|
 At
dawn on May 11, 1866, a contingent of the 14th, 24th
and 32nd Infantries lay poised to attack an
Apache-Yavapai village near the base of Weaver’s
Needle. The unit was under the command of Brevet Lt.
John D. Walker. His command also included some Pima
Scouts and member of the 1st Arizona Volunteers.
As the command to attack was given, the soldiers,
volunteers and Pima Scouts swept down the hillside
firing their muskets. The inhabitants of the village
were in total shock and confusion. The attack had
been a complete surprise. The initial hail of musket
fire by Walker’s men struck warriors, old men, women
and children.
The first soldiers to reach the village were the
Pima Scouts. They clubbed to death as many survivors
as they could find who had survived the first volley
of musket ball. The chaos and confusion added to the
death toll. The scouts were followed by elements of
the infantry, who reloaded and fired yet another
volley. When the acrid smell of gunpowder finally
cleared the air, some fifty-seven men, women and
children lay dead or dying. The Pimas took
twenty-two women and children prisoner.
 The
contingent of soldiers, volunteers and Pima Scouts
had two casualties. One of the Pima Scouts was
accidentally shot in the leg by an Army musket. One
soldier sprained his ankle as he jumped over a large
boulder in the initial charge at dawn.
The Army confiscated eleven primitive Mexican
flintlock smooth bore muskets and a variety of
clubs, lances and bows. All the weapons were
destroyed on the site. The Pima Scouts estimate
three hostiles escaped the attack.
The attack was a typical scenario of the Rancheria
Campaign waged by the United States Army against the
Apache-Yavapais in the Superstition Mountain (Salt
River Mountains) between 1864-1868. There were
numerous other skirmishes throughout the
Superstition Mountain region lead by the Army. The
Pima Scouts were enthusiastic about the opportunity
to ally with the United States Army against their
ancient enemy the Apache-Yavapai.
The Apache-Yavapai often stole cattle from the
pioneers of the Gila and Salt River areas. This
thievery is what led to the Rancheria Campaign and
the destruction of the camps in the Superstition and
Pinal Mountains.
The May 11, 1866 skirmish was fought near what we
today call Pinon Camp. Field cartographers for the
U.S. Army made reference to Weaver’s Needle as
“Picacho Peak” and “Statue Mountain” on their maps
and in their field notes.
Before the close of the Rancheria Campaign, more
than 300 Apaches and Yavapais were killed in the
Superstition and Pinal Mountains. The army had
orders to return all hostiles to the reservation or
destroy them. It was much easier to destroy them.
 The
Rancheria Campaign was a search and destroy mission
for the Army and the beginning of the end for the
independent way of life for the Native Americans who
lived in the Salt River Mountains (Superstition
Mountains).
Large scale maps with accurate place names and
landmarks were non-existent at the time. Sierra de
Superstitions (Superstition Mountain) and Weaver’s
Needle (c. 1853) were the only landmarks that
appeared on military maps. It is very interesting to
note that the military made reference to Weaver’s
Needle as Picacho Peak. This inaccuracy used by the
Army has confused many a map maker ever since. It is
quite apparent that the name “Picacho” was accepted
by the Army because of the frequency it appears in
military reports.
It is ironic, but Weaver’s Needle would probably
serve best as a tombstone for the unfortunate souls
who died in its shadows some one hundred and
forty-two years ago.
Interestingly enough, Weaver’s Needle has also been
called Needle Rock, Picacho Peak and Statue
Mountain, adding more confusion to controversy. The
events that have occurred in the shadows of this
well-known landmark have become the history of the
area. Often the truth and fiction are separated by a
very thin gray line.
During the late 1950’s Ed Piper and Maria Jones
brought attention to the area by feuding over mining
claims that eventually lead to the death of a couple
of miners.
The final analysis proves to us the naming and
renaming of landmarks accurately is important to the
preservation of history. Even though Weaver’s Needle
was officially named in 1853, the name still under
went a metamorphosis before the final name was
accepted or agreed on. Ironically the historical
name of a landmark does little to commemorate the
events that occurred there.
Weaver’s Needle and the 1866 battle seem to be so
far apart in the annals of Superstition Mountain
history. |
