GERONIMO IN MEXICO “Good summer, bad autumn: 1865”

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.

In the summer of 1865, with four warriors, Geronimo again went into Mexico. Up to that point, the Apache war parties had always gone into Mexico on foot.  The Apaches were accustomed to fight on foot and they had the ability to more easily conceal themselves when dismounted.  But this time Geronimo wanted more cattle, and it was hard to drive cattle when the warriors were on foot. 

Geronimo and the four warriors entered Sonora at a point southwest from Tombstone, Arizona, and followed the Sierra de Antunez Mountains to the southern limit, then crossed the country as far south as the mouth of Yaqui River. Here they saw what Geronimo described as a great lake extending beyond the limit of sight. Subsequently the Indians turned north, attacked several settlements, and secured plenty of supplies.

When the Apaches had come back northwest of Arispe, Geronimo secured about sixty head of cattle, and drove them to Apacheria in Arizona. The Indians did not go directly home, but camped in different valleys with the cattle. They were not followed by the Mexicans. When the Apaches finally arrived at the camp the tribe was again assembled for feasting and dancing.  Presents were given to everybody.  Afterward the cattle were slaughtered and the meat dried and packed in layers of cow hides.

In the fall of 1865, this time with nine other warriors, Geronimo again went into Mexico, this time on foot.  He attacked several settlements south of Casa Grande, and rounded up many horses and mules.  Now mounted, the Indians made their way northward through the mountains with the horses and mules.

The warriors made camp one evening near the Mexican village of Arispe.

Believing that the Mexicans were not trailing them, the Indians set out sentries and turned loose the whole herd, even those they had been riding. The Apaches were encamped in a valley surrounded by steep mountains and they settled in at the mouth of this valley in order that the animals could not wander away without coming through Geronimo’s camp.  

Just as the war party had begun to eat their supper, the sentries came into the camp and announced that Mexican troops were coming toward them. The Apaches started for the horses, but troops that the Indian scouts had not seen were scattered on the cliffs above them.  The troops opened fire. The Indians spread out in all directions, and the Mexican troops recovered all the horses and mules that Geronimo had taken.

The Apaches reassembled at their appointed place of rendezvous in the Sierra Madre Mountains in northern Sonora.  The Mexican troops did not follow them.   Geronimo and his war party returned to Arizona without any more fighting but without plunder. No feasting, no dancing would follow.  Taking blame, Geronimo had nothing to say, but he was anxious for another raid, which would occur early the next summer.