Crawford affair
Crawford affair | |
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Part of | |
Result | American victory |
4 wounded
5 wounded
The Crawford affair was a battle fought between
Background
Following
Crawford and the company left the
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.[1]
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 council 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
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 blue coat 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 went to speak with them. Maus told the group that they were American soldiers and 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.[1]
Maus turned back into the direction of the Mexicans, but they opened fire. One of the bullets, reportedly fired by the Mexican commander,
Aftermath
When the Mexicans raised the white flag a ceasefire began, and Lieutenant Maus approached the Mexican line with Tom Horn. The two talked with the Mexicans for a while and concluded that the Mexicans were after scalps for 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 would not let Maus go, so the scouts let out a loud war cry, which frightened the Mexicans into freeing the lieutenant.[1][2]
The United States Army later issued a statement which claimed that if Crawford had survived he would have met with Geronimo and ended the war sooner. Crawford's death was felt most in Nebraska where his funeral was one of the largest in the state's history. The body of the well liked and respected 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.[1][2]
See also
- Crabb Massacre
- Texan Revolution
- Battle of Salado Creek
- Mexican–American War
- Border War (1910–19)
References
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2010) |