General George Crook on muleback, with Apache scouts Ba-Keitz-Ogie and Alchesay (CMOH) .6 1/2 x 4 1/16 in. albumen photograph on 7 x 4 5/8 in. thin cardstock mount. General George Crook is wearing his campaign outfit and riding his mule in Arizona Territory, 1885. With him is Chiricahua Apache scout Ba-Keitz-Ogie (Yellow Coyote, ca. 1855–1893), at left, and Alchesay (1853–1928), a White Mountain Apache scout who earned the Medal of Honor during Crook’s campaign against the Chiricahua. Alchesay participated in Geronimo’s surrender to Crook in March 1886, serving as the Chiricahua Apache leader’s appointed translator.

In 1871, as Commander of the Arizona Territory, General George Crook was charged with subduing the last of the warring tribes and finally bringing order to the frontier. Facing desolate, unmapped terrain, brutal conditions, and a desperate enemy, Crook recruited White Mountain and San Carlos Apaches to chase down the elusive Chiricahua Apaches, led by Cochise. Crook was so impressed with the Scouts' service that he recommended them for Medals of Honor from the US Congress, which they received in 1875. On their behalf Crook wrote: "Without reserve or qualification of any nature…I assert that these scouts did excellent service, and were of more value in hunting down and compelling the surrender of the renegades than all other troops engaged in operations against them combined." Once relative peace had been established, Crook was reassigned.

A new outpost was needed close to the US/Mexican border, one that would serve as a base of operations: Camp Huachuca was established in 1877 for just that purpose. However, the Indian Wars dragged on for another ten years. General Crook was called back to Arizona and he did not hesitate to call on his Scouts again. His extensive use of and trust in Indian Scouts, and his willingness to negotiate rather than use force, made Crook unusual among Army generals. For their part, the Scouts had first-hand knowledge of "every trail, every water hole, every hideout in the vast labyrinth of mountains crisscrossing the southwest." The "enemy" was not only their own tribe, but often their own clan. Crook believed there was none better to track the Apache than other Apache. The Apache Scouts played a decisive role, right up to the final surrender of Geronimo in 1886. Sadly, in the end, the US Army Scouts were treated the same as the conquered prisoners of war, and shipped far from their beloved Arizona to Florida for incarceration. Crook would spend the rest of his life campaigning on his former enemy's behalf, speaking out against white encroachments on Indian lands and working for the Apaches' return to their homeland.

Sergeant William Alchesay

Probably the most famous of Crook's Apache Scouts, Sergeant William Alchesay, or the "Little One," was born between Globe and Show Low, Arizona in 1853. He enlisted in 1872 at Camp Verde, Arizona, and became a Sergeant in A Company, Indian Scouts, commanded by Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood, 6th US Cavalry. Sergeant Alchesay was one of ten Apache Scouts who guided Crook's columns during the winter campaign of 1872-1873 against the Chiricahua Apache. The Medal of Honor citations for all ten Scouts cited, "for gallant conduct during the campaigns and engagements with Apaches."

In March 1886, Sergeant Alchesay was called upon again to assist General Crook in the Geronimo Campaign. Alchesay was present at Geronimo's surrender on March 27th at Canyon de los Embudos in Sonora. The old warrior asked Alchesay to speak on his behalf. Speaking as both Scout and Apache, Alchesay said, "They have all surrendered. There is nothing more to be done… I don't want you have any bad feelings about the Chiricahuas. I am glad they have surrendered because they are all one family with me." Geronimo would escape confinement one more time and have to surrender again to General Nelson Miles, but the trust that was bestowed on Alchesay by both his fellow Soldiers and his brother Apache spoke highly of his character.

Alchesay served more than fourteen years in the Army, eventually becoming a Chief of the White Mountain Apache Tribe until he retired in 1925. He made numerous trips to Washington D.C., visiting with President Grover Cleveland and acting as a counselor to Indian Agents in Arizona Territory. Chief Alchesay died in 1928, a chief to his own people and a hero to the US Army which depended so much on his abilities. He was inducted into the MI Hall of Fame in 2012 and his proud descendants traveled to Fort Huachuca to dedicate a new plaque on Alchesay Barracks, named for him in 1975.

Apaches Ba-keitz-ogie, (The Yellow Coyote), called Dutchy Chiricahua scout.

Dutchy (ca. 1855 – 12 March 1893), born Bakeitzogie, meaning Yellow Coyote was a Chiricahua and Apache Scout who served with Lieutenant Britton Davis during the Apache Wars.

In the early 1870s, Dutchy's father killed a white man and fled to the hills. According to Britton Davis, Dutchy was then persuaded to kill his father by a religious man who urged Dutchy to save his and his father's souls. Davis describes how rumors described Dutchy returning the next day with his father's head.^[3] As a member of the Chatto raiding party, Dutchy raided southern Arizona, surrendering to Davis at San Carlos.

After being held at Fort Thomas, Dutchy ended up being a trustworthy scout, and he ended up being selected as Emmet Crawford’s body-servant. He enlisted on 13 March 1884. He served as a scout with Crawford and was promoted to sergeant of scouts. Dutchy continued as a scout until late in 1886 until he was indicted by a United States grand jury in November 1884 for the murder of Jacob Samuel Ferrin near San Carlos in July 1883. He was beaten to death on 12 March 1893 during a drunken brawl with white soldiers.