Opposition: Lt. George N. Bascom, 1837-1862
Most military officers in the American west knew relatively little about dealing with Natives. It wasn't only a language barrier and a cultural divide, but an atmosphere of mistrust and unwillingness to understand. For one young officer, this insensitivity would lead to a war that would last over two decades in Arizona Territory.
Lt. George N. Bascom was born in 1837 in Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky. His ancestors were of French Huguenot and Basque extraction, hence the origin of his name. He graduated 26 in a class of 27 at West Point in 1858, barely missing being that year's class goat by one unfortunately classmate below him. No matter where he stood in his class rankings, though, West Point didn't teach a class about dealing with Natives. Bascom was stationed at Camp Floyd in what is now Utah as a member of the 7th Infantry before being posted to Fort Buchannan in Arizona. His first major assignment was a ticklish and dangerous one. Word had reached military authorities of the kidnapping of a young man known as Feliz Martinez, the stepson of a local rancher. The rancher believed that Apaches had kidnapped the child. Tracks appeared to lead toward Cochise's Stronghold in the Chiricahua Mountains. Bascom's superiors sent him to request a parley with Cochise and demand the boy's return.
Cochise of the Chiricahua Apache was one of the most skilled guerrilla leaders in the southwest. Although he and other Apache leaders were wary of the Americans coming into their territory, their primary enemy were the Mexicans. Mexicans had been known to take Apache women and children as slaves and Cochise's men were constantly battling slave raids. He had nothing to do with kidnapping Martinez but may have known who did. Still he agreed to meet with Bascom at Apache Pass. Cochise brought his brother, two nephews and two of his sons to the meeting. Not convinced by Cochise's explanation, Bascom ordered Cochise and his family held hostage against the return of the boy. Cochise pulled a knife out of his clothing and slashed a hole in the tent, escaping before anyone could react.
Two days later, Cochise sent a message to Bascom, requesting the return of his family. Bascom refused. Cochise's men attacked a group of Mexican and American teamsters. The Apaches killed the Mexicans, but offered to exchange the Americans in return for Cochise's family. Bascom's answer remained no. Later, Cochise's men attacked a party of Bascom's men as they went for water. Later, as they fled to Mexico, his men killed the American hostages. In retaliation, Bascom ordered Cochise's brother and two nephews hanged. Cochise now turned his full wrath on Americans as well as Mexicans. Meanwhile, the Civil War had begun. The Confederacy claimed Arizona and New Mexico territory and sent an army under General Henry Sibley to New Mexico.
Bascom was transferred to Fort Craig in New Mexico to deal with the Confederate threat. There, on February 21, 1862 at the Battle of Valverde, he was killed in action by the Confederates. His body was buried at the post cemetery at Fort Craig. However, when the post closed and the bodies were moved to the Santa Fe National Cemetery, some bodies were unable to identified and were buried as unknowns. Bascom is likely one of the unknowns. Fort Bascom in New Mexico, which also closed in 1870, was named in Bascom's honor. The war he had helped to start with the Apaches would rage on until 1886.
Lt. George N. Bascom was born in 1837 in Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky. His ancestors were of French Huguenot and Basque extraction, hence the origin of his name. He graduated 26 in a class of 27 at West Point in 1858, barely missing being that year's class goat by one unfortunately classmate below him. No matter where he stood in his class rankings, though, West Point didn't teach a class about dealing with Natives. Bascom was stationed at Camp Floyd in what is now Utah as a member of the 7th Infantry before being posted to Fort Buchannan in Arizona. His first major assignment was a ticklish and dangerous one. Word had reached military authorities of the kidnapping of a young man known as Feliz Martinez, the stepson of a local rancher. The rancher believed that Apaches had kidnapped the child. Tracks appeared to lead toward Cochise's Stronghold in the Chiricahua Mountains. Bascom's superiors sent him to request a parley with Cochise and demand the boy's return.Cochise of the Chiricahua Apache was one of the most skilled guerrilla leaders in the southwest. Although he and other Apache leaders were wary of the Americans coming into their territory, their primary enemy were the Mexicans. Mexicans had been known to take Apache women and children as slaves and Cochise's men were constantly battling slave raids. He had nothing to do with kidnapping Martinez but may have known who did. Still he agreed to meet with Bascom at Apache Pass. Cochise brought his brother, two nephews and two of his sons to the meeting. Not convinced by Cochise's explanation, Bascom ordered Cochise and his family held hostage against the return of the boy. Cochise pulled a knife out of his clothing and slashed a hole in the tent, escaping before anyone could react.
Two days later, Cochise sent a message to Bascom, requesting the return of his family. Bascom refused. Cochise's men attacked a group of Mexican and American teamsters. The Apaches killed the Mexicans, but offered to exchange the Americans in return for Cochise's family. Bascom's answer remained no. Later, Cochise's men attacked a party of Bascom's men as they went for water. Later, as they fled to Mexico, his men killed the American hostages. In retaliation, Bascom ordered Cochise's brother and two nephews hanged. Cochise now turned his full wrath on Americans as well as Mexicans. Meanwhile, the Civil War had begun. The Confederacy claimed Arizona and New Mexico territory and sent an army under General Henry Sibley to New Mexico.
Bascom was transferred to Fort Craig in New Mexico to deal with the Confederate threat. There, on February 21, 1862 at the Battle of Valverde, he was killed in action by the Confederates. His body was buried at the post cemetery at Fort Craig. However, when the post closed and the bodies were moved to the Santa Fe National Cemetery, some bodies were unable to identified and were buried as unknowns. Bascom is likely one of the unknowns. Fort Bascom in New Mexico, which also closed in 1870, was named in Bascom's honor. The war he had helped to start with the Apaches would rage on until 1886.
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