4148b

Apache Medal of Honor Winners & Apache Scouts; & Male w/ Carbine

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Native Americana Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Apache Medal of Honor Winners & Apache Scouts; & Male w/ Carbine
SOLD
1,100.00USD+ (275.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 Feb 15 @ 09:39UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Group of Cabinet Card photos and a letter involving two of the ten Apache Scouts that received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Cabinet card inscribed by hand “U.S. Gov. Indian Scout,
1885”, Buehman & Hartwell photo, Tucson, A.T. (photographer info
printed on the reverse in red). Fine. Nantaje is holding a 45-20 trapdoor
Springfield. Very fine.

Cabinet card of unidentified Apache (?) with 1873 model Springfield carbine,
inscribed” Indian Buck so-called in his best suit of clothes called
a Gee String”. Very good-fine. Both photos with red Buehman &
Hartwell imprint on reverse.

Nantaje (Nan-ta-he) served under Lt. Col. George Crook in the Apache wars of
1872-1873, serving as a Private from 1872-1875. The Apache wars led to the
surrender of Cochise in 1872. Nantaje was one of ten scouts that received
the Medal of Honor for valor April 12, 1875. The other nine scouts receiving
the Medal of Honor were: Blanquet, Chiquito, Elatsoosy, Jim Kelsay, William
Alchesay, Kosha, Machoi, and Nannasadie.

“Lt. Col. Cooke (was) assigned to the Department of Arizona on
June 4, 1871. Here the problems of hostility and geographical obstacles to
operations had appeared virtually insoluble. Crook intended to make full use
of small commands under junior officers assisted by Indian scouts drawn from
the wildest and most recalcitrant bands and his formula proved successful,
although hostilities were not generally quelled until 1874.”

Nantaje was one of ten scouts hired to help flush out
“renegade” Apaches in southern and eastern Arizona,
particularly leading the Cavalry to Tonto Basin where the western Apache and
Yavapai warriors had regularly beaten US forces. In what became known as the
“battle of Skull Cave,”, Nantaje saved a young Yavapai
boy’s life.

Letter-J.W. Watson Jr. 12/24/1885 letter datelined San Carlos, A.T., to
George Rostruge regarding surveying of land on the San Pedro River. Makes
comments about Indian trouble, and asks where Capt. Chicquito is. Chicquito
was a Chief of the Pinal Coyotero, an Apache band. He was awarded the medal
of Honor for his valor at the battle of Skull Cave the same day as Nantaje.
Watson was under Crook, and was part of a party pursuing the Apache north of
Globe in 1886. This lot may represent the only time two Indian Medal of
Honor winners had historical ephemera available at the same time.

The unidentified Indian cabinet card is probably one of many taken of
Arizona Native Americans by Buehman & Hartwell. Buehman (1851-1912) was a
German born photographer, emigrating to the US in 1868. He moved to Arizona
from California in 1875 and never left again, finding the Arizona Territory
exceptionally exciting. He became well known, photographing at all the
military forts, moving around from place to place, recording scenes and
events for all history. In the 1870s he shot not only forts, military
installations, but also key mines and mills, including Tombstone. He
established a gallery in Tucson about 1880-1881, which remained active until
his death in 1912. Buehman’s photographs are a priceless record of
history.