[ Autograph ] (An Attack By Cochise) An exceptional A.Ms.S. 19pp. 4to., ca. 1920, the first-hand account of U.S. Army Assistant Surgeonand Medal of Honor winner Bernard J. D. Irwin of his rescue of sixty soldiers pinned down by Chiricahua Apaches under Cochise at Apache Pass in the Arizona Territory in 1894 Irwin's thrilling manuscript, obviously written after the fact, is entitled "The Chiricahua Apache Indians" Irwin gives a brief history of the tribe, describing their attacks on settlers and also describes Cochise in flattering terms. he then describes his actions, in part: '...two of the men killed while defending their wives and children, their horses and mules carried off by a party of savages all were then alike; treacherous, blood- thirsty and cowardly Bascom was ordered to demand the immediate restoration of the stolen property determined to detain [Cochise] and several others of his party until the tribe should deliver up a captive boy a dash to surround Bascom's party and to cutoff his retreat was made surrounded by several hundred savages...' Irwin describes his two-day journey to relieve Bascom, encountering Indian attacks and slaughtered settlers along the way. Bascom describes his arrival at the besieged mail station, adding: '... Indians vanished in several directions village of Cochise was found and destroyed remains of six human bodies [mail station employees], upon which the vultures had been banqueting determined to execute an equal number of Indian warriors It was I who suggested their summaryexecution..." Very clearly and legibly written, a fantastic account. With related material and photographs.