Settlers versus Natives: The Camp Grant Massacre, April 30, 1871
The Bascom Affair in 1861 wasn't the only provocation to the Apache in
Arizona. Ten years later, in April 30, 1871, Settlers in
Arizona launched yet another preemptive strike on the Apache that
would ratchet up the tensions and the reprisals another notch.
Camp Grant was a U.S. Army installation along the San Pedro River, about 50 miles from Tucson. In 1870, 1st Lt. Royal Whitman assumed command of the fort. One day, a group of Apache women came to the fort, looking for a relative who had been taken prisoner. Whitman fed the women and treated them kindly. Soon other Apaches happened by the fort, and were also received hospitably. Whitman soon conceived the idea of creating a refuge for Natives who wanted the Army's protection along Aravaipa Creek. Eskaminzin, a leader of a band of Aravaipa and Pinal Apache soon settled in with his people and began cutting hay and planting fields, intending to go on about their lives. Whitman was concerned about feeling against the Natives in Tucson and other communities and urged the old man to move his people near Fort Apache. Eskaminzin saw no need to move.
Meanwhile in Tucson, various factions were growing uneasy about the ongoing wars with the Apache for different reasons. War makes for good business. Several Tucson merchants did a lucrative business supplying blankets and other trade goods to Natives with whom the government was trying to induce to move onto reservations. As more and more tribes resisted the move and were forcibly placed on reservations, this particular avenue of trade was drying up. They feared that continued harassment of the Native population would cut into this business. Meanwhile, livestock in the Tucson area ended up disappearing from time to time and angry Settlers didn't differentiate between Apache who weren't interested in peace with the Whites, Eskaminzin's people at Aravaipa Creek or even common cattle rustlers. Tucson citizens created a Committee of Safety to determine ways to handle the thefts. They decided to take matters into their own hands with a preemptive strike.
Jesus Maria Elias was a leader of the Mexican community in Tucson and contacted Tohono O'odham with whom he was friendly, and who were traditionally enemies to Eskaminzin's band. Anglo leader William S. Oury began recruiting men and collecting arms and ammunition. On April 28, 6 Anglos, 48 Mexicans and 92 Tohono O'odham set out from Rillito Canyon. On April 30, 1871, they arrived at Aravaipa Creek. Most of the men were away hunting, and the people left in the Apache camp were mostly women, children and non-combatants. When the attack was over, 144 Pinal and Aravaipa men, women and children were dead, many of them scalped. Twenty-nine kids were taken to Mexico and sold as slaves. Whitman was horrified when he learned of the killings, buried the bodies, tended the few survivors and tried to assure the Aravaipa and Pinal of his continued goodwill. Many of them remained at Aravaipa Creek, desperately needing the Army's protection.
Back in Tucson, some citizens were outraged at the attack. Merchant William Hopkins Tonge wrote directly to the U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, saying that "the Indians at the time of the massacre being so taken by surprise and considering themselves perfectly safe with scarcely any arms, those that could get away ran for the mountains." Word spread, with public opinion against the perpetrators in Tucson. President Grant informed Territorial Governor Safford that he would place the territory under martial law if the perpetrators weren't caught, tried and punished. Over 100 people were arrested, but juries refused to return any guilty verdicts. Apache bands in the area moved on before any more violence could reach them, some joining the Yavapai and continuing raids on isolated Whites.
Camp Grant was a U.S. Army installation along the San Pedro River, about 50 miles from Tucson. In 1870, 1st Lt. Royal Whitman assumed command of the fort. One day, a group of Apache women came to the fort, looking for a relative who had been taken prisoner. Whitman fed the women and treated them kindly. Soon other Apaches happened by the fort, and were also received hospitably. Whitman soon conceived the idea of creating a refuge for Natives who wanted the Army's protection along Aravaipa Creek. Eskaminzin, a leader of a band of Aravaipa and Pinal Apache soon settled in with his people and began cutting hay and planting fields, intending to go on about their lives. Whitman was concerned about feeling against the Natives in Tucson and other communities and urged the old man to move his people near Fort Apache. Eskaminzin saw no need to move.
Meanwhile in Tucson, various factions were growing uneasy about the ongoing wars with the Apache for different reasons. War makes for good business. Several Tucson merchants did a lucrative business supplying blankets and other trade goods to Natives with whom the government was trying to induce to move onto reservations. As more and more tribes resisted the move and were forcibly placed on reservations, this particular avenue of trade was drying up. They feared that continued harassment of the Native population would cut into this business. Meanwhile, livestock in the Tucson area ended up disappearing from time to time and angry Settlers didn't differentiate between Apache who weren't interested in peace with the Whites, Eskaminzin's people at Aravaipa Creek or even common cattle rustlers. Tucson citizens created a Committee of Safety to determine ways to handle the thefts. They decided to take matters into their own hands with a preemptive strike.
Jesus Maria Elias was a leader of the Mexican community in Tucson and contacted Tohono O'odham with whom he was friendly, and who were traditionally enemies to Eskaminzin's band. Anglo leader William S. Oury began recruiting men and collecting arms and ammunition. On April 28, 6 Anglos, 48 Mexicans and 92 Tohono O'odham set out from Rillito Canyon. On April 30, 1871, they arrived at Aravaipa Creek. Most of the men were away hunting, and the people left in the Apache camp were mostly women, children and non-combatants. When the attack was over, 144 Pinal and Aravaipa men, women and children were dead, many of them scalped. Twenty-nine kids were taken to Mexico and sold as slaves. Whitman was horrified when he learned of the killings, buried the bodies, tended the few survivors and tried to assure the Aravaipa and Pinal of his continued goodwill. Many of them remained at Aravaipa Creek, desperately needing the Army's protection.
Back in Tucson, some citizens were outraged at the attack. Merchant William Hopkins Tonge wrote directly to the U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, saying that "the Indians at the time of the massacre being so taken by surprise and considering themselves perfectly safe with scarcely any arms, those that could get away ran for the mountains." Word spread, with public opinion against the perpetrators in Tucson. President Grant informed Territorial Governor Safford that he would place the territory under martial law if the perpetrators weren't caught, tried and punished. Over 100 people were arrested, but juries refused to return any guilty verdicts. Apache bands in the area moved on before any more violence could reach them, some joining the Yavapai and continuing raids on isolated Whites.
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