The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke Volume 1: November 20, 1872--July 28, 1876

Chapter 3 • Mopping Up

67 Thursday Feb 27th. Moved back on our trail, going West North West for (12) miles, when we halted for a few moments at entrance of a little cañon on left, which had water. This day we marched up West branch of Disappt Creek. Arroyo now turned rather more to North, went about 2 miles struck trail coming in on our Left (running from South South East, our trail of Jan 22) Mountains on Left all day. Low hills on Right. Went 3 miles West keeping up this branch of Disapt Creek then crossing hills going more to North West for 4 miles more going down little cañon to Shady Run. Camped. Wood, Water, & Grass. Day fine; sky cloudy 21 miles Two of our Indians ret[urne]d to Grant (sick) Friday Feb 28th Rained all night. Moved West about one mile & North about another, going over our trail of Dec 18th. Passed camp of Dec 17th in Mineral Creek; great quantities of water gushing out of the rocks on the right. Went North about one mile up cañon of Mineral Creek; went up grade of very steep hill about two miles. Minl Creek (now dry) divided into 2 cañons; one from North other from North North West. Minl. Creek flows just South South West then South South East and South South West to Rio Gila. Passed Chapter 3 ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ Mopping Up 68 ARIZONA: 1872–1875 down grade on other side, going North North West, passed a little tributary of Minl. Creek flowing South South West & South South East. Day bright. Crossed over a white stone (granite) ridge and down little arroyo going West & North for 3 miles, finding running water (rain) about half-way down. Came to old Camp Pinal and camped. Distance about 7 miles. Saturday March 1st Moved in a North direction out of Mason’s Valley about 1000 yds, crossing a low divide and then following an arroyo (North) full of water running with a heavy current (1 mile). Water flows into Rio Prieto. Day fine. Sky clear. Stream ran North & West for about 2 miles when we followed it, our trail then ran North while stream turned West, going up grade one mile North then after getting to top of high hill, turned West, going for a total distance of seven miles from camp of last night, which is South East of us: passed our old camp of Dec 17th and a little to North of it saw stream coming in to Rio Prieto from West. [A]ll the cañons are now full of water. Sunday March 2 1873. Marched North down Rio Prieto for 1/2 mile, saw stream coming in on Left, rising from Mountains in close vicinity; passed on North a little West for 2 miles more, saw West fork coming in and crossed it; still going North North West & North for about one mile over hills, came down into an arroyo flowing into Rio Prieto and marched up this to West for about 1 mile; then North West and West North West for 2 miles and North West for 1 mile East, cañon getting quite rocky & rough. Camped at an old deserted Indian village, at junction of this cañon with one from North Location of the rancheria taken Jan 15th due W of us and across a mountain ridge. Day fine Sky clear. Distance 8 miles Monday Mar. 3d Moved West by North about 1/2 mile, then North West over a little hill, continued in a West by North course for 1 1/ 2 mile, coming down again into cañon, which ran to South East. Country hilly and well grassed. Oak groves. Water in small springs at frequent intervals. Day fine. Sky clear. Passed on West going over little divide, and coming down into a little arroyo which joined the fork of the Rio Prieto up which we came Dec 23. . . . Passing across a little hill ascended arroyo South & West (with steep hills), finding excellent water in springs and tanks. Halted on top of a Mountain at 12.45, after being out 4 3/4 hrs, making a march of about 8 or 10 MOPPING UP 69 miles. Arrived at a point on trail of night of Dec 15th near the Indian village we attacked at that time. Saw to the South of us (flowing North East), the cañon upon which we had then camped. Pinal Mountains now...