Alchesay (aka William Alchesay, Alchisay and Alchise, Apache name Tsájń ("the swollen"), May 17, 1853 – August 6, 1928) was a chief of the White Mountain Apache tribe and an Indian Scout. He received the United States military's highest decoration for bravery, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...

, for his actions during the

Indian Wars The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settle ...

. He tried to convince

Geronimo Geronimo ( apm, Goyaałé, , ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a prominent leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache b ...

to surrender peacefully on behalf of the United States government and remained friends with Geronimo until his death. After the wars were over he returned home to his wives and became a rancher and was active in Indian affairs.

Biography

He was born May 17, 1853, in a part of the Arizona Territory known as Limestone Canyon. He joined the Indian Scouts at

Camp Verde Camp Verde ( yuf-x-yav, ʼMatthi:wa; Western Apache: Gambúdih) is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town is 10,873. The town hosts an annual corn festival in July, sponsored and org ...

December 2, 1872 and served under General

George Crook George R. Crook (September 8, 1828 – March 21, 1890) was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. During the 1880s, the Apache nicknamed Crook ''Nanta ...

in actions against an uprising of the

Chiricahua Chiricahua ( ) is a band of Apache Native Americans. Based in the Southern Plains and Southwestern United States, the Chiricahua (Tsokanende ) are related to other Apache groups: Ndendahe (Mogollon, Carrizaleño), Tchihende (Mimbreño), Sehend ...

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño a ...

in the winter of 1872–1873, holding the rank of

Sergeant Sergeant ( abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other ...

. He was cited for gallantry, and acted as an envoy from Crook to

, trying to convince him to surrender peacefully. Crook's aide (and fellow Medal of Honor recipient) John G. Bourke described Alchesay as "a perfect Adonis in figure, a mass of muscle and sinew of wonderful courage, great sagacity, and as faithful as an Irish hound." He was an adviser to Indian agents and to

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American ...

. He fought again under Crook in the campaign against the Chiricahua Apache in the Sierra Madre of Mexico in 1883 and his last military duty was as an advisor during the pursuit of Geronimo in Mexico in 1885. The Apache Wars officially ended with the surrender of Geronimo in 1886 and Alchesay returned to his family and his home. He became a successful cattleman and farmer, living for a while in Forestdale and later in North Fork. Plural marriage was an Apache custom, and was recognized by the U.S. government. Alchesay had three wives. His first wife was a young girl named Apache who bore him a son. In 1871, he married Tah-jon-nay. Then, ten years later in 1881, he married Tah-jon-nay's sister, Anna. As the leader of the Tribe, Alchesay sought better conditions for his people, and in 1887 traveled to Washington D.C. to speak to President Grover Cleveland. He met with President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

in 1909, and with Warren G. Harding in 1921. The military left Fort Apache, and in 1923, the Theodore Roosevelt Indian Boarding School was built for Navajo children. Alchesay traveled to Navajo county to welcome Navajo children to the White Mountain Apache reservation. He was instrumental in getting federal compensation for the families that were removed because of the school. He and Geronimo remained close friends until Geronimo's death in 1909. He filed for an Indian Wars pension under the name William Alchesay and resigned from active chieftainship in 1925. Alchesay died August 6, 1928, at

North Fork, Arizona North Fork is a census-designated place (CDP) in Navajo County, Arizona, Navajo County, Arizona, United States, on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The population was 1,417 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Geography North Fork i ...

and is buried on the

Fort Apache Indian Reservation The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation on the border of New Mexico and Arizona, United States, encompassing parts of Navajo, Gila, and Apache counties. It is home to the federally recognized White Mountain Apache Tribe of ...

Whiteriver, Arizona Whiteriver ( apw, Chʼilwózh) is a census-designated place (CDP) located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. The population was 4,104 at the 2010 census, making it the largest settlement on the Reserv ...

Honors and awards

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Indian Scouts. Place and date: Winter of 1872–73. Entered service at: Camp Verde, Ariz. Born: 1853, Arizona Territory. Date of issue: April 12, 1875. Citation:

Gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches.

Other honors

Alchesay Canyon in

Maricopa County, Arizona Maricopa County is in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 4,420,568, making it the state's most populous county, and List of the most populous counties in the ...

, near Roosevelt Dam, is named for William Alchesay.

Alchesay High School Alchesay High School is a public high school on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, Navajo County. It was founded in 1956 and named after Chief Alchesay, who was a key person in the formation of the White Mountain Apach ...

in Whiteriver is named in his honor. Alchesay Barracks at

Fort Huachuca Fort Huachuca is a United States Army installation, established on 3 March 1877 as Camp Huachuca. The garrison is now under the command of the United States Army Installation Management Command. It is in Cochise County in southeast Arizona, ap ...

, Arizona, are also named in his honor.

References

External links