An account of the Bascom Affair by Daklugie:

"A coyote, or half-breed, of Mexican and Irish parents was stolen, allegedly by Cochise's men. His mother, a Mexican, was living with a rancher named John Ward, not far from Fort Buchanan. This boy, later known as Mickey Free, was probably not of as much importance to Ward as were the cattle taken from him, but the man made complaint at Fort Buchanan, and Lt. George W. Bascom was sent to Apache Pass to recover the child from Cochise."

"Cochise-- with his wife, their infant son Naiche, and three of Cochise's close male relatives-- came to the station. Ward, in the officer's camp, recognized Cochise and informed Bascom of his presence. Cochise denied that any of his band had done the kidnapping. Ward accused the chief of telling a lie. Cochise was very proud of making his word good, and no greater offense could have been offered to him. Apaches hated liars. If a man known to be untruthful, even though he had witnessed a murder he could not testify. Ward demanded pay for both boy and cattle. Cochise offered to investigate, determine the offenders, and help restore the child."

"Unknown to the Apaches, soldiers surrounded the tent in which Bascom and the Apaches were talking. The young officer informed Cochise that he and his party were prisoners and would not be released until the boy was produced. With his knife, Cochise cut a slit in the tent and escaped. The chief summoned this warriors and captured some white men to exchange for his family. Despite the protestations of an experienced old sergeant, Bascom had the men he still held captive hanged, though he released Cochise's wife and child. Cochise dragged one captive to death and had the others hanged in retaliation."

Indeh: An Apache Odyssey by Eve Ball, p.25