US Army Army Officer and leader of Apache Scouts.
Crawford lied about his age, when he enlisted in the 71st Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. At the Second Battle of Fredericksburg Crawford was wounded.. After recovering from his wounds, Crawford was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the 197th Pennsylvania "Colored Troops." At the end of the Civil War, Crawford remained in the Army. In 1872, he was transferred to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. While serving with the 3rd, Crawford participated in the 1876 summer campaign against the Lakota and Cheyenne, He was also present at the Battle of the Rosebud. In 1882, the 3rd was transferred to the Arizona Territory. Shortly afterwards, General Crook assigned Captain Crawford to the San Carlos Apache Reservation as the commander of military affairs. Crawford quickly developed a strong rapport with the San Carlos Apaches. He worked continuously to improve their living conditions and was a major reason why violence and escapes from the reservation declined. In January of 1886, Crook ordered Crawford and his Apache Scouts to enter Mexico in pursuit of Geronimo. Scout and gunfighter, Tom Horn, accompanied Crawford on this mission. On January 9, 1886, Crawford's command located Geronimo's camp inside the rugged Sierra Madres Mountains in Northern Mexico. Their successful attack on the camp forced Geronimo and his followers to flee, leaving behind their horses and food supplies. Geronimo, realizing that he was in a losing situation, sent an elderly woman to speak with Crawford. Geronimo, who knew and trusted Crawford, offered to meet the next morning and discuss a surrender. Before the meeting could occur, approximately 150 Mexican Army Irregulars came upon Crawford's position. The irregulars began shooting at the Apache Scouts. Crawford holding a white handkerchief, approached the their position in an attempt to stop the shooting. As he walked towards the irregulars, one of them shot Crawford in the head. The shooting of Crawford enraged his scouts. They opened fire on the Mexican troops. Dutchy, one the scouts, braved the shooting and dragged Crawford to safety. Crawford's second in command, Lt. Marion Maus, who would later receive the Medal of Honor, arranged a truce and was able to depart from the area without any further shooting. Crawford remained unconscious from his wound and died seven days later. Geronimo, hearing the shooting, fled the area with his followers. General Crook reported to Washington DC, that if Crawford had not been killed, Geronimo would have surrendered eight months sooner, which would have saved many lives and months of pursuit. In the aftermath of Crawford's death, Maus reported that the irregulars, whose only pay was what they captured, were likely seeking to kill them and steal their supplies and weapons. Crawford's death nearly caused a war between the United States and Mexico. Tensions between the two countries were eased, when Mexico paid restitution. The town of Crawford, Nebraska and Fort Crawford, Colorado were named in honor of Crawford. Crawford's achievements have been chronicled in books The Geronimo Campaign, On The Border With Crook, On The Bloody Trial of Geronimo and Time Life's Western Book Series.
Crawford lied about his age, when he enlisted in the 71st Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. At the Second Battle of Fredericksburg Crawford was wounded.. After recovering from his wounds, Crawford was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the 197th Pennsylvania "Colored Troops." At the end of the Civil War, Crawford remained in the Army. In 1872, he was transferred to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. While serving with the 3rd, Crawford participated in the 1876 summer campaign against the Lakota and Cheyenne, He was also present at the Battle of the Rosebud. In 1882, the 3rd was transferred to the Arizona Territory. Shortly afterwards, General Crook assigned Captain Crawford to the San Carlos Apache Reservation as the commander of military affairs. Crawford quickly developed a strong rapport with the San Carlos Apaches. He worked continuously to improve their living conditions and was a major reason why violence and escapes from the reservation declined. In January of 1886, Crook ordered Crawford and his Apache Scouts to enter Mexico in pursuit of Geronimo. Scout and gunfighter, Tom Horn, accompanied Crawford on this mission. On January 9, 1886, Crawford's command located Geronimo's camp inside the rugged Sierra Madres Mountains in Northern Mexico. Their successful attack on the camp forced Geronimo and his followers to flee, leaving behind their horses and food supplies. Geronimo, realizing that he was in a losing situation, sent an elderly woman to speak with Crawford. Geronimo, who knew and trusted Crawford, offered to meet the next morning and discuss a surrender. Before the meeting could occur, approximately 150 Mexican Army Irregulars came upon Crawford's position. The irregulars began shooting at the Apache Scouts. Crawford holding a white handkerchief, approached the their position in an attempt to stop the shooting. As he walked towards the irregulars, one of them shot Crawford in the head. The shooting of Crawford enraged his scouts. They opened fire on the Mexican troops. Dutchy, one the scouts, braved the shooting and dragged Crawford to safety. Crawford's second in command, Lt. Marion Maus, who would later receive the Medal of Honor, arranged a truce and was able to depart from the area without any further shooting. Crawford remained unconscious from his wound and died seven days later. Geronimo, hearing the shooting, fled the area with his followers. General Crook reported to Washington DC, that if Crawford had not been killed, Geronimo would have surrendered eight months sooner, which would have saved many lives and months of pursuit. In the aftermath of Crawford's death, Maus reported that the irregulars, whose only pay was what they captured, were likely seeking to kill them and steal their supplies and weapons. Crawford's death nearly caused a war between the United States and Mexico. Tensions between the two countries were eased, when Mexico paid restitution. The town of Crawford, Nebraska and Fort Crawford, Colorado were named in honor of Crawford. Crawford's achievements have been chronicled in books The Geronimo Campaign, On The Border With Crook, On The Bloody Trial of Geronimo and Time Life's Western Book Series.
US Army Army Officer and leader of Apache Scouts.
Crawford lied about his age, when he enlisted in the 71st Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. At the Second Battle of Fredericksburg Crawford was wounded.. After recovering from his wounds, Crawford was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the 197th Pennsylvania "Colored Troops." At the end of the Civil War, Crawford remained in the Army. In 1872, he was transferred to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. While serving with the 3rd, Crawford participated in the 1876 summer campaign against the Lakota and Cheyenne, He was also present at the Battle of the Rosebud. In 1882, the 3rd was transferred to the Arizona Territory. Shortly afterwards, General Crook assigned Captain Crawford to the San Carlos Apache Reservation as the commander of military affairs. Crawford quickly developed a strong rapport with the San Carlos Apaches. He worked continuously to improve their living conditions and was a major reason why violence and escapes from the reservation declined. In January of 1886, Crook ordered Crawford and his Apache Scouts to enter Mexico in pursuit of Geronimo. Scout and gunfighter, Tom Horn, accompanied Crawford on this mission. On January 9, 1886, Crawford's command located Geronimo's camp inside the rugged Sierra Madres Mountains in Northern Mexico. Their successful attack on the camp forced Geronimo and his followers to flee, leaving behind their horses and food supplies. Geronimo, realizing that he was in a losing situation, sent an elderly woman to speak with Crawford. Geronimo, who knew and trusted Crawford, offered to meet the next morning and discuss a surrender. Before the meeting could occur, approximately 150 Mexican Army Irregulars came upon Crawford's position. The irregulars began shooting at the Apache Scouts. Crawford holding a white handkerchief, approached the their position in an attempt to stop the shooting. As he walked towards the irregulars, one of them shot Crawford in the head. The shooting of Crawford enraged his scouts. They opened fire on the Mexican troops. Dutchy, one the scouts, braved the shooting and dragged Crawford to safety. Crawford's second in command, Lt. Marion Maus, who would later receive the Medal of Honor, arranged a truce and was able to depart from the area without any further shooting. Crawford remained unconscious from his wound and died seven days later. Geronimo, hearing the shooting, fled the area with his followers. General Crook reported to Washington DC, that if Crawford had not been killed, Geronimo would have surrendered eight months sooner, which would have saved many lives and months of pursuit. In the aftermath of Crawford's death, Maus reported that the irregulars, whose only pay was what they captured, were likely seeking to kill them and steal their supplies and weapons. Crawford's death nearly caused a war between the United States and Mexico. Tensions between the two countries were eased, when Mexico paid restitution. The town of Crawford, Nebraska and Fort Crawford, Colorado were named in honor of Crawford. Crawford's achievements have been chronicled in books The Geronimo Campaign, On The Border With Crook, On The Bloody Trial of Geronimo and Time Life's Western Book Series.
Crawford lied about his age, when he enlisted in the 71st Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. At the Second Battle of Fredericksburg Crawford was wounded.. After recovering from his wounds, Crawford was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the 197th Pennsylvania "Colored Troops." At the end of the Civil War, Crawford remained in the Army. In 1872, he was transferred to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. While serving with the 3rd, Crawford participated in the 1876 summer campaign against the Lakota and Cheyenne, He was also present at the Battle of the Rosebud. In 1882, the 3rd was transferred to the Arizona Territory. Shortly afterwards, General Crook assigned Captain Crawford to the San Carlos Apache Reservation as the commander of military affairs. Crawford quickly developed a strong rapport with the San Carlos Apaches. He worked continuously to improve their living conditions and was a major reason why violence and escapes from the reservation declined. In January of 1886, Crook ordered Crawford and his Apache Scouts to enter Mexico in pursuit of Geronimo. Scout and gunfighter, Tom Horn, accompanied Crawford on this mission. On January 9, 1886, Crawford's command located Geronimo's camp inside the rugged Sierra Madres Mountains in Northern Mexico. Their successful attack on the camp forced Geronimo and his followers to flee, leaving behind their horses and food supplies. Geronimo, realizing that he was in a losing situation, sent an elderly woman to speak with Crawford. Geronimo, who knew and trusted Crawford, offered to meet the next morning and discuss a surrender. Before the meeting could occur, approximately 150 Mexican Army Irregulars came upon Crawford's position. The irregulars began shooting at the Apache Scouts. Crawford holding a white handkerchief, approached the their position in an attempt to stop the shooting. As he walked towards the irregulars, one of them shot Crawford in the head. The shooting of Crawford enraged his scouts. They opened fire on the Mexican troops. Dutchy, one the scouts, braved the shooting and dragged Crawford to safety. Crawford's second in command, Lt. Marion Maus, who would later receive the Medal of Honor, arranged a truce and was able to depart from the area without any further shooting. Crawford remained unconscious from his wound and died seven days later. Geronimo, hearing the shooting, fled the area with his followers. General Crook reported to Washington DC, that if Crawford had not been killed, Geronimo would have surrendered eight months sooner, which would have saved many lives and months of pursuit. In the aftermath of Crawford's death, Maus reported that the irregulars, whose only pay was what they captured, were likely seeking to kill them and steal their supplies and weapons. Crawford's death nearly caused a war between the United States and Mexico. Tensions between the two countries were eased, when Mexico paid restitution. The town of Crawford, Nebraska and Fort Crawford, Colorado were named in honor of Crawford. Crawford's achievements have been chronicled in books The Geronimo Campaign, On The Border With Crook, On The Bloody Trial of Geronimo and Time Life's Western Book Series.
Gravesite Details
CAPT 3RD US CAV
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