Whiskey peddling and gun running added fuel to fires already burning brightly between the whites, Mexicans and the Indians in the latter 1800s.
Prior to 1850, Caucasians and the mighty Zuni Indians left the Apache's alone, because Apache's were an elite warrior force, able to use brute force and cunning with sagacious aplomb in battle or ambushes. Sometimes Apache's would surprise their enemies in their sleep and not kill a single person, but when their enemies awoke, most or all of their horses were gone, along with weapons, food and water.
No matter what age in time, before, during or after the Apache Wars, many whites, Mexican's and Indians coexisted and there were many white civilians who preferred the presence of Indians rather than the Army as did Mexican civilians with their military.
Before the Apache warrior and medicine man Geronimo was 20-years-old, he was married to Alope, a shy slender squaw and daughter of an elite warrior, Noposo. Geronimo's native name was Goyathlay, but the Mexican nickname Geronimo stuck, a Spanish for Jerome.
Geronimo's wife Alope and his three children, all under the age of eight and his mother were killed by the Mexican military.
The Apache mistrust for both the whites and Mexicans spawned the Apache Wars. Geronimo was one of the three Indian warriors responsible for slaying George Custer and all 210 U.S. Calvery troops in the battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Weeks before the battle of Little Bighorn, Geronimo and Chief Magpie told Custer to leave the Black Hills or die.
During all the battles of the Apache Wars, seven out of ten men hit anywhere by an Apache war arrow died. Apache war arrows were different from their hunting arrows. Hunting arrows where smooth, except for the tip of course. War arrows were jagged and poised with various venomous snakes or rotting animal livers, specifically saved for poisoning war arrows.
Apache warriors could kill from 150 yards away with their bows. When vastly outnumbered, Apache's were able to attack suddenly and kill, and then in an instant, retreat and hide.
Apache women worked constantly. They cared for the children, made the clothing, housing, cooked, woved rugs, weaved baskets and took care of family members who needed attention.
"Apache Wars" is abundant with photo's of Geronimo and so much more from these nearly ancient times.
This 17-chapter book is a four-star read simply for the one chapter titled, "Geronimo."
Mark Izzy Schurr
