Nantaje also called Nantahe, was a 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...

 Indian scout

U.S. Army Indian Scouts

Native Americans have made up an integral part of U.S. military conflicts since America's beginning. Colonists recruited Indian allies during such instances as the Pequot War from 1634–1638, the Revolutionary War, as well as in War of 1812...

 in the U.S. 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...

 who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook

George Crook

George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...

 during the Apache Wars

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...

. He guided cavalry troopers against renegade Apaches in the Arizona Territory

Arizona Territory

The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....

 during Crook's winter campaign of 1872-73 and was one of ten scouts who later received the 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...

 for gallantry.

Biography

Born in the Arizona Territory

Arizona Territory

The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....

, Nantaje (or Nantahe) was one of ten 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...

 Indian scout

U.S. Army Indian Scouts

Native Americans have made up an integral part of U.S. military conflicts since America's beginning. Colonists recruited Indian allies during such instances as the Pequot War from 1634–1638, the Revolutionary War, as well as in War of 1812...

 hired by the U.S. Army for Lieutenant Colonel George Crook

George Crook

George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...

's expedition against renegades in Arizona following the surrender of Cochise

Cochise

Cochise was a chief of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache and the leader of an uprising that began in 1861. Cochise County, Arizona is named after him.-Biography:...

 in late-1872. He guided cavalry troopers in the Tonto Basin

Tonto Basin

The Tonto Basin, also known as Pleasant Valley, covers the main drainage of Tonto Creek and its tributaries in central Arizona, at the southwest of the Mogollon Rim, the higher elevation transition zone across central and eastern Arizona....

, where the Western Apache

Western Apache

Western Apache refers to the Apache peoples living today primarily in east central Arizona. Most live within reservations. The White Mountain Apache of the Fort Apache, San Carlos, Yavapai-Apache, Tonto Apache, and the Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian reservations are home to the majority of...

 and Yavapais

Yavapai people

Yavapai are an indigenous people in Arizona. Historically, the Yavapai were divided into four geographical bands that considered themselves separate peoples: the Tolkapaya, or Western Yavapai, the Yavapé, or Northwestern Yavapai, the Kwevkapaya, or Southeastern Yavapai, and Wipukpa, or Northeastern...

 raiding parties had successfully eluded U.S. troops for several years, and saw action against the Apache during Crook's winter campaign of 1872-73. In one of these engagements, Nantaje led a group of sharpshooters to the mouth of a cave to ambush a number of Yavapai hiding there.
A total of 23 men were received the 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...

. All 10 Indian scouts, including Nantaje, received the award on April 12, 1875, for "gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches". The other scouts included William Alchesay

William Alchesay

Alchesay was a chief of the White Mountain Apache tribe and an Indian Scout...

, Blanquet

Blanquet

-External links:...

, Chiquito, Elsatsoosu

Elsatsoosu

Elsatsoosu , also called Elsatsoosh, was a Apache Indian scout in the U.S. Army who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook during the Apache Wars...

, Jim

Jim (Medal of Honor)

Jim , born Bow-os-loh, was an Apache Indian scout in the U.S. Army who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook during the Apache Wars...

, Kelsay

Kelsay

Kelsay was an Indian scout serving in the United States Army during the Indian Wars who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:Kelsay was born in Arizona and after entering the army served as a scout in the Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor for “engagements with...

, Kosoha

Kosoha

Kosoha was an Indian scout serving in the United States Army during the Indian Wars who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:Kosoha was born in Arizona and after entering the army served as a scout in the Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor for “engagements with...

, Machol

Machol

Machol was a private serving as an Indian Scout in the United States Army during the Indian Wars who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...

 and Nannasaddie

Nannasaddie

Nannasaddie was a Apache Indian scout in the U.S. Army who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook during the Apache Wars...

.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Indian Scouts. Place and date: 1872-73. Entered service at:------. Birth: Arizona. Date of issue: 12 April 1875.

Citation:

Gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars

Further reading

• Hirschfelder, Arlene B. and Martha Kreipe De Montaño. The Native American Almanac: A Portrait of Native America Today. New York: Prentice Hall, 1993. ISBN 0-671-85012-1
• Konstantin, Phil. This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day. New York: Da Capo Press, 2002. ISBN 0-306-81170-7

External links