By Al Bates

Life in the U.S. military in the West in the mid 19th century was difficult.  Living conditions were primitive and shortages of necessities were common.  Patrols and forced marches in pursuit of elusive enemies, and the occasional deadly skirmish, broke long stretches of boring garrison duty.  Suicide and desertion were common ways of escape from intolerable conditions.

It is little wonder, then, that the primary free-time occupations for most soldiers and many of their officers were drinking, gambling, and chasing women, if the opportunity presented itself.  Gambling was the most available vice at the isolated posts, and horse racing was a favored form of gambling among the officers.  A passion for gambling on the "sport of kings" coupled with a desire to obtain an edge over competition ended the military career of a young officer in the U.S. Cavalry who shortly afterward showed up as part owner of a ranch in Chino Valley.

Robert Postle was born in England in 1837, and came to the United States before his 18th birthday.  The census for 1860 lists him at age 23 as a grocer in Tucson.  After the outbreak of the Civil War, Postle, like the majority of American and Mexican residents, deserted Arizona for safety's sake.  The army had withdrawn all of its troops from Arizona and the Apaches were "uncontrolled." Most of the farms, ranches and small communities of the Gadsden Purchase  area below the Gila River were quickly abandoned.

Postle moved to New Mexico and in February 1863, signed on to serve three years as a second lieutenant in the First New Mexico Cavalry at Fort Craig in the New Mexico Territory.  He was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1863.  In October of that year, he distinguished himself while on expedition from Fort Canby, N.M., under command of Colonel Christopher "Kit" Carson, by pursuing and capturing a Navajo warrior while himself slightly wounded.  That was to be the high point of his military career, for within a few days he committed the offense that led to his court martial.

Back at Fort Canby, Postle entered into a bet with Captain Joseph Birney of his Regiment over who had the faster horse.  Postle's horse won handily and Birney was out $150.  Unknown to Birney, Postle had taken the precaution of matching his horse against Birney's before making the bet.  Sometime after the race, Birney found out that he had been victimized, and he filed charges against Postle.

The official charges against him stated that Lieutenant Postle "after having run his horse against a horse of Captain Joseph Birney of the same Regiment, and having by this act ascertained that his horse was fastest, did make a race ... Birney for $150, thereby intending to defraud him of this amount ... at Fort Canby, N.M., on or about the fifth day of October, 1863."  A second charge stated that Postle "after having been asked if he had ascertained the relative speed of the horses, did, in the most positive terms disclose that 'he had not,' which statement was false."  Postle was found guilty of the charges and was drummed out of the Army on December 31, 1863.  The next known stopping place for the racing enthusiast was eight and a half months later when he popped up in Chino Valley.

On August 15, 1864, four partners, calling themselves Postle, Brown & Co., claimed some 500 acres at Del Rio Springs, the site of old Fort Whipple when recently abandoned by the U.S. Army.  They announced they were cutting 200 tons of hay which they intended to sell in Prescott that winter.  They also announced that "next season they will have above 200 acres under cultivation in corn, wheat, etc."  Their method of cutting hay was efficient but destructive.  Instead of cutting the native grass with scythes or similar cutting tools, they grubbed it out, roots and all, with large hoes.

The winter of 1864-1865 was difficult for the Prescott pioneers.  The Colorado River was low and steamboats were unable to reach Hardyville where goods could be transferred to mule trains for trans-shipment to Prescott.  There was a dire shortage of basic necessities, especially flour.  Postle and two partners undertook to relieve the impending famine by driving ox teams to Ami White's mill at the Pima Villages to obtain a supply of flour.  I

t was an arduous eight-week trip that included twice fording the rain-swollen Agua Fria and Gila rivers with portions of their dismantled wagons balanced athwart a borrowed rowboat.  It also included a close scrape with Indians who wiped out a pack train that was just ahead of them on the return trip.

Postle was well enough regarded in his new community that in May 1865, Governor Goodwin offered him a commission as a second lieutenant in the Territorial Militia on the condition that Postle recruit a company of Infantry for service against hostile Indians.  Postle declined the governor's offer.

The Del Rio Springs ranch was successful, and over time Postle became the sole owner of 165 acres.  In September 1867, he brought a 15-year old bride, Hanna Shivers, to his adobe ranch home.  Less than four years later, on April 9, 1871, Robert Postle died of "liver complaint," leaving an 18-year old widow and two small children. 

Throughout his life, Postle continued his strong appreciation for the sports of the turf and reportedly owned a "noted race horse that was stolen by Apaches shortly before his death."

Al Bates is a local Historian who frequently contributes to Days Past.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (). Reuse only by permission.

Horse racing, as shown in this 1916 race in Prescott, has been a popular activity among military personnel.  Robert Postle, who eventually settled in Chino Valley in 1864, was found guilty of throwing a race and was drummed out of the military.