Nantaje (
fl. 1872 – 1875), also called Nantahe, was an
Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
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
George R. Crook (September 8, 1828 – March 21, 1890) was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. During the 1880s, the Apache nicknamed Crook ''Nantan ...
during the
Apache Wars
The Apache Wars were a series of armed conflicts between the United States Army and various Apache tribal confederations fought in the southwest between 1849 and 1886, though minor hostilities continued until as late as 1924. After the Mexic ...
. He guided cavalry troopers against renegade Apaches in the
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona (also known as Arizona Territory) was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863, until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of ...
during Crook's winter campaign of 1872-73 and was one of ten scouts who later received 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 valor. ...
for gallantry.
Biography
Born in the
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona (also known as Arizona Territory) was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863, until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of ...
, Nantaje (or Nantahe) was one of ten
Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
Indian scout hired by 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 ...
for Lieutenant Colonel
George Crook
George R. Crook (September 8, 1828 – March 21, 1890) was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. During the 1880s, the Apache nicknamed Crook ''Nantan ...
's expedition against renegades 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 ...
in late 1872. He 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 McDowe ...
and
Yavapais 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 received 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 valor. ...
. All 10 Indian scouts, including Nantaje, received the award
[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) ][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)] on April 12, 1875,
[Hannings, Bud. ''A Portrait of the Stars and Stripes''. Glenside, Pennsylvania: Seniram Publishing, 1988. (pg. 396) ][O'Neal, Bill. ''Fighting Men of the Indian Wars: A Biographical Encyclopedia of the Mountain Men, Soldiers, Cowboys, and Pioneers Who Took Up Arms During America's Westward Expansion''. Stillwater, Oklahoma: Barbed Wire Press, 1991. (pg. 28) ] for "gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches".
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 deco ...
,
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 Terri ...
,
Jim
Jim or JIM may refer to:
* Jim (given name), a given name
* Jim, a diminutive form of the given name James
* Jim, a short form of the given name Jimmy
* OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism
* ''Jim'' (comics), a series by Jim Woodring
* ''Jim ...
,
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 and
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 ...
.
[Zedric, Lance Q. and Michael F. Dilley. ''Elite Warriors: 300 Years of America's Best Fighting Troops''.
Ventura, California: Pathfinder Publishing of California, 1996. (pg. 111) ][Owens, Ron. ''Medal of Honor: Historical Facts & Figures''. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2004. (pg. 171, 192) ][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) ]
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
Indian Wars is the name generally used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between the colonial or federal government and the Native people of North America.
The wars, which ranged from the 17th-century (King Philip's War, Kin ...
References
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.
*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.
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nantaje
Year of birth missing
Year of death missing
Apache people
19th-century Native Americans
Native American people of the Indian Wars
Native American United States military personnel
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
People from Arizona
United States Army soldiers
United States Army Indian Scouts
American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor