George N. Bascom
Captain, U.S. Army

George N. Bascom was born in 1837 in Owingsville, KY. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.

Bascom's actions in dealing with the kidnapping of a rancher's son led to a bloody 20-year war with the Chiricahua Apaches. In February 1861, Pinal Apaches raided the ranch of John Ward in southeastern Arizona. During the raid they kidnapped Ward's adopted son. Commanding a small detail of soldiers, Bascom was sent to Apache Pass with orders to rescue the child.

Recently assigned to the Arizona Territory, Bascom had limited knowledge on the different bands of Apaches in the area. This resulted in his belief that the Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise, was responsible for the attack and kidnapping. During negotiations with Cochise, Bascom ordered the taking of several of the Chief's relatives as hostages. Cochise, who had been at peace with the Americans, responded by attacking a passing stagecoach and wagon train. Survivors of the attacks were taken hostage by the Apaches.

After this, the situation quickly spun out of control with hostages on both sides being killed. The kidnapped child was not recovered until years later, and Bascom and his men were only able to escape being wiped out by the timely arrival of reinforcements. This violent encounter between Bascom and Cochise has become known as the Bascom Affair.

Not long afterwards, the Civil War erupted in the west. Bascom, promoted to Captain, participated at the Battle of Val Verde in New Mexico. On 21 February 1862, during the battle, Bascom was killed in action by Confederate forces.

He was originally interred in the Post Cemetery at nearby Fort Craig, NM. When the fort was closed in 1885, all Post interments were reburied at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Section I. Records indicate that Bascom was one of the burials that were not identifiable. It is believed Bascom's grave is one of the unknown markers.

Death and Burial

Captain George N. Bascom died on 21 February 1862 in Val Verde, NM. He is buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM.