Walking around an historic site is breathtaking. History surrounded me. I knew Camp Rucker was named for a 2nd Lieutenant who gave his life trying to save his friend, a 1st Lieutenant and his superior. I suspect Lieutenant John Anthony Rucker understood the risks and tried regardless.
The Camp is VERY isolated. It is about 50 miles (81 km) from Douglas, Arizona. Provisions were hit or miss. Food supplies, for instance, were either too scarce or far too much. Both scenarios were dangerous. Too scarce is obvious. Too great was also problematic. Apache raids and animals meant it was likelier food items could be stolen or lost. Since Apaches would often steal the crops of other native tribes, it stands to reason they would steal the food stuffs at Camp Rucker.
From Historic Marker:
Inscription:
“Camp Supply served as the base for two companies of Indian Scouts: Company C commanded by 2nd Lieutenant John A. Rucker, and Company D led by 1st Lieutenant Austin Henely. Each Company included between 32 and 40 Scouts who enlisted for 6 months at a time. During the first few months of the Camp’s operation the nighttime chanting and singing of Henely’s Scouts resulted in complaints by enlisted soldiers. An order to relocate the Indian Scouts at least ¾ mile from Camp was subsequently issued.
The Indian Scouts and enlisted men worked on guard and escort assignments along major travel routes, or tracked down Indians who had not settled on reservations. One order read:
“2nd Lt. J.A. Rucker, 6th CAV, with twenty enlisted men of Cos. H & L, 6th CAV, mounted, armed and equipped, and all available men of Co. C Indian Scouts will proceed in search of the party of renegade Indians who are reported to have attacked the mail courier on the 3rd instant, near Silver City, New Mexico.”
In another telegram, Lt. Rucker was ordered to search the surrounding country with 16 enlisted men and Company C, Indian Scouts.
The order read:
“Lt. Rucker will provision his entire command for forty days. Cavalrymen will be furnished 100 rounds of carbine ammunition per man.”-https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=42080