GERONIMO IN MEXICO “Apaches move to Mexico: 1873”

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.  It is true that the greatest wrongs that were visited upon the Apaches were from the United States government.  But the history of the Geronimo’s war parties started in Mexico…and we continue with the story.

Pressure was coming from Brigadier General George Crook who had caused much dissatisfaction among the Apaches.  Around the year 1873, when Mexican troops attacked Apacheria and were defeated by the Chiricahua who were off the reservation, the Apaches decided that it would be prudent to make raids into Mexico.

Geronimo moved the whole camp, packing all their belongings on mules and horses went into Mexico and made camp in the mountains near Nacori.  In moving their camp in this way the Apaches wanted no one to spy on them, and if the Indians passed a Mexican’s home they usually killed the residents. However, if the Mexicans offered to surrender and made no resistance or trouble in any way, Geronimo would take them prisoners. The Indians always set a place of rendezvous when they went off on a raid so that they could all get back together with their women and children.  Frequently the Indians would change their place of rendezvous; then they would take with them their Mexican prisoners if they were willing to go, but if they were unruly they might be killed.

Geronimo told of one Mexican in the Sierra Madre Mountains who saw the tribe moving and shooting at them delayed the Indians for some time.  Thinking the plunder of the Mexican’s house would pay them for the delay, the Apaches undertook the trouble to attack him, but after the Indians had killed him they found nothing in his casa worth having.

The Apaches ranged in those mountains for over a year, raiding the Mexican settlements for supplies, but not having any general engagement with Mexican troops; then the Indians returned to their homes in Arizona. After remaining in Arizona about a year The Apaches returned to Mexico, and went into hiding in the Sierra Madre Mountains.  Their camp was near Nacori, and Geronimo had just organized bands of warriors for raiding the country, when the scouts discovered Mexican troops coming toward the camp to attack them.  We’ll discuss that battle in our next installment.