Bernard Taylor Troops
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The TERRITORIAL TIMES is a publication of the Prescott Corral of Westerners International, Prescott, Arizona, a non-profit organization dedicated to the study, preservation, promotion and dissemination of information with respect to the real history of the American West. Price per copy is $10.00 ($12.50 by mail). Back copies of available issues may be ordered by mail. CORRAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Sheriff John McKinney WI Liason Bob Galloway Deputy Sheriff Bernard Ruhnke Swamper Margitta McKinney Trail Boss Brett Carls Symposium Coord. Fred Veil Keeper of the Chips Jack Hoeft Roundup Editor Donna Sherwin Brands Recorder & Historian Bruce Fee Byteslinger Russ Sherwin Also immediate Past Sheriffs: Brad Courtney, Tom Collins and Dana Sharp. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE The Corral members responsible for this publication are: Al Bates, Tom Collins, Brad Courtney, Jay Eby, Fred Veil and Andy Wallace. PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS Illustrations in this publication were provided by courtesy of the Sharlot Hall Museum Archives (Pages 12, 22 and 26), National Park Service (Page 10), National Archives (Page 9), Arizona Historical Society (Page 15). Other historic illustrations are within the public domain. John Huff created our front cover design. Territorial Times is printed by EMI Print Works, Prescott. Cover Illustration: Frank Luke, Jr., poses next to his French-built SPAD pursuit aircraft. Famed “Balloon Buster” Luke won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exploits in the air over the Western Front in World War I. © Prescott Corral of Westerners International, Box 11086, Prescott, Arizona 86304-1086 A publication of the Prescott Corral of Westerners International May 2016, Volume 9 Number 1 CONTENTS 1 John P. Langellier—ABOVE AND BEYOND: Arizona and the Medal of Honor 9 Mary Melcher—Making Do With Less: How Arizona Women Coped During the Great Depression 16 Shaw Kinsley—Arizona’s First Newspaper Press is Restored to Operation 21 John Tenney—Territorial Era Baseball in Prescott and Yavapai County i ! ! ! ! ! On the right, Medal of Honor winner Powhatan Clark is shown in full dress uniform while wearing his Medal of Honor. On the left, the heroic action that won him the award during the Apache Wars is depicted on the cover of Harper’s Weekly in an illustration drawn by famed western artist Fredrick Remington. ! ! ! ""! ABOVE AND BEYOND: Arizona and the Medal of Honor By John P. Langellier uring the winter of 1861-62, following the beginning of hostilities in the Civil War, Union officials concluded that the deeds of the American D soldiers, sailors and marines who distinguished themselves in the fighting should be recognized. Early in the conflict, General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott received a proposal for a medal for individual valor. Scott felt medals smacked of European monarchs and rejected the idea, but the concept found support in the United States Navy. On December 21, 1861, President Abraham Included in this valorous cadre are 156 Lincoln signed Public Resolution 82, which recipients who were cited for actions in contained a provision for a navy medal of Arizona Territory. Later, five others, who valor. The medal was “to be bestowed upon were born in Arizona, also joined this such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and distinguished list of heroes who went above Marines as shall most distinguish themselves and beyond the call of duty. by their gallantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war.” With the restoration of the Union, federal troops again More than six concentrated on months later, a deployment to the similar resolution American West. for the United An elite group States Army among the tens of became law, for thousands of these “such frontiersmen in blue noncommissioned followed in the officers and noble footsteps of privates as shall the bravest of the most distinguish Union Army’s themselves by legions of fighting their gallantry in men. Who were action, and other these individuals soldier-like who performed so qualities, during heroically in the the present final decades of the insurrection.” Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor nineteenth century, Although the and what motivated Medal of Honor was created for the Civil them to perform above and beyond the call of War, Congress made it a permanent duty? decoration in 1863. Since that time, more than 3,400 men and one woman have been Answering the first part of this question is one recognized for heroic actions in the nation’s matter. Military records indicate that the battles and for other courageous efforts. recipients came from a variety of 1 backgrounds and diverse origins, ranging BESIEGED FORT: from newcomers who sailed from Ireland and other parts of Europe to a strange, promising Will Croft Barnes new land, to Indian scouts who were born in During 1881, an Apache holy man and Arizona as members of a people that came to prophet named Noch-ay-del-klinne preached be known as the Apaches. Some of these the resurrection of dead warriors and leaders heroes became famous, but for most, their life who would restore the ancestral lands of his stories have faded into history. Some of the people. His message eventually triggered a stories of the recipients who earned revival that ended in bloodshed, including his prestigious decoration in Arizona continue to death at the hands of troops from the Sixth inspire even after more than a century has United States Cavalry who had taken him into passed since their daring deeds. custody. As part of the outbreak, a large party of Noch-ay-del-klinne’s followers surrounded FIRST Fort Apache. Private First Class Will C. Barnes of the ENGAGEMENT: Signal Corps, at great risk Bernard Irwin to his life, scaled the Bernard John Irwin, who heights adjacent to Fort had received his MD at Apache to send the New York Medical message for help to lift the College, elected to siege, actions which practice his healing arts as resulted in his receipt of the a military surgeon. In Medal of Honor. Barnes early 1861, while serving remained in Arizona after as the assistant surgeon at his military service. Fort Buchanan, word Among his contributions to came that troops under the his adopted state, Barnes command of Lt. George wrote an important Bascom were under attack reference work entitled near Apache Pass by a Arizona Place Names. superior force of Apaches led by Cochise. With SAVING HIS only 14 men of the First COMMANDING Dragoons, Irwin led a Will Croft Barnes rescue party eastward OFFICER: from Fort Buchanan to link up with besieged Bernard Taylor troops. Irwin’s column reached Bascom’s By age thirty, Missouri-born Bernard Taylor anxious force on February 13. He was a sergeant in the Fifth United States strategically placed his small unit around Cavalry. He was described as “an admirable Cochise and his men, tricking the Apache specimen of the Irish-American soldier” and leader into thinking that Irwin had a much “as a daring, resolute, intelligent man, and a larger army with him. The attack broke off non-commissioned officer of high merit.” On and decades later, Irwin was presented the November 1, 1874, Taylor set out from Camp Medal of Honor, for his daring actions, the Verde, Arizona with a detachment earliest engagement that resulted in the commanded by First Lieutenant Charles King, bestowal of this prestigious symbol of valor. in pursuit of Apaches. After making camp at 2 Sunset Pass, the party, including a contingent by some 15 or 20 other rounds from a dozen of Yavapai Indian scouts, made for high or more desperados, who had set up an ground in order to survey the area. As King’s ambush: “Firing from six well-constructed men climbed the mesa, Apaches opened fire and carefully selected stone emplacements from ambush and struck the lieutenant in the with clear lines of fire….” head and eye. Eventually, another shot shattered his arm. Taylor came to the half- The black soldiers were caught without cover. conscious King’s aid, and During a sharp, 30-minute firefight, eight while under heavy fire, soldiers were hit, including carried him a half mile Sergeant Brown who back to safety. Charles sustained two wounds, one King’s wounds eventually of which was in the led to his medical abdomen. Corporal Isaiah retirement from the army. Mays of the Twenty-fourth, He would turn to writing who was one of only three and became a popular members of the tiny author of historical works command who remained and fiction, including unscathed, crawled away many novels set in from the assault. As soon as Arizona during the Indian he was safe, Mays ran for Wars. On April 12, 1875, nearly two miles to Taylor was presented the Cottonwood Ranch, seeking Medal of Honor for his ! help for the surrounded selfless action. Two days Dr. Leonard Wood patrol. The payroll fell into later, he died of a lung the hands of the bandits. As disease. Major Wham reported, almost all of the defenders became casualties, “while bravely doing their duty under a murderous cross- WHAM PAYROLL fire.” The paymaster recommended Brown ROBBERY: and Mays for Medals of Honor. On February Benjamin Brown & Isaiah Mays 1, 1890, Secretary of War Redfield Proctor During the 1880s, the Tenth United States approved the major’s request for both of these Cavalry and Twenty-fourth United States valiant foot soldiers. Infantry, manned by African American enlisted personnel, arrived in Arizona SURGEON IN BLUE: Territory. In May 1889, Sergeant Benjamin Leonard Wood Brown of the Twenty-fourth, along with eight Little did Harvard medical school graduate other men from his unit and a pair of troopers Leonard Wood dream that his career would from the Tenth, escorted the army payroll take such a turn when he came west as a carried by Major Joseph Wham.