[1] When the United States Civil War broke out, Dake raised a company of soldiers and was commissioned in the 5th Michigan Cavalry.

In May 1877, the Arizona Miner of Prescott complained that the stage robberies were now as frequent as had "Indian murders" during prior years.

Associate Justice Charles Silent wrote the attorney general, telling him "this lawlessness... is paralyzing business."

He was hampered by a federal law that required him to ask for special funds each time he wanted to pursue highway robbers, which on the east coast of the United States was rare, but which was unfortunately common in the Arizona Territory.

Dake sent deputies into Mexico without permission to pursue robbers who had stolen 500 pounds (230 kg) of silver bullion.

[2]: 113  While traveling north to company headquarters in September 1878, less than two weeks after they were deputized, five Mexicans intercepted Adams and Finley, who they believed were carrying gold ore, and killed them, but didn't find any ore. One of the suspects in their killing was Florentino Saiz, who the Arizona Weekly Star identified as "the 1878 murderer of Deputy U.S.

[2]: 114  Unable to find justice in the courts for his brother's murder, Wyatt Earp began a vendetta, and killed Florentino Cruz on March 22, 1882 at a wood camp near South Pass of the Dragoon Mountains.

In 1879, Congress neglected to budget any money to the federal Marshal service, and Dake was forced to use his remaining funds to prosecute those he already had in custody.

[2]: 114 On November 27, 1879, Dake deputized Virgil Earp to help resolve ongoing problems with the so-called Cowboys in eastern Pima County.

[13] Dake knew a number of well-known Old West characters, including Leslie Blackburn, Virgil and Wyatt Earp, Joseph Evans, Joe Phy and others.