lieutenant april american soldier born virginia served united_states_army 6th cavalry graduating west_point assignment led scouts wars played key role ending surrender army health problems exposure southwest critically injured johnson county war retired army dying year later stomach cancer retirement nominated medal honor denied award portrayed film american legend early life born military family virginia april cadet west point earned nickname resemblance roman general graduated commission second lieutenant received orders southwest fort new_mexico wars led companies territory respected earned nickname meaning big captain year service fort commander scouts later aide camp general scout chief named war scouts brought arizona new_mexico capture chief campaign scouts placed command major new_mexico scouts band ultimately failed capture returned virginia sick leave developed exposure elements years working scouts harsh southwest married daughter niece june cumberland maryland sick leave expired july having returned post declared absent leave returned southwest september command colonel campaign white mountain army sent brigadier general command indian operations experienced indian fighter long learned regular soldiers useless based entire strategy employing indians fight indians mark respect nicknamed means grey wolf despite having major tribes territory taken arms time leadership repeatedly saw small band warriors escape time knowing reputation army best men commandant white mountain indian reservation disagreed handling reservation treatment clash local politicians grazing rights reservation land transferred command year resigned army replaced general falling regarded miles man despite failing health miles knew known spoke familiar traditions values having spent nearly years field dispatched general miles seek july reached encountered army officer lieutenant orders follow trail parker told trail myth haven seen trail weeks ago washed rains despite rapidly deteriorating health refused quit parker guided captain leading mission find kill took weeks miles ranges locate banks august reluctantly allowed scouts join command health continued deteriorate august asked surgeon medically discharge wood refused august led men scouts found camp band reduced men women children august approached camp soldiers fluent scouts alarm initial contact invited camp remained camp hostage left returned pounds tobacco gifts tobacco teased look told welcome camp safe come encouraged abandon fight army asked situation think like advised trust miles agreeing meet general miles band rode camp entrance united_states received agreed allow retain weapons defense nearby mexican troops left station send word miles leaving lieutenant command smith wood wanted prisoners war smith told wanted meeting men refused knew smith wanted murder bring miles smith persisted threatened blow head soldier line wood left write dispatch turned man smith finally relented troops arrived arizona incident september miles arrived september formally surrendered fourth final time september conclusion surrender turned said good told truth following day surrendered nearby canyon mourning brother killed mexican soldiers bringing wars official end southwest despite success miles orders final approach party instead reasoned larger party scared flee city arizona held gala event celebrate surrender invited guest honor miles refused let attend miles appointed aide camp lieutenant scrutiny miles role surrender given legitimacy strategy ghost dance war december reassigned regiment ordered operation hostile engaged final campaign culminated tragedy december developed shoulders unable arms cold weather january medical orders leave february september recovered rejoined stationed fort wyoming wyoming undergoing range war farmers known dispatched request acting governor red ranch set fire planted bomb form gunpowder barracks responding fire injured bomb blast barracks left arm shattered rendering disabled serve cavalry soon buffalo soldiers ordered replace death legacy november received orders denver colorado await muster army june sought position military advisor colorado aid miners strike colorado denied took leave absence army moved virginia recommended medal honor general gallantry going risk life hostile camp august denied acting secretary war distinguished hostile action suffered stomach pains went virginia treatment died stomach cancer body buried arlington national cemetery military honors colonel commander issued general order stated extreme sorrow regret colonel commanding regiment announced death lieutenant fort monroe said honor brave officer died rank lieutenant brilliant services government material advantages reverted regretted officer regiment extend family profound earnest sincere sympathy mark respect memory officers regiment wear usual badge mourning period days son january november joined army rose rank colonel campaigned recognition father later compiled published father memoirs role portrayed syndicated television series stories century starring narrated later portrayed film american legend played lieutenant episode
Charles B. Gatewood