Learn about the Apache Wars that terrorised the Southwest in the mid 1800s
Apache - the very word was enough to incite fear. The name means "˜enemy' and was an appropriate title for the Indians who resisted the white encroachment of the 1870's. The 1870' and early 80's was to be a period that would be come known as the Apache Wars in the Southwest. It all began in Arizona.
Sporadic Indian attacks on isolated villagers caused a furore in Tucson. The local newspaper openly blamed the crimes on a small band of San Carlos Apache under the leadership of Chief Eskiminzin. This band had, however, always proven themselves to be peaceful. They had turned away from their weaponry and settled into a life as corn planters. Meanwhile the Tucson Committee of Public Safety was formed. On April 28, 1871 more than one hundred and fifty men set out to bring vengeance upon the band of Eskiminzin.
The white men attacked the friendly village at about four in the morning, raking fire across the rows of tipis, killing men women and children as they slept. Within half an hour not a living Indian could be found. There were approximately 150 dead - nearly all of them women and children. This atrocity became known as the Camp Grant Massacre.
The atrocities of that morning led to an outcry in the east. President Grant replaced commander of the Department, General Stoneman with a Lieutenant Colonel by the name of George Crook. He also sent General Oliver Howard to Arizona to help broker a peace deal with the Apache. Four Apache reservations were selected by these men.
Crook offered the Apache but two alternatives - settle down and cultivate the land or die. Before long many Apache did, indeed, turn themselves in. Still, many held out. The hunt for the hostiles was on. Crook hired reservation Apache to track down the hostiles. Wanting to have the same mobility as his enemies, he abandoned wagons for pack trains, horses for mules and extended the daily march by 20 miles.
On November 15, 1872 Crook invaded the Tonto Basin in an attempt to surprise the enemy while in winter camp. Numerous engagements ensued leaving about 200 Indians dead. Crook's units would scour the plains, alert to any smoke signal or other sign of an encampment. The Indians were being worn down, unable to make a move without the fear of alerting Crook - the Gray Wolf - to their presence. In late December Crook's Apache scouts came across a stronghold of the Yavapais in a canyon in the Mazatal mountains. The soldiers surrounded the canyon in preparation for an attack. But they had miscalculated. The Indians were not in the canyon, but rather in a cave higher up. Realising the mistake, the soldiers immediately opened fire, killing about a half a dozen warriors . The Indians refused to surrender. Instead, after singing their death song, they charged from the cave, hiding behind rocks. The Soldiers posted men above the Indians an rolled boulders towards them in an artificial avalanche. This put an end to the engagement. 75 Indians were killed, with 18 taken prisoner.
On March 27, 1873 a similar encounter occurred at Turret Peak, south of Camp Verde. The Indians were taken by surprise and those that didn't commit suicide surrendered. Crook's campaign was proven an unqualified success. There was, however, still a number of stubborn leaders who refused to come into the reservation. Among them were Geronimo and Victorio.
These two leaders led raids mainly in Mexico. They did, however, also cause havoc north of the border. Victorio was a hard foe to pin down. He and his warriors would make lightning strikes and then ride their horses to death. They would then eat the dead horses and steal new ones to carry on. He met his match, though in the form of Colonel Benjamin Grierson. Twice Grierson bested Victorio, forcing him to concentrate his activities on Mexico. Victorio was trapped and killed on October 15, 1880.
Over the next few years, Geronimo led many raids and was engaged in various encounters with Crook's soldiers. Often the Apache would find a way to dissolve into the desert with very few casualties. In March 1886, Crook met Geronimo in the field. He demanded unconditional surrender, but soon, he relented and offered terms. Geronimo agreed but, that night, got drunk and fled to the mountains. The Army was now determined to hunt him down and kill him.
For the next six months Crook doggedly tracked down the Apache chief and his small band of resisters. Finally, cornered and starving, Geronimo agreed to end his standoff. He surrendered at Skeleton Canyon, 65 miles south of Apache Pass on September 4, 1886.
Many of the Indians died in the strange climates they found in Florida, where they were sent for incarceration. Geronimo himself died at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1909. He was the last of the great Apache warrior chiefs.
