back. I enclose to you what I remember of Remolino. Yours very truly, (Signed) Wm. O'Connell. STATEMENT In answer to your inquiry of my recollection of the incidents connected with the action of Remolino, May 18, 1873: After we crossed the Rio Grande and traveled to about midnight, we came to the conclusion that we could not make the Indian villages by daylight if we had to lead the pack mules. Captains Beaumont and Wilcox and myself selected you to go to the head of the column and see General Mackenzie, and have him abandon the pack mules, which he did after the men getting some hard bread and coffee, and turn them back on the road we came, and we resumed the march at a trot and gallop all night, and got to the villages after daylight (which were attacked vigorously) and we captured 118 prisoners, killed a good many, and burned the two villages of the Kickapoos and Lipans. I heard a great deal of your conduct during the action — that you killed two or three Indians. After the fight we congre- gated and an Indian rode up and pointed his gun at Captain The; Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 39 Mauck, and would have shot him only for yourself and Cor- poral Linden. You fired at the Indian, and afterwards Linden, and as he dropped from the saddle his gun went off. By your timely action you saved the life of Captain Mauck. You always bore a high character for great courage and high- mindedness. * * * (Signed) Wm. O'Connell, Captain, U. S. Army, Retired. (Original filed with "Efficiency Record" in the War Depart- ment.) Green Van's Ford — Death — Strange Scenes Hour after hour dragged its seemingly slow and never- ending length along until fifteen had passed. The gray of dawn found us still dodging about the winding paths and trails and roads among the mesquites leading to the river. Soon would be disclosed the welcome waters of the Rio Grande, which must be passed ere rest could be hoped for. At daylight the heavier timber that skirts the river was seen. Descending from the ridge which bounded the valley or bottom of the stream, the weary column wound by shaded roads bordered by almost interminable, dense thickets until a Mexican ranch with a clearing to the river was passed, when, without the formality of "by your leave," the farm gate was opened, and, following a narrow path, we were soon upon the banks of the stream, and the horses buried their noses in the waters of the wide, rapid river. We had made many tedious halts in the dense chaparral and canebrakes. The long, interminable night of horror, of nightmare, had passed. I looked about me. Scenes which neither pen nor tongue could describe were everywhere about. Scenes which no ' ' artist on the spot ' ' could ever accurately por- tray. Some of the men were fast asleep low down on their saddles with their arms tightly clasped about their horses' necks ; others were drowsing and swaying or nodding, bolt upright. Some, by persistent efforts to smoke and talk, 40 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico barely held their drooping eyelids from closing. The condition of the prisoners, although ludicrous, was pitiful in the extreme. They had been riding, lashed on the cap- tured ponies, doubled up and by threes. The children, half naked and streaked with dust and sweat, deprived, by being bound, even of the privilege of lying down upon their ponies' necks, were fast asleep, their heads and swarthy skins presenting a striking contrast to the blue- coated troopers who surrounded them. Here was a child of but five or six years. By custom, his head had been shaved smooth, except a tuft or stiff scalp-lock, a crest running from his forehead over back to his neck. His face was painted in parti-colored stripes. His infantile warrior spirit had given away. Young though he was, he fully realized that he was a captured prisoner of war, in the hands of a hated white man, and separated, as he beUeved, forever from his Indian home. The tears had coursed down his face, over the paint and sweat, and the dust adhering gave him a very ludicrous, yet strangely touching expression. His rigid form, bolt upright, but added to this strange, impressive spectacle. All faces wore that dull-gray, ashy, deathlike appearance, indicative of over- worked nature and the approach of exhaustion and physi- cal collapse. The appearance of the gallant troopers and our faithful Seminole scouts, their hair, faces and clothes white with alkali dust, all exhausted, but rigid and alert for the order which would send us into the ford, only accentuated the picture, one never to be forgotten in a lifetime. At last, at last, we had accomplished our almost super- human task, reaching the goal of our terrible mission and returning to the Rio Grande. The agony of those dreadful nights was over, and we almost felt like shouting our long pent-up joy and heaving a great sigh of relief at this final ending of our hardships and sacrifices, the almost endless and long-drawn-out pain, and at the nearly perfect results of our objects and purposes. The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 41 Men and horses seemed to draw new strength from the refreshing waters. It took some time to get the wounded on the horse Utters across. One man died at the river. A low "forward" and all pushed with animation and renewed spirits across the deep ford. At last the rear of the column stood upon American soil, and we gave vent to our feelings with a soldier's amen ! * The eastern bank was soon cHmbed, and the welcome order to go into camp given. The saddles were stripped from the jaded horses for the first time in forty-nine hours, and while our breakfast was preparing, the men thronged to the river to bathe. Our feelings can better be imagined than described. We had crossed at his ford, and were bivouacked upon the land of Captain Green Van, de- scribed elsewhere in these pages, a ranchero of considerable notoriety along this line of the Rio Grande, who, with undaunted courage, had volunteered to guide us on this hazardous expedition, and who now, of course, would travel with his hfe in his hand, as the Mexicans wouM surely turn upon him for revenge. Soon after our crossing, our great quartermaster, the indefatigable, tireless, resourceful Lawton, came in by previous arrangement with a supply train loaded with plenty of rations for the men and forage for the animals, besides luxuries galore for the officers, and shortly after, man and beast were busy trying to recuperate from our long fast on cracker dust and water since the evening of the 17th. There was feasting all day. Green Van, too, to show his generous hospitality, brought down to our bivouac from his ranch, in several buckets, some new mescal, a very potent Mexican drink, a sort of rum with a weedy taste, fiery and throat burning, distilled from pulque, a dirty looking, yellowish-brown beer brewed from the maguey plant, which grows luxuriantly every- where in that country. As soon as Mackenzie learned that *It is the writer's belief that "Green Van's Ford" was near the crossing of the Rio Grande at or near Las Vacas, or between that town and what is now Del Rio, Tex. 42 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico some of the Troop Commanders were going to issue it he ordered that it should all be spilled on the ground, for, on our empty stomachs, and in our nervous and strained condition, he did not think it a proper kind of stimulant to be served to an exhausted command. Threats — ^A Defensive Line Our stay here in this bivouac was one of continuous excitement and soon shots were heard across the river, and threats were shouted across that the Mexicans and Indians were gathering to attack us that night. In a few hours we observed large bodies apparently getting ready to carry out this threat. They were very profane and boastful, and we certainly seemed in some danger of a dash across the ford. Our position was on a small plateau or table-land, a short distance back from the river, almost completely surrounded by dense canebreaks. Mackenzie sent the horses back some distance for safety, "tied them in," placed a sufficient guard over them, thus releasing for the fighting Hne, the horse holders (number 4). He then placed all the best sharpshooters (in those days they were our skilled buffalo and bear hunters, no ammunition having then been issued for target practice) on the line of the river and as close as possible to it, covering the ford, which was a narrow, diagonal one, and could only be crossed by file. It had deep water just above and below it. They were entirely concealed by the tall, dense chaparral which extended back for some distance from the bank of the river. He then deployed the balance of the command some yards in rear; all concealed. They were armed with the 7-shooting Spencer carbine, cal. .50; Smith and Wesson's revolver, cal. .45, which had just been issued, and sabers, which, as before stated, had been ground to a sharp edge when we left Fort Clark. The Mexicans and Indians, yelling and shouting, abusive and swearing vengeance, were then invited to come across. They never came! We heard nothing more Tne Mackenzie; Raid into Mepico 43 of this boastful, gasconading rabble. Not an Indian or Mexican cared to wet his feet in the waters of Green Van's ford. After making all of these dispositions and safeguarding our front for the night, we calmly awaited further develop- ments. In a semi-circle, our line unbroken, and with pickets thrown out, and selected "sleeping parties" in the brakes for quicker action, as was our custom when in contact with Indians, we "turned in" for sleep. The field proved to be an immense ant-heap. The little pests attacked, bit, persecuted and tortured us until early morning, when we moved to a more secure spot. Early on May 20 we took up the march for the post. After leaving Green Van's ford, we made a march of only a few miles, and bivouacked back from the river in open ground, but surrounded by dense chaparral. Illegal Order— Mackenzie's Threat— The Retort That night there gathered about Mackenzie's camp fire several of the officers of the command. Of all that number only one survives besides myself, after a period (1919) of 46 years. There were present Captains N. B. McLaughHn (a Brigadier General of Volunteers during the Civil War) ; John A. Wilcox, who became a Lieutenant- Colonel, U. S. A. ; Clarence Mauck, who became a Major of the Ninth Cavalry; Eugene B. Beaumont, who became a Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. A.; besides Mackenzie, his Adjutant, Leopold O. Parker, and myself. I instinctively felt that something was coming. Colonel Beaumont, in the course of a general conversation, mostly dealing with the incidents and adventures of this raid, suddenly asked Mackenzie if he had had any orders or authority for taking his command over into Mexico, especially after telUng us of the risks we ran. Mackenzie replied that he had not. Beaumont then said: "Then it was illegal to expose the lives of your officers and men, not only in action, but in event of their being wounded and compelled upon our 44 The; Mackenzie Raid into Mexico withdrav/al, through force of circumstances, to be left over there, and probably to be hung or shot by a merciless horde of savages, Indians and Mexicans." Mackenzie replied: "I considered all that." Beaumont continued: "Your officers and men would have been justified in refusing to obey your orders, which you now admit as being illegal, and exposing themselves to such peril." To which McLaughlin, joining in, added: "Beau- mont is right! and had I known that you had no orders to take us over the river, I would not have gone ! " Mackenzie flashed up, and in a very decisive voice, replied: "Any officer or man who had refused to follow me across the river I would have shot!" His father had hung Midshipman Spencer, son of the Secretary of War, at the yard arm of the United States Brig Somers many years before, for mutiny on the high seas, for which he (Mackenzie) was tried. His son had, perhaps, his father's act in mind when weighing the probabilities of such a con- tingency — the refusal of any officer to obey his orders to cross the Rio Grande. McLaughlin who, a few years before, during the recon- struction days in the South, after the Civil War, had killed Baker, a noted desperado, near Marshall, Texas, and was then, with the exception of Captain Wirt Davis, prob- ably the best pistol and carbine shot in the Army, snapped out sharply: ''That would depend, Sir, upon who shot first!'' Mackenzie did not reply to this. There was absolute silence for some minutes. Some of us thought that most always the time or acid test of obedience to an illegal order under all the circumstances of such a raid, and the dangers which confronted us, is — Success! I knew that Mackenzie knew, that if he didn't succeed, his reputation and career were gone forever. I also knew, for he had told me, that he had counted all the costs. But here was one cost in which he had already been challenged. What the result might have been in McLaughlin's refusal to obey Mackenzie's orders to cross the river, one is left The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 45 to conjecture. While, at times, he (Mackenzie) was irascible, irritable and difficult to deal with, mostly on account of his many wounds (and who could be a saint with four of them ?) , Mackenzie was one of the few officers of that period who was always ready and willing to assume the gravest responsibilities, and he would never hesitate to take the initiative without awaiting definite orders. This he always expected of all his officers when assigning them to any duty, and he generally gave them explicit verbal instructions as to the duties he expected them to perform, relying upon their common sense, good judgment and wise discretion in following such instruction. This was at a personal conference. He never pinned them down to it, however, as a binding order intended to cover all of their acts. He trusted his officers. These instructions were always given with the proviso that they should always act within legal bounds, and never exceed them in any manner that should be harsh, arbitrary or beyond the meaning of the term "an officer and a gentleman." But he wanted something done — results. Then he would issue a blanket order covering those acts. I never knew him to permit one of his officers, when in the performance of duty under these verbal instructions or orders, to be made a ' ' scape- goat." He would back them up to the last hmit. The writer had several proofs of such loyalty. Mackenzie never "went back" on any officer, especially of the old Fourth Cavalry, to save "my official reputation" or for the mistaken notion of the "necessity of self-protection" and a desire to "soothe his wounded pride." Justice with him was inseparable from his professional duties and honor. The silence soon became painful, and great was the relief when first one and then another withdrew from the flickering Hght of the mesquite bivouac fire and, rolHng himself in his blanket, sought reUef from such a terri- ble condition — the first in four long flights — in the slumber of exhausted men, who soon forgot the turmoil and strife of war only to resume it again on the fateful morrow. 46 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico Anxious Families We arrived at Fort Clark about noon on the 21st, there to meet the anxious garrison, who had purposely been kept in ignorance of even our destination, and, after a terrible suspense, now rejoiced at our return. Up to that moment, no member of our families had the sUghtest inkling of our whereabouts, or when, if ever, we would come back. The garrison had been full of rumors of disaster; the command "had been surrounded, and cut to pieces," or was "retreating before overwhelming num- bers" and "was in extreme peril," etc. There was little sleep for the anxious wives at Clark. The slightest noise would bring pale, frightened women to the doors of their quarters to learn the cause, and the careless soldiers were anxious for their absent comrades. A Tropical Storm — The Alarm On the 24th, General Mackenzie, hearing well-founded rumors that a large body of Indians and Mexicans were making threatening demonstrations on the opposite bank of the river, took two troops of the regiment and scouted in the direction of Villa Nuevo and other points, and returned on the 26th without seeing or hearing anything of the enemy. Our scouts, however, reported during the day that we might expect an attack almost any time. The night of the 26th closed in very dark, and with every indication of one of those terrible tropical storms, accompanied by wind and lightning. All was gloom and inky blackness. The eye could distinguish nothing a foot away. The anxiety all over the garrison was very intense. Everybody during this suspense, felt "jumpy." Pickets had been thrown about the entire post for the night and all the camp guards doubled. Ladies and children gathered in groups on the porches of the quarters and breathlessly discussed the chances of coming battle and all the attendant horrors of Indian massacre and retalia- The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 47 tion. The hoarse boom-boom of the thunder now sounded — one peal and crash after another; the incessant flash of the Ughtning following, glared about the little plateau, bringing out the buildings with startling clearness one moment, only to be succeeded by black, impenetrable gloom the next. It rattled and roared in angry succes- sion. It was such a night as would set an atheist to think- ing whether there was really a God in Heaven who now controlled the elements, and if he was prepared to meet this Unknown Power. The entire garrison, in their intensely nervous condition after an almost interminable suspense during our absence, was deeply impressed with the awful sublimity of the scene, when suddenly a carbine shot, another and another in quick succession, rang out, and a spluttering, rattling and cracking by the pickets caused all to start to their feet. They seemed to be instantly electrified, and the ladies and children, with blanched cheeks, rushed together and began to huddle for protection. The "long roll" on the drums of the infantry vied with the rattle and boom of the thunder. The bugles of the cavalry sounded their loudest "assembly." Every blinding flash showed the gallant troopers pouring out of their barracks in the dreadful storm, carbine in hand. Officers, with a last word of cheer to the companions of theii Uves in thi?^ far- off wild, beyond the pale of civilization, buckled on saber and pistol and hurried to their companies, now "falling in" to the music of the drummers. A few moments, and every man was under arms and in ranks. We awaited further developments from the pickets, who had now "ceased firing" and were maintaining a most provoking silence. In a moment or two, however, it was ascertained that one of the pickets, "jumpy" like everybody else, had fired at a hog, disturbed by the storm, and was, of course, followed by a fusillade from the others. His shot had started the entire line. All of the officers were immediately called to headquarters, where they were 48 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico cautioned and given verbal instructions to be carried out in event of another such alarm or bona fide attack. One set of stone quarters was designated for all ladies and children to assemble at. The citizens of the town were notified, and thus ended the Mexican scare. The suspense was over. The attack never came. This raid resulted in the Mexican Government coming down from their "high perch," and instead of covering up and concealing these high-handed, brutal murders, atrocities, and whole- sale robberies along the river, it consented to negotiate an International Treaty by which either country could pursue bandits, horse and cattle thieves, and armed des- peradoes operating on either side of the line, across the border, and punish them. At this date (191 9) it is my belief that such treaty of 1873 has never been abrogated. Quiet and peace reigned for many a day. For years one could have almost heard a pin drop along that line, so wholesome had been the effect of our punishment of these marauders and scourgers on this border of the Rio Grande. Grateful Thanks of Texas So elated were the people of Texas over our success, especially along the border counties, that about May 25 Governor Edmund J. Davis called the State legislature into extra session by a special proclamation, and the following joint resolution was passed by both houses of the same, a copy of which was transmitted to the head- quarters of the Fourth Cavalry, but to my knowledge, through some inadvertence, it was never published in any regimental order, nor was a copy ever furnished to the officers who so loyally risked their lives in this great and daring adventure. Nor was its existence known by them for a long time. Many years afterwards some of us, upon learning that such a resolution had been passed, sent to Austin, Texas, and, upon application to the Adjutant General or the Secretary of State of Texas, we were furnished with certified copies of this valuable The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 49 testimonial, duly authenticated by the Commanding General of the Department of Texas. It is given here- with in full. To my knowledge, it has never been printed before for publication. It is the only instance, within my knowledge, in the miHtary history of the United States, when a Cavalry Regiment of our Army ever received the "Grateful Thanks" of a Sovereign State through its Legislature con- vened in special session by its Governor for that purpose : Joint Resolution of the Legislature of the State of Texas. Whereas: Reliable information has been received that General Ranald S. Mackenzie of the United States Army, with the troops under his command, did, on the 19th day of May, 1873, cross the Rio Grande into the Republic of Mexico, and inflict summary punishment upon a band of Kickapoo Indians, who, harbored and fostered by the Mexican authorities, have for years past been waging a predatory warfare upon the frontier of Texas, murdering our citizens, conveying their children into captivity, and plundering their property, therefore Resolved, By the Senate ti the State of Texas, the House concurring, that the Grateful Thanks of the people of the State, and particularly the citizens of our frontier, are due to General Mackenzie and the troops under his command, for their prompt action and gallant conduct in inflicting well-merited punishment upon these scourges of our frontier. Resolved, That His Excellency, the Governor, be, and he is hereby, requested to forward a copy of these Resolutions to General Mackenzie and the ofl&cers and troops under his com- mand. Adopted May 25, 1873. {Signed) Leigh Chalmers, Secretary of the Senate. Approved: {Signed) E. B. Pickett, President of the Senate. Approved: {Signed) M. D. K. Taylor, Speaker House of Representatives. Approved May 30, 1873. {Signed) Edmund J. Davis, Governor. 50 The; Mackenzie; Raid into Mexico Department of State, Austin, Texas. I, James P. Newcomb, Secretary of State for the State of Texas, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original Resolution as passed by the Legislature of the State of Texas. Witness my hand and official seal of office in the city of Austin, this 2d day of June, A. D. 1873. (Signed) James P. Newcomb, seal of TEXAS. Secretary of State. A true copy. (Signed) Colon Augur, A. D. C. Department of State, Austin, June 2, 1873. C. C. Augur, Major -General, Comd'g Dept. of Texas. General: I have the honor to transmit herewith certified copy of Reso- lution passed by the Honorable Legislature of the State of Texas, tendering thanks to General Mackenzie for services rendered the frontier citizen of Texas. Respectfully, (Signed) James P. Newcomb, Secretary of State. A true copy. (Signed) Colon Augur, A. D. C. General Mackenzie's report follows: Headquarters 4TH U. S. Cavalry, Fort Clark, Texas, May 28, i8jj. To the Assistant Adjutant General, Department of Texas. Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report * * * : At about eleven o'clock on the night of the i6th instant, I received reliable information of the location of the camps of a party of the Kickapoo and Lipan Indians, who have been The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 51 depredating on this part of the Texas frontier. I at once ordered Companies A, B, C, K, I, and M, Fourth Cavalry, to concentrate early next morning at a point on the Las Moras River about twelve miles distant from the Post, where Captain Wilcox was encamped with his Company C — Companies A and B, Fourth Cavalry, being encamped on Piedras Pintos Creek, about seven miles northwest of the Post, Companies E and M on Elm Creek, twelve miles east of the Post, and I being at the Post, all of the companies being about fifteen miles apart. On the morning of the 17th, I left the Post with Company I and 18 Seminole scouts, and proceeded to the camp of Captain Wilcox. After getting the command together, including Lieutenant John L. BuUis, 24th Infantry, and 16 Seminole scouts from Fort Duncan, which was accomplished about i p. m. on the 17th instant, the command marched at once for the Indian camp, and reached it at 6 a. m. on the following morning, having marched about 70 miles from Captain Wilcox's camp. The command had a sharp skirmish * * * and killed 19 Indians, whose bodies were buried; captured 40 women and children, and Costilietos, the principal chief of the Lipans, and 65 ponies * * *. The following officers were present: (list of all officers with the command) * * * Second Lieutenant R. G. Carter. * * * All of these officers acted handsomely and deserve consideration, and every soldier showed, after the terribly hard ride, a creditable eagerness to attack. * * * (Mentions names of officers who, being with him in the advance, attracted his especial notice.) "I wish it understood, in making special mention of these officers, that others very probably would have acted quite as handsomely, but, from leading the advance they attracted notice more especially." * * * "In an Indian fight, officers and men soon get so scattered in the pursuit that it is perfectly impossible to give each his proper credit. * * * j ^g^g obliged, on account of the rapidity with which the command marched on the night of the 17th, to abandon almost all my packs and some pack mules, the command being most of the time at a trot or a gallop, and consequently for two days the men were entirely without rations except a little hard bread in their pockets, yet there was little complaining. Should it be deemed proper to mention in orders any of the officers, / wish that all of them may be mentioned, or, other'-nse it is perfectly impossible that injustice may not be done, but those I have specially mentioned are those who, from their positions, more particularly attracted my attention. * * * My loss 52 The; Mackenzie; Raid into Mexico was three men wounded (one mortally, who died on the return trip). * * * No horses gave out on the march, and the only horses lost were two shot in action, and one or two which died from overheat in the chase. * * * Three (3) villages, averaging from fifty to sixty lodges (180) were destroyed. They appeared to be well supplied with stores, including ammunition. * * * I have the honor to be. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, {Signed) Ranald S. MackeInzie, Colonel 4th Cavalry, Comd'g Regiment. This was followed by a general order from Major- General C. C. Augur, commanding the Department of Texas : Headquarters Department of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, June 2, i8yj. General Orders, No. 6. It is with great pleasure the Department Commander announces to his command the gallant and successful attack by Colonel R. S. Mackenzie, 4th Cavalry, with a portion of his regiment, upon the combined camps of hostile Kickapoo and Lipan Indians. Having ascertained the location of these tribes, parties of which had just made a devastating raid on the Rio Grande frontier of Texas, Colonel Mackenzie assembled six companies of his regiment on the evening of May 17th, marched all that night, encountering and overcoming the diflSculties and obstacles incidental to such marches in a strange country, and struck the Indians at 7 o'clock on the morning of the i8th, killing nineteen warriors, capturing Costrlietos, principal chief of the Lipans, forty women and children, and about sixty-five ponies, and destroying three villages with their accumulated property. His own loss was three men wounded — one mortally. The companies and officers engaged were as follows: Com- panies A, B, C, E, I, and M, 4th Cavalry; Captains N. B. McLaughlen, Clarence Mauck, John A. Wtlcox, E. B. Beau- mont, William O'Connell; First Lieutenants W. C. Hemphill, G. A. Thurston, C. L. Hudson, D. Lynch, Jr.; Second Lieuten- ants O. W. Budd, R. G. Carter, U. G. White, C. A. P. Hatfield, J. W. Martin, all of the 4th Cavalry, and Second Lieutenant John L. Bullis, 24th Infantry, commanding Seminole scouts. Lieutenant and Adjutant L. O. Parker, 4th Cavalry, and Acting Assistant Surgeon Donald Jackson. The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 53 Colonel Mackenzie reports that all of these officers acted handsomely and deserve consideration, and that every soldier showed, after the terribly hard ride, a creditable eagerness to attack. The following extracts from Colonel Mackenzie's report are published here as a carefully considered and deserved tribute to his command : "It was, however, the good fortune of Captain N. B. McLaugh- len and his company (I, 4th Cavalry) to be in the advance of the column, and I feel called on to mention the very gallant manner in which himself and Lieutenant Hudson led the com- pany, the men of which acted gallantly, to the extent of rashness. I also wish to mention Lieutenant Bullis, with the Seminole scouts, who behaved, under the command of that gallant officer, very well. I wish it understood, in making special mention of these officers, that others very probably would have acted quite as handsomely, but from leading the advance they attracted notice more especially. In an Indian fight officers and men soon get so scattered in the pursuit that it is perfectly impossible to give to each his proper credit. I mention Lieutenant Hudson specially this time, and should have done so before for gallantry on the north fork of Red River. I also wish to mention my Adjutant, Lieutenant Parker, and Doctor Jackson for gallantry and good conduct. My loss was three men wounded. Private Peter Carrigan, Company D, 4th Cavalry, who happened to be here on detached service, and was attached to Company I, was mortally wounded; Private William Pair, of I Company, 4th Cavalry, a splendid old soldier who has served in the regiment since its organization, loses his right arm near the shoulder ; Private Leonard Kjiippen- berger, Company E, 4th Cavalry, slightly wounded in the face, is now on duty. * * *" Colonel Mackenzie also specially commends the conduct of Captain Mauck, who was quite ill at the time, but insisted upon going with his company when informed that it was likely to get into a fight. He also expresses himself under great obligations to Lieuten- ant Colonel Shafter, 24th Infantry, commanding Fort Duncan, for his cordial cooperation and his active support throughout. The Commanding General tenders to Colonel Mackenzie and his gallant command his thanks and congratulations for the very handsome manner in which they accomplished this perilous and difficult work. The cheerful and ready conduct of the men under the unavoidable privations, having nothing to eat for nearly two days but a little hard bread, is quite as creditable to 54 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico them as their gallantry in the fight. It is believed that a few repetitions of this effective and summary punishment would give quiet to that portion of the Rio Grande frontier so long outraged by these Indians. By command of Brigadier General C. C. Augur: Chauncey McKeever, Assistant Adjutant General. Official: Colon Augur, Aide-de-Camp. A Record Ride It is the writer's belief, and it is on record, that this was one of the greatest long-distance rides ever made by a Cavalry Command of the United States Army, under the same or si'mi/ar conditions, i. e., distance and hours marched, viz, 1 60 miles in 32 marching hours, part of the time with a loaded pack train, and, on the return march, with captured women and children (the latter having to be lashed on the captured ponies to prevent their falling off), two desperately wounded men on travois (one of whom died at daybreak as we reached the ford), and a large bunch or caviard of captured stock driven loose on the trail. General Charles King in one of his cocksure military effusions, recording some of these long-distance individual and column rides, gives the distance marched by our com- mand as 145 miles. He does not state, however, where he got the figures. They were not given in my magazine article of 1886 in the Outing Magazine. As he was an officer of the Fifth United States Cavalry, and cited the long-distance march of General Merritt with that regi- ment to the relief of Major Thornburg in 1879, during the Ute uprising, and apparently to contrast it with the ride of the Fourth Cavalry, and as he was not with us nor kept any itinerary or record of our march, and the writer did keep one, it is left to the reader of this statement to The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 55 judge of the accuracy of the writer's record when com- pared with one made many years after by an officer who did not have the figures which have always been in my possession. The following is a transcript from my diary and itiner- ary of that march, as are all the foregoing statements of facts: From our grazing camp on the Piedras Pintos to Cap- tain Wilcox's camp on the Las Moras — From 3.30 a. m. to 8.30 a. m., May 17, 1873, 5 hours 20 miles From Captain Wilcox's camp to near the Rio Grande River, 2 p. m. to 6 p. m. (slow on account of heat) , 4 hours 12 miles From the river to Rey Molina, 8.30 p. m., May 17, to 4.30 a. m., May 18, 8 hours 58 miles From Rey MoHna, Mexico, to Green Van's ranch on the river i p. m., May 18, to 4 a. m., May 19, 15 hours 69 miles Total miles marched 159 miles Total hours marched 32 hrs. As Green Van's ranch or ford was about 25 miles above the ford at or near the mouth of the Las Moras, which we used when going into Mexico, our return march was some ten or twelve miles farther in reaching it. Our halt in Mexico after the action was from 7 to 8 hours, and from the time we had left our grazing camp on the Piedras Pintos, about 17 hours, or a total of 49 hours, during which we did not unsaddle. The distance gone over during the action, or about 3 miles, in rounding up the stolen stock, capturing ponies in scattered herds, etc., is not counted in the total miles actually covered, except in adding to the aggregate, to make it up to an even 160 miles in 32 marching hours, or one (i) mile added to a grand total of 159 miles. This is the minimum, 56 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico and a very conservative estimate. This differs only slightly from Mackenzie's report, which gives the distance — From Wilcox's camp to Rey Molina 70 miles From Piedras Pintos to Fort Clark 8 miles From Fort Clark to Wilcox's camp 12 miles Return from Rey Molina 70 miles Total miles marched 160 miles My diary gives distance from Piedras Pintos — Camp to Fort Clark as 7 miles And from Clark to Wilcox's camp as 12 miles As we did not go through Fort Clark (the nearest route to Wilcox's camp), but went a mile or two out of our way, to avoid being seen by Mexican spies about Brackett- ville, the actual distance is estimated at full 20 miles, which is a very moderate figure. From the Rio Grande to Remolino, 8 hours on the first night's march, we averaged at all gaits, mostly at a trot and slow gallop, 7}^ miles per hour, increasing our gait considerably at i a. m., after the packs had been "cut loose." This includes a halt made to close up the pack train, cut the packs from the mules, and distribute hard bread to the entire command, officers and men. On the return trip from i p. m., May 18, to 4 a. m., May 19, when we reached Green Van's ford, or 15 hours, with several halts, owing to the condition of the women and children (prisoners), our average was about 4 3-5 miles per hour. Besides, we were driving along loose many captured animals, captured ponies and horses stolen from ranches along the river. The expedition was, with one exception, an entire success. The villages had been destroyed, and the Indians and Mexicans had been terribly punished. This, with our casualties at a minimum. The only error com- mitted — and it was so vital that it nearly jeopardized or seemed to imperil the safety, if not the lives, of the entire The Mackenzie; Raid into Mexico 57 command — was in overloading the pack mules so that their gait and speed could not be adjusted to the fastest moving unit of the column, the fox-gaited beasts of the guides. In the judgment of the writer (but this is hind sight), half loads, which would have meant half rations for the entire command, both going and returning, would have resulted in completely regulating the speed of the slower with that of the faster unit. As it was, we were behind our schedule, always liable to miss fire in time of war however it may work out in the cut-and-dried pro- grammes of sham war maneuvers and sham battles. We missed making a complete bag of the game, and, as a result, fed on cracker dust and water for nearly thirty- six hours. The error was in favor of kindness to the men in indulging full stomachs. Conclusions and Reflections There was no "General Staff" nor "War Colleges;" no "Fort Leavenworth Stafif and Line Schools;" no "School of Fire;" no "Artillery," "Infantry" and "Cav- alry Schools;" no "National or International Target Competitions." There were no G-i, 2, 3, 4, etc.; no "S. O. S.;" no "Listening Posts" nor "Observation Posts;" no "Dugouts" nor "Trenches;" no "Telegraph Lines ' ' nor ' ' Signal Stations ;" no " Automobiles, ' ' ' ' Motor Trucks" nor "Troop Trains;" no "Airplanes" nor "Observation Baloons;" no "Hand Grenades;" no "Ma- chine Guns," "Indirect Fire" or "Barrages;" no "Flame Throwers;" no "Phosgene," "Mustard," "Tear" or "Sneezing" gas; no "Periscopes;" no "Stenographers" nor "Typewriters;" no "Base" or "Evacuation Hospi- tals ;" no " First Aid ;" no " Ambulances " nor " Stretchers ;" no "Recreation League" or "War Camp Community Ser- vice," no "Moving Pictures;" no "Camp Activities," "Camp Welfare "nor "Social Matrons;" no "Y.W.C. A.," or "Hostess Houses" "Y. M. C. A.," "K. of C." nor "Red Cross;" no "War Risk Insurance" (every man 58 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico insuring his own life in his own way), etc., etc., etc. But, best of all, we had no so-called "intensive training". Much of this incessant, long-drawn-out daily drill is done by young martinet drill masters fresh from West Point, who have had Uttle or no campaign or other service, no battle experience, and who have never seen a real battlefield, but who, like a "yearling" corporal, considers it necessary to make a reputation for efficiency, etc., no matter who the victims might be. Most of this tiresome daily repetition in merely tactical drill serves no good purpose except in parades, inspections, reviews and other military ceremonies which, during battle conditions, are absolutely cut out. The time taken for such useless drill could well be employed in work of much more value, needless here to fully dis- cuss. Perfection of drill in tactical combinations for maneuver purposes on the drill ground or parade is well enough for West Point, which is one of the show miUtary academies of the world, and, as such, is open to inspection by military critics from every country. But when in the game of training our American boys quickly for battle service, no time should be wasted. It must be borne in mind that what is laboriously taught to new men for show, in the shape of mathematical and tactical units on that parade, when the acid test of battle is appHed, such tactical combinations, which, by immediate and con- stantly recurring casualties goes to pieces after the first deployment under rifle and machine-gun fire, is a sheer waste of time and energy — well known to all battle- service soldiers, but only discovered by the camp drill master or to the average non-combatant officer after he, too, shall have received his first baptism of fire and acquired his first battle sense. Lines are sometimes so inextricably and hopelessly mixed and tangled up that no drill, which has been so incessantly hammered into the heads of such men during a period of so-called intensive training, would avail them; The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 59 while their discipHne, morale, and the common-sense tactics of some level-headed officers or non-commissioned officers, however, not only would, but generally does bring order out of chaos. There have been hundreds of such incidents in the late world war. The writer can cite many in the greatest battles of the Civil War in which he was engaged, including Gettysburg. No tactical drills on the battlefields during the great offensive drive of the German Guard and shock troops on March 21, 191 8, which had been taught to them at their great war-maneuver games, ever disentangled their almost inextricably mixed masses after a few days, fighting and rapid advance, but their iron discipline and morale did. When those two saving or controlling factors went into the discard after butting up against a few of our Yankee regular, N. G. and N. A. divisions from Soissons to the Argonne forest, the German military star, which had been in the ascendency, set in the darkness of gloom and despair, and the perfect discipline and morale went with it. The men in the training camps know that most of the incessant daily grind, this long-drawn-out effort to attain perfection in drill, is done to fulfill certain conditions, to satisfy or cover the prescribed programme from 5.30 a. m. to ID p. m., as given in the General Staff Instruc- tions from the War College, for "Intensive Training," and for no other practical or legitimate purpose. The "School of the Soldier" and the "Manual of Arms" "by the Count" or without the Count, can be taught by any good drill sergeant in a few hours. It need not measure up to the full perfection of the cadet. The few movements in the elementary drill of the "School of the Company," etc., necessary to get a man into battle (but not always sufficient to get him out), can be taught by any competent young officer in a very short period. After his careful instructions on the target range (not so much in long distances, but at short ranges and close quarters) 60 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico that is all the tactics he will need to know, and, even then, that same young officer would be amazed to go into battle with those men and see how quickly those simplest tactical combinations have to be thrown into the discard should they, perchance, become engaged in a close rough- and-tumble melee, or mix-up of any kind, where the units of fours and squad units are disintegrating every minute, and the squad leaders, guides and file closers are down — dead or d5dng. That is the sure-enough picture as seen by one who knows! Therefore to assume in a cock-sure fashion that a year or even six months (from two to three months is more than ample) is absolutely necessary to discipline and train a man to make him an effective battle- service soldier (he can not become a battle-service soldier anyway until he had been under fire and knows what it means, even should he be trained for years) — is one of those absurdities that has crept into the minds of the General Staff from the German War Schools where they pound years of inten- sive (?) training (five or ten, more or less) into the thick skulls of their "goose-step" soldiers, only to have it pounded out of them in one short day by comparatively green but intelligent Yankee soldiers with but a short period of training, but brains enough to more than make up for any deficiency. What a man needs, after he has been properly disci- plined and has been taught the use of his rifle — not in a perfect manual of arms, but on the target range, and given by a short cut and in the shortest possible period, a rapid and elastic tactical drill — is to be put into battle at once to get the battle instinct and to develop the battle sense and balance, i. e., to get over any panicky feeling, collect himself, and get his courage well in hand, without which all the tactical drill that has been jammed into him, either at West Point or anywhere else on God's footstool, would not save him — all this under experienced officers, battle-experienced, if possible. Their individual initia- The; Mackenzie; Raid into Mexico 61 tive, as developed in camp, moral courage, endurance, discipline, and what Kipling vulgarly terms as "guts," must do the rest. But this everlasting daily "intensive" drilling and training, this constant hammering of tactics into a man's head fresh from the farm or factory or office, on the hottest of hot days, when he will probably never have to use the same in battle, is but another method for testing out good men in an effort to disgust them, to break down their spirits, enthusiasm and morale, to tire them out and make them go stale, and to exhaust their physical strength in determining whether they will or will not respond to an emergency or exigency which has not yet occurred. We found that good discipline alone, with moderate drill (and none at all on hot days, the drills always taking place in the early morning) under officers of experience, good horse sense and judgment, answered the purpose better than so much drive, and we found that we could always rely upon their reserve strength when the crisis came for which it was most needed. When tired out from long, unnecessary drills they did not so readily respond, because they could not. There were no "Union men" in the Fourth Cavalry; no "mess-hall" or "silence" strikes for more beans and thicker soup, and no "lock- outs.' ' There were no ' ' insubordinations " or " mutinies ' ' promoted by dangerous propaganda. The so-called intensive training and every-day incessant drill, especially in sultry weather, was never attempted, because it was never found necessary. The discipline in the Fourth Cavalry was perfect, because it was constant and unremit- ting and based upon absolute fairness and justice. The men were marvelously obedient to such discipline and training. Punishments were generally administered in the Company under the strictest supervision and control of the most experienced officers and non-commissioned officers of the Civil and Indian Wars. Under these conditions, the regiment was always ready for a "fight or a frolic." 62 The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico Owing to long, continuous Indian campaigns, when the hardships were of the most unusual character, and the command saw no human habitations for months, nothing but Indians, buffalo, wolves, jack-rabbits, prairie dogs, sage brush, cactus and alkali, and the long-drawn-out monotony of desert sand, "shin oak," and "bad lands," there were some desertions, but, compared to more recent dates, they were at a minimum and therefore practically negligible. We had few courts-martial. General Sher- man once wrote: "Too many courts-martial in any com- mand are evidence of poor discipline and inefficient officers. The Captain can usually inflict all the punish- ment necessary, and the Colonel should always." There were no "Kriegspiel" or 'war-maneuver" games; no "Sham Battles " between " Blue and Brown " armies with amateur "Umpires" to decide "Points" and count ''theoretical corpses when nobody is being killed, wounded or scratched, no bullets flying or tactical units being disturbed. No "Brown" (enemy) forces were conveniently placed in positions selected for offense or defense, because no enemy ever permits himself to be thus posted to satisfy the plans of an opponent, or to place himself where he does not want to be. If, however, in order to play soldier, this is done, it is to sacrifice every common-sense principle of real war and to accept a cut-and-dried plan to please the sham-battle fighter. All sham-battle exercises are, therefore, not only not practical in their application, and, in the judgment of the writer, worse than useless, but are positively harmful, false, and misleading to both officers and men. Any man who has ever been in a real wild- cat battle will, it is beheved, support this statement, and all such training of our men should be hereafter cut out. We had no such starthng array of war auxiliaries to contend with as have here been enumerated, nor were they necessary to inspire the Fourth Cavalry with a fighting spirit. The Mackenzie Raid into Mexico 63 All of these accessories or modern adjuncts to an Army which have been deemed necessary to a successful prose- cution of this world war are cited, not by way of criticism or invidious comparison, but to demonstrate to the present military student and to many of our theoretical soldiers how it was possible for a small, but most efficient, cavalry command of perfectly disciplined and properly trained men under good leadership, to achieve almost perfect suc- cess without any of this machinery that has sprung up in connection with the operations of our present Army. We had simply a straight-out Cavalry Command, the best soldiers that ever straddled a horse, dependent upon nothing nor nobody — for morality, sobriety, morale, efficiency, good conduct, bravery, and all that goes to make up a first-class, true-blue soldier of the old days, except proper, reasonable training and the necessary rigid discipline that makes for good service, a personal supervision by well-trained, experienced company officers and " crack-a-jack" non-commissioned officers. It was a small, but absolutely compact and mobile column of physically perfect, discipUned men, with both horses and men trained as hard as nails. It was practically a "hand- picked" command, with all the weak personnel carefully weeded out. No animals were abandoned or lost. Mac- kenzie's Kentucky thoroughbred committed suicide. These red-blooded troopers did not have to be "molly- coddled," daily indulged with "loUypops" from the canteens, etc., or entertained and "fed up" with "church" and "parlor socials" and "cabaret shows" and "dances," etc., etc., to keep him from becoming homesick, losing his morale and deserting, although he was possessed of the same sentiments, the same feelings, the same longings, and all the natural traits and characteristics that make up our present volunteer regulars, our National Army and selected draft soldiers of today, who have so gallantly upheld the honor of their country and its flag in this long, wearisome, sanguinary world war. 64 The Mackenzie; Raid into Mexico With this Command of our Httle regular Army, on this terrible raid, it was all ''No-Man's Land," a veritable ' ' Terreno Desconocido. ' ' There was nothing but slow, tri-weekly mails and courier service. Good, brave men hardened down to their best form; drilled, hut not over drilled, disciplined to per- fect obedience, trained, with morale, spirit and enthusiasm unimpaired by becoming stale through long, unnecessary, so-called ''intensive training;" horses — ^no scrubs — trained hard, plenty of bottom and endurance; good weapons, always ready for instant action, at short ranges and close "in-and-in" fighting and personal combat. Added to these conditions, there was only needed a bold, enterprising, resourceful, but above all, a command- ing officer with nerve, daring, iron will and quick decision — the man who commanded a veteran cavalry division under Sheridan at Appomattox, and whom General Grant declared was "the most promising young officer in the Army" — a reliable, active Adjutant, an experienced and tireless Quartermaster, with the invaluable services of reliable, trustworthy, loyal guides — to accompUsh such an apparently impossible and hopeless task as this great Mackenzie raid into Mexico. k '^ L