JULY 18, 1925

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT AMOS CHAPMAN DIED

Born to a Native American mother in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on March 15, 1839, Amos was a U.S. Army civilian scout & interpreter. In 1868, he scouted for the 7^th Cavalry’s campaign against the Southern Cheyenne. Marrying Cheyenne chief Stone Calf’s daughter, Chapman lived for a time among her tribe. In the early 1870s, in Indian Territory, he helped the army keep whiskey peddlers & outlaws off the reservations. On September 12, 1874, Amos, William (Billy) Dixon, and 4 troopers engaged a party of Comanches and Kiowas in the “Buffalo Wallow Fight” from which Chapman lost a leg. He, Dixon & the troopers received Medals of Honor. As Chapman & Dixon were civilians, their awards were revoked in 1916 (restored in 1989). In 1879, Amos helped the Cheyenne keep order during Dull Knife’s flight and prevented bloodshed by keeping cattlemen on designated routes through reservations. Chapman settled near Seiling, Oklahoma (OK), where he died. He entered the OK Military Hall of Fame in 2012.

Sources:

H. Allen Anderson, “Amos Chapman,” Texas State Historical Association.  Retrieved 5/22/2023, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/btb03

“Amos Chapman,” Hall of Valor.  Retrieved 5/22/2023, Amos Chapman - Recipient - (militarytimes.com)

Wikipedia

Photo: Author unknown, pre-1926. Likely Public Domain, alternatively Fair Use.