apache station

Cooke's Springs were named for Philip St. George Cooke 2nd U.S. Dragoons the former commander of the Mormon Battalion, that was exploring this area of New Mexico in 1853. It was the only large supply of fresh water between Mesilla and the Mimbres River for wagons heading to California on the Southern Immigrant Trail as well as the later Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route. The Cooke's Springs Station of the Butterfield Overland Mail was located near Cooke's Springs from 1858 to 1861.
Cookes Springs were located at the eastern mouth of the upper part of Cookes Canyon, a narrow gap in the Mimbres Mountains. Between 1848 and 1861 the pass was a dangerous place for travelers who were often ambushed and killed by the Apache as they passed through it. Following the Bascom AffairAfter much pressure from serving Officer's there was a revision to the old civil war uniforms authorised in 1872, it was however some time before these new uniforms were delivered to the far western outposts. On campaign the men continued to wear the civil war uniforms that were still in plentiful supply, whilst the new uniform was kept for dress occassions. These are our M1872 Mounted trousers with top opening pockets & re-inforced seat, this pair has Sergeants 1,1/2" yellw wool chevron stripe on the outside leg, 1884 Pattern trousers1884 Infantry pattern trousers
The Bascom Affair began on January 27, 1861, when Tonto Apache Indian parties raided the ranch of John Ward at Sonoita Creek, stealing several livestock and kidnapping Ward's 12-year-old stepson Felix Ward.Ward complained about the raid to the nearby military authority, Lieutenant Colonel Morrison, the commandant of Fort Buchanan, Arizona, who directed Lieutenant George Nicholas Bascom and a large group of infantry to attempt to recover the boy. Bascom and his men were unable to locate the boy or the tribe. Bascom determined that the raid was done by Chiricahua Apache Indians. Morrison ordered Bascom to use whatever means necessary to punish the kidnappers and recapture the boy.
Bascom, Ward, and 54 soldiers journeyed east to the Apache Pass, arriving on February 3, 1861, and met Sergeant Daniel Robinson, who would accompany them for the rest of the expedition. Bascom convinced an Indian leader named Cochiseto meet with him. Suspicious of Bascom's plans, Cochise brought with him his brother Coyuntwa, two nephews, his wife, and his two children.At the meeting, Cochise claimed he knew nothing of the affair. Doubting the Indian's honesty, Bascom attempted to imprison him and his family in a tent to be held hostage, but Cochise was able to escape with only a leg wound. Bascom met Cochise at Apache Passand captured him. Cochise escaped and Bascom captured five members of Cochise's family in retaliation, prompting Cochise to lay ambushes and capture four Americans whom he offered to trade for his family members.
 things were even worse as the Apache, formerly friendly to the stage company destroyed most of the stations and destroyed many coaches and killed their passengers and for over a decade later hundreds of other travelers. Cooke's Pass was a favored location for these ambushes and it acquired the name Massacre Canyon after incidents like the Battle of Cookes Canyon.