We find a simple, easily understood explanation for the start of the Cochise War that does not point the finger at ourselves, where it belongs, but rather at one bad lieutenant.
Many people hearing or reading the myth sympathize with the noble savage or feel justified in accepting the sergeants as wise and the lieutenant as a young cadet out to prove himself. The Bernard version adds to the myth, making Bascom even more of villain. He may have been wrong, but he was working on valid evidence and reasonable suspicion. He was following a fresh trail that pointed toward Apache Pass and Cochise. “Lieutenant Bascom well knew Cochise had raided along Sonoita Creek and had raided the Overland Mail. Reuben Bernard’s telling of the story some 30 years after the fact, and that Bernard was not even there during the incident with Cochise.īernard’s story makes Cochise out as the always peaceful friend of the United States who protected the Overland Mail, and thus the lieutenant as doubly the fool and miscreant. Painting Bascom as the villain of Apache Pass was the result of Sgt. Hocking writes that Bascom was a courageous lieutenant who died a hero’s death at the battle of Valverde, NM the year after the incident at Apache Pass. Hocking’s ArgumentĪccording to Hocking, blaming Bascom for the start of the Apache Wars, is fake news. Few had any empathy for native people whose way of life and very survival were threatened by the American’s massive migration to, and occupation of, the West). Army officers were given little or no training in the languages and customs of American Indians. Countless Apaches, Mexicans, and Anglo Americans will live in misery and die violently because of incredibly stupid decisions made by a young, inexperienced officer and the idiot who put him in charge. In response, on February 19 th, Bascom orders Cochise’s male family members hung, but allows the woman and children to leave. Apaches were well-known to do such things in either order. Cochise eventually gives up and has his hostages killed and mutilated. Bascom holds out for the boy but Cochise has no idea of his whereabouts. In the days following, Cochise pleads with Bascom to treat his family members well and trade for the Anglos he now holds.
The Apaches tie the captured Mexicans to a wagon and set it on fire. Apaches had long hated Mexicans because of their countless cruel acts upon, and wholesale slaughter of the Apache people.
Bowie today.Ĭochise’s warriors hold the Anglos for exchange, but the Mexicans don’t fare well. Cochise brings with him his brother, two nephews, his wife, and his two children.Īpache Pass as viewed from Ft. Bascom convinces Cochise to meet with him under a flag of truce. Bascom is ordered to use whatever means necessary to punish the kidnappers and recapture the boy.īascom, Ward, and 54 soldiers head east to Apache Pass and arrive on February 3rd. Bascom is unable to locate the boy or the raiders.įor whatever reason, probably Ward’s testimony, Bascom concludes that the Chiricahua Apaches are responsible for the raid. Ward reports the raid to the nearby military authority who direct Lieutenant Bascom and his infantry to attempt to recover the boy and cattle. I continued, “On January 27th, Tonto Apaches raid the ranch of John Ward at Sonoita Creek, steal livestock and kidnap Ward’s 12-year-old stepson. You can read my original Bascom story, by clicking here. Some years ago, I wrote, “Lieutenant George Bascom falsely accuses Cochise and starts a quarter of a century of needless and horrific bloodshed between the White Eyes and the Chiricahua Apaches who try desperately to expel the invaders and hold on to their ancestral homeland.”
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