LtTevis
Private
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2023
The capture of Captain McCleave:
McCleave -Carlton's most trusted officer- had unwittingly ridden into a trap.
The resourceful Confederate captain Sherod Hunter had scouts of his own and they learned that the California troops were crossing the Colorado and marching up the Gila.
Hunter rode to the Pima villages, took White ( Ammi ) prisoner and disabled the mill. Hunter did not have enough wagons to haul off all of the captured wheat, so he distributed it to the Pima's, from whom it originally came, figuring he would need all the friends he could get as the Californians approached. When McCleave brazenly rode up to White's house and pounded on the door, one of Hunter's men greeted him. None of the Confederates lounging about the house wore recognizable uniforms. After his hosts put him at ease, McCleave introduced himself to Hunter, who represented himself as White. After gleaning what intelligence he could from the unwary officer, Hunter suddenly revealed his true identity as his men leveled cocked pistols on the astonished captain. At first McCleave refused to surrender, but Hunter pressed the matter by threatening, "if you make a single motion I'll blow your brains out." The Californian gave up without a fight, and within a matter of hours, the Confederates surprised his six men waiting at the Tanks. The Rebels had won the first encounter in Arizona, much to Carlton's disbelief and McCleave's humiliation.
The Civil War in Arizona
( The Story of the California Volunteers 1861-1865 ) , Andrew E. Masich
McCleave -Carlton's most trusted officer- had unwittingly ridden into a trap.
The resourceful Confederate captain Sherod Hunter had scouts of his own and they learned that the California troops were crossing the Colorado and marching up the Gila.
Hunter rode to the Pima villages, took White ( Ammi ) prisoner and disabled the mill. Hunter did not have enough wagons to haul off all of the captured wheat, so he distributed it to the Pima's, from whom it originally came, figuring he would need all the friends he could get as the Californians approached. When McCleave brazenly rode up to White's house and pounded on the door, one of Hunter's men greeted him. None of the Confederates lounging about the house wore recognizable uniforms. After his hosts put him at ease, McCleave introduced himself to Hunter, who represented himself as White. After gleaning what intelligence he could from the unwary officer, Hunter suddenly revealed his true identity as his men leveled cocked pistols on the astonished captain. At first McCleave refused to surrender, but Hunter pressed the matter by threatening, "if you make a single motion I'll blow your brains out." The Californian gave up without a fight, and within a matter of hours, the Confederates surprised his six men waiting at the Tanks. The Rebels had won the first encounter in Arizona, much to Carlton's disbelief and McCleave's humiliation.
The Civil War in Arizona
( The Story of the California Volunteers 1861-1865 ) , Andrew E. Masich
Bringing the