Bascom Affair

The Bascom Affair is considered to be the key event in triggering the Apache Wars. The Apache Wars were fought during the nineteenth century between the U.S. military and many tribes in what is now the southwestern United States. The triggering incident took place in 1861 in the area known as Arizona and New Mexico.

Trigger

The Bascom Affair began on January 27, 1861, when non-Apache Indian parties raided the ranch of John Ward at Sonoita Creek, stealing several livestock and kidnapping Ward's 12-year-old stepson Felix Ward. [Sweeney, Edwin R., Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief (Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991), 144.] Ward complained about the raid to the nearby military authority, Lieutenant Colonel Morrison, the commanded of Fort Buchanan, Arizona, who directed George Nicholas Bascom and a large infantry to attempt to recover the boy. Bascom and his men were unable to locate the boy or the tribe. Bascom determined that the raid was done by Apache Indians. Morrison ordered Bascom to use whatever means necessary to punish the kidnappers and recapture the boy. [Sweeney, Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief, 146.] Bascom, Ward, and 54 soldiers journeyed east to the Apache Pass, arriving on February 3, 1861, and met Sergeant Daniel Robinson, who would accompany them for the rest of the expedition. Bascom convinced an Indian leader named Cochise to meet with him. Suspicious of Bascom's plans, Cochise brought with him his brother Coyuntwa, two nephews, his wife, and his two children. [Roberts, David, "Once They Move Like The Wind: Cochise, Geronimo, and the Apache Wars" (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993), 22.] At the meeting, Cochise claimed he knew nothing of the affair. Doubting the Indian's honesty, Bascom attempted to imprison him and his family in a tent to be held hostage, but Cochise was able to escape with only a leg wound. [Roberts, "Once They Moved Like The Wind: Cochise, Geronimo, and the Apache Wars", 23.] Bascom met Cochise at Apache Pass and captured him. Cochise escaped and Bascom captured five members of Cochise's family in retaliation, prompting Cochise to lay ambushes and capture four Americans whom he offered to trade for his family members.cite book
first=Frederick E.
last=Hoxie
year=1196
title=Encyclopedia of North American Indians
edition=
publisher=Checkmark Books
location=New York
pages= pp 117-118
id= ISBN 0-395-66921-9]

On February 5, 1861, Cochise delivered a message to Bascom pleading for the release of his family, but Bascom refused and told Cochise that they "would be set free just so soon as the boy was released." [Sweeney, Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief, 152.] The following day, Cochise and a large party of Apaches attacked a group of Americans and captured three hostages, offering them in exchange for his family, but Bascom maintained that he would accept nothing other than the return of the boy and cattle. On February 7, 1861, Cochise and his men attacked Bascom's soldiers while they were fetching water. [Roberts, "Once They Moved Like The Wind: Cochise, Geronimo, and the Apache Wars", 27.]

According to recent sources, Cochise was known for his truthfulness and integrity and Bascom's accusations were false. [cite book
first=Carl
last=Waldman
year=2006
title=Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes
edition= 3rd Edition
publisher=Checkmark Books
location=New York
pages= p. 17
id= ISBN 0-8160-6273-0]

Outcome

Cochise fled to Sonora. On the way, he killed the American prisoners and left their remains to be discovered by Bascom. Several days later, Bascom hanged Cochise's brother and nephews before he and his soldiers began their journey home. [Sweeney, Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief, 163.]

The moment when Cochise discovered his brother and nephews dead has been called the moment when the Indians (the Chiricahua in particular) transferred their hatred of the Spanish colonists to the Americans. [Brown, Dee, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1970), 194.] Cochise's revenge in the form of numerous raids and murders were the beginning of the 25-year-long Apache Wars.

References

External links

* http://jeff.scott.tripod.com/bascom.html
* http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/civilwar/southwest/bascom.aspx
* http://www.discoverseaz.com/History/Bascom.html {reference only}