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

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 valor ...

for gallantry.

Biography

Born Bow-os-loh in the Arizona Territory, Jim was a member of the White Mountain Apache. In late-1872, he and nine other Apaches were hired by the U.S. Army as an Indian scout for Lieutenant Colonel

's campaign against renegades still active in Arizona following the surrender of Cochise earlier that year. Jim and the other scouts guided cavalry troopers in the Tonto Basin where the Western Apache 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, Blanquet, Chiquito, Elsatsoosu, Kelsay, Kosoha,

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 Machol was born in Arizona and after entering the army served as a scout in the Indian Wars. H ...

, Nannasaddie and Nantaje.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 William Alchesay, 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 Army Knowledge Online {{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