Battle of Devil's Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Devil's Creek |
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| Part of Geronimo's War, Apache Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Apache | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 James Parker Charles B. Gatewood |
Geronimo | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| unknown | ~25 warriors | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3 wounded | unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Devil's Creek was a small but important fight. It happened during Geronimo's War, which was part of the larger Apache Wars. This battle took place on May 22, 1885. It was near a town called Alma in New Mexico. This was the very first battle of the campaign against the famous Apache leader Geronimo. The United States Army won this fight. They forced the Apache warriors to leave their positions.
The Battle Begins
On May 16, 1885, about 25 Chiricahua Apache warriors were on a raid. They were moving between Arizona and New Mexico from northern Mexico. That day, they had killed two miners near Alma. They also stole some horses.
Because of this, on May 17, Captain Allen Smith set out. He was from Fort Apache, Arizona. Captain Smith led two groups of soldiers from the 4th Cavalry. He also had some Apache Scouts with him. These scouts were led by Lieutenants Leighton Finley and Charles B. Gatewood.
Six days later, Captain Smith's group was riding. They were in the canyonlands along Devil's Creek. This area is in the Mogollon Mountains. Suddenly, the Apache warriors started shooting. They fired rifles from the top of a tall cliff.
The Fight at Devil's Creek
During the fight, one Apache scout was hurt. Two American soldiers were also wounded. Two of their horses were killed. The soldiers and scouts thought Geronimo was leading the Apache warriors. However, some historians believe it was a warrior named Chihuahua.
Captain Smith later wrote about what happened. He said his group found water and decided to camp. The creek was between two very steep mountains. About an hour later, he sent scouts up the south mountain. They were looking for the Apache trail. When the scouts got near the top, the Chiricahuas fired at them.
The scouts ran back down. But they quickly regrouped and went back up with the soldiers. They charged up the mountain. The Apache warriors had chosen a good spot to fight. But the soldiers and scouts moved up so quickly. The Apache warriors broke and ran before the soldiers reached the top.
About 600 yards further, they found the main Apache camp. It looked like the first camp they had made since leaving Turkey Creek. In the camp, they found a lot of meat drying. They also found one saddled horse and two other horses. There were 19 fires in this camp.
The fight lasted about half an hour. The Apache warriors fired many shots very quickly. On the American side, Private Haag was shot in the right thigh. Private Williams was slightly wounded in the arm. One scout was shot badly through the left arm. One horse was killed and another wounded. Captain Smith believed they had wounded some Apache warriors too. He praised his officers, including Lieutenants Parker, Gatewood, Lockett, and Finley. He also praised his men and the scouts. Lieutenant Parker was the first officer to reach the top of the mountain.
After the fight, Captain Smith advanced a few miles. But the Apache trail scattered in every direction. The scouts couldn't find water further on. So, he returned to his camp. He left a guard on the mountain. The wounded scout said Geronimo shot him. Captain Smith believed the Apache warriors were waiting for them. They had set up their trail to create a crossfire. It was lucky that Captain Smith decided to camp. This surprised the Apache warriors.
Soldier Accounts
One American soldier later said that several men were bathing in the stream when the Apache warriors attacked. They continued to fight even then.
Lieutenant Leighton Finley was with the 10th Cavalry. But he was helping command the Apache scouts with the 4th Cavalry. Lieutenant James Parker, who later became a general, asked Lieutenant Finley to write about the fight.
Lieutenant Finley wrote that Captain Smith and Lieutenant Lockett had left. Around 2 o'clock, the horses were being driven slowly up the eastern hill. They had not yet reached the top. Then, a shot was fired, followed quickly by more shots. The firing became sharp and rapid. This fire came from the Apache warriors. They were shooting at the scouts. Lieutenant Gatewood had sent these scouts to the top of the eastern hill to watch.
Lieutenant Parker, Lieutenant Gatewood, and Lieutenant Finley were sitting under a tree. This was on the eastern bank of the creek. Most of the soldiers were in camp on the west bank. The canyon was very narrow. At the first shot, the three lieutenants stood up. The quick firing showed what was happening. Sergeant Warren of Troop K called to the men to get to the horses. But Lieutenant Parker shouted, "Never mind the herd, get your guns!" Lieutenant Finley repeated the order. He saw Lieutenant Parker and four or five men starting up the eastern hill. Lieutenant Finley called to the rest of the men to follow.
The first group to reach the top of the hill had about 17 men. This included officers and soldiers, mostly from Troop K. Lieutenant Parker led them up the hill quickly. They used rock ledges to rest. The hill was very steep, at least 500 feet high. Lieutenant Gatewood came up right behind this first group.
About halfway up, they met the horses being driven down. The soldiers guarding the horses did their job well. After passing the horses, they met the Indian scouts running down. Lieutenant Finley heard Lieutenant Gatewood shout to them and rally them. He brought them up to the top right after the first group arrived.
The Apache warriors kept firing until the soldiers were almost at the top. When they reached the top, they saw that the Apache warriors had run away. They scattered in every direction. In a few minutes, some men pushed forward. They found the Apache camp on the plateau, about 500 yards from the top. Seventeen fires were still burning or had hot coals. The Apache warriors left behind clothes, equipment, and a lot of beef in their hurry. One of the scouts captured a pony saddle and bridle. About five to ten minutes after they reached the top, Lieutenant Lockett arrived. Captain Smith arrived about five minutes after that.
Aftermath
On June 1, 1885, General George Crook sent a telegram. He was the commander of the Department of Arizona. He sent it to the Division of the Pacific in San Francisco, California. He reported that Captain Smith had found the main group of Apache warriors. He planned to send more soldiers to the area. This was to catch any Apache warriors trying to sneak back to the reservation.
However, the "main body" of Apache warriors was actually heading back to Mexico. They easily slipped past the American troops. These troops were at Stein's Pass and along the border. A smaller group, led by Chief Mangus, was still raiding in New Mexico. But they were being chased by soldiers from the 6th Cavalry.
