Cruse was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on December 29, 1857. Before attending West Point, he attended Centre College in Kentucky, 1874–1875. He graduated from West Point in 1879. Cruse was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 6th United States Cavalry upon graduation. Cruse was later an honor graduate of the Infantry-Cavalry School in 1891. He received the Medal of Honor "for distinguished gallantry in action with hostile Indians" at Big Dry Fork, Arizona on July 17, 1882. He received the medal on July 12, 1892. Three other men also received the Medal of Honor at Big Dry Fork, Arizona: Frank West, George H. Morgan, and Charles Taylor. Cruse later served in the Philippine-American War. Later in his career, he graduated from the Army War College in April 1916 and was promoted to brigadier general in December 1916. He retired from active duty in January 1918.
Fraud allegations
Shortly after his retirement, Cruse was accused of involvement in a scandal involving quartermaster-acquisition procedures with Chicago manufacturing agent Henry H. Lippert. Lippert and his son Ralph were arrested; they argued that they had not committed fraud, and that Cruse had not been employed by them until after his retirement from the military. They also argued, as did Cruse, that Cruse had obtained an opinion from the Army's Judge Advocate General which indicated that becoming an agent of the Lippert company did not violate any laws. The case against Ralph Lippert was not pursued because he was drafted into the military. In April, Cruse followed the Inspector General of the Army's advice to return to the Lipperts the money they had paid him, which ended his involvement in the matter. The case was resolved when authorities in Chicago reviewed the evidence against the Lipperts and declined to prosecute.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Big Dry Fork, Ariz., July 17, 1882. Entered service at: Owensboro, Ky. Birth: Owensboro, Ky. Date of issue: July 12, 1892. ;Citation Gallantly charged hostile Indians, and with his carbine compelled a party of them to keep under cover of their breastworks, thus being enabled to recover a severely wounded soldier.
Personal life
Cruse retired to Longport, New Jersey, where he wrote Apache Days and After. He died on June 8, 1943, and is buried in Section 3, Lot 1763, of Arlington National Cemetery. He married Ms. Beatrice Cottrell, who is buried with him. They had two sons, Fred Taylor Cruse and United States Naval AcademyMidshipmanJames Thomas Cruse. James was killed in an explosion aboard the in 1907. He is buried next to his parents.
