The Black Legend: George Bascom, Cochise, and the Start of the Apache Wars

In 1861, war between the United States and the Chiricahua Apache seemed inevitable, and Lieutenant George Bascom confronted their leader, Cochise, despite no proof of their involvement in a kidnapping. Bascom's actions were admirable in the larger context of the Indian Wars following the American Civil War.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

In 1861, the war between the United States and the Chiricahua seemed inevitable. The Apache band, led by their prudent and unfriendly leader Cochise, lived on a heavily traveled Emigrant and Overland Mail Trail and routinely raided it. Despite lacking evidence that the Chiricahua were responsible for a young boy's kidnapping from his stepfather's ranch, Lieutenant George Bascom confronted Cochise. However, a series of missteps led to Cochise exacting a short-lived revenge.

Despite modern accounts based on spurious evidence, Bascom's performance in a difficult situation was admirable. This book examines the legend and provides a new analysis of Bascom's and Cochise's behavior, placing it in the larger context of the Indian Wars that followed the American Civil War.

The Apache band, led by Cochise, lived on a heavily traveled Emigrant and Overland Mail Trail and routinely raided it. Despite lacking evidence that the Chiricahua were responsible for a young boy's kidnapping from his stepfather's ranch, Lieutenant George Bascom confronted Cochise. However, a series of missteps led to Cochise exacting a short-lived revenge.

Despite modern accounts based on spurious evidence, Bascom's performance in a difficult situation was admirable. This book examines the legend and provides a new analysis of Bascom's and Cochise's behavior, placing it in the larger context of the Indian Wars that followed the American Civil War.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 144 x 222 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493063796