D  e  s  e  r  t     E  x  p  o  s  u  r  e     September 2005

Sending in the Cavalry

Fort Bayard Days, Sept. 16-18, recalls the wild and
wooly history of Rough Riders, Buffalo Soldiers and
the US Cavalry.

Here's your chance to join the Rough Riders. "Teddy Roosevelt" will be at the annual Fort Bayard Days, Sept. 16-18, at Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark this year to "recruit" troops. Like all the events at Fort Bayard Days, TR's recruiting visit is grounded in history—New Mexico really did supply the bulk of the famed Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War.

Fort Bayard's rich and varied history also prominently includes the "Buffalo Soldiers," African-American cavalry troops who demonstrated heroism in this corner of the Wild West, among the last parts of the American frontier to be "tamed." Re-enactments during Fort Bayard Days will celebrate these soldiers whose exploits once blazed across the region. In his recently published book, Six-Guns and Single-Jacks: A History of Silver City and Southwestern New Mexico (Gila Books, www.gilabooks.com, $21.95), award-winning Western history author Bob Alexander recalls two incidents involving the fort's Buffalo Soldiers that led to Congressional Medals of Honor.

The first, in 1877, began with a six-man detachment of 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers and three Navaho scouts, riding out of Fort Bayard under command of Lieutenant Henry H. Wright. They found a Chiricahua hideout in the Florida Mountains, Alexander writes: "Undermanned and outnumbered, Lt. Wright decided on a confab rather than an out-and-out charge on the hostile Apache camp. For a half-hour the two sides squabbled. When Wright tried to remove himself to his horse, Apache blocked the way. Soldiers fired, and all hell broke loose, cavalrymen having to use their rifle butts as clubs during hand-to-hand combat. Seizing the moment, Corporal Clifton [Clinton] Greaves fought like a man possessed, 'managing to shoot and bash a gap through the swarming Apaches, permitting his companions to break free.' No soldiers were killed, but five Apache were. Others were wounded. The fortunate squadron, pleased to even be alive, returned to Fort Bayard with six Indian horses. For his heroic action, Corp. Greaves was awarded tthe prized Medal of Honor."

Fort Bayard's Lt. Wright and his men figured again in the second saga of medal-winning heroism by the Buffalo Soldiers, which took place in 1879. Alexander picks up the story with the famed and elusive Apache Victorio in Six-Guns and Single-Jacks:

On Silver City's outskirts Victorio's raiders fell upon stockmen, killing all four and making off with 15 mules. Thereafter they killed two more cutoff unfortunates. Soldiers took to the field. Chasing close on Victorio's heels were Captain Charles D. Beyer, New York born and of Dutch descent, and the previously mentioned Lieutenant Henry H. Wright, both riding out of Fort Bayard. With 46 enlisted 9th Cavalrymen, two Navaho scouts and a civilian guide, John R. Foster, the patrol set their northerly course and galloped into the mountain country. It was ablaze, on fire all the way to the Gila River's headwaters. With great difficulty and danger the army boys camped and meandered while they hunted for fresh Apache sign and trigger-finger closure with an elusive enemy. The Apache were setting backfires to cover their tracks, making Foster's work all the more thorny. Determined though, the skillful guide cut a significant trail two days old. Foster figured there were 20 Apache, and the chase was on.

Atop the Continental Divide on May 29, 1879, Apache and Army locked up. Hollering back and forth, the two sides bantered for advantage, but talk came to naught. Sergeant Delaware Penn, leading a squadron, outflanked the Apache. The sharp battle raged for a half-hour, during which time Lt. Wright's horse was killed beneath his knees. Racing to Wright's rescue, Sergeant Thomas Boyne 'spurred his horse and executed a one-man charge. His audacity and marksmanship halted the Indian attack as abruptly as it had begun' and he saved the lucky lieutenant's life! After the horrific exchange and expenditure of scarce ammunition, Victorio was forced to slip down the mountain's western slope, abandoning the Chihennes' camp and its substantial stores of 'blankets, skins, hides, baskets, meat and mescal,' which was quickly burned by the soldiers. The scorecard? At least two of the Apache were wounded—perhaps, from the amount of spilt blood, fatally. Private Frank Dorsey was killed outright, Private George H. Moore was seriously injured, and Private John Scott was slightly wounded. Again, a hard-fighting Buffalo Soldier, Tom Boyne, was awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor for disregarding danger and rushing to Lt. Wright's defense.

Not everything about Fort Bayard's colorful past was quite so heroic, of course. Elsewhere in Six-Guns and Single-Jacks, Alexander notes,

Silver City was not the only place one so inclined could take a drink. Whiskey and whores always seep toward profitability—no matter where. The demographic at early Silver City—a predominance of young single men—was alluring to those purveyors specializing in what is now termed traditional vice. But Silver City had competition. There was another assortment of lonesome males just down the road at nearby Fort Bayard. Grant County's first seat of government, Central City, was within a mile or two of the US Army’s military outpost, and the town was 'filled with saloons.' Drunkenness at frontier army posts was typically widespread: 'in view of the isolation, lack of social opportunities, hard work and boredom, sometimes all mixed together. . . soldiers, both black and white, turned to drink.'

For a while Central City was home for '50 or so' nymphes de paves, entertaining locals and troops with the wiles of the oldest profession. Military hierarchy normally indicted enlisted ranks for supporting the profession, many times turning a blind eye to an officer's bargain shopping for female company. With any retailing effort a want of customers is ruinous. At Fort Bayard the ready man market kept the ladies engaged in a brisk business, despite sometimes hypocritical denials to the contrary. When top brass sporadically cracked down, putting Central City off limits, sexually deprived soldiers conspiratorially smuggled greedy prostitutes onto the post. During at least one southwestern New Mexico Territory soldierly tryst, a 9th Cavalry sergeant was embarrassingly caught in barracks gratifying licentious fantasy, writhing and tangled in a ménage à trois. He was disciplined—after the fact—and very well may have considered the lustful rendezvous more than worth the punishment.

 

While the Fort Bayard Days re-enactments won't exactly recreate that bit of history, they will present a wide variety of activities not limited to soldiering. On Friday, Sept. 16, events kick off with School Days from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., with more than 30 living-history stations (again, presumably not including the above historic encounter) for local school groups and home-schoolers to tour. That will be followed by a square dance at the Fort Theatre ($3).

Saturday, Sept. 17, opens with a flag ceremony at 9 a.m. Interpretive centers will be open for touring from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while special programs are scheduled throughout the day: 10 a.m. Ron Henderson as Lt. Fountain, the soldier who "discovered" the Gila Cliff Dwellings; 11-11:30 a.m. Silver Square Dancers; 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. barbecue lunch by Copper Creek Ranch ($8); 12-12:30 p.m. T.J. Duncan music in the gazebo; 2-3 p.m. Toby Giese talks about his book, Apaches; 3-4 p.m. lemonade and cookies in the theater. The recreation and games center for kids will be open all day. Saturday evening brings the Military Ball at the Fort Theatre—costumes preferred but not required—from 7-10:30 p.m. ($2 FBHPS members, $3 non-members).

Finally, Sunday, Sept. 18, will close the festivities with a military worship service at 10 a.m. at the theater.

Other upcoming events at historic Fort Bayard include free guided walking tours the second Saturday of every month (Sept. 10), beginning at 9:30 a.m. (reservations requested—contact the Silver City / Grant County Chamber of Commerce or Tina Joslin, 538-9664), and the annual Harvest Tea, Oct. 8, 2-4 p.m. Tickets for the tea will be available at the chamber of commerce beginning Sept. 8. For information, contact Annette Mitchem, 534-0794.

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