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| He served as a ] interpreter for the U.S. Boundary Commission which laid out the ] and United States Border between 1849-1852. He went on to serve as Captain in Company B, ] a unit of California Volunteers, with the ] in ]. He eventually achieved the rank of ] in 1864 and commanded the ] until 1866.<ref name="CLHF">Varner, K.(2007)''John Cremony''.''''. '''5'''(3)p.6</ref> He was the first editor of San Francisco's ''Weekly Sunday Times'' newspaper. | He served as a ] interpreter for the U.S. Boundary Commission which laid out the ] and United States Border between 1849-1852. He went on to serve as Captain in Company B, ] a unit of California Volunteers, with the ] in ]. He eventually achieved the rank of ] in 1864 and commanded the ] until 1866.<ref name="CLHF">Varner, K.(2007)''John Cremony''.''''. '''5'''(3)p.6</ref> He was the first editor of San Francisco's ''Weekly Sunday Times'' newspaper. | ||
| Cremony wrote ''Life Among the Apaches'', published in 1868.<ref name="CLHF"/> In this first-hand account, Cremony repeatedly describes the Apache tribe as "the most treacherous, bloodthirsty, villainous and unmitigated rascal upon the earth.... incapable of improvement" and governable only by massive white terrorism and fraud. He advocates the use of "overwhelming force" followed by the ethnic "purification" of the entire Apache homeland. . Although he is an unabashed white supremacist almost of the genocidal variety, he also details many white atrocities, oppressions, and arrogant actions . so that the discerning reader can well appreciate Apache points of view. He seldom realizes the effect white misdeeds have on Apache conduct, viewing widespread white atrocities as exceptional cases, and Apache self-defense as murderous depredations stemming fro inherent Indian viciousness. He was the first white man to become fluent in the Apache language, learning it in his role as an interpreter, and compiling the first written compilation of their language as a glossary for the army. However, he says that as of 1868 the US government had neither published his glossary nor given him credit for it. He bitterly realizes that in 250 years of contact the US had learned nothing about the peoples it subjugated. Nor did they listen to his advice; very shortly after Cremony and his troops withdrew from the "reservation" upon which they had imprisoned the Apaches, the Natives fled the reservation "to parts unknown". Cremony regards this as but more evidence of their incorrigible "ingratitude"; but once again, even the most undiscerning reader will realize at least many of the causes of their great dissatisfaction. | |||
| Despite being an Indian fighter, Cremony was an admirer of the ] people and authored ''Life Among the Apaches'', published in 1869.<ref name="CLHF"/> A first-hand balanced perspective on the Native American tribe. He was the first white man to become fluent in the Apache language, learning it in his role as an interpreter, and publishing the first written compilation of their language as a glossary for the army.<ref>] (edited by Barrett) ''Geronimo, His Own Story'' New York: Ballantine Books 1971. ISBN 0345280369.</ref> As a result, Cremony was often able to resolve numerous issues between the military, reservation authorities and the Apaches.<ref name="Nevin"/> | |||
| Cremony recounts many thrilling episodes of hardship, endurance, chase , skill, treachery, heroism, and battle. He gleefully recounts many massacres of Indians both by whites and by other tribes of Indians. Reading him, we garner a first-hand account of white motives for exterminating Native Americans in the West, though Cremony is amazingly oblivious to the import of his observations. We also gain knowledge of Indian perspectives, although Cremony states these indirectly and usually without having a clue as to their origin or import. | |||
| Not all of Cremony's discourses with the Apache were peaceful, however. He killed one warrior in a grueling knife fight and chronicled a non-stop 21-hour chase when he was pursued by a band of ] (White Mountain Apache) of some {{convert|125|mi}} through the desert of ] while on horseback; {{convert|70|mi}} of which were at a full gallop.<ref name="Nevin">{{cite book | last =Nevin | first =David| authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Old West: The Soldiers | publisher = Time Life| year = 1973| location = New York| page = 238| isbn = 9781416124481}}</ref> | |||
| Cremony served most of his military career in the Southwest and personally knew Apache Chiefs ] and ].<ref name="Nevin"/> After retiring from the army, Cremony settled in San Francisco, becoming a founding member of the ] and establishing the club's membership guidelines in 1872.<ref name="CLHF"/> A "Bohemian" meaning to Cremony:“a man of genius who refuses to cramp his life in the Chinese shoe of conventionality, whose purse is ever at the disposal of his friends, and who lives generously, gaily, carefree, and as far from the sordid, scheming world of respectability as the south pole is from the north". These standards are known as the Cremony Standards and are still in use by the club today.<ref>Reinhardt, Richard(1980)''The Bohemian Club''.''American Heritage Magazine'' '''4'''1980</ref> Cremony is buried at ] on the Laurel Hill Mound in ]. | Cremony served most of his military career in the Southwest and personally knew Apache Chiefs ] and ].<ref name="Nevin"/> After retiring from the army, Cremony settled in San Francisco, becoming a founding member of the ] and establishing the club's membership guidelines in 1872.<ref name="CLHF"/> A "Bohemian" meaning to Cremony:“a man of genius who refuses to cramp his life in the Chinese shoe of conventionality, whose purse is ever at the disposal of his friends, and who lives generously, gaily, carefree, and as far from the sordid, scheming world of respectability as the south pole is from the north". These standards are known as the Cremony Standards and are still in use by the club today.<ref>Reinhardt, Richard(1980)''The Bohemian Club''.''American Heritage Magazine'' '''4'''1980</ref> Cremony is buried at ] on the Laurel Hill Mound in ]. | ||
Revision as of 00:16, 29 July 2011
| John Carey Cremony | |
|---|---|
 Cremony in 1873 | |
| Born | 1815 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | August 24, 1879 San Francisco, California |
| Years of service | 1861-1872 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry |
| Commands | 1st Battalion of Native Cavalry, California Volunteers |
| Battles / wars | Mexican American War, American Civil War, Apache Wars |
| Other work | author |
Major John C. Cremony was a Boston newspaperman who enrolled in the Massachusetts Volunteers in 1846, serving as a lieutenant.
He served as a Spanish language interpreter for the U.S. Boundary Commission which laid out the Mexican and United States Border between 1849-1852. He went on to serve as Captain in Company B, 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry a unit of California Volunteers, with the California Column in New Mexico Territory. He eventually achieved the rank of Major in 1864 and commanded the 1st Battalion of Native Cavalry, California Volunteers until 1866. He was the first editor of San Francisco's Weekly Sunday Times newspaper.
Cremony wrote Life Among the Apaches, published in 1868. In this first-hand account, Cremony repeatedly describes the Apache tribe as "the most treacherous, bloodthirsty, villainous and unmitigated rascal upon the earth.... incapable of improvement" and governable only by massive white terrorism and fraud. He advocates the use of "overwhelming force" followed by the ethnic "purification" of the entire Apache homeland. . Although he is an unabashed white supremacist almost of the genocidal variety, he also details many white atrocities, oppressions, and arrogant actions . so that the discerning reader can well appreciate Apache points of view. He seldom realizes the effect white misdeeds have on Apache conduct, viewing widespread white atrocities as exceptional cases, and Apache self-defense as murderous depredations stemming fro inherent Indian viciousness. He was the first white man to become fluent in the Apache language, learning it in his role as an interpreter, and compiling the first written compilation of their language as a glossary for the army. However, he says that as of 1868 the US government had neither published his glossary nor given him credit for it. He bitterly realizes that in 250 years of contact the US had learned nothing about the peoples it subjugated. Nor did they listen to his advice; very shortly after Cremony and his troops withdrew from the "reservation" upon which they had imprisoned the Apaches, the Natives fled the reservation "to parts unknown". Cremony regards this as but more evidence of their incorrigible "ingratitude"; but once again, even the most undiscerning reader will realize at least many of the causes of their great dissatisfaction.
Cremony recounts many thrilling episodes of hardship, endurance, chase , skill, treachery, heroism, and battle. He gleefully recounts many massacres of Indians both by whites and by other tribes of Indians. Reading him, we garner a first-hand account of white motives for exterminating Native Americans in the West, though Cremony is amazingly oblivious to the import of his observations. We also gain knowledge of Indian perspectives, although Cremony states these indirectly and usually without having a clue as to their origin or import.
Cremony served most of his military career in the Southwest and personally knew Apache Chiefs Mangas Coloradas and Cochise. After retiring from the army, Cremony settled in San Francisco, becoming a founding member of the Bohemian Club and establishing the club's membership guidelines in 1872. A "Bohemian" meaning to Cremony:“a man of genius who refuses to cramp his life in the Chinese shoe of conventionality, whose purse is ever at the disposal of his friends, and who lives generously, gaily, carefree, and as far from the sordid, scheming world of respectability as the south pole is from the north". These standards are known as the Cremony Standards and are still in use by the club today. Cremony is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park on the Laurel Hill Mound in San Francisco, California.
Bibliography
References
- Soldier in the California Column, The Diary of John W. Teal, Arizona and the West, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Spring, 1971), pp. 33-82
- ^ Varner, K.(2007)John Cremony.Cypress Lawn Heritage Newsletter. 5(3)p.6
- Cite error: The named reference
Nevinwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - Reinhardt, Richard(1980)The Bohemian Club.American Heritage Magazine 41980
External links
Categories:- 1815 births
- 1879 deaths
- American folklore
- Apache people
- People from Boston, Massachusetts
- American memoirists
- People from San Francisco, California
- People of the wars between the United States and Native Americans
- American military personnel of the Mexican–American War
- California military personnel
- People of California in the American Civil War