WOAC: Apache Spring

Fort Bowie, in present-day Arizona, was established in 1862 at the site of the famous Battle of Apache Pass, where U.S. troops clashed with Apache chief Cochise and his warriors. The fort’s dual purpose was to guard the invaluable water supply at Apache Spring and to control Indians in the developing southwestern region.

This slim volume is full of period photographs as well as illustrations of the salient details of Fort Bowie 1 and Fort Bowie 2 and the area. It covers the details of important nearby events (Battle of Apache Pass, the Bascom Affair, Butterfield Stage / Overland Mail), groups (California Column, Chiricahua Apache) and other details (Apache view of area, disease, food, Wikiup, Apache Spring).

Fort Bowie, founded with the dual purpose of guarding the invaluable water source at the Apache Spring and controlling the local Indians, went down in history as the locus for one of the longest and most famous Indian Wars of the American West. This book includes the topographical survey work done by LT John G. Parke, used for both the railroad and the Butterfield Stage / Overland Mail, that pointed out the Apache Pass / Puerto del Dado. The volume also covers the disastrous Bascom Affair and Fort Bowie 2.

A book-level thesis, this unindexed volume covers the history of Fort Bowie from the topographical survey done by LT John G. Parke to be used by the railroad that identified Apache Pass / Puerto del Dado that was then used by the Butterfield Stage / Overland Mail. The author discusses the Apache relationship with the coach station, the California Column, the Bascom Affair, and Rucker Canyon / Rocky Mesa. The resulting Chirichahua Agency / Reservation, provisions provided for the Apache, the use of alcohol, and the significance of Apache Spring and both Fort Bowie 1 and Fort Bowie 2 are also explained.