Henry A. Crabb

Henry Alexander Crabb
Born1822 or 1824
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedApril 7, 1857 (aged 35 or 37)
Caborca, Sonora, Mexico
Cause of deathExecution by firing squad
Allegiance United States
Branch Filibuster Army
UnitArizona Colonization Company
Battles / warsReform War
Spouse(s)Filomena Ainsa

Henry Alexander Crabb (died April 7, 1857) was an American soldier and an early member of the California State Senate, who served during a term ending in 1854. He was a leader of the Whig party and was known as a pro-slavery activist.[1] He had reportedly once lived in Mississippi and killed a Mr. Jenkins of the Vicksburg Sentinel newspaper in a duel.[2] Crabb also married Filomena Ainsa and had 2 children with her.[1] Crabb was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate on the Know Nothing party ticket in 1857. After losing, he organized a filibustering expedition to the Mexican state of Sonora to aid the Liberal rebels in Mexico's ongoing Reform War, specifically the leader of the Liberals in Sonora, Ignacio Pesqueira. After Crabb crossed the border, however, Pesqueira turned on him[clarification needed], and Crabb's forces were defeated in an eight-day battle at Caborca in April 1857.[3] The survivors, including Crabb, were captured and then executed what has been termed the Crabb massacre. According to one report in a Mississippi newspaper, "his head was preserved in spirits of wine and sent to the city of Mexico."[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Henry A. Crabb". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Southern Duels". The Weekly Telegraph. 1888-01-31. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  3. ^ "Henry A. Crabb: Cd. Obregon en Sonora, Fierro por la 200!!!". obson.wordpress. 19 July 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Southern Duels". The Weekly Telegraph. 1888-01-31. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-02-01.

Sources