Jim (Medal of Honor, 1873)

Jim "The Great" (c. 1850 – c. 1897), born Bow-os-loh, was an Apache Native American scout in the U.S. Army who served under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook 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 for gallantry.

Jim
Birth name	Bow-os-loh
Born	c. 1850 Arizona Territory
Died	c. 1897 Arizona Territory
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Years of service	c. 1872–1875
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	U.S. Army Indian Scouts
Battles / wars	Indian Wars Apache Wars
Awards	Medal of Honor

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 George Crook'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 Medal of Honor, Jim and all 10 Indian scouts received the award for "gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches".^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} The other scouts included William Alchesay, Blanquet, Chiquito, Elsatsoosu, Kelsay, Kosoha, Machol, Nannasaddie and Nantaje.^{[7][8][9][10][11]} 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 30 years later when his widow applied for his army pension in 1927.^[12]

See also

• Biography portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars