Elsatsoosu

Elsatsoosu (fl. 1872–1875), also called Elsatsoosh, was an Apache Indian 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 who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry.

Biography

Born in the Arizona Territory, Elsatsoosu (or Elsatsoosh) was one of ten Apaches hired by the U.S. Army as an Indian scout for Lieutenant Colonel George Crook's campaign against the renegades still active following the surrender of Cochise in late 1872. He specifically guided cavalry troopers in the Tonto Basin, where the Western Apache and Yavapais had been successfully conducting raids and eluding troops for several years, battling the Apache in the mountains during Crook's winter campaign of 1872–73. A total of 23 men received the Medal of Honor. Of these, all 10 Indian scouts, including Elsatsoosu, received the awardBeyer, Walter F. and Oscar Frederick Keydel, ed. ''Deeds of Valor: From Records in the Archives of the United States Government; how American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor; History of Our Recent Wars and Explorations, from Personal Reminiscences and Records of Officers and Enlisted Men who Were Rewarded by Congress for Most Conspicuous Acts of Bravery on the Battle-field, on the High Seas and in Arctic Explorations''. Vol. 2. Detroit: Perrien-Keydel Company, 1906. p. 552.Manning, Robert, ed. ''Above and Beyond: A History of the Medal of Honor from the Civil War to Vietnam''. Boston: Boston Publishing Company, 1985. p. 81. on April 12, 1875,Hannings, Bud. ''A Portrait of the Stars and Stripes''. Glenside, Pennsylvania: Seniram Publishing, 1988. p. 396. O'Neal, Bill. ''Fighting Men of the Indian Wars: A Biographical Encyclopedia of the Mountain Men, Soldiers, Cowboys, and Pioneers Who Took Up Arms During America's Westward Expansion''. Stillwater, Oklahoma: Barbed Wire Press, 1991. p. 28. for "gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches". The other scouts were William Alchesay, Blanquet, Chiquito, Jim, Kelsay, Kosoha, Machol, Nannasaddie and Nantaje.Zedric, Lance Q. and Michael F. Dilley. ''Elite Warriors: 300 Years of America's Best Fighting Troops''.
Ventura, California: Pathfinder Publishing of California, 1996. p. 111, Owens, Ron. ''Medal of Honor: Historical Facts & Figures''. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2004. pp. 171, 192. Yenne, Bill. ''Indian Wars: The Campaign for the American West''. Yardley, Pennsylvania: Westholme Publishing, 2006. p. 148, Robinson, Gary and Phil Lucas. ''From Warriors to Soldiers: A History of American Indian Service in the United States Military''. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse, 2010. p. 96.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, Indian Scouts. Place and date: Winter of 1872–73. Entered service at:------. Birth: Arizona. Date of issue: April 12, 1875.

Citation:

Gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches.

Burial

His date and place of death are unknown. A cenotaph in his honor is maintained at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana, Pima County, Arizona.

See also

* List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars

References

Further reading

* Hirschfelder, Arlene B. and Martha Kreipe De Montaño. ''The Native American Almanac: A Portrait of Native America Today''. New York: Prentice Hall, 1993.
* Konstantin, Phil. ''This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day''. New York: Da Capo Press, 2002.

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Elsatsoosu
Year of birth missing
Year of death missing
Apache people
Native American people of the Indian Wars
Native American United States military personnel
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
People from Arizona
United States Army soldiers
United States Army Indian Scouts
American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor
19th-century Native Americans