Howard wasted no time taking Jeffords aside to ask him how he might pursuade Cochise to come in and talk.  This immensely important meeting apparently took place in a store (Mr. Luther's Store, according to Sladen's writings).  General Howard's inquiry was met with a steady gaze and a pregnant pause, after which Jeffords replied that the man who wanted to meet with Cochise would have to go to his camp, and without soldiers.  Jeffords asked if Howard would consent to this, offering his services if such were the case.

    Without hesitation, Howard agreed, much to Sladen's discomfort.  It would be along the way, over many hard miles of riding, that Sladen would begin to draw courage from Howard's keen conviction that their party was literally heaven blessed, and that good would come of their great risk.

     The group gathered provisions and with the few men they had collected at Fort Apache to accompany them they started out.  Jeffords felt strongly that to assure success they would be wise to add to their small group two young Apaches who were well known to Cochise.  He would not have time to send word to the chief that he was bringing visitors -- and he was not even certain if Cochise would consent to it if he were warned in advance.  Furthermore, Jeffords knew that word of the party's approach would get to Cochise fairly quickly, and that they would be watched closely by sentries as they drew near their destination.  Cochise would be told that his good friend Jeffords was coming in, and that he was bringing two unknown Americans that seemed to be soliders.  It was Jeffords hope that the addition to the group of two Apaches that Cochise trusted would compel him to allow their safe arrival.  He knew Cochise's immense curiosity would practically insure, at least, their approach.

     Chie, one of the two Indians that Jeffords hoped to take along, was at Tularosa already and was enlisted as a guide.  The second Indian, known as Ponce, was said to be camped south of Cañada Alamosa.  The party headed that direction, camping at Horse Springs the first night and Ojo Caliente the following -- arriving finally at Cañada Alamosa on September 16, 1872.  They stayed at this stop until the 18th, when they arrived at Ponce's encampment.

     It is interesting to note here that while at Cañada Alamosa, according to Ed Sweeney's research, General Howard appointed Tom Jeffords as Indian Agent for the soon to be formed Chiricahua Reservation.  This is testimony to Howard's limitless confidence and optimisim with respect to the outcome of this extremely perilous mission, and it refutes folklore that Jeffords only accepted the post at Cochise's insistence later on.  Jeffords himself apparently helped to spread this mis-information in later life.  One can only postulate whether this was by design or through perhaps the dulling of memory with age.