Great Leader: William Alchesay of the White Mountain Apache, 1853-1928
On 29 Natives have been awarded America's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. One of those was an Apache warrior, White Mountain Apache Chief and Army Scout named Alchesay. It was very rare that a Native leader could function in both White and Native society and retain the respect of both, but Alchesay managed this, remaining friends with Geronimo even after he'd helped to track him down and tried to talk him into surrender. Alchesay was born in 1853 in Limestone Canyon. When he was just 19, he enlisted as a military scout at Camp Verde. How or when he attained leadership among the White Mountain Apache isn't clear, but Alchesay's bravery and courage was. George Crook came to rely on Alchesay's advice when dealing with Apache affairs. Crook's aide, John G. Bourke, described the White Mountain leader as handsome in appearance, with courage, wisdom and loyalty. He would be useful during the pursuit of the Chiricahua in the ...