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
The Final Struggle
We started with all our tribe to go with General Crook back to
the United States, but I feared treachery and decided to remain
in Mexico. We were not under any guard at the time. The United States
troops marched in front and the Indians followed, and when we became
suspicious, we turned back. I do not know how far the United States
army went after myself, and some warriors turned back before we
were missed, and I do not care.
I have suffered much from such unjust orders as those of General
Crook. Such acts have caused much distress to my people. I think
that General Crook's death was sent by the Almighty as a punishment
for the many evil deeds he committed.
Soon General Miles was made commander of all the western posts,
and troops trailed us continually. They were led by Captain Lawton,
who had good scout. The Mexican soldiers also became more active
and more numerous. We had skirmishes almost every day, and so we
finally decided to break up into small bands. With six men and four
women I made for the range of mountains near Hot Springs, New Mexico.
We passed many cattle ranches, but had no trouble with the cowboys.
We killed cattle to eat whenever we were in need of food, but we
frequently suffered greatly for water. At one time we had no water
for two days and nights and our horses almost died from thirst.
We ranged in the mountains of New Mexico for some time, then thinking
that perhaps the troops had left Mexico, we returned. On our return
through Old Mexico we attacked every Mexican found, even if for
no other reason than to kill. We believed they had asked the United
States troops to come down to Mexico to fight us.
South of Casa Grande, near a place called by the Indians Gosoda,
there was a road leading out from the town. There was much freighting
carried on by the Mexicans over this road. Where the road ran through
a mountain pass we stayed in hiding, and whenever Mexican freighters
passed we killed them, took what supplies we wanted, and destroyed
the remainder. We were reckless of our lives, because we felt that
every man's hand was against us. If we returned to the reservation
we would be put in prison and killed; if we stayed in Mexico they
would continue to send soldiers to fight us; so we gave no quarter
to anyone and asked no favors.
After some time we left Gosoda and soon were reunited with our
tribe in the Sierra de Antunez Mountains.
Contrary to our expectations the United States soldiers had not
left the mountains in Mexico, and were soon trailing us and skirmishing
with us almost every day. Four or five times they surprised our
camp. One time they surprised us about nine o'clock in the morning,
and captured all our horses (nineteen in number) and secured our
store of dried meats. We also lost three Indians in this encounter.
About the middle of the afternoon of the same day we attacked them
from the rear as they were passing through a prairie -killed one
soldier, but lost none ourselves. In this skirmish we recovered
all our horses except three that belonged to me. The three horses
that we did not recover were the best riding horses we had.
Soon after this we made a treaty with the Mexican troops. They
told us that the United States troops were the real cause of these
wars, and agreed not to fight any more with us provided we would
return to the United States. This we agreed to do, and resumed our
march, expecting to try to make a treaty with the United States
soldiers and return to Arizona. There seemed to be no other course
to pursue.
Soon after this scouts from Captain Lawton's troops told us that
he wished to make a treaty with us; but I knew that General Miles
was the chief of the American troops, and I decided to treat with
him.
We continued to move our camp northward, and the American troops
also moved northward, keeping at no great distance from us, but
not attacking us.
I sent my brother Porico (White Horse) with Mr. George Wratton
on to Fort Bowie to see General Miles, and to tell him that we wished
to return to Arizona; but before these messengers returned I met
two Indian scouts -Kayitah, a Chokonen Apache, and Marteen, a Nedni
Apache. They were serving as scouts for Captain Lawton's troops.They
told me that General Miles had come and had sent them to ask me
to meet him. So I went to the camp of the United States troops to
meet General Miles.
When I arrived at their camp I went directly to General Miles and
told him howI had been wronged, and that I wanted to return to the
United States with my people, as we wished to see our families,
who had been captured and taken away from us.
General Miles said to me:
"The President of the United States has sent me to speak to
you. He has heard of your trouble with the white men, and says that
if you will agree to a few words of treaty we need have no more
trouble. Geronimo, if you will agree to a few words of treaty all
will be satisfactorily arranged."
So General Miles told me how we could be brothers to each other.
We raised our hands to heaven and said that the treaty was not to
be broken. We took an oath not to do any wrong to each other or
to scheme against each other.
Then he talked with me for a long time and told me what he would
do for me in the future if I would agree to the treaty. I did not
greatly believe General Miles, but because the President of the
United States had sent me word I agreed to make the treaty, and
to keep it. Then I asked General Miles what the treaty would be.
General Miles said to me:
"I will take you under Government protection; I will build
you a house; I will fence you much land; I will give you cattle,
horses, mules, and farming implements. You will be furnished with
men to work the farm, for you yourself will not have to work. In
the fall I will send you blankets and clothing so that you will
not suffer from cold in the winter time.
"There is plenty of timber, water, and grass in the land to
which I will send you. You will live with your tribe and with your
family. If you agree to this treaty you shall see your family within
five days." I said to General Miles:
"All the officers that have been in charge of the Indians
have talked that way, and it sounds like a story to me; I hardly
believe you."
He said: "This time it is the truth."
I said: "General Miles, I do not know the laws of the white
man, nor of this new country where you are to send me, and I might
break the laws."
He said: "While I live you will not be arrested."
Then I agreed to make the treaty. (Since then I have been a prisoner
of war, I have been arrested and placed in the guardhouse twice
for drinking whisky.)
We stood between his troopers and my warriors. We placed a large
stone on the blanket before us. Our treaty was made by this stone,
as it was to last until the stone should crumble to dust; so we
made the treaty, and bound each other with an oath.
I do not believe that I have ever violated that treaty; but General
Miles never fulfilled his promises.
When we had made the treaty General Miles said to me:
"My brother, you have in your mind how you are going to kill
me, and other thoughts of war; I want you to put that out of your
mind, and change your thoughts to peace."
Then I agreed and gave up my arms. I said: "I will quit the
war path and live at peace here after."
Then General Miles swept a spot of ground clear with his hand,
and said: "Your past deeds shall be wiped out like this and
you will start a new life."
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Native American Legends A-B