9th Cavalry & Apache Wars Battle Site

[Harve Curry]

This place is in the Gila NF Black Range, then called the Mimbres Mnts., about 15 miles from Winston formerly(Fairview), New Mexico.
Ojo Caliente is about 30 miles north .

On 29th May of 1879 a company of the 9th Cavalry riding on patrol out of Ft.Bayard and under the command of Capt. Beyer. They had just rode east from the continental divide, dropping into now what is called Beyer's Run Canyon. The Apache Victorio called to Capt Beyer's from above and a discussion of sorts was exchanged with Capt. Beyer. Then a gun battle started and an unkown number of Apaches were killed or wounded. Depending on what story you read 3 to 5 troopers were killed there.

Facts known to me are that Sargent Thomas Boyne was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there and at another battle on the 27th September 1879 in the Cuchillo Mnts east of there about 10 miles.

Private Frank Dorsey was killed there and is possibly buried in an unmarked grave near where he fell.

Three to five crosses were carved into the ponderosa trees, one for each trooper killed. Only one cross is left standing on a old dead ponderosa tree. The other trees were known to exist by some locals but they have fallen and gone to rot, and cannot be found or recognized. There is another Cross carved tree trunk cut & sectioned and hauled to a museum in Chloride, New Mexico.

As it was hot weather there in late May and along way from Ft. Bayard, I suspect that when the soldiers returned to the battle site they buried there dead where they marked the trees with the deeply carved crosses.

More info is at this web site:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7173933&pt=Thomas%20Boyne

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Interesting article, Harve.  Was up in that general vicinity this summer, but wasn't aware of the information you have provided.

Hamp

[Harve Curry]

Howdy Hamp,
If and when you folks are ever this way again I'd take you to it. You have to walk or horseback in though, it's about a 1 hour horseback ride one way. Same for anyone else that would like to .

I'd like to get a bronze plaque for a marker made up. It's more trouble and alot of read tape to get the goverment buracracey to do anything about it though.