1872-1873 Winter Indian Campaigns Medal of Honor Recipient for "Gallant conduct during the different campaigns against and engagements with the Apaches closing April 9 1873". In 1861. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army as a drummer boy. He served with Company B of the 30th Virginia Infantry, Corse's Brigade, Pickett's Division, First Corps commanded by General James Longstreet. He was wounded in battle 3 times once at Sharpsburg. After mustering out of the C.S.A. on April 27, 1865, he eventually joined the United States Army Company B, 5th Cavalry 23 July 1868 under the alias of Clay Beauford (Unknown why but his official enlistment record also shows his birth place as Maryland, all other records including Census shows Virginia) and served bravely in the Indian Campaigns in the West until July 23 1873, having reached the rank of 1st Sergeant. In 1874 we was hired by John Clum Indian Agent for the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation as Captain of the San Carlos Apache Reservation Police Force.. He was instrumental in the first capture of Geronimo 21 April 1877. He resigned after Clum left later that year. Later serving in the upper house of the 13th Arizona Legislature representing Graham County. One of their actions was the approval of a University in Tucson, University of Arizona. In 1879 20 January H.B. of the Arizona Legislature officially changed his name back to Wilford Bridwell. Late 1890's moved his family to Los Angeles for better education opportunities and continued to travel to Aravaipa Wilderness Area where they had built their home, to continue to work his mine. He was a very popular and well-known figure in Arizona History during his lifetime.
1872-1873 Winter Indian Campaigns Medal of Honor Recipient for "Gallant conduct during the different campaigns against and engagements with the Apaches closing April 9 1873". In 1861. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army as a drummer boy. He served with Company B of the 30th Virginia Infantry, Corse's Brigade, Pickett's Division, First Corps commanded by General James Longstreet. He was wounded in battle 3 times once at Sharpsburg. After mustering out of the C.S.A. on April 27, 1865, he eventually joined the United States Army Company B, 5th Cavalry 23 July 1868 under the alias of Clay Beauford (Unknown why but his official enlistment record also shows his birth place as Maryland, all other records including Census shows Virginia) and served bravely in the Indian Campaigns in the West until July 23 1873, having reached the rank of 1st Sergeant. In 1874 we was hired by John Clum Indian Agent for the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation as Captain of the San Carlos Apache Reservation Police Force.. He was instrumental in the first capture of Geronimo 21 April 1877. He resigned after Clum left later that year. Later serving in the upper house of the 13th Arizona Legislature representing Graham County. One of their actions was the approval of a University in Tucson, University of Arizona. In 1879 20 January H.B. of the Arizona Legislature officially changed his name back to Wilford Bridwell. Late 1890's moved his family to Los Angeles for better education opportunities and continued to travel to Aravaipa Wilderness Area where they had built their home, to continue to work his mine. He was a very popular and well-known figure in Arizona History during his lifetime.
Bio by: FYNIS BRIDDLE
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Beauford memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
