In June 1871, George Crook was assigned to the Southwest to help quell skirmishes between settlers and members of the Yavapai and Apache tribes in central Arizona Territory. He organized the Tonto Basin Campaign to track down members of the tribes and return them to the reservations. Over the course of the operation, there were over twenty clashes, including a highly successful attack in December 1872 on a Yavapai camp during the Battle of Salt River Canyon that ended with seventy-six dead natives. On March 11, 1873, a band of Tonto Apaches attacked and killed three white men. Crook's men tracked the attackers to a Yavapai stronghold on Turret Peak in central Arizona.
BattleEdit
On March 27, 1873, a group of soldiers and Apache Scouts under the command of CaptainGeorge M. Randall crept up Turret Peak around midnight. Randall had the men crawl on hands and knees to avoid making any noise or rattling any stones. Waiting until dawn, the soldiers charged and surprised a rancheria near the crest of the mountain. The natives were so startled and panic-stricken that many of them simply jumped from the mountain side falling to their death below.[2] Some resisted, fighting for a little while before being killed or surrendering. Fifty-seven natives died as result and several more were wounded and captured. Unfortunately a few civilians were found in the cave after the fighting had stopped, killed accidentally by the covering fire or rolling rocks. The attack at Turret Peak proved demoralizing to the Yavapai and Tonto (Apache) people. Two weeks after the battle, on April 6, many of the hostiles surrendered to Crook at Camp Verde. Several of the soldiers who fought at Turret Peak were later awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions.
ReferencesEdit
Michno, Gregory (2003). Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850–1890. Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN0-87842-468-7.
battle, turret, peak, occurred, march, 1873, arizona, territory, between, united, states, army, group, yavapai, tonto, apaches, part, lieutenant, colonel, george, crook, campaign, return, natives, reservations, part, yavapai, apache, warsgeorge, crook, during,. The Battle of Turret Peak occurred March 27 1873 in the Arizona Territory between the United States Army and a group of Yavapai and Tonto Apaches as part of Lieutenant Colonel George Crook s campaign to return the natives to reservations Battle of Turret PeakPart of the Yavapai War Apache WarsGeorge Crook during the Tonto Basin Campaign DateMarch 27 1873LocationTonto Basin Arizona Territory34 14 53 N 111 51 53 W 34 24806 N 111 86472 W 34 24806 111 86472ResultUnited States victoryBelligerents United StatesYavapaiApacheCommanders and leadersGeorge Crook George M RandallDelshayCasualties and lossesnone 1 57 killedBackground EditIn June 1871 George Crook was assigned to the Southwest to help quell skirmishes between settlers and members of the Yavapai and Apache tribes in central Arizona Territory He organized the Tonto Basin Campaign to track down members of the tribes and return them to the reservations Over the course of the operation there were over twenty clashes including a highly successful attack in December 1872 on a Yavapai camp during the Battle of Salt River Canyon that ended with seventy six dead natives On March 11 1873 a band of Tonto Apaches attacked and killed three white men Crook s men tracked the attackers to a Yavapai stronghold on Turret Peak in central Arizona Battle EditOn March 27 1873 a group of soldiers and Apache Scouts under the command of Captain George M Randall crept up Turret Peak around midnight Randall had the men crawl on hands and knees to avoid making any noise or rattling any stones Waiting until dawn the soldiers charged and surprised a rancheria near the crest of the mountain The natives were so startled and panic stricken that many of them simply jumped from the mountain side falling to their death below 2 Some resisted fighting for a little while before being killed or surrendering Fifty seven natives died as result and several more were wounded and captured Unfortunately a few civilians were found in the cave after the fighting had stopped killed accidentally by the covering fire or rolling rocks The attack at Turret Peak proved demoralizing to the Yavapai and Tonto Apache people Two weeks after the battle on April 6 many of the hostiles surrendered to Crook at Camp Verde Several of the soldiers who fought at Turret Peak were later awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions References EditMichno Gregory 2003 Encyclopedia of Indian Wars Western Battles and Skirmishes 1850 1890 Missoula Mountain Press Publishing Company ISBN 0 87842 468 7 Michno p 264 Bloody Basin and Beyond Archived from the original on 2008 02 19 Retrieved 2008 02 08 Battle of Turret Peak 1873 Archived from the original on July 14 2006 Retrieved 2008 02 08 Turret Peak Arizona National Park Service Archived from the original on October 23 2007 Retrieved 2008 02 08 Bloody Basin and Beyond thenaturalamerican com Archived from the original on 19 February 2008 Retrieved 2008 02 08 Portal nbsp Arizona Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Turret Peak amp oldid 1085838531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
