The Yavapai Wars , or the Tonto Wars , were a series of armed conflicts between the Yavapai and Tonto tribes against the United States in the Arizona Territory . The period began no later than 1861, with the arrival of American settlers on Yavapai and Tonto land. At the time, the Yavapai were considered a band of the Western Apache people due to their close relationship with tribes such as the Tonto and Pinal. The war culminated with the Yavapai's removal from the Camp Verde Reservation to San Carlos on February 27, 1875, an event now known as Exodus Day.
36-523: With the Mohave people's power greatly diminished, Tolkepaya saw that they needed to make new alliances to protect their safety. In April 1863, Quashackama, a well-known Tolkepaya, met with Arizona Territory superintendent of Indian affairs Charles Poston , along with representatives of the Pimas, Mohaves, Maricopas and Chemehuevis , at Fort Yuma , to sign an agreement intended "to promote the commerce in safety between
72-541: A printer's devil . Poston was orphaned at the age of twelve, and was apprenticed to the local county clerk , Samuel Haycraft. Following his apprenticeship, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee , where he clerked for the Tennessee Supreme Court while reading law . Poston married Haycraft's daughter, Margaret, in November 1849 and the couple had a daughter, Sarah Lee Poston, who reached adulthood. Charles Poston
108-522: A London newspaper, foreign correspondent to the New York Tribune , and as a "counselor-at-law". Poston also wrote several books during this time, publishing The Parsees in 1872, The Sun Worshippers of Asia in 1877, and his poem Apache Land in 1878. His work, Building a State in Apache Land was published in installments by Overland Monthly between July and October 1894. Poston returned to
144-538: A Parsi fire temple on a nearby hill, paying for construction of a road to the summit. The temple itself was decorated with a blue and white flag depicting a red sun and built upon the ruins of an older Indian structure. Construction ended when Poston ran out of funds. He attempted to raise additional money, even writing to the Shah of Iran , but his efforts failed and the temple's eternal flame failed shortly thereafter. This unusual interest led to Poston being criticized as
180-647: A crank and eccentric. Following his time in Florence he moved to Tucson and supported himself with a variety of positions including lecturer, mining and railroad promoter, and writer. In 1884 he became a consular agent in Nogales followed by an assignment as a civilian military agent in El Paso, Texas , in 1887 and as employee of U.S. Geological Survey in 1889. Poston declined into obscurity until 1897 when Whitelaw Reid published an account detailing Poston's situation. As
216-614: A result, the Arizona Territorial legislature awarded Poston a pension of US$ 25/month in 1899 and increased this to US$ 35/month in 1901. Poston died from apparent heart failure on June 24, 1902, in Phoenix, Arizona Territory . Despite his previously stated wish to be buried at the summit of Primrose Hill , Poston was initially buried in a pauper's grave in Phoenix. His remains were removed from Phoenix and moved to Florence, Arizona , on
252-643: A siege of the cave . 110 Kwevkepaya were trapped in the cave, when Brown ordered the soldiers to fire at the roof of the cave, causing rock fragments and lead shrapnel to rain down on the Guwevkabaya. Having nowhere else to go, the besieged gathered around the mouth of the cave, where soldiers (accompanied by Crook) pushed boulders onto them from above, killing 76 of the group. The survivors were taken to Camp Grant as prisoners. The Yavapai were so demoralized by this and other actions by Crook that they surrendered at Camp Verde (renamed Fort McDowell), on April 6, 1873. This
288-629: Is no evidence they ever divorced. Poston traveled to California as part of the Gold Rush and took a clerk position at the San Francisco Customs House in February 1851. Poston was demoted in 1853 and complained that his replacement was a professional gambler and political appointee. While at this job, he became involved with a group of French bankers interested in the lands of the recently negotiated Gadsden Purchase . In late 1853, with
324-591: Is our only hope, and the sooner it is accomplished the better." Early in January 1864, the Yavapai raided a number of ranches that supplied cattle to the miners in the Prescott and Agua Fria area. As a result of this and a series of recent killings, a preemptive attack was organized to discourage future depredations. Therefore, a group of well-armed volunteers were quickly outfitted with King S. Woolsey as their leader. Their mission
360-526: The 5th Cavalry Regiment led by Captain William H. Brown and another thirty Apache scouts . The army took up a position around the mouth of Skeleton Cave and surprised a Yavapai band when they were dancing in celebration over a recent raid. Surrounding the cave, the soldiers opened fire. Some of Brown's men aimed for the roof of the cave, as the Yavapai band refused to surrender. Others, who were personally accompanied by Crook, rolled rocks and boulders down from
396-567: The Arizona Organic Act . On 12 March 1863 Poston was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs. This appointment was followed by his election as Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives on 18 July 1864. During his term of service, Poston submitted bills aimed at settling private land claims and to establish Indian reservations along the Colorado river. In 1865, Poston chose not to return to Arizona during his run for reelection, and
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#1732852705668432-665: The Burlingame Treaty to the Emperor of China and to study irrigation and immigration in Asia. After China, Poston continued to India where he developed a fascination with the Parsi people and Zoroastrianism . He reached Egypt by early 1869 and was in Paris by April of that year. After living a year in Paris he moved to London where he spent the next six years. During this time he worked as an editor of
468-527: The Camp Grant Massacre , on April 28, 1871, in which nearly 150 Pinal and Aravaipa Apaches were massacred by O'odham warriors , Mexican settlers, and American settlers. Some of the survivors fled north into the Tonto Basin to seek protection by their Yavapai and Tonto allies. From there followed a series of United States Army campaigns, under the direction of General George Crook , to return
504-631: The East Coast in search of capital to fund a mining operation in the newly acquired territory. After several unsuccessful attempts, he was introduced to several Cincinnati, Ohio , investors by Heintzelman. On March 24, 1856, US$ 2 million was secured to found the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company with Heintzelman as company president and Poston as managing supervisor. The company set up headquarters in Tubac, Arizona , and began mining operations in
540-574: The 100th anniversary of his birth, and buried on Primrose Hill, renamed, Poston Butte where he had never completed his "Temple to the Sun". He was entombed in an official ceremony led by Governor George W. P. Hunt . Bibliography Battle of Salt River Canyon The Battle of Salt River Canyon , the Battle of Skeleton Cave , or the Skeleton Cave Massacre was the first principal engagement during
576-692: The 1872 Tonto Basin Campaign under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George Crook . It was part of the Yavapai War from 1871 to 1875 against the Yavapai people , a Native American tribe in Arizona . On December 28, 1872, Crook's men encountered the Yavapai stronghold at Skeleton Cave , located in the Salt River Canyon northeast of present-day Phoenix, Arizona . Crook's force was composed of 130 troopers from
612-711: The United States in time for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia . Through his acquaintance with John Bigelow , he then became a campaign worker for Samuel J. Tilden during the U.S. presidential election of 1876 . Poston expected a consul position in London if Tilden had won the election, but instead was made Registrar of the United States land office at Florence, Arizona , from July 1877 till June 1879. During his time in Florence he became interested in building
648-563: The Wickenburg stage – the Wickenburg massacre in which a driver and five of seven passengers killed – led to the relocation of the Yavapai from Prescott to San Carlos Reservation in February 1875. The Yavapai War , was an armed conflict in the United States from 1871 to 1875 against Yavapai and Western Apache bands of Arizona . It began in the aftermath of
684-635: The Yavapai's and the Tonto's removal from the Camp Verde Reservation to San Carlos on February 27, 1875, now known as Exodus Day. 1,400 where relocated in these travels and over the course the relocation the Yavapai received no wagons or rest stops. Yavapai were beaten with whips through rivers of melted snow in which many drowned, any Yavapai who lagged behind was left behind or shot. The march lead to 375 deaths. Charles Debrille Poston Charles Debrille Poston (April 20, 1825 – June 24, 1902)
720-594: The bankers' backing, Poston joined with mining engineer Herman Ehrenberg to organize an expedition into the territory Mexico was expected to sell to the United States. Taking a ship from San Francisco, the two became shipwrecked near the Mexican port of Guaymas . They were then detained temporarily by Mexican authorities as suspected filibusters before heading north to the Gadsden territory. The expedition visited San Xavier del Bac and Ajo , collecting mineral samples along
756-544: The before mentioned tribes and the Americans." However, the agreement was not an official treaty, so therefore not legally binding in any way. Despite this, the growing numbers of settlers (very quickly outnumbering Yavapai) began to call for the government to do something about the people occupying the land that they wanted to occupy and exploit themselves. The editor of a local newspaper, the Arizona Miner , said "Extermination
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#1732852705668792-471: The benefits of the area's mineral wealth to the Union cause. Toward the end of the process Poston attended an oyster dinner where the slate of territorial positions was divided among lame duck congressmen and Poston was selected as an Indian Agent for the new territory. Poston commissioned Tiffany & Co. to create a US$ 1500 inkwell from Arizona silver and presented the inkwell to Lincoln upon signing of
828-421: The cliffs above. One warrior escaped the last volley by crawling on his belly. Realizing that he got out of the cave safely, he jumped on a large stone and let out a war cry, while firing at the soldiers' position. He was shot by a soldier from approx. 800 yards away, hitting the warrior in the chest and killing him. About 75 dead were found in the cave, including a number of women and children. No warriors survived
864-665: The group were employees of Prescott's US Indian agent John Dunn. In 1864, Arizona Territory Governor John Goodwin advised the territorial legislature that all tribes be subdued and sent to reservations. The same year, a dispatch from the US Army stated "All Apache [Yavapai were routinely lumped in with their neighboring Apache] Indians in that territory are hostile, and all Apache men large enough to bear arms who may be encountered in Arizona will be slain whenever met, unless they give themselves up as prisoners." Not long after, in retaliation for
900-514: The massacre. The women and children survivors were captured and taken to Camp Grant . Among the dead within the cave was Chief Nanni-chaddi , who had said that no soldier would ever find his stronghold there. This stronghold was only known to the Yavapai and Tonto Apache . Apache scouts led the Army to the stronghold, betraying their own people. Crook followed up this massacre, with another at Turret Peak several weeks later, both considered victories by
936-461: The murder of a Pai headman by Americans, a group of Pai attacked some wagon trains, and closed the road between Prescott and Fort Mohave to all traffic. In response, the US Army declared all Indians in lands beyond 75 miles (121 km) east of the Colorado River (the great majority of traditional Yavapai territory) to be "hostile" and "subject to extermination". On November 5, 1871, the ambush of
972-740: The natives to the reservation system. The conflict should not be confused with the Chiricahua War , which was fought primarily between the Americans and the Chiricahua warriors of Cochise between 1860 and 1873. In December 1872, Colonel George Crook used Apache scouts to find the cave near the Salt River Canyon that was being used by Guwevkabaya as a hideout from which to mount attacks on White settlers. On December 28, accompanied by 100 Pima scouts, Captain William Brown led 120 of Crook's men to
1008-426: The nearby Santa Rita Mountains and elsewhere. Poston served as alcalde of the settlement and became known as "Colonel" Poston in the town of roughly 800 people. Using the authority granted to him by the government of New Mexico Territory, he printed his own money and officiated over marriages, divorces, and the baptisms of children. This continued until Father Macheboeuf, the vicar of Bishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy ,
1044-578: The way, before traveling down the Gila River . At Fort Yuma , a U.S. Army post near the confluence of the Gila and Colorado River , Poston first met the fort's commander Major Samuel P. Heintzelman . While at Fort Yuma Poston surveyed a townsite on the south side of the river a mile below the fort, at Jaeger's Ferry . Poston sold the townsite called Colorado City for $ 20,000 when he returned to San Francisco. After returning to San Francisco, Poston left for
1080-618: The withdrawal of Union troops due to the American Civil War , Tubac saw an increase in hostilities from local Apaches and the settlement had to be abandoned. After being forced to leave Tubac due to the Apache siege , Poston went to Washington, D.C. , and worked for General Heintzelman as a civilian aide. During this time Heintzelman introduced him to President Abraham Lincoln . Poston in turn used this time to lobby both Lincoln and Congress for creation of an Arizona Territory, advertising
1116-412: Was an American explorer , prospector , author, politician, and civil servant . He is referred to as the "Father of Arizona" due to his efforts lobbying for creation of the territory. Poston was also Arizona Territory 's first Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives . Poston was born near Elizabethtown, Kentucky , to Temple and Judith Debrille Poston. His father was a printer and he served as
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1152-636: Was defeated by John Noble Goodwin . A final run for election to the territorial delegate position failed in 1866. After losing his position in Congress, Poston opened a law office in Washington D.C. In 1867 he traveled to Europe, spending time in both London and Paris . He then returned to Washington and in 1868 published a travel book, Europe in the Summer-Time . This was followed by U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward commissioning Poston to deliver
1188-400: Was listed in the 1850 census as owning at least one slave. Margaret Poston became paralyzed on February 12, 1851, possibly from a stroke while giving birth to a second child, and was cared for by relatives until her death from cancer on February 26, 1884. On July 27, 1885, Poston married former newspaper typesetter Martha "Mattie" Tucker. The couple separated shortly afterwards, but there
1224-491: Was sent from Santa Fe to investigate the goings-on in Tubac. The validity of the marriages Poston had performed was questioned by the vicar, and a US$ 700 donation made before Father Macheboeuf sanctified the unions. Charles Poston's brother, John, was murdered by Mexican outlaws at Cerro Colorado in southern Arizona, the town was established by Charles Poston. Mining operations produced US$ 3000 per day in silver until 1861. With
1260-588: Was the start of the Tonto Basin Campaign. In 1925, a group of Yavapai from the Fort McDowell Reservation, along with a Maricopa County Sheriff, collected the bones from the cave, by then named Skeleton Cave , and interred them at the Fort McDowell cemetery. In 1886, many Yavapai joined in campaigns by the US Army, as scouts, against Geronimo and other Chiricahua Apache. The wars ended with
1296-509: Was to track the raiding party back to their rancheria. What followed was an infamous footnote in Arizona history known today as the Bloody Tanks incident. According to Braatz, "In December 1864, soldiers from Fort Whipple attacked two nearby Yavapé camps, killing 14 and wounding seven." The following month, Fort Whipple soldiers attacked another group of Yavapé, this time killing twenty-eight people, including their headman, Hoseckrua. Included in
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