Crawford Affair
Encyclopedia
The Crawford Affair was a battle fought between Mexico
and the United States
in January of 1886 during the Geronimo Campaign. Captain Emmet Crawford
was commanding a company of Apache
scouts
, sixty miles southeast of Nacori Chico in Sonora
, when his camp was attacked by Mexican Army
militia
men. In the action, Crawford was shot and later died; his death nearly started a war between the United States and Mexico.
's escape from the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona
, the United States Army
began the Geronimo Campaign to capture the Apache shaman who had fled into Mexico. It was during this operation that Captain Crawford, or the 3rd Cavalry, was ordered to proceed south from Fort Apache
to pursue the natives. He took with him, just under 100 Apache scouts with Lieutenant
s Marion P. Maus, William Shipp and Samuel L. Faison. Among the party was the Apache Kid and three armed civilians, including the famous scout Tom Horn
, a doctor named T.B. Davis, and Conception, a translator who spoke Apachean.
Crawford and the company left the fort and crossed the border at Agua Prieta on December 11, 1885. There Crawford informed the Mexicans that he was pursuing hostile natives into the Sierra Madre Occidental
. He also established a truce with the Mexicans so as to ensure his command's safety from the Mexican Army. On January 8, marching through the mountains, strewn with canyon
s, the Apache scouts discovered signs of a hostile Apache village in the distance. So for the next forty-eight hours, Crawford pushed his scouts forward in an attempt to attack the village before the enemy could detect them and retreat. All through the night of January 9 and the early morning of the January 10, the Apache scouts led a stealthy advance through the canyons. Many of the scouts hurt themselves by falling down in the darkness but they continued on for eighteen hours until they reached the village.
An attack was made at daybreak on January 10 without incident, a few of Geronimo's Apaches and some horses were captured while the majority fled. Crawford decided to rest his men at the camp as they were exhausted from their trek across the desert.
detribalized natives, opened up with a volley of rifle fire.
Immediately Crawford grabbed a white flag and rushed to a large rock and climbed to the top where he was in full view of the Mexicans. Crawford, with his bluecoat
on, waved the flag as he shouted "Soldados Americanos" along with Tom Horn. In Marion P. Maus' report of the battle he said that the Mexicans knew well of who they were firing at. An investigation launched by the Mexican government also came to the same conclusion. After the first volley a small group of the Mexicans advanced and Lieutenant Maus moved to speak with them. Maus told the group that they were American soldiers and they would not return fire, he then turned back for camp when Captain Crawford ordered him to speak with the Mexicans again, to ensure a cease fire.
Maus turned back into the direction of the Mexicans but they opened fire. One of the bullets, reportedly fired by the Mexican commander, General
Mauricio Corredor, hit Captain Crawford in the head. The Apache scouts were furious after seeing their commander gunned down and returned fire on the Mexicans. For an hour the two sides skirmished until the Mexicans waved a white flag. The Americans had lost Captain Crawford who died on January 18 and four men wounded, including Tom Horn who was shot in the arm. The Mexicans lost four men killed and five wounded, among them General Corredor who six years earlier had killed Victorio
, an important Apache war chief
.
When the Mexicans raised the white flag a cease fire began and Lieutenant Maus approached the Mexican line with Tom Horn. The two talked with the Mexicans for a while and after they concluded that the Mexicans were after scalps
due to the high bounty established by the Mexican government. One scalp of an Apache warrior
was worth 200 silver pesos while a woman or a child's scalp was worth 100. Eventually Tom Horn went back to his side of the lines leaving Lieutenant Maus alone with the Mexicans. As the lieutenant attempted to leave, the Mexicans demanded that they be given some mules to transport their wounded. Maus agreed so six mules were given to the Mexicans. However, the Mexicans made a gesture as though they were not going to let Maus go so the scouts let out a loud war cry which frightened the Mexicans into freeing the lieutenant.
The United States Army later issued a statement which claimed that if Crawford survived he would have met with Geronimo and ended the war
sooner. Crawford's death was felt most in Nebraska
where his burial was one of the largest funerals in the state's history. Well liked and respected, the body of the captain was later moved in 1908 to Arlington National Cemetery
where a large marble obelisk
was erected over his grave. The death of Crawford nearly sparked another war between the United States and Mexico but after the Americans ended their own investigation, the matter was not pursued. Crawford, Nebraska
, next to Fort Robinson
, was named for the captain and Lieutenant Maus received a Medal of Honor
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in January of 1886 during the Geronimo Campaign. Captain Emmet Crawford
Emmet Crawford
Emmet Crawford was an American soldier who rose through the ranks to become an officer. He was most noted for his time spent in the Arizona Territory under General George Crook in the United States Cavalry...
was commanding a company of Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
scouts
Apache scouts
The Apache Scouts were part of the United States Army Indian Scouts, most of their service was during the Apache Wars up to 1886 though the last scout retired in 1947. The Apache scouts were the eyes and ears of the United States military and sometimes the cultural translators for the various...
, sixty miles southeast of Nacori Chico in Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, when his camp was attacked by Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
men. In the action, Crawford was shot and later died; his death nearly started a war between the United States and Mexico.
Background
Following GeronimoGeronimo
Geronimo was a prominent Native American leader of the Chiricahua Apache who fought against Mexico and the United States for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the Apache Wars. Allegedly, "Geronimo" was the name given to him during a Mexican incident...
's escape from the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
began the Geronimo Campaign to capture the Apache shaman who had fled into Mexico. It was during this operation that Captain Crawford, or the 3rd Cavalry, was ordered to proceed south from Fort Apache
Fort Apache
-Places:* Fort Apache, Arizona* Fort Apache Indian Reservation, the White Mountain Apache tribe's reservation and former US Army cavalry post near Whiteriver, Arizona* Fuerte Apache, a housing project outside Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Military:...
to pursue the natives. He took with him, just under 100 Apache scouts with Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
s Marion P. Maus, William Shipp and Samuel L. Faison. Among the party was the Apache Kid and three armed civilians, including the famous scout Tom Horn
Tom Horn
Thomas "Tom" Horn, Jr. was an American Old West lawman, scout, soldier, hired gunman, detective, outlaw and assassin. On the day before his 43rd birthday, he was hanged in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for the murder of Willie Nickell.-Early life:Born to Thomas S. Horn, Sr...
, a doctor named T.B. Davis, and Conception, a translator who spoke Apachean.
Crawford and the company left the fort and crossed the border at Agua Prieta on December 11, 1885. There Crawford informed the Mexicans that he was pursuing hostile natives into the Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
. He also established a truce with the Mexicans so as to ensure his command's safety from the Mexican Army. On January 8, marching through the mountains, strewn with canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s, the Apache scouts discovered signs of a hostile Apache village in the distance. So for the next forty-eight hours, Crawford pushed his scouts forward in an attempt to attack the village before the enemy could detect them and retreat. All through the night of January 9 and the early morning of the January 10, the Apache scouts led a stealthy advance through the canyons. Many of the scouts hurt themselves by falling down in the darkness but they continued on for eighteen hours until they reached the village.
An attack was made at daybreak on January 10 without incident, a few of Geronimo's Apaches and some horses were captured while the majority fled. Crawford decided to rest his men at the camp as they were exhausted from their trek across the desert.
Affair
In the afternoon of January 10, the Americans and their Apache scouts were making camp when a native American woman approached to tell Captain Crawford that Geronimo was a few miles away and wanted to speak with him. The two agreed that on the following day, a counsel would be held to negotiate an end to the Geronimo Campaign. Peace was expected so Crawford and his company waited joyfully until the next morning at daybreak when the captain was awoken by one of his sentries who warned that Mexican troops were approaching. Believing the Mexicans to be another force of Apache scouts under the command of Captain Wirt Davis, some of Crawford's Apaches began shouting calls in their native language. In response, the Mexican force, which included TarahumaraTarahumara
The Rarámuri or Tarahumara are a Native American people of northwestern Mexico who are renowned for their long-distance running ability...
detribalized natives, opened up with a volley of rifle fire.
Immediately Crawford grabbed a white flag and rushed to a large rock and climbed to the top where he was in full view of the Mexicans. Crawford, with his bluecoat
Bluecoat
The bluecoat is a style of dress code, traditionally worn in Bluecoat schools .The main element of the bluecoat is a long coat, belted at the waist, with white neck decoration...
on, waved the flag as he shouted "Soldados Americanos" along with Tom Horn. In Marion P. Maus' report of the battle he said that the Mexicans knew well of who they were firing at. An investigation launched by the Mexican government also came to the same conclusion. After the first volley a small group of the Mexicans advanced and Lieutenant Maus moved to speak with them. Maus told the group that they were American soldiers and they would not return fire, he then turned back for camp when Captain Crawford ordered him to speak with the Mexicans again, to ensure a cease fire.
Maus turned back into the direction of the Mexicans but they opened fire. One of the bullets, reportedly fired by the Mexican commander, General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Mauricio Corredor, hit Captain Crawford in the head. The Apache scouts were furious after seeing their commander gunned down and returned fire on the Mexicans. For an hour the two sides skirmished until the Mexicans waved a white flag. The Americans had lost Captain Crawford who died on January 18 and four men wounded, including Tom Horn who was shot in the arm. The Mexicans lost four men killed and five wounded, among them General Corredor who six years earlier had killed Victorio
Victorio
Victorio was a warrior and chief of the Chihenne band of the Chiricahua Apaches in what is now the American states of New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua....
, an important Apache war chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
.
Aftermath
Scalping
Scalping is the act of removing another person's scalp or a portion of their scalp, either from a dead body or from a living person. The initial purpose of scalping was to provide a trophy of battle or portable proof of a combatant's prowess in war...
due to the high bounty established by the Mexican government. One scalp of an Apache warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
was worth 200 silver pesos while a woman or a child's scalp was worth 100. Eventually Tom Horn went back to his side of the lines leaving Lieutenant Maus alone with the Mexicans. As the lieutenant attempted to leave, the Mexicans demanded that they be given some mules to transport their wounded. Maus agreed so six mules were given to the Mexicans. However, the Mexicans made a gesture as though they were not going to let Maus go so the scouts let out a loud war cry which frightened the Mexicans into freeing the lieutenant.
The United States Army later issued a statement which claimed that if Crawford survived he would have met with Geronimo and ended the war
Apache Wars
The Apache Wars were a series of armed conflicts between the United States and Apaches fought in the Southwest from 1849 to 1886, though other minor hostilities continued until as late as 1924. The Confederate Army participated in the wars during the early 1860s, for instance in Texas, before being...
sooner. Crawford's death was felt most in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
where his burial was one of the largest funerals in the state's history. Well liked and respected, the body of the captain was later moved in 1908 to Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
where a large marble obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
was erected over his grave. The death of Crawford nearly sparked another war between the United States and Mexico but after the Americans ended their own investigation, the matter was not pursued. Crawford, Nebraska
Crawford, Nebraska
Crawford is a city in Dawes County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1886 and was named for the late Captain Emmet Crawford who had previously been stationed at nearby Fort Robinson.-Geography:...
, next to Fort Robinson
Fort Robinson
Fort Robinson is a former U.S. Army fort and a present-day state park. Located in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska, it is west of Crawford on U.S. Route 20.- History :...
, was named for the captain and Lieutenant Maus received a Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
See also
- Crabb MassacreCrabb MassacreThe Crabb Massacre was the culmination of the eight day Battle of Caborca. It was fought between Mexico and their O'odham allies against American forces in April of 1857. Due to the outbreak of the Reform War in Mexico, the rebel Ygnacio Pesquiera invited the American politician Henry A...
- Texan Revolution
- Battle of Salado Creek
- Mexican-American War
- Border War (1910-1918)