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For thousands of years, Native American peoples have traveled through the mountains along this route. After them had come Spanish explorers from Mexico. Once they were gone, came the Anglos. Starting in 1843, pioneers started coming through and the route began to be called the Emigrant Trail. Later, a company called the Jackass Mail Line used the route, and did so from 1857 to 1861. Meanwhile, the Butterfield Trail and Overland Mail Company was using the same route from September 1858 to March 1861.

Now enters an important piece of history which would have far-reaching effects, known as the Bascom Affair. Here’s what transpired, and the timing is everything.

On January 27, 1861 in this area of the southwest, a group of Apache Indians stole some livestock and kidnapped a 12-year-old white boy. Lieutenant George Bascomb and the infantry were ordered to recover them. He convinced a Chiricahua Apache leader named Cochise to meet with him to discuss the issue. Cochise said he didn’t do it, and knew nothing about the incident. Bascomb didn’t believe him, and held Cochise and his family. Cochise escaped, then asked Bascomb to release his family. Bascomb said he’d only let them go when the 12-year-old boy was released. Cochise was furious!

In retaliation, Cochise and a large party of Apaches attacked a group of American and Mexican mule-team drivers. They tortured and killed the 9 Mexicans and took the 3 Americans hostage. Cochise then offered to exchange the 3 men for his family, but Bascomb flatly refused, saying he’d get his family back only when the boy was released. On February 7th, Cochise attacked Bascomb’s soldiers. Some historians feel this marked the start of the 25-year-long Apache Wars.

Cochise then fled with the hostages to Sonora, Mexico where he knew he was out of reach of the American soldiers. En route, he tortured and killed his 3 hostages, leaving their remains to be found by Bascom. On February 19th, the Army hanged Cochise’s brother and nephews. When Cochise discovered their bodies was the moment when the Chiricahua Indians transferred their hatred of the Mexicans to the Americans.

Felix Ward, the kidnapped boy, was later found with the Coyotero Apaches. So, it was true that the Chiricahua Apaches had had nothing to do with his kidnapping. He became an Apache scout for the U.S. Army, known by the name of Mickey Free. Among other exploits, he served as a scout for General George Crook in pursuit of Geronimo.

Which brings us back to the main story line. Because things were becoming so hot between the Anglos and the Apaches in the stretch from Doubtful Canyon to San Simon and Apache Pass, Butterfield quit running through the area in March of 1861. Meanwhile, the Giddings brothers had set up a company to transport passengers and mail from San Antonio, Texas to San Diego, California. They had started in July, 1857 and offered new coaches drawn by 6 mules accompanied by an armed escort. The simple fact, though, was that they were trying to operate a business through dangerous Apache lands, all because Bascom had started this affair with Cochise.

On April 23, 1861 a provision wagon which had passed through Doubtful Canyon was reported missing. A stage coach traveling the same route 4 days later also failed to arrive. Even worse, when 2 badly-bruised mules from the ill-fated stage returned, everyone feared that Cochise had led an attack. One of the Giddings brothers recruited 25 men to search the area, and they found pieces of harness, newspapers and mail – and human remains.

The following was reported in the Mesilla Times:

The stage station in Doubtful Canyon had been burned, the corral wall had been burned, and the Indians had formed a breastwork around the springs. Near the station, the bodies of 2 men were found, tied by feet to trees, their heads reaching within 18 inches of the ground, their arms extended and fastened to pickets, and evidence of a slow fire under their heads. The bodies were pierced with arrows and lances. They were so disfigured as to render recognition impossible.