By Al Bates

This article is one of a series that will appear in this space during this year and the next on historic events relating to the Arizona Territory’s Sesquicentennial.

Governor John Goodwin and his party left Fort Wingate, New Mexico, on December 20, 1863, after a wait for the heavy wagons to catch up and be readied.  In addition to the two companies of cavalry that served as their escort and their heavy freight wagons, they were accompanied by a number of freight wagons owned by New Mexican merchants and by their “500 steers, that always went ahead opening the road,” according to Captain Rafael Chacón of the escort.

Their next significant stop was two days later at Fish Springs (Ojo Del Pescado) where they took two days to repair wagons and rest the animals, and for an impromptu celebration of Christmas Eve, with music, patriotic speeches and hot toddies—all in a pelting snowstorm.  They found the occasion to be “unique, impromptu and a success.”

Christmas Day they resumed their way to the diggings, next passing through the Zuni Pueblo.  Judge Joseph Allyn reported that, “Our party spent most of the day in Zuni … and a lively market day ensued.  We wanted burros, the Zunis had burros.  So, counting out silver and spreading out blankets, cotton cloth, etc., negotiations began … The Indians were shrewd; just as the bargain for one was nearly finished, it was discovered that he was blind; another had another defect, and so on.  After the animals we wanted were picked out, it took a long time to fix the price, and much longer to pay it, for each piece of money was closely scrutinized, and much of the silver we had was in dimes.”

On December 29 they arrived at Navajo Springs, certain that they finally were in Arizona Territory.  It was thus time to have a formal ceremony announcing the presence of the new government charged with organization of the territory’s political structure.

They had hoped to hold the inauguration ceremony at newly established Fort Whipple before the end of December, but previous delays made that impossible.  The pressure to hold the ceremony before the end of the year was caused by wording of the Organic Act that led to the impression that at least some of the officers otherwise might not be eligible for 1863 salaries.

Because of the change in plans, the preprinted copies of the proclamation had to be amended by hand to change the ceremony’s location from Fort Whipple to Navajo Springs and the December 29, 1863, date was added.  The amendments also included the statement that, “The seat of government will for the present be at or near Fort Whipple.”

The proclamation issued by Governor Goodwin upon entering Arizona Territory (Photo Courtesy of author).

The body of the proclamation outlined some of the important actions to be taken by the new government beginning with holding a special census and formation of judicial districts, and followed by election of members of the legislative assembly and of other officers provided by the Organic Act.

The ceremony at Navajo Springs was an important event in Arizona’s territorial history but it got scant recognition by the two correspondents in the party.  Jonathan Richmond wrote briefly of the event, “We arrived here to-day, and the Governor has issued his proclamation, a copy of which I enclose.”  Judge Allyn on the other hand neglected to mention the event at all in his next letter to Hartford.

The only contemporary account of the event appeared in the premier issue of the Arizona Miner newspaper on March 9, 1864, which features a report of the paper’s owner, Territorial Secretary Richard McCormick, conducting the ceremony and hardly mentions Governor Goodwin at all.

The ceremony was opened with a brief speech by Secretary McCormick followed by hoisting of “Old Glory” and a prayer by Reverend Hiram Reed.  Mr. McCormick administered the oath of office to Chief Justice William Turner, and to Associate Justices William Howell and Mr. Allyn.  Chief Justice Turner then swore in Governor Goodwin and District Attorney Almon Gage.  The Governor’s proclamation was read aloud in English by Mr. McCormick, then in Spanish by Mr. Read.

The Governor’s Party was still three weeks away from completing their journey and was facing a spectacular obstacle in Hell Canyon which would be a source of extreme problems for the heavy freight wagons.

(Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners, International (www.prescottcorral.org). The public is encouraged to submit articles for Days Past consideration. Please contact SHM Library & Archives Reference Desk at 928-445-3122 Ext. 14 or via email at archivesrequest@sharlothallmuseum.org for information.)