James H. Turpin
Encyclopedia
First Sergeant James H. Turpin (1846 – May 6, 1893) was an American
soldier in the United States Army
who served with the fifth U.S. Cavalry regiment during the Apache Wars
. Turpin was one of 12 men received the Medal of Honor
for gallantry in several engagements with the Apache Indians
in the Arizona Territory
during Lieutenant Colonel George Crook
's "winter campaign" between 1872 and 1873.
in 1846. He enlisted in the United States Army
in Boston, Massachusetts as a private. Turpin was assigned to frontier duty, and served with Company L of the Fifth Cavalry Regiment, seeing action during the Apache Wars
and eventually reached the rank of First Sergeant.
In late 1872, Turpin accompanied Lieutenant Colonel George Crook
in his "winter campaign" against the Apache
renegades still active in the Arizona Territory
, following the surrender of Apache Chief
Cochise
. Turpin was involved in heavy fighting in the Tonto Basin
region, where Western Apache
and Yavapai
s raiding parties
had been active for many years. He was one of 23 expedition members who were presented with the Medal of Honor
, his citation reading "gallantry in actions with Apaches".
Turpin died on May 6, 1893 at the age of 47 and was interred at Fairmount Cemetery
in Denver, Colorado
.
Citation: Gallantry in actions with Apaches.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who served with the fifth U.S. Cavalry regiment during the Apache Wars
Apache Wars
The Apache Wars were a series of armed conflicts between the United States and Apaches fought in the Southwest from 1849 to 1886, though other minor hostilities continued until as late as 1924. The Confederate Army participated in the wars during the early 1860s, for instance in Texas, before being...
. Turpin was one of 12 men received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for gallantry in several engagements with the Apache Indians
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
in the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
during Lieutenant Colonel George Crook
George Crook
George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
's "winter campaign" between 1872 and 1873.
Biography
James H. Turpin was born in Easton, MassachusettsEaston, Massachusetts
Easton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 23,112 at the 2010 census.Easton is governed by an elected committee of selectmen and a town administrator.- History :...
in 1846. He enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in Boston, Massachusetts as a private. Turpin was assigned to frontier duty, and served with Company L of the Fifth Cavalry Regiment, seeing action during the Apache Wars
Apache Wars
The Apache Wars were a series of armed conflicts between the United States and Apaches fought in the Southwest from 1849 to 1886, though other minor hostilities continued until as late as 1924. The Confederate Army participated in the wars during the early 1860s, for instance in Texas, before being...
and eventually reached the rank of First Sergeant.
In late 1872, Turpin accompanied Lieutenant Colonel George Crook
George Crook
George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
in his "winter campaign" against the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
renegades still active in the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
, following the surrender of Apache Chief
Chiefdom
A chiefdom is a political economy that organizes regional populations through a hierarchy of the chief.In anthropological theory, one model of human social development rooted in ideas of cultural evolution describes a chiefdom as a form of social organization more complex than a tribe or a band...
Cochise
Cochise
Cochise was a chief of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache and the leader of an uprising that began in 1861. Cochise County, Arizona is named after him.-Biography:...
. Turpin was involved in heavy fighting in the Tonto Basin
Tonto Basin
The Tonto Basin, also known as Pleasant Valley, covers the main drainage of Tonto Creek and its tributaries in central Arizona, at the southwest of the Mogollon Rim, the higher elevation transition zone across central and eastern Arizona....
region, where Western Apache
Western Apache
Western Apache refers to the Apache peoples living today primarily in east central Arizona. Most live within reservations. The White Mountain Apache of the Fort Apache, San Carlos, Yavapai-Apache, Tonto Apache, and the Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian reservations are home to the majority of...
and Yavapai
Yavapai people
Yavapai are an indigenous people in Arizona. Historically, the Yavapai were divided into four geographical bands that considered themselves separate peoples: the Tolkapaya, or Western Yavapai, the Yavapé, or Northwestern Yavapai, the Kwevkapaya, or Southeastern Yavapai, and Wipukpa, or Northeastern...
s raiding parties
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
had been active for many years. He was one of 23 expedition members who were presented with the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, his citation reading "gallantry in actions with Apaches".
Turpin died on May 6, 1893 at the age of 47 and was interred at Fairmount Cemetery
Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado)
Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado was founded in 1890 and is Denver's second oldest operating cemetery after Riverside Cemetery. It was designed by German landscape architect Reinhard Schuetze...
in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company L, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Arizona, 1872-74. Entered service at: --. Birth: Easton, Mass. Date of issue: 12 April 1875.Citation: Gallantry in actions with Apaches.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars