The Chiricahua Apache Prisoners of War: Fort Sill, 1894-1914 by John Anthony Turcheneske Jr

Author:John Anthony Turcheneske, Jr. [John Anthony Turcheneske, Jr.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Native, editing
ISBN: 0870814656
Publisher: University Press of Colorado
Published: 2007-12-28T08:00:00+00:00

Captain Dan T. Moore. Courtesy Fort Sill Museum.

Moore must have rankled at what he doubtless viewed as a restraint upon the Field Artillery School of Fire's effectiveness. In a somewhat defensive manner, Moore caustically replied on March 16 that the Chiricahuas' villages were situated in a way that prevented large stretches of the military reservation from being "used for target practice without shooting over or near one of them." Twisting the actual facts, Moore then suggested that "these so-called prisoners of war have more rights and privileges than free men." They were, he insisted, "too lazy to work. Hired men make their crops and cut hay for them." Furthermore, the government purchased this forage and reissued it to them to "feed to Government mules which are used in making" their crops. Moore concluded his tirade with the biting comment that the "Indian rights gang would be the first to howl if we gave these cut-throats exact justice.''17 The disgruntled captain then requested more specific guidelines, in terms of respecting Chiricahua property rights, for firing on the range.18 Again admonishing Moore, Greble advised him to exercise patience. There was, after all, "no use of giving a weapon to the friends of the Indians."19

Several months later, Acting Secretary Oliver advised the opposition that, once again considering the Chiricahua question, the War Department hoped to arrive at a satisfactory resolution of this most complicated issue.20 On July 20, 1911, Major General Arthur Murray, acting chief of staff, unveiled a plan that amply demonstrated that the military, for some time, had assiduously labored in search of just such an acceptable solution. Because large sums had already been expended on the artillery school's establishment, Murray believed "it would . . . pay the Government well to make such inducements to the Indians that they would be glad to take their land at some other place." As a preliminary measure, Murray thought it best to ascertain what might be offered the Chiricahuas, as well as the degree of amenability among "their white advocates" to such action. Of course, negotiations with the Chiricahuas would have to be opened and conducted carefully to avoid even the appearance of forcing them from Fort Sill.21

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