Geronimo in Mexico: “Capturing and losing Mexican pack trains: 1861”

Most of us know of the Apache leader Geronimo but most of what most of us know we learned at the movies.  Leader of the Chiricahua Apaches, Geronimo led the fight against the expansion into Apache tribal lands by the United States during the Apache Wars.  But you knew that much from the movies.  The greatest wrongs that were visited upon the Apaches were from the United States government.  But it all started in Mexico…and we continue with the story.

In the summer of 1861, Geronimo with twelve warriors again went into Mexico. The Apaches entered Chihuahua and travelled south on the east side of the Sierra Madre Mountains for four days.  The Indians then crossed over to the Sierra de Sahuaripa range, not far to the east of Casa Grande. Here the warriors rested for one day, and Geronimo sent out scouts to reconnoiter. The scouts reported Mexican pack trains camped five miles to the west.

The next morning, just at daybreak, as the Mexican drivers were starting with their mule pack train, Geronimo attacked them. The Mexican rode away in fear for their lives, leaving the Apaches their booty. The mules were loaded with provisions, most of which the warriors planned to take home. Two of the mules were loaded with side-meat or bacon and this the Indians threw away.

Geronimo started to take these pack trains home, going northward through Sonora, but when they were near Casita, Mexican troops overtook them. It was at daybreak and the Indians were just finishing their breakfast when the Mexicans attacked by surprise. Geronimo had no idea that they had been pursued or that their enemies were near until the Mexicans opened fire on the Apaches.

At the first volley a bullet struck Geronimo a glancing lick just at the lower corner of the left eye and he fell unconscious. All the other Indians fled for cover. The Mexican troopers, thinking Geronimo dead, started in pursuit of the fleeing warriors. In a few moments, Geronimo regained consciousness and had just started running at full speed for the woods when another company of Mexican soldiers coming up opened fire on him. At that, the soldiers who had been chasing the other Indians turned.  Now Geronimo found himself literally between the proverbial rock and a hard place.  He was standing between two hostile companies of Mexican soldiers, but he did not stand long. Bullets whistled in every direction and at close range to Geronimo. Having received a slight flesh wound on his side, Geronimo kept running, dodging, and fighting, until he got clear of his Mexican pursuers. Geronimo climbed up the side of a steep canyon, where the Mexican cavalry could not follow. The troopers saw him, but did not dismount and try to follow. They were wise not to pursue him.

Plans had been made by the war party in advance.  It was understood by the Apaches that in case of surprise with this Mexican pack train booty, the warriors’ place of rendezvous would be the Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona. And so the Apaches did not reassemble in Mexico, but traveled individually and separately.  Within three days the Indians were encamped in their place of rendezvous.  Unfortunately, the raiding party had lost their pack train booty to the Mexican army.

Once they gathered in their place of rendezvous they made the trek home empty-handed. They had not even a partial victory to report. Geronimo again returned wounded, but he was not yet discouraged. Once more Geronimo was blamed by his people, and again he had no reply.