Geronimo His Own Story
Part I: The Apaches
Part II: The Mexicans
Part III: The White Men
Part IV: The Old And The New
Part III: The White Men
Greatest of Wrongs
Perhaps the greatest wrong ever done to the Indians was the treatment
received by our tribe from the United States troops about 1863.
The chief of our tribe, Mangus-Colorado, went to make a treaty of
peace for our people with the white settlement at Apache Tejo, New
Mexico. It had been reported to us that the white men in this settlement
were more friendly and more reliable than those in Arizona, that
they would live up to their treaties and would not wrong the Indians.
Mangus-Colorado, with three other warriors, went to Apache Tejo
and held a council with these citizens and soldiers. They told him
that if he would come with his tribe and live near them, they would
issue to him, from the Government, blankets, flour, provisions,
beef, and all manner of supplies. Our chief promised to return to
Apache Tejo within two weeks. When he came back to our settlement
he assembled the whole tribe in council. I did not believe that
the people at Apache Tejo would do as they said and therefore I
opposed the plan, but it was decided that with part of the tribe
Mangus-Colorado should return to Apache Tejo and receive an issue
of rations and supplies. If they were as represented, and if these
white men would keep the treaty faithfully, the remainder of the
tribe would join him and we would make our permanent home at Apache
Tejo. I was to remain in charge of that portion of the tribe which
stayed in Arizona. We gave almost all of our arms and ammunition
to the party going to Apache Tejo, so that in case there should
be treachery they would be prepared for any surprise. Mangus-Colorado
and about half of our people went to New Mexico, happy that now
they had found white men who would be kind to them, and with whom
they could live in peace and plenty.
No word ever came to us from them. From other sources, however,
we heard that they had been treacherously captured and slain. In
this dilemma we did not know just exactly what to do, but fearing
that the troops who had captured them would attack us, we retreated
into the mountains near Apache Pass.
During the weeks that followed the departure of our people we had
been in suspense, and failing to provide more supplies, had exhausted
all of our store of provisions. This was another reason for moving
camp. On this retreat, while passing through the mountains, we discovered
four men with a herd of cattle. Two of the men were in front in
a buggy and two were behind on horseback. We killed all four, but
did not scalp them; they were not warriors. We drove the cattle
back into the mountains, made a camp, and began to kill the cattle
and pack the meat.
Before we had finished this work we were surprised and attacked
by United States troops, who killed in all seven Indians -one warrior,
three women, and three children. The Government troops were mounted
and so were we, but we were poorly armed, having given most of our
weapons to the division of our tribe that had gone to Apache Tejo,
so we fought mainly with spears, bows, and arrows. At first I had
a spear, a bow, and a few arrows; but in a short time my spear and
all my arrows were gone. Once I was surrounded, but by dodging from
side to side of my horse as he ran I escaped. It was necessary during
this fight for many of the warriors to leave their horses and escape
on foot. But my horse was trained to come at call, and as soon as
I reached a safe place, if not too closely pursued, I would call
him to me. During this fight we scattered in all directions and
two days later reassembled at our appointed place of rendezvous,
about fifty miles from the scene of this battle.
About ten days later the same United States troops attacked our
new camp at sunrise. The fight lasted all day, but our arrows and
spears were all gone before ten o'clock, and for the remainder of
the day we had only rocks and clubs with which to fight. We could
do with these weapons, and at night we moved our camp about four
miles back into the mountains where it would be hard for the cavalry
to follow us. The next day our scouts, who had been left behind
to observe the movements of the soldiers, returned, saying that
the troops had gone back toward San Carlos Reservation.
A few days after this we were again attacked by another company
of United States troops. Just before this fight we had been joined
by a band of Chokonen Indians under Cochise, who took command of
both divisions. We were repulsed, and decided to disband.
After we had disbanded our tribe the Bedonkohe Apaches reassembled
near their old camp vainly waiting for the return of Mangus-Colorado
and our kinsmen. No tidings came save that they had all been treacherously
slain. Then a council was held, and as it was believed that Mangus-Colorado
was dead, I was elected Tribal Chief.
For a long time we had no trouble with anyone. It was more than
a year after I had been made Tribal Chief that United States troops
surprised and attacked our camp. They killed seven children, five
women, and four warriors, captured all our supplies, blankets, horses,
and clothing, and destroyed our tepees. We had nothing left; winter
was beginning, and it was the coldest winter I ever knew. After
the soldiers withdrew I took three warriors and trailed them. Their
trail led back toward San Carlos.
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Native American Legends A-B