By Ray Carlson
When one considers people who warranted recognition for their role in the Civil War in Arizona, George Washington Bowie jumps out. He became commander of the Union forces for the District of Arizona on January 29, 1864. The fort built at Apache Pass was named to honor him, and before being mustered out Bowie was breveted a Brigadier General.
Decades later, Carl Hayden, Arizona’s long-time Senator, researched Fort Bowie. He contacted the postmaster in the California town where Bowie died to get information about the Fort’s namesake. What he found was that Bowie was living by himself in a hotel at the time of his death. His estate consisted of $78 and a gold watch, and he lacked a marker on his burial site.
His obscurity at death did not fit Bowie’s earlier life. He was born in Maryland in 1823 to a prominent family. His father was a successful medical doctor who inherited a large plantation, and his mother, Anne Calvert, was a descendent of the original governor of Maryland. His father died when George was two, and his mother moved the family from the Bowie plantation to Chester, PA. Next, the family moved to Chambersburg, PA, where George grew up as a northerner and studied law.
At 22, George went to Iowa to practice law and was elected to the convention drafting Iowa’s first constitution. A year later, the Mexican-American War began and George felt the army was more interesting than politics. He enlisted and was made a First Lieutenant and later was promoted to Captain and brevetted Major.
After the War, George, now 25, moved to a gold mining camp in California and made some money. At age 29, he was elected to the California Legislature, but over the next six years, ran unsuccessfully for the US House, Governor, and State Attorney General.
In 1861, he gave up his relatively unsuccessful political career and returned to his more successful career in the military. He enlisted in the Fifth Regiment of Infantry. This regiment was composed of volunteers from Northern California and became one of five regiments that made up the “California Column.” Bowie was immediately appointed a Colonel and the head of that Fifth Regiment. He moved his Regiment to Fort Yuma where they were ordered to wait while Bowie briefly took command of Camp Drum in Wilmington, CA. The area near Los Angeles had several vocal secessionists, and the Camp was intended to demonstrate strong Union presence.
Eventually, Bowie’s Regiment was deployed to Arizona and was involved in more conflicts with Apaches than Confederates. Part of the Regiment was ordered to protect the Apache Springs and Pass where the Apache had regularly attacked travelers. Fort Bowie was built to discourage such Apache outbreaks.
After completing their three-year tour, Bowie and most of his regiment were mustered out at Franklin, Texas. Having the mustering out in Texas was intended to allow a comfortable trip home, but the plan backfired when the soldiers were underpaid and not given rations for that trip. General James Henry Carleton, who commanded the Column, was verbally attacked by many soldiers, but Bowie seemed to remain popular.
Bowie, 42, returned to California and was appointed Naval Officer for the Port of San Francisco. Three months later, he married Ada Hook, 20, and a year later a son was born. As in his own childhood, death haunted George’s family life. Ada died after five years of marriage and their son died at age seven.
George returned to practicing law and occasionally gave patriotic speeches. He lacked close associates but was described as the “personification of a gentleman.” He lived on his own in hotels for almost thirty years and died living alone at the age of 78. He was buried in the Hook family plot.
Senator Hayden told the postmaster the Army would pay for a grave marker. Ada Bowie’s gravestone was elaborate including a full size statue but offering no room to mention George. Her family apparently approved inscribing “Brig Gen Geo Bowie” and his dates on the lower half of his mother-in-law’s gravestone. For George, Fort Bowie was left as the best monument to his life and accomplishments.
George Washington Bowie, date unknown. Photo public domain.
Fort Bowie, Cochise County, Arizona, 1893. Photo public domain.
Apache prisoners at Fort Bowie, 1884. Photo public domain.
Colonel James Carleton, commander of the California Column. Photo Courtesy Al Bates.
“Days Past” is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). This and other Days Past articles are also available at www.sharlothallmuseum.org/library-archives/days-past. The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles to dayspastshmcourier@gmail.com. Please contact SHM Library & Archives reference desk at 928-277-2003, or via email at dayspastshmcourier@gmail.com for information.