Howard B. Cushing

Howard Bass Cushing (August 22, 1838–May 5, 1871) was an American soldier during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars, who was killed by the Apache during a campaign in Arizona Territory. Cushing was five foot, seven inches tall and described as "spare, sinewy, and active as a cat" with "keen gray or bluish green eyes." His physical stature and reputation as an Indian fighter made him renowned throughout the young American southwest immediately following the end of the Civil War.

Military service and family Because of his conquests and accomplishments, including the events that led to his death in 1871, Cushing was called "The Custer of Arizona." In addition, Cushing's brother Alonzo Cushing was in fact a classmate of George Armstrong Custer at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Throughout Howard Cushing's career, he tried to measure up to his brothers' successes. It was said that his family felt that he had been unluckily placed and had thus been engaged in only half a dozen battles.

By the end of 1867, Cushing was promoted to First Lieutenant in Troop F of the 3rd Cavalry, serving first in western Texas and then southern Arizona.

Cushing Massacre Cushing was charged with pursuing Chiricahua Apache elements under Chief Cochise, who had recently broken a winter truce in the Tucson area in 1871. Cushing and 22 troopers pursued the Apache elements south towards the Mexican border, which was often used as a sanctuary when pursued by US forces.

On May 5, 1871, Cushing came into contact with an Apache element approximately fifteen miles north of today's Fort Huachuca, in an area known as Bear Spring in the Whetstone Mountains. This element was not led by Chief Cochise, but reportedly by the chief named Juh, who was known for stating his desire to kill Cushing. Cushing and his lead element were immediately ambushed, resulting in the deaths of Lieutenant Cushing, Private Martin Green, and a Mr. Simpson; a Private Pierce was wounded. Several horses were killed and wounded. The battle was described as fierce, and reduced to hand-to-hand combat. Cushing's non-commissioned officer, Sergeant John Mott, managed to rescue the wounded and lead a successful retreat with the remainder of the troopers. Within 48 hours three US Cavalry Troops were dispatched from Fort Crittenden to pursue the Apaches, and found Cushing's body with his fellow fallen troopers, who were all stripped of their clothing and left by the Apaches. He was later reinterred at San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio of San Francisco.

Legacy Cushing Street and the Cushing Street Bar, both located in downtown Tucson, Arizona are named in Cushing's honor. Howard Cushing seems to be the inspiration for the character Lietenant Colonel Owen Thursday, played by Henry Fonda in director John Ford 1948 western Fort Apache, with Fonda's Owen Thursday bearing a lot of similarities to Howard Cushing, from appearance, to fighting Cochise, to having a similar death, though Ford says the film was inspired by the Fetterman Fight and the Battle of Little Bighorn.