Apache but who...?

[frank]

Any ideas for this guy? All I got is the picture.

[jeroen]

Hi Frank,
According to Dan Thrapp in Conquest of Apacheria this guy is Dead Shot, one of the scouts who turned against the army in the Cibecue affair in 1881. He was consequently arrested, convicted and hanged about a year later. However, I have also seen him identified as Dutchy, also a scout. There is also another photo taken on the same occasion with him standing instead of sitting. I have that one somewhere, but have to look it up...

[frank]

Hey Jeroen,
Very nice, thanks a lot!

[Historian]

I have this photo identified as:

Bakeitzogie (aka "The Yellow Coyote", aka "Dutchy") - Chiricahua Apache

[jeroen]

Yeah, I am also convinced this is actually Dutchy, but you simply can't dismiss Dan Thrapp lightly... I think this photo was taken in 1884-85... here is the alternate picture:

[frank]

Dead Shot, Yellow Coyote, Dutchy... maybe a same guy with 3 nick names?

[jeroen]

No, different guys, Yellow Coyote is the translation of his Apache name, but he was commonly known among the soldiers as Dutchy. Dead Shot was hanged in 1882, Dutchy survived the Apache wars, so it's not the same warrior. Dutchy was also photographed later on together with general Crook and Alchisay.

[frank]

Dutchy Yellow Coyote it is then. Thanks man.

[Historian]

Concernig the note on the bottom of the photo I posted which reads:

"Dutchy - The friendly Apache Scout who killed the murderer of Capt. Emmet Crawford, 3rd U.S. Cav."


In late 1876, Crawford was reassigned to recruiting duty in Baltimore, Maryland, for 2 years. He returned to the 3rd Cavalry in Nebraska before the end of 1878. He was stationed at Camp Sheridan and Fort Robinson and later at Fort D.A. Russell.

In the spring of 1882, the 3rd Cavalry was transferred to Arizona to deal with the Apache. Crawford was assigned to Fort Thomas, near the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. In September 1882, General Crook assigned Crawford to San Carlos as military commandant, where he was to work with the civilian agent to maintain peace and help the Indians become self-supporting. He was also to enlist and train Apaches as scouts. To assist him were Lt. Charles Gatewood, 6th Cavalry, and Lt. Britton Davis of the 3rd. The Apache scouts proved their worth on a campaign in 1883. Crawford's concern that the Apaches be treated fairly led to friction with the agent, P. P. Wilcox. This led to Crawford requesting a transfer to Texas, but a month later he was recalled to deal with Geronimo.

Geronimo headed for Mexico with the cavalry in pursuit, thanks to a border-crossing agreement with Mexico. They spent the spring of 1885 in a fruitless attempt at capturing Geronimo. After returning to Fort Bowie to refit, Crawford headed out with only Apache scouts, Tom Horn (the civilian chief of scouts), two officers (Lt. Marion Maus and Lt. William Shipp), and the surgeon Dr. Davis. On December 11, 1885, they crossed the border into Mexico, and according to the border agreement, Crawford stopped to inform the Mexican authorities that they were in pursuit of the hostiles before pushing on into the rugged Sierra Madres.

The Apache scouts picked up Geronimo's trail and, on January 9, 1886, they located his camp. They continuted through the night and successfully attacked the next morning. Geronimo's band fled, leaving all their stock, provisions and blankets. Geronimo sent an old woman to Crawford to talk, and a meeting was set the following morning.

The next morning started with an attack by Mexican irregular troops. Crawford attempted to get them to stop by waving a white handkerchief, but was shot in the head. Dutchy, one of the Apache scouts, pulled the mortally wounded Crawford to safety, and then killed the Mexican who had shot him. He also slew the Mexican commander. Emmet Crawford did not die immediately, but he never regained consciousness. On January 13, Lieutenant Maus met with Geronimo, obtained the surrender of some of his band and an agreement that Geronimo would meet with General Crook in two months. Maus proceeded to carry the wounded Crawford back to the border, but on January 18, he quietly slipped away. His body was buried in the little village of Nacori. Crawford's death nearly sparked a second war between the United States and Mexico, but after an official hearing, no further action was taken.

Taken from:
www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ecrawford.htm

[frank]

Exceellent! Thank you HinTamaheca!!