Charles Bare Gatewood
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Charles Bare Gatewood was born on 6 April 1853 into a military family in Woodstock, VA. He became a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in 1873 where he earned the nickname "Scipio Africanus" because of his resemblance to the Roman General of the same name. He graduated in 1877 with a commission as Second Lieutenant and received orders to the 6th Cavalry in the Southwest at Fort Wingate, NM.

Indian Wars

Gatewood led companies of Apache and Navajo scouts in Apache territory throughout the Southwestern U.S. He was respected among the Apaches and earned the nickname "Nanton Bse-che," meaning "Big-nosed Captain." After one year of service at Fort Wingate, Gatewood was made the Commander of Apache scouts from the White Mountain Apache Reservation, and later Aide-de-Camp to General Nelson Miles. One of his Sergeant's was a scout who was a former White Mountain Chief named Alchesay.

Gatewood knew his success with the scouts depended on two things: understanding their ways, and gaining their acceptance. He accomplished this by meeting with his scouts daily, suppressing any thoughts of racial superiority, and never talking down to them.

Victorio Campaign

In 1879, Gatewood and his Apache scouts were brought from Arizona to the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico to capture the Apache Chief Victorio in the Victorio Campaign. He and his scouts were placed under the command of Major Albert P. Morrow of the Ninth Cavalry at Fort Bayard, NM. Gatewood's scouts skirmished with Victorio's band, but were ultimately unsuccessful in capturing him.

In May of 1881 he returned to Virginia on sick leave. He had developed rheumatism from exposure to the elements in his two years working with the Apache Scouts in the harsh Southwest. He married Georgia McCulloh, the daughter of Thomas G. McCulloh and niece of Richard Sears McCulloh on 23 June 1881 in Cumberland, MD. His sick leave expired in July and having not returned to his post, he was declared AWOL. Gatewood returned to the Southwest on 17 September 1881 under the command of Colonel Eugene Asa Carr in his campaign against the Cibecue and White Mountain Apaches.

Geronimo Campaign

In 1882, the Army sent Brigadier General George Crook to take command of Indian operations in Arizona Territory. Crook was an experienced Indian-fighter who had long since learned that regular soldiers were almost useless against the Apaches. As a result, he based his entire strategy on employing "Indians to fight other Indians." The Apache, as a mark of respect, nicknamed Crook Nantan Lupan, which means "Grey Wolf." Despite having subjugated all the major tribes of Apaches in the Territory, the Apaches had once again taken up arms, this time under the leadership of Geronimo. Crook repeatedly saw Geronimo and his band of warriors escape every time.

Knowing Gatewood's reputation as one of the army's "Best Apache Men," Crook made him Commandant of the White Mountain Indian Reservation at Fort Apache under Emmet Crawford. Gatewood and Crook disagreed on handling of the reservation and treatment of the Apaches. After a clash with local politicians over grazing rights on reservation land, Crook had Gatewood transferred in 1885 to command Navajo scouts. That same year Crook resigned from the Army and Philip Sheridan had him replaced by General Nelson Miles in the Geronimo Campaign.

Although Crook and Gatewood had a falling-out, Gatewood was regarded by Miles as a "Crook Man." Despite this and Gatewood's failing health, Miles knew that Gatewood was well known to Geronimo, spoke some Apache, and was familiar with their traditions and values; having spent nearly 10 years in the field with them, and against them.

Gatewood was dispatched by General Miles to seek out Geronimo for a parley. On 21 July, when he reached Carretas, Chihuahua, Gatewood encountered another Army officer, Lieutenant James Parker of the 4th Cavalry, who had orders to follow Geronimo's trail. Parker told Gatewood, "The trail is all a myth-I haven't seen any trail since three weeks ago when it was washed out by the rains."

Despite his rapidly deteriorating health, Gatewood refused to quit and Parker guided him to Captain Henry Lawton, who was leading a mission to find and kill Geronimo with the Fourth Cavalry. It took two weeks through 150 miles of desert mountain ranges to locate Lawton on the banks of the Aros River on 3 August 1886. Lawton reluctantly allowed Gatewood and his scouts to join his command.

Gatewood's health continued to deteriorate. On 8 August he asked Lawton's Surgeon, Leonard Wood, to medically discharge him, but Wood refused. On 23 August 1886, Gatewood led 25 men and two Apache scouts into the Sierra Madre and found Geronimo's camp: his band reduced to 20 men and 14 women and children. On 24 August Gatewood approached Geronimo's camp with only 2 soldiers: George Medhurst Wratten, who was fluent in all Apache dialects and one other; 2 interpreters: Tom Horn and Jesus Maria Yestes; and 2 Chiricahua scouts: Kayitah a Chokonen, and Martine a Nedni, so as not to alarm the Apaches. Kayitah and Martine made the initial contact, being invited into the camp by the Bavispe River. Kayitah remained in the camp as a hostage while Martine left and returned with Gatewood and 15 pounds of tobacco. After Gatewood made gifts of tobacco, Geronimo teased Gatewood about his thinness and sickly look, Gatewood was then told by Geronimo, " you are always welcome in my camp, and it was always safe for you to come." Gatewood encouraged Geronimo to abandon his fight against the U.S. Army. When asked by Geronimo what Gatewood would do in his situation and to "think like an Apache," Gatewood advised him to "put your trust in Miles."

Agreeing to meet with General Miles, Geronimo's band rode with Gatewood to Lawton's camp in Guadalupe Canyon, the entrance to the U.S. Lawton received Geronimo and agreed to allow the Apaches to retain their weapons for defense against nearby Mexican troops. Lawton left for a heliograph station to send word to Miles, leaving Lieutenant Abiel Smith in command. Smith and Wood wanted to disarm the Apaches because they were prisoners-of-war. Smith told Gatewood that he wanted a meeting with Geronimo's men, but Gatewood refused because he knew Smith wanted to murder Geronimo, rather than bring him to Miles. Smith persisted and Gatewood threatened to "blow the head off the first soldier in line," which was Leonard Wood. Wood left to write a dispatch and Gatewood turned to the next man, Smith, who finally relented.

The troops and the Apaches arrived at Skeleton Canyon, AZ, in the Peloncillo Mountains without incident on 2 September 1886. Miles arrived on 3 September 1886 and Geronimo formerly surrendered for the fourth and final time on 4 September. At the conclusion of the surrender, Geronimo turned to Gatewood and said to him, in Apache, "Good. You told the truth." The following day Naiche surrendered (he had been in a nearby canyon mourning his brother who had been killed by Mexican soldiers) bringing the Apache wars to an official end in the Southwest.

Despite his success, Miles chastised Gatewood for "disobeying orders" as Gatewood made the final approach to Geronimo with only a party of 6 instead of 25. Gatewood reasoned that a larger party would have scared the Apache and made them flee. The city of Tucson, AZ, held a gala event to celebrate the surrender of Geronimo and invited Gatewood to be the guest of honor, but Miles refused to let him attend. Miles appointed Gatewood as his "Aide-de-Camp," to keep the Lieutenant under scrutiny, Miles downplayed Gatewood's role in Geronimo's surrender mostly because it would have given legitimacy to Crook's strategy.

Sioux Campaign

In December 1890, Gatewood was reassigned to the Sixth Cavalry, H Troop. His regiment was ordered to South Dakota's Pine Ridge Agency in an operation against hostile Sioux Indians, but was not engaged in the final campaign that culminated in the tragedy at Wounded Knee in December. Gatewood developed rheumatism in both shoulders and in January was unable to move his arms, again due to the cold weather, and had medical orders to leave in February 1891 for Hot Springs, SD.

Johnson County War

In September 1891, Gatewood was recovered and rejoined the Sixth Cavalry now stationed at Fort McKinney, WY. Wyoming was undergoing a range war between ranchers and farmers that would be known as the Johnson County War and the Sixth Cavalry was dispatched at the request of Acting Governor Amos W. Barber. On 18 May 1892, cowboys from the Red Sash Ranch set fire to the Post Exchange and planted a bomb in the form of gunpowder in a Barracks stove. Gatewood was responding to the fire and was injured by a bomb blast in a Barracks that shattered his left arm and rendered him too disabled to serve in the Cavalry.

Soon after, the Ninth Cavalry of "Buffalo Soldiers" was ordered to Fort McKinney to replace the Sixth Cavalry.

On 19 November 1892, Gatewood received orders for Denver, CO, to await his muster out of the Army. On 4 June 1894 he sought a position as the military advisor of El Paso County, CO, to aid in the Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1894 in Cripple Creek, CO, but was denied. In 1894 he retired from the Army and moved to Fort Myer, VA.

In 1895 he was recommended for the Medal of Honor due to his role in the Indian Wars by General Nelson A. Miles, "for gallantry in going alone at the risk of his life into the hostile Apache camp of Geronimo in Sonora, 24 August 1886" but was denied by the acting Secretary of War because Gatewood never distinguished himself in hostile action. In 1896 he suffered excruciating stomach pains and went to a Veteran's Hospital in Fort Monroe, VA, for treatment. Gatewood died on 20 May 1896 of stomach cancer.

On 23 May 1896, Colonel D. S. Gordon, Commander of the 6th Cavalry, issued General Order 19, which stated: "It is with extreme sorrow and regret that the Colonel Commanding the Regiment announced death of First Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood at Fort Monroe May 20. Too much cannot be said in honor of this brave officer and it is lamentable that he should have died with only the rank of a Lieutenant, after his brilliant services to the Government. That no material advantages reverted to him is regretted by every officer of his regiment, who extend to his bereaved family their most profound, earnest and since sympathy. As a mark of respect to his memory, the officers of the Regiment will wear the usual badge of mourning for the period of 30 days."

In Media

Lieutenant Gatewood was portrayed by Jason Patric in the 1993 film Geronimo: An American Legend.

Personal

Lieutenant Gatewood's son, Charles B. Gatewood Jr. (4 January 1883 - 13 November 1953), joined the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of Colonel. He campaigned for recognition of his father's name and later compiled and published his father's memoirs.

Death and Burial

First Lieutenant Charles Bare Gatewood died of stomach cancer on 20 May 1896. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.