Ride Out Men of Fort Apache

Ride Out Men of Fort Apache

Suzanne Marsh

“Orderly, please have Captain Goodwin report to me as soon as is practicable.” The orderly knew exactly where to find Captain Goodwin: in the large barn, preparing his horse, Nate, for patrol. Fort Apache was in a very desolate area, and the Apache attacked at least twice a week. Chochise, chief of the Chiricahua Apache, made his presence known to the white settlers.

“Captain Goodwin, sir, Colonel Hudson would like a word with you before your patrol

moves out.”

“Very well, corporal, please tell Colonel Hudson I will be there momentarily.”

Corporal Thomas Hudson strode back to the Colonel’s office;

“Colonel, sir, Captain Goodwin will be here in a few moments; he was checking his

saddle, rifle, and water canteens.”

“Very well, Corporal, thank you.” Corporal Hudson saluted, turned on his heel, and returned

to his job. Moments later, Captain Josh Goodwin entered the Colonel’s outer office;

Corporal Hudson saluted him:

“Go in, Captain. Colonel Hudson is expecting you.”

“Thank you, Corporal.”

Captain Goodwin strode into the Colonel’s office. The Colonel looked up as Captain Goodwin saluted.

“Have a seat, Josh. Chochise is your major objective. I understand Tom Jeffords has been

up to see him; hopefully, he will come in quietly. If Chochise will not come to Fort Apache,

then we will forcibly bring him here. Chochise’s stronghold is in the Dragoon Mountains,

There are cliffs that they used for an ambush. Good Luck, Goodwin.” Captain Goodwin spun on his heel after saluting the Colonel. He was not happy about going into the Dragoon Mountains; he wished Chochise and his band were in a flatter area; at least it would not be as hard on the horses and mules. Captain Goodwin returned to his horse, Nate, and mounted up. He had a ten-man patrol; he prayed that would be enough men; he had seen what Chochise was capable of, he had seen his share of scalped men, women, and even children. The Bascom Affair had angered Chochise, since Bascom, that fool, had hanged Chochise’s brother and nephews. Goodwin shook himself; there was no sense in thinking about any of that; he had a job to do. Nate was saddled; everything he would need for this patrol was on a pack horse. Boots and Saddles announced it was time for the patrol to mount up and ride out. Nate began to prance around as Goodwin rode to the head of the patrol:

“TROOPERS FORWARD HO!” Goodwin yelled. The gates opened for the patrol, and they rode out toward the Dragoon Mountains, Chochise’s stronghold. The men bedded down for the night at the foot of the mountains. Goodwin hoped that they would awaken with their scalps intact. Chochise, Goodwin had no doubt already knew he was there.

A beautiful pink sky appeared around dawn; a lone rider appeared on the horizon, and he sat high in the saddle. He rode directly into their camp: “Hello, the camp. I am Tom Jeffords, Chochise’s representative and friend.” Goodwin asked Jeffords to come to his tent; he needed to speak to him alone. Jefford followed Goodwin to his tent; Goodwin offered him jerky for breakfast and hardtack. It wasn’t much, but it was all Goodwin had. Jeffords ate silently, wondering just what Goodwin wanted to talk about. He did not have to wait long:

“Mr. Jefford, I am here to bring Chochise back to Fort Apache, where he and his band will

reside on the reservation there. I am hoping that Chochise will cooperate with us.” Tom Jefford’s eyes widen:

“Look, Captain Goodwin, is it? I have no control over what Chochise does. Yes, I am his

friend, and yes, I represent him. Let me explain something about Chochise, he is not a

man to trifle with, he is the leader of the Apache. I will tell you one thing, he will not

surrender, nor will he go back on the reservation. The reservation did not provide

food for the Apache as was promised; so Chochise did what any man with honor would do; he

took matters into his own hands. There will never be any peace between Chochise and the

white man. He will not leave the Dragoon Mountians alive.” Goodwin glared at Jeffords:

“I will return to the fort with Chochise’s answer. I sincerely hope that this is not his

Final word on this subject.” Jefford rose from the camp chair he had been sitting in; he strode toward his horse and mounted, more annoyed than he had been in years.

Goodwin knew that once Jefford arrived back at the stronghold, he would tell Chochise all that was said. He sent for his orderly: “Quietly have the men mount up, we are going back to Fort Apache.” The patrol rode back to the fort; Colonel Hudson sat patiently in his office, awaiting Goodwin. Goodwin quickly explained that he was outnumbered and that Chochise had no intention of returning to the reservation. Colonel Hudson sent for his Corporal:

“Have the regiment mounted and ready to leave in thirty minutes.” The corporal did as he was instructed. Two hours later, Boots and Saddles sounded, the regiment mounted, Colonel Hudson at the head of the column. The regiment rode directly to the Dragoon Mountains; there, they prepared to ride into the stronghold, surprising Chochise and his warriors. Chochise sent Tom Jeffords to Colonel Hudson, hoping to deter him from riding into the stronghold.

The sun rose as the troopers mounted their horses; in the distance, Colonel Hudson noted a great deal of dust. He turned to Tom Jeffords:

“Where is all that dust coming from? There is no wind today.” Jeffords turned to face Colonel:

“Colonel, those are the squaws and children raising the dust to make it look like Chochise is

riding in to fight. He is still in the mountains, waiting to take out this entire regiment.”

Shots began to ring out, and Colonel Hudson ordered the troopers to form a circle to protect themselves. Indian yells could be heard high in the mountains as troopers began to drop like flies. The regiment was trapped; they could not move forward or backward, and they were surrounded.

Colonel Hudson was gravely wounded. He asked to speak to Goodwin:

“Josh, if you get out of here alive, give this to my wife.” It was his wedding ring.

Josh took the ring, put it in his tunic just as Tom Jeffords approached:

“Captain Goodwin, half the regiment is down; put an end to this nonsense. Chochise does

not want war; he simply wants to live here in the mountains. He will not return to

the reservation, there is not enough food to feed his people.”

Goodwin listened carefully. He knew that Jeffords was right:

“Jeffords, I will speak to Chochise, and I will send for General Philip Sheridan, he is the only

one who can make that decision other than President Grant.”

“I can’t ask for anything more than that, Captain.” Jeffords waved a white handkerchief, and dust began to rise as Goodwin noted Indians coming down into the camp. There atop a large black and white pinto sat a grey-haired Indian, Chochise, himself. He dismounted and strode toward Jeffords and Goodwin:

“I am Chochise. Jeffords tells me to trust you. My people are hungry.” Goodwin began:

“I will do my best, as soon as I return to Fort Apache, I will contact General Sheridan, who

will go to the ‘great white father’ in Washington, President Grant. We will see that your

people have food.”

Jeffords felt relief; there would be no war, no more scalps being taken. Chochise, after Goodwin had left, told Jeffords that Goodwin seemed like an honest man.

The remainder of the regiment returned to Fort Apache. Goodwin was as good as his word. Chochise kept his promise; he and his band remained in the Dragoon Mountains.