Jim "The Great" (1850 – c. 1897), born Bow-os-loh, was an Apache Indian scout in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook during the Apache Wars. He guided cavalry troopers against renegade Apaches in the Arizona Territory during Crook's winter campaign of 1872-73 and was one of ten scouts later awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for gallantry.

Biography

Born Bow-os-loh in the Arizona Territory, Jim was a member of the

White Mountain Apache The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation on the border of New Mexico and Arizona, United States, encompassing parts of Navajo, Gila, and Apache counties. It is home to the federally recognized White Mountain Apache Tribe of th ...

. In late-1872, he and nine other Apaches were hired by the

as an Indian scout for Lieutenant Colonel George Crook's campaign against renegades still active in Arizona following the surrender of

Cochise Cochise (; Apache: ''Shi-ka-She'' or ''A-da-tli-chi'', lit.: ''having the quality or strength of an oak''; later ''K'uu-ch'ish'' or ''Cheis'', lit. ''oak''; June 8, 1874) was leader of the Chihuicahui local group of the Chokonen and principa ...

earlier that year. Jim and the other scouts guided cavalry troopers in the

Tonto Basin The Tonto Basin, also known as Pleasant Valley, covers the main drainage basin 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 Ariz ...

where the

Western Apache The Western Apache live primarily in east central Arizona, in the United States. Most live within reservations. The Fort Apache Indian Reservation, San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Tonto Apache, and the Fort McDo ...

and Yavapais had been successfully conducting raids and eluding troops for several years. During Crook's winter campaign of 1872–73, Jim was cited for gallantry battling the Apache in the mountains. Of the 23 men who received the

, Jim and all 10 Indian scouts received the award for "gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches".Beyer, Walter F. and Oscar Frederick Keydel, ed. ''Deeds of Valor: From Records in the Archives of the United States Government; how American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor; History of Our Recent Wars and Explorations, from Personal Reminiscences and Records of Officers and Enlisted Men who Were Rewarded by Congress for Most Conspicuous Acts of Bravery on the Battle-field, on the High Seas and in Arctic Explorations''. Vol. 2. Detroit: Perrien-Keydel Company, 1906. (pg. 552) The other scouts included

William Alchesay Alchesay (aka William Alchesay, Alchisay and Alchise, Apache name Tsájń ("the swollen"), May 17, 1853 – August 6, 1928) was a chief of the White Mountain Apache tribe and an Indian Scout. He received the United States military's highest dec ...

Blanquet Blanquet was an Indian Scout in the United States Army and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States. An Apache born in Arizona, Blanquet serve ...

, Chiquito,

Elsatsoosu Elsatsoosu (fl. 1872–1875), also called Elsatsoosh, was an Apache Indian scout in the U.S. Army who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook during the Apache Wars. He guided cavalry troopers against renegade Apaches in the Arizona Territ ...

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 th ...

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 th ...

, Machol,

Nannasaddie Nannasaddie ( fl. 1872–1875) was an Apache Indian scout in the U.S. Army who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook during the Apache Wars. He guided cavalry troopers against renegade Apaches in the Arizona Territory during Crook's w ...

and

Nantaje Nantaje ( fl. 1872 – 1875), also called Nantahe, was an Apache Indian scout in the U.S. Army who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook during the Apache Wars. He guided cavalry troopers against renegade Apaches in the Arizona Terr ...

.Yenne, Bill. ''Indian Wars: The Campaign for the American West''. Yardley, Pennsylvania: Westholme Publishing, 2006. (pg. 148) Robinson, Gary and Phil Lucas. ''From Warriors to Soldiers: A History of American Indian Service in the United States Military''. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse, 2010. (pg. 96) Most of the Apache scouts, save for

, disappeared from public record soon after the expedition. The death of Jim was not reported until 40 years later when his widow applied for his army pension in 1927.Manning, Robert, ed. ''Above and Beyond: A History of the Medal of Honor from the Civil War to Vietnam''. Boston: Boston Publishing Company, 1985. (pg. 81)

References

External links

* at

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jim (Medal of Honor recipient) 1850 births 1890s deaths Apache people Native American people of the Indian Wars Native American United States military personnel United States Army Medal of Honor recipients People of the Arizona Territory United States Army soldiers United States Army Indian Scouts American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor

Biography

See also

References

Further reading

External links