Naiche/Natchez

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hello readers,

I hope everybody and your family are in good health. Sorry for the delay, the rest of my Naiche's story will follow.

I was busy, reading plenty of online archives, the NARA gave me access, grateful thanks to them. It is special to read reports or other documents who had been read by Sweeney, among others. Few news things, but I am not finished. But I still find some interresting things like :
* After the closure of the Chiricahua Reservation, Gordo reached in June 1876, Ojo Caliente. With him was Perico but also a man named Juan who was maybe the brother of Cochise. If right it means that Juan did not followed Taza and Naiche in San Carlos.
* In july 1877, Naiche had 11 dependents at San Carlos, 9 women and 2 children. The women were surely the three widows of Cochise (Dos-teh-seh, Yones and the sister of Nahilzay), the full sisters of Naiche(Naithlotonz and Das-den-zhoos), his two half-sisters (like for the sister of Nahilzay, I am so close and so far of their names, in the same time). The two children were, without doubts Nasdlala (son of Naithlontonz) and Dorothy. It means Paul Naiche Born in the second part of 1877 or in the first part of 1878.
* Agent Hart (agent of San Carlos after Clum) did not understand the bands because for him Chihuahua was a warm springs Apache and Ulzanna a Coyotero...
* Chihuahua and Ulzanna enlisted as scouts before the end of 1880, because the two brothers enlisted in 1st of october 1878 and in november 1878 were "in the field" as noted Hart. in this list of scouts was also a man, noted warm springs apache, named Chappo. If he was the son Geronimo, it means that Chappo was three-five older that we thought and his sister too. They would be born about 1860 for Dohnsay and 1862 for Chappo.

but I do not find yet, census of the reservations. If someone had the following census I am looking for, send me a personnal message, please :
* Census of the Chiricahua Reservation between december 1872 - June 876
* Southern Apache Agency (Ojo Caliente) between january 1872 - october 1878
* San Carlos reservation between june 1876 - september 1886.

In advance thanks and take care

[coeurrouge]

The US Army reacted. After four days, hundreds of troops and scouts looked for the fugitives but always late. The Blue Soldiers could not anticipate the movments of the renegades leading by Goyakla. However, troops under Lieutenant-Colonel George Forsyth got closer, day after day. 23rd of April, at dawn, a trail of a dozen of warriors was found. Following this trail Lieutenant McDonald, a soldier and six scouts entered in Doubtful Canyon. Alerted certainly by the sentries or by the warriors followed, the Chiricahuas warriors made an ambush.
At mid-morning, three miles north of Dzisl-lnoi-bi-yi-tu, the fight began. In few minutes the Chiricahuas killed four scouts. McDonald, the soldier and the remaining scouts retreated. The lieutenant sent one of them to inform Forsyth. Reinforced by six other scouts, they made pits. Waiting Forsyth and is troop, McDonald went back in vanguard in the ambush place. He saw warriors dancing near the scouts’ bodies. The lieutenant shot to dead one of the warriors. All the fugitives were camped in the south and west ridges of Horseshoe Canyon. Soon, four to five hundred cavalry men and scouts of Forsyth arrived.
Alert was yield and the chiefs asked the warriors to take position of fight. Naiche certainly took command of his Chokonens’ warriors with Kla-esch. All the warriors waited, in the top of the U canyon, until the soldiers entered. Above the warriors, women and children watched carefully their men. At 01:00 PM, the first gunfires were heard. It was a heavy battle during more than two hours. Outnumbered by the troops, the warriors let the soldiers advanced but not without contest. They quitted Horseshoe Canyon, protecting their people by the rear. It seemed the renegades had only three or four warriors wounded and maybe three children killed accidently by soldiers’ bullets.

Surprinsgly, Forsyth ordered to get back in direction of the Gila River. He tought his troops had repulsed Apache’s reinforcements from Mexico and that the San Carlos’s runaways were still north of his position. Maybe the renegades thought, the fact the soldiers did not follow them was another proof of Goyakla’s diyin. Naiche and Pedes-klinje certainly leading the advance guard, moved south again at night, quietly in the Chiricahuas Mountains worried about soldiers from Fort Bowie. Naiche may have also participated, 24th of April, to the raid made near Galeyville, while all the band rested the day.
The next march, was a continuous one. During two entire nights and one day, the fugitives have to walk with few and short stops. They certainly crossed the border at daybreak, 26th of April 1882. It was again a complete success in seven days. Except twenty-eight people of Jlin-tay-i-tih’s gota, all the Chiricahuas were in Mexico. Only one warrior was killed, few were wounded, among them Bénito, and the casualties of women and children were less than five. They had only two fights against the blue soldiers, even the US Army was aware about the expedition. By raids they obtained more mounts, food, guns and ammunitions. They killed ten soldiers, scouts or from the police of San Carlos and about forty-two civilians.

But the fugitives needed to rest after the last hard thiryt-six hours of constant march. So, convinced that the American soldiers would not come, they decided to camp in the Western foothills of the Enmedio Mountains, surely in the afternoon. They have not seen soldiers since Horseshoe Canyon and they knew it was forbidden for the blue soldiers to enter in Mexico. The chiefs ordered several days of resting there, before joining Tandinbilnojui and Kas-tziden in Dzil-dolt-ishihi, West of Casas Grandes. So confident, Goyakla did not put sentries.
The older chiefs or headmen like Goyakla, Kla-esch, Bénito and Tah-ho-klisn were certainly the main leaders at the camp. Did the young generation of headmen like Pedes-klinje, Kaathenay and Naiche protest about this long rest without the lack of sentries? Not so confident about the end of danger or hurry to reunite with their families, did Naiche and the two others argue to continue until they would join Tandinbilnojui? If they expressed these ideas and protests, they were not listened by the older chiefs. But it was possible and it can explain partly the behavior of Naiche three days later.
During two night and one day, 26th and 27th of April, the band in great spirit rested and danced. Goyakla and Pedes-klinje were certainly happy to see experienced mens of Jlin-tay-i-tith relieved and the younger warriors thinking that the free life, told by Goyakla, was possible with success. The women availed to harvest and cooked mescal they found in the foothills of the Enmedio Mountains. At night they made a great fire to dance around, celebrating the success of the expedition.

28th of April, in the morning, two women, a teenage girl from Jlin-tay-i-tith’s gota and the twenty years old son of the Chihenne’s chief went to the foothills just on top of the camp to recolt the cooked mescal. Suddenly, a fire was shot following by many others, the four were killed. The camp, stunned was under fire. Fortunatly, the first shot was a prematured one made by the brother of Sagotal because of revenge, and then avoiding the trap of Captain Tupper to be complete.
In contrary of what thought Goyakla, some American soldiers crossed illegaly the border and attacked them. In fact, Captain Tupper and his men when they found the trail of the Chiricahuas, near Galeyville, waited one day to move. Guiding by their scouts leading by Al Sieber, Captain Tupper and his men, fifty Apaches scouts and seventy cavalry troops covered by the sounds of the celebrating dances, began to surround the camp of the Chiricahuas, the scouts taking positions in the East. Hurry to act after the first shot, the troops made a cavalry charge on the camp, killing one old man and four women among the herd of mounts.
But the Chiricahua warriors, after been confused, reacted and stopped the cavalry charge. All the fugitives found refuge in a rocky hill but being still surrounded. It was a hardly fight during seven hours. Several attemps were done to take back half of the mounts captured, but with deadly cost and without success. Also, the safe retreat, on the foothills, in their East side, was closed by the scouts. Reinforcements would certainly arrive and disaster for the Chiricahuas at last. Forsyth, followed but was still one day march of the battle location.

Finally, some warriors, led by Pedes-klinje made a flank attack against the scouts and dislodged them who were lack of ammunitions. The retreated road on the Enmedio Mountains was opened and the fight quickly ended. The Chiricahuas lost most of their supplies and their belongings in the camp. Half of their mounts were captured and fifteen killed. Certainly, twenty to thirty people were wounded. It seemed that around twenty were killed among them between ten to fourteen warriors. The blue soldiers had one dead and several wounded. Goyakla and the other leaders did not know, but Captain Tupper and his men, low of ammunition, could not continue the pursuit.
There is no testimony of what role had Naiche during this battle. He surely fought bravely, leading by voice and example his Chokonen’s warriors and protecting his relatives. It seemed that none of them have been wounded or killed during this battle. At night, the fugitives continued their road in direction of Tandinbilnojui and Kas-tziden in the Sierra Madre, but demoralized, hurried and slowed down by the injuried and the exhausted people of Jlin-tay-i-tith. Goyakla certainly tried to put order in the march but it partially failed. With time, the column of the fugitives extended on three miles between the vanguard and the rearguard, most of the warriors being in these groups. The column lost discipline. At sunset, Mangus with his extended family preceded the vanguard always leading by Pedes-klinje and Naiche. Kaathenay was with Naiche. One mile behind the vanguard followed Jlin-tay-i-tith’s gota, some yards after Chiva’s gota and finally Zele’s gota, I think. Goyakla, Kla-esch and thirty warriors protected the rear one mile behind Zele’s people. They feared another attack of the blue soldiers.

About sunset, they finished to march in the Carretas plains between the Enmedio Mountains and the Carcay Mountains where they would reunite with Tandinbilnojui. These plains were crossed by the Janos-Bavispe’s road along a creek, most of the year dry. This Creek was named Rio Alisos. They had to cross the road and the creek before reaching the foothills. When Naiche and the vanguard crossed the road and the creek, Mangus and his group had already done that an hour before. Certainly twenty to thirty minutes after, Jlin-tay-i-tith’s gota approached to cross the road. Like the previous morning, fires were shoot which stunned the Chiricahuas. A two-part battle began.
This time the shotguns were not from US soldiers, but from Mexican’s troops. They were Sonoran’s soldiers under the command of Colonel Garcìa. When Goyakla and his warriors, 13th of April, separated from Tandinbilnojui, the last alerted that two hundred soldiers from Sonora were coming, also left Janos’s neighborhood. The Nedhni’s Chief send two messengers to prevent Goyakla during his return about Garcìa lurking for Chiricahua’s scalps and captives.
Unfortunatly, the two warriors did not wait quietly their fellows. They attacked and killed two Americans and came back. But in their return they were captured by Sonorans. Certainly under torture, they informed Colonel Garcìa that a large band of Chiricahuas would return from US territory near Rio Alisos between the Enmedio Mountains and the Carcay Mountains. The two warriors were executed soon after. During ten days, Garcia and his soldiers waited, ambushed, the Chiricahuas unawared of the threat. 29th of April, the waiting of Garcìa was rewarded.

The first part of the battle was a massacre. The soldiers first killed by shooting and after by their bayonet or their saber. Some warriors tried to respond, but most of the Jlin-tay-i-tith’s warriors were poor armed. The women and children escaped in higher level outside the dry creek but they were catched up by the Mexicans and more were killed. Most of the Chirichua’s casualties were during the first part of the battle. Around seventy were killed at this time and thirty-three women and children captured. After an effective fight killing two or five soldiers, Nay-zar-zee was killed at this time.
When the warriors of the rearguard arrived, the second part of the battle began. It would not be the same, easy success for Garcìa and his men. Goyakla and Kla-esch restored order, regrouped their warriors and the people behind them. The Sonorans faced, at this time, desperated, disciplined and dertermined warriors well armed, with winchesters, sharps carbines, sprinfield rifles and they were also well commanded.
The battle became a deadly struggle for the Mexicans. They tried charges, snipers shot but they were reppelled each time. During this second part, the Chiricahuas lost one to three warriors but they inflicted heavy casualties to Colonel Garcìa. One quarter of his troops was out of fight. One third of the casualties were dead among them four officers. Fooling the Mexicans, by sporadic shots and a brush fire, Goyakla led a quiet retreat in direction of the foothills where the advance guard waited and all the survivors could leave the battle safely.
For Jlin-tay-i-tith’s gota, the last two days were a disaster. The old chief would cut his hair, mourning and would never let his hair long again. One of his wife and twenty-seven of his people where somewhere, maybe dead, in New Mexico (he would learn only one year later they were alived). About one hundred of his gota had been killed or captured, almost half of his gota. Personnaly he had a son killed, a teenage daughter and certainly a sister captured.

For Goyakla, his goal to have reinforcement among the young warriors of Jlin-tay-i-tith and breaking the leadership of the Chihenne’s chief, failed. Jlin-tay-i-tith, his gota and their descendents would blame and hate Goyakla forever for the disaster they suffered. Jlin-tay-i-tith seemed to have blamed also Pedes-klinje. During the last battle, he, Kaathenay, Naiche and the other warriors of the vanguard, inexplicably, did nothing to help the survivors or the rearguard’s warriors. Why this three braviest warriors of their generation let the fight occurred without them?
Angie Debo explained in his Geronimo’s biography, that the Apache’s warrior chose his fight and always tried to not risk his life for nothing unless his family was in danger and maybe these three headmen thought the fight was too desesperate and too risky. The first part of the battle was certainly too risky but when the rearguard repelled the Mexicans, Naiche and the advance guard did not support their fellow men. Al Sieber explained they simply “made in their panties” and preferred to not move. Others said their families with Tandinbilnojui, Naiche and the others did not care of the Chihennes. I think that they protested against the resting too long near the Enmedio Mountains and were not listened by the olders Goyakla, Kla-esch, Zele and Jlin-tay-i-tith. So, after they were fighting with Captain Tupper, they were upset and angry against the other leaders and when the battle began with the Mexicans, they let the older’s chiefs assumed their misjudgements without them. The real reason was more surely a mix of all these possible explanations. But it would be a shadow of shame on the warrior’s acts of Naiche.

30th of April, the scattered fugitives in the foothills, saw the blue soldiers of Forsyth and the Mexicans soldiers of Garcìa, shook hands, in the great disappointment of the Chiricahuas. Hope came again when Goyakla, Kla-esch and their warriors arrived and gathered everybodies. They continued their march with a two days resting, needed by the wounded, Naiche and the vanguard hiding their shame in front of the march.
5th of May 1882, the column joined Tandinbilnojui, Kas-tziden, Nahilzay and the families in Bugatseka, a Nednhi stronghold, with plenty of water, pine trees, grass and games. It was a warm reunion. Naiche was certainly happy to see again all his family after three weeks of a so dangerous expedition. All the Chiricahuas, alived and free, were there, except seven Bedonkohe or Chihenne scouts. They were six hundred and fifty people at all. The same number that had the only Chokonen’s band, approximately, in 1860.

While Naiche reunited with his family, the US officers of the Southwest began to exchange letters with their superior, General Sheridan. The latter was angry that his troops were unables to annoy, at least, the Chiricahua’s warriors in their schedules and depredations and asked "How, Where, When?"the Chiricahuas had could do their expedition. His subordonates responded advocating their case. And to make worse their humiliation, it was the Mexicans who hitted and would strike harder the Chiricahuas.
In Naiche point of view, the expedition was surely a success. All the members he came to deliver were alived, free and reunited with them. He improved again his leadership among his warriors and few Chokonen’s warriors, if neither, were killed. In contrary as historical testimonies seemed to suggest, Naiche was not influenced by Goyakla but, as a chief, he was more inclined to follow the trail of Tandinbilnojui, managing his people in the Nednhis’ way of life in Dzil-dolt-izhihi.

NEXT : 2.3 In Tandinbilnojui’s foot steps.

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2.3. In Tandinbilnojui’s footsteps.

For the next months, Naiche would rather follow Tandinbilnojui than Goyakla. Both hated Mexicans and knew how to live in this territory, but if the Nednhi also liked this life, he was surely more secure with the women and children of his band. Not bellicose as others, Naiche preferred to join most of the time, the Nedhnis and their knowledge of their homeland.
After somedays of recovering, Tandinbilnojui and Goyakla decided to move near Cassas Grandes. Their motivation was not clear. Some Apaches said they wanted only to make trades and to obtain alcohol. Others explained that the Chiricahuas, worried about the Mexicans forces concentrated in the northwest of the Sierra Madre, wanted to make a treaty proposed several times, by the Chihuahan Terrazas, since the Chiricahuas were back in Mexico. Because Tandinbilnojui had close, longtime trading partners in Casas Grandes and the fact the Chiricahuas would never tried to discuss a truce, I suppose they came only to trade, at least first.
So, he seemed to be confident enough to not fear a trap because as long the Chiricahuas remembered, the inhabitants of Casas Grandes never betrayed the Apaches. Trusting Tandinbilnojui, families from his gota, from Goyakla and Zele’s Bedonkohes, from Pedes-klinje’s gota and from the Chokonen’s band flowed their leaders. Naiche was there with some of his families accompanied by Nahilzay and certainly Kla-esch. Few Chihennes were there too. At all, two hundred and fifty people came with the Nednhi’s chief, with few children apparently. They camped along the Rio San Miguel, three miles southwest of Casas Grandes.

18th of May, after the traditional shaking of hands between old enemies, Casas Grandes open the town to the Chiricahuas for trading. The plan of Joaquìn Terrazas was to attrack all the Apaches in the town, to kill or to capture them all with the help of alcohol. Tandinbilnojui did not understand, since Nolgee’s death in November 1878, that the time when Mexican’s cities managed independantly with the Chiricahuas from the other cities, was from the past. In 1882, all obeyed to Luis Terrazas, Chihuahua’s governor and applied a single politic with the Chiricahuas, extermination everywhere it was possible and by any means.
Joaquìn Terrazas understood he would never succeed to have all the renegades in the town. In fact, alerted by Mexicans friends or partners, or by the change of behavior of the villagers, the Chiricahuas did not come altogether in Casas Grandes. So, Terrazas planned to attack the village, at sunrise, 25th of May. He needed the warriors would be not vigilants or too inebriated to resist. 24th of May, certainly after several days of good tradings, the Chiricahuas received two wagons of alcohol and corn to make tiswin, as gift for a future truce from Terrazas.

At this day, seeing this plenty of alcohol, some Chiricahuas remembered the old trick of the Mexicans left the village and came on the hills around. They were the siblings of Dos-teh-seh. Apparently Naiche did not follow them. He certainly participated to the binch which occurred all the afternoon and the night after. Did he be less involved on drinking than others? I do not know. But surely like all the Chiricahuas he was awaken by fireshots from northwest of the village late in the night. It was a treachery attack by five hundred and sixty Mexicans soldiers from Chihuahua or Federal troops. They were led by Terrazas and Juan Mata Ortiz, one of the officers responsible of the Bi-duye’s death. Naiche could escape, protecting his immediate family, to a hill, southwest of the camp. He certainly joined Tandinbilnojui, Goyakla, Kla-esch and Zele to make a stand and ready to fight hardly the Mexicans.
His friend Pedes-klinje was almost killed or caught by the Mexicans, but succeed to run away. In the disaster, the Chiricahuas were lucky because the first shots were prematured. Terrazas and his men were note ready enough and the darkness annoyed the attack. Apparently they did not see the Chiricahuas who fled southwest, certainly crossed Terrazas’ soldiers. But not all the Chiricahuas were lucky, forty-three lost their chance in alcohol. If Nahilzay tried a stand, which allowed his wife and his son to escape, the remaining villagers were too drunk to escape or resist. Some were killed in the village, their throat cut, like Tah-ho-klisn, Kaywaykla’s grandfather. The others, thirty-six were captured, apparently just men and women, tied and put in three wagons.

Inexplicably, Terrazas and Mata Ortiz did not attack the hill were the other Chiricahuas were refuged. Tandinbilnojui swore to revenge this treachery. All the chiefs lost relatives or members of their gota. Tandinbilnojui lost Esude, a prominent warrior, Zele three men, Kla-esch his brother Is-pie-de, Goyakla his fifth wife named Nah-no and Pedes-klinje relatives, yet not identified. It is said that Naiche also lost relatives, but no historian wrote their identity or their relation with Naiche. I think, there and in January 1883, the relatives Naiche lost were Yones, the sister of Nahilzay, the sister of Goci and one half-sister who had been captured by Chihuahuan troops.
After they reached Casas Grandes, Terrazas and Mata Ortiz handed over the prisonners to General Fuero from federal troops and to Colonel Garcìa just arrived in Casas Grandes. Fuero send in jail, in Chihuahua city, thirteen Chiricahuas, among them Is-pie-de, Nah-no and maybe Yones . Garcìa, in the other hand, and his troops did not spend time to held prisonners and executed the other twenty-three prisonners, men and women to revenge their dead in Aliso Creek. The Chiricahuas thought, two years later, five men were still alived among them. But Nahilzay, Ih-gay-ay, Sheo-lee, Is-ke-ginah and Shenay-ahl-go were certainly executed too.

After this treachery, the chiefs, except perhaps Tandinbilnojui, understood that Mexicans authorities knew only extermination about the Chiricahuas. Naiche would never trust again Mexicans and seemed to avoid as possible peaceful or trading relations with any Mexicans. Beginning of June 1882, all the Chiricahuas came back at Guaynopa. They stayed some days and moved again, west, fearing an attack from Chihuahuan soldiers, mostly the terrible Tarahumaras. They reached the Rio Yaqui and planed to launch raids. It seemed the chiefs were not agreed about the targets.
Tandinbilnojui, thinking the camp was to close from Sonoran’s settlements wanted to go more deeply in Dzil-dotl-izhihi, where their people would be more in safety. However, Goyakla wanted to raid the Sonora, his intimate enemy. Finally the chiefs decided to split. Thirty warriors and their family followed Goyakla, Kla-esch and Kaathenay in raids north of Sonora. Most of the others stayed with Tandinbilnojui like Jlin-tay-i-tith, Zele, Bénito, Pedes-klinje and Naiche with five hundred people and sixty to seventy-five warriors. Between end of June and the beginning of October, the two groups managed independantly.

The plan of Tandinbilnojui was not to stay quiet, but to act in location with more spaced dwellings. He decided to attack southwest of Guaynopa. The warriors raided in the south of Sonora, around two hundred miles below the border. Late of June they attacked Tarachi and 20th of July they began a ten days of destruction and killing upon the Sonorans. They destroyed Rancho Carrizal, they stole a lot of stock and fought victoriously twice, soldiers. 27th of July 1882, mexcian soldiers followed the raiders on the Rio Chico. Here, the Chiricahuas warriors waited the soldiers and attacked. They killed eight soldiers before they quited the battle. No casualty was amoing the Chiricahuas. Again followed and with lack of ammunition, they ambushed another troop of Federal soldiers. When the soldiers reached the summit, they pushed big boulders and trees on the soldiers. This last fight ended the pursuit. Naiche certainly participated on the raids and led his warriors against the soldiers.
Soon after, the chiefs divided. Surely enough of fighting, short of ammunitions and with plenty of stock, Naiche and Pedes-klinje preferred to retreat in Dzil-dotl-izhihi, along the Rio Aros, ten miles east of the junction with the Rio Mulatos. They would be soon reunited with Jlin-ay-i-tith. Bénito and Zele seemed to have stayed with Tandinbilnojui. During their raids between late June to July, Naiche and the others who followed Tandinbilnojui killed between fifty to seventy people and stole several hundreds of stock and mounts.

It seemed that in September, after a month of rest, Naiche, Pedes-klinje and their warriors joined again the Nednhi’s chief in a foray around the Dolores Mines. Multiple little group of warriors were send and attacked small parties near Mulatos. Finally they quitted the scene and came back in safety in Guaynopa. During the summer, the only casualy among them was an experienced Nednhi’s warrior, named Jay-hayl who was captured by Chihuahuan troops.
During the summer, they were joined by Chiricahuas scouts who deserted after the US army doubting of their loyalty, discharged them. Except one man from Zele’s gota, they were all from Jlin-tay-i-tith’s gota, among them a relative of Goyakla named Ahnandia. The four scouts certainly told to the renegades the blue soldiers were confused and in a defensive way against possible Chiricahuas’ raid.

In early October, all the Chiricahuas reunited in Guaynopa. They had plenty of stock, clothes, gift and ammunitions to share. They had lost three warriors at all but the Sonora paid a heavy tribute of blood. Certainly one hundred to one hundred and fifty Mexicans had been killed, more than Chiricahus slaughtered in Rio Alisos. The chiefs made councils to decide the next move. They, all apparently, agreed to avenge the treachery of Casas Grandes before the winter. They knew Juan Mata Ortiz was one the officers responsible. This officer led soldiers also at the Tres Castillos battle. He, then, was an unanime target for the Kas-tziden’s Chihennes, the Chokonens, the Bedonkohes and the Nednhis.
After some days of festing, talking and happy reunions, they send warriors to make raids in Chihuahua, surely to have stock for the journey. When the warriors came back successfully, all the tribe moved east in direction of Galeana. Near this town, Juan Mata Ortiz had his hacienda. Their schedule was to attrack Mata Ortiz in Puerto Chocolate. They would use a decoy of raiders to force the Mexicans to pursue them and to fall in the trap. All the warriors were invited to participate and all seemed to join the party. The idea of the trap was certainly from Tandinbilnojui, still a master in guerilla warfare.

As a chief, Naiche had to lead his warriors. He had certainly restored his reputation of courage since the Rio Alisos’ battle. But this announced battle was different. It would be a revenge expedition which the Chiricahuas considered the real state of war in contrary of raids. Sacred dances were hold four days before taking action, southeast of Galeana, near surely a big hill the Mexicans named Cerro Grande. The camp was thirty-five miles southeast of Puerto Chocolate. While the warriors would fight, their families would be in security in the opposite side of the threat.
6th and 8th of November 1882, they tried the trap but no troops followed the decoy party who managed well, however, to attrack soldiers in Puerto Chocolate. Which leader was selected to do these decoys, I do not know. If no troops reacted, the Chihuahua’s officers were alerted that renegades Apaches launched several raids in the district. The Chiricahuas chiefs forced the destiny and ordered to launch a raid in the personal hacienda of Mata Ortiz. In the morning, 12th of November, the decoy party attacked the hacienda, killed a man and stole some cattle.
Surely usefull of Chiricahua’s raids, it seemed Mata Ortiz waited almost a day before leading an armed party of Citizens from Galeana in pursuit. He certainly wanted the raiders released their vigilance, so it would be easier to surprise and to exterminate these renegades. It showed that old fashioned enemies used rather tricks than force to destroy eachothers. But this time Tandinbilnojui was more cunning than the old enemy of the Chiricahuas.

Following the trail of the decoy, in mid-morning, 13th of November, Mata Ortiz and his twenty-two men entered in Puerto Chocolate. A party of warriors, hiding in a ravine left of the trail, fired after the last man entered. The plan was to force the survivors to cross the canyon and to fall in the hands and arms of the majority of the warriors. But Mata Ortiz led his men on the top of the hill on their right. Apparently, the first volley of fires made heavy casualties on the Mexican’ side. The Mexicans dug some protections and waited, maybe thinking the Chiricahuas would not attack a retrenched position with enemies. But if they thought that, they were wrong because the Chiricahuas wanted revenge and to kill them all.
Protected by some trees and boulders they advanced while crawling, the warriors surroundered the Mexicans and certainly snipers avoided Mexicans to escape. Finally, when the warriors were close enough, Bénito led the charge against the Mexicans. All were neutralized except one who escaped on a horse. Goyakla said to let him go, hoping he would comme back with others Mexicans to kill. Not all the Mexicans were killed immediately after the charge. Juan Mata Ortiz seemed to have been captured, tortured, killed and mutilated as Tandinbilnojui swore six months before in Casas Grandes. Their beloved relatives killed or captured at Tres Castillos and Casas Grandes were avenged.

The Chiricahuas lost two warriors, among them the great war shaman of the Bedonkohes and Bénito’s cousin, She-neah. This last loss would have repercussion months and years after on Bénito and his leadership among the Chiricahuas. Like for other battle or fight during this period, I do not know the position Naiche where and the leading actions he could have done. But it was sure that he participated at this battle which allowed his reputation as warriors’ leader to grow.

NEXT : 2.4 Naiche's new status.

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The end of Juan Mata Ortiz

frontierpartisans.com/7074/not-by-bullet-or-blade-by-fire/

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See also: "Chiricahua and Janos: Communities of Violence in the Southwestern Borderlands, 1680-1880" by Lance R. Blyth (2012)

[coeurrouge]

2.4. Naiche’s new status.

As a young warrior, Naiche had in responsability to take care of his family and to be loyal to his father and his brother. When he married Nah-de-yole, his marriage was the link between two large Chokonen’s families, the one of Goci and the one of Eskinye. For him at this time, the responsability on the band or on the gota was not on him and he was not educated for. He certainly enjoyed to spent time with Atelnietze, his friends Tah-ni-toe and Pedes-klinje.
For the other Chiricahuas, he was just a warrior known as the son of Goci, the son-in-law of Eskinye, the brother of Taza and the grandson of two tribal chiefs. For the Americans he was known as the lad of Goci and the brother of Taza. But in 1876 everything changed with the removal in San Carlos. He killed Eskinye, Nahilzay escaped San Sarlos and Taza died in Washington. At twenty years old, a tremendous responsability at a dramatic time felt on his shoulders, becoming chief of the Chokonen’s band. Certainly, the band was anxious about that. Eskinye and Taza dead, Nahilzay in Mexico, Kla-esch more aware to escape San Carlos life by scouting for the US Army than to take the leadership of the band, the leadership of Cathla in declin, the people saw surely scarely a very young man, not prepared, becoming the chief.

During this period in the reservation, Naiche gained the respect of the women, apparently, doing his best to take care of all of the Chokonens, surely well helped by his mother. Naiche also stayed peaceful with the Whites Eyes without being too close of them as his experiences with the Americans and his character guided him. But for the warriors he had proved nothing as a man except one of the strongest determination for an Apache warrior by killing his father-in-law. When headmen or chiefs like Goyakla, Pedes-klinje, Bi-duye, Jlin-tay-i-tith or Tandinbilnojui were settled in San Carlos, never Naiche’s leadership on the Chokonens was threatened by them.
Naiche showed wisdom to follow the examples of these chiefs and certainly copied some of their way which he thought to be the best to manage his band. At this time, he continually asked to move the aera of the subagency to escape the shaking illness. Naiche obtained success several times and the right to move in upper lands in the reservation, allowing his people to live in healthier locations and more freely from the eyes of the Indian police. As a reservation chief and Goci’s son, he had the respect of the other chiefs but, he was surely not considered as a Chief in the traditional way of life of the Chiricahuas because he had never led a raid or a war party. Worst Naiche had no diyin and he never, unlike Pedes-klinje, could be ahead of his warriors during a fight because as a chief he was always in San Carlos.

After one year of a free and fighting life in Mexico, Naiche proved his skills and courage as a warrior and also, that he could lead warriors during fights. Without a diyin, not so reckless and ambitious than Kaathenay or Pedes-klinje, Naiche seemed always to learn for the olders leaders’ examples, to lead his warriors the best he could. During this time, Naiche did not forget the women and children, favoring to follow Tandinbilnojui more worried to secure his people than to kill the more Mexicans he could, like Goyakla. And when he thought they fought and stole enough to feed and to clothe his people, he did not join the Nednhi’s chief to another raid. Bénito and Pedes-klinje joined or supported him. But he responded present when he was asked with his warriors, to join great expedition or battle.
Naiche showed he learned from his mistakes. He seemed to understand that the Mexicans would always try to exterminate them by any means especially by treachery with peace’s promises. Some of his relatives and people paid the price of his mistake to follow Tandinbilnojui’s confidence in Casas Grandes. In all, if the Chokonens had suffered losses, they were free, well fed, clothed, mounted, armed and away from the deadly shaking sickness. This was because they followed their Chief Naiche who took care of them, very well supported by Kla-esch. It was clear that during the past thirteen months, Naiche gained definitively the status of Chief of the band. He was, at this time, the Chokonen’s Nantan without discussion.

Resting altogether at Bugatseka, several weeks, the winter coming, the Chiricahuas divided again, in the beginning of December 1882. While their ranchéria still around Bugatseka, Goyakla and Kla-esch decided to make raids along the Rio Moctezuma in Sonora more because they wanted actions than they realy needed supplies, I guess. Zele and Kaathenay were probably with them thought Kaywaykla narrated his family was with Tandinbilnojui’s Nednhis. Two third of the Chiricahuas followed Tandinbilnojui. There were all the Nednhis, the Chihennes of Jlin-tay-i-tith, the Bedonkohes of Bénito, Pedes-klinje’s gota, two third of the Chokonens led by Naiche and some relatives of Goyakla and his followers.
For the winter, they came back at Guaynopa. The schedule of Tandinbilnojui was again more cautious than Goyakla. Let the ranchéria in the rugged country near the Rio Aros, still well unknown by the Mexicans especially the Sonorans. Also, the warriors would do raids just needed in Sonora around Sahuaripa and the Trinitad mines. Obviously, the chiefs forbidden raids on Chihuahua to avoid pursuit from the feared Tarahumaras who lived in this area. The schedule seemed good also because usually Mexicans soldiers did not winter expedition in Dzil-dotl-izhihi.
In the very last days of 1882, Tandinbilnojui and his followers attacked some travelers near Sahuaripa in Sonora. In their plunder, they stole four mules loaded of mescal alcohol. After the raids, Tandinbilnojui moved the large camp near the cascada del Rio Satachi. So confident that the Sonoran soldiers woud not attempt an expedition and find them here, the Nednhi’s warriors and their chief failed completemently to be vigilant. The first weeks of January 1883, apparently, they spend time to drink a lot of the mescal and most of the time Tandinbilnojui was drunk. It seemed that the other chiefs did not follow his example but they absolutly trusted the Nedhnis who lived in this territory since, at least, two centuries. These behaviors would bring tragedy.

After news that a large trail of Apache renegades was watched near the Trinitad mines, Miguel Domingez from Chihuahua took command of volunteers, most of Tarahumaras, 6th of January. First, they moved to Guaynopa. Did they followed all the time the trail since Guaynopa or did they crossed tracks of the raiders near Sahuaripa? It is not known. What it is sure was when the Tarahumaras found an enemy trail, they followed the tracks until they found the enemy. And late, 23rd of January, they found the large camp.
The camp was in fact as traditional, several ranchérias on the command of their chief, camped along the water and separated by some hundred yards. This tragic day, from the casualties, I could figure that the first ranchéria to be attacked, was the one of the Nednhis. The one of Jlin-tay-i-tith, was at the end of the ranchérias, at the opposite of the attack because his gota would not have casualties. It seemed that the Nednhi’s warriors again drunk a lot during the day or the night before and were in an alcohol torpor, especially Tandinbilnojui. At daybreak, 24th of January, Dominguez ordered the attack to his one hundred men.
It was a total surprise for the Nednhis whom the warriors were unable to resist properly. The fight lasted three and half hours. It stopped when the reinforcement of Dominguez arrived. The Chiricahuas fled as they could and after the surprise, the warriors made a though resistance. The fight was fierce but the Chiricahuas were defeated. All the wickiups were burned and the abandoned supplies stolen. Forty mounts were captured as thirty-three women and children. Twelve Chiricahuas were killed, among them only two warriors.
After the warriors regrouped, at 3:00 PM, they stroke back when Dominguez and his men quited the scene. The fight was fierce too, but the Chiricahuas failed to rescue any of their kinfolk. Two more Nednhis warriors had been killed in this rescue’s attempt. After the departure of the Mexicans, the Chiricahuas looked for their supplies but they did not find much. In this month of the winter, it was hard. Reunited their people, the chiefs decided to join Goyakla and Kla-esch at Bugatseka.

This defeat had multiple effects on the Chiricahuas. The principal was for the Nednhis and their Chief. It seemed clear that Tandinbilnojui had an unforgiven behavior before and at the thime of the attack. He failed totally as a chief. All the chiefs considered that he would be no more the principal chief and all his band abandoned him. Worst he lost several members of his family. Maybe some were captured, his daughter named Jacali was badly injured in the tight, certainly her husband killed as a grandchild of the Nednhi’s chief, also killed were a young daughter and his principal and beloved spouse, Isthon.
Destituted, falling in depression, he was no more a chief, just the headman of his family composed of his two other wives, his three sons, Delzinne, at this time a warrior, Daklegon, teenage and Daklugie still a boy. The other man, certainly the one whose nicknamed Washington, staying with him, was certainly from Tandinbilnojui’s extended family. The cascada del Rio Satachi’s defeat marked the end of the Nednis. All the dead warriors were Nednhis and a Nednhi’s dikohe or young warrior, named Hahl-es was captured.
The Nednhi’s survivors scattered under the other gotas. Most of them joined Goyakla with Nat-culbaye or Naiche’s Chokonens like Kayitah, some joined Pedes-klinje like Eskinelata’s family (Martine) or Jlin-tay-i-tith. The most numerous before 1830, the Nedni’s band disepeared as a band and even as a gota. But their identity as the most tradionnalist of the Chirichuas would survive.
The other effect was that, except Zele, the Chihennes chiefs and Kla-esch, all the other chiefs lost close relatives, killed or captured. The wife and a child of Bénito were killed; Pedes-klinje had two children, Naboka and Be-aith-cloe, a wife, sister of Eskinelata, named Ischosen captured. These two chiefs, heartbroken, thought since this time that Jlin-tay-i-tith was maybe right and only life in San Carlos would be the best for the Chiricahuas.
Goyakla’s “niece”, Jahke-nishishn, daughter of Ettsohn was captured. Two wives and two children of Goyakla were taken prisoners. They were Chee-hash-kish (nicknamed Mañanita) and her girl Ish-zahnay, Base-ee, Chee-hash-kish’s sister and her son José-ee. And the favored “sister” of Goyakla, Ishton, had been killed. This tragic attack altered the friendship between the two old comrads, Tandinbilnojui and Goyakla. But, at this time, the Bedonkohe war shaman became the Chief who everybody would follow, except of course, Jlin-tay-i-tith and his Chihennes.

Historians wrote that some close relatives of Naiche were captured too, this day. I think one half-sister and her child, the sister of Nahilzay, widow of Goci, and the sister of Goci, Atelnietze’s mother, were among the prisoners, but it has to be confirmed or invalidated. Naiche lost also his confidence in the schedule of life in Dzil-dolt-izhihi boasted by Goyakla and the elders. More, Naiche was certainly, very disappointed by the old ally of his father, Tandinbilnojui. The Nednhi’s chief confidence about Mexicans in Casas Grandes and his disregard about the Mexicans during the winter, had tragic consequences on Naiche’s relatives. Naiche seemed to have, all of his life, remorse of these losses because he followed without doubts the Nednhi’s chief and he guided his relatives in Tandinbilnojui’s footsteps.
After this defeat, Naiche decided, apparently, that the Chokonens would camp altogether, everytime, since this tragic day. He also seemed trying to be less influenced by the other Chiefs’ talkings. Because of his own experiences with the White Eyes and in San Carlos, he was not so convinced than Pedes-klinje or Bénito that living in San Carlos would be the only opportunity to preserve the Chiricahuas from death or captivity. But he seemed agree to attempt contact with some of their few friends in USA, to know what would be possible with the Americans.

The survivors of the attack received a warm welcome at Bugatseka by their kinfolks. The Chiricahuas stayed together, except Tandibilnojui’s family who left in a sort of exile. In February, the warriors were quiet, everybody needed physically and emotionally recoverings. The chiefs had to talk of the future. The side advocating to make peace openings in USA, obtained satisfaction, it would be done. But it was obvious that the warriors had to restore fresh food and supplies for the people. They were lack of firearms and, above all, amunitions for their American’s rifles and guns. They decided to launch two raids. One with most of the warriors, near Ures in Sonora, to get food, mounts and others supplies. Goyakla, Kla-esch, Kaathenay assisted by Zele, Ulzana and Djelikine would lead this raid.
The second raid was more dangerous. It would consist to penetrate in USA, avoiding the US Army and their Apaches’ scouts, to get a lot of weapons and amunitions in the shortest time possible. It would need seasoned warriors and bold leadership. Twenty-six, volunteered, of prominent warriors had been selected, half of them Chokonens apparently. Bénito and Pedes-klinje would lead them. Naiche and his loyal “brother”, Atelnietze, participated like Naiche’s uncle, Mangus. 10th of March 1883, the two raiding parties, separated, each in direction of their target. The two would let bloody trails.

The goal of Naiche and his fellow men was to attack every traveler, settlement they would meet, to steal their weapons. But before crossing the boundary, the party had to get more horses because not all the warriors were mounted. 18th and 19th of March, they killed in several ambushes, ten mens taking between eleven to twenty mounts as several firearms. 20th of March Bénito, Pedes-klinje crossed the border with their men ready to strike quickly and hard. It would be a remarkable raid which would defray the newspapers in the Southwest, but also in all USA.

[coeurrouge]

HI,

I find that on the web (facebook - Naiche the last chief...)
"Naiche told me that in one of the fights between the American soldiers and the Apaches he had received a bullet which passed
completely through his chest. He fell and the soldiers cheered, thinking they had killed him, but before they could reach him
he recovered enough so that he could mount his horse and escape."

I do not know from what book it comes. But in Sweeney's book, Naiche was injured in August 1886 lighty. So I figure thaht NAiche was injured at least twice. In 1886 by American civilians living in Mexico and by US soldiers.
Which means that the heat he got through his chest was a serious injury. Reading more I think he was hurt in october 1881 near Fort Grant or in the Eastern Dragoon Stronghold of Cochise or during the Horseshoe battle 23rd of April 1882 or during the tupper fight 28th of April 1882. If it was in the last case, it will explain partly why he did not participate at the Rio Alisos battle.
But why Kaywaykla had forgot this detail while he defended his father-in-law of this shadow on the courage skills of Naiche?

[coeurrouge]

20th of March, Bénito, Pedes-klinje and their men crossed the border, north, through Huachuca Mountains in the western border of the old Chokonen’s territory. US troops, most of them Apaches, under Captain Emmet Crawford patrolled between the Peloncillo Mountains and the Animas Mountains, in New Mexico, near the Mexico’s border. Crawford thought with reason if there would be an incursion of Chiricahua’s warriors, it would be around there, like the Chiricahuas had done often.
Since eleven month, no Chiricahua came back in USA for raiding. In Arizona and New Mexico, most of the citizens and militaries heard about the Chiricahuas at Rio Alisos, Casas Grandes and at Cascada del Rio Satachi. In addition, in summer 1882, the Chiricahuas raided close the Arizona’s border but stayed below it like they feared to cross and fight the US army and its Apache scouts. So, the majority of Americans certainly did not believe of possible Chiricahua’s raids from Mexico. If so, they were fully wrong.

The bloody expedition of Naiche and his fellow men begun 21st of March, at sunset. At this hour, in the Huachuca Mountains, several workers cut trees and prepared charcoal. Secure, they forgot to take their arms with them. It was a fatal mistake. The warriors surprised totally the unarmed men and killed four of them. The others fled quickly to their tent, grapping their guns and took position behind trees. The warriors tried to lure the White Eyes, saying they were friends and to come out to talk. But Americans did not answered, so, the Chiricahuas hailed of bullets the tents where, it seemed, they thought the white survivors were.
Again, the Americans did not responded. Tsoe and Beneactinay courageously approached to watch what it was going on. When they were just near a tent, a fire was shooting from the bush, killing instantly Beneactinay, son-in-law of Kla-esch. Tsoe retreated quickly, letting the corpse of his best friend, there. Seeing it would be impossible to recover the corpse and to dislodge the White Eyes without other casulaties and fearing troops of Fort Huachuca, Bénito and Pedes-klinje ordered to leave.

The first day of the raid was not good for the Chiricahuas. If they had killed White Eyes, they had not got weapons or cartridges. Worst, a very good warrior had been killed and his corpse let on the hands of enemies. While the raiders went to the Whetstone Mountains, troops from Fort Huachuca under Captain Madden and posses from Charleston and Tombstone arrived on the scene. Madden recognized Beneactinay as a former Chiricahua’s good scout. But Madden inexplicably did nothing. He did not pursue or alert about a Chiricahua’s raiding party operating in USA from the Huachuca Mountains. Also, he let the citizens of Charleston and Tombstone mutilated the corpse by scalping all the hair and by decapitation. The head was mounted on a pole and expoded in Charleston.
Fortunatly, the other warriors did not see that, otherwise, they would enraged more than they already were. 22nd of March, not pursued, but knowing the telegraph could alert troops, front of them, Bénito and Pedes-klinje ordered to cut the telegraph line. At the same time, other warriors ambushed and killed three men near the Whetstone Mountains. After, they saw another prey. Fourteen mules heavily packed mainly of guns and ammunitions, what the warriors were looking for. The four packers were shortly shot down to death. The Chiricahuas plundered the pack train. They only kept the cartridges and the weapons packed on the mules. This last loot restored the faith of the warriors about their expedition and Beneactinay had been avenged by these seven death. After they rested in the Whetstone Mountains.

At night, through the San Pedro Valley they reached the eastern side of the Little Dragoon Mountains in the early morning, 23rd of March. They rested with their mounts several hours before departing again in destination of the southern Winchester Mountains. At midafternoon, several miles south of the Winchester Mountains, Pedes-klinje, Naiche and five other warriors presented themselves, on a ranch, without firing, surprisingly. I think they wanted to distract the ranchers while Bénito and the others stole all the mounts in the corral.
Few yards of two men shoeing horses, one of them saw the seven warriors and instinctively, he shot on Pedes-klinje, wounded lightly in the head and knocked him. Naiche and the others retreated after picked up their leader. After sheltering behind big boulders, near the ranch, Naiche succeeded to wake up his friend. At the same Bénito and most of the warriors stole more than one hundred horses from the ranch under inefficiency fireshots.

Some hours later, two mounted men were attacked by them, near Willcox. The raiders continued their road during the end of day and a good part of the night. Crossing the upper San Simon Valley, they finally camped in the foothills of the eastern Peloncillo Mountains, needed a good rest. Like a year ago, the blue soldiers had not yet reacted several days after Naiche and his fellow men had begun to kill. The Chiricahuas sent two men, Cathla and Mykili-tzso (Dutchy), to do their second goal of the expedition, to make contact with one people who they trusted, to know what kind of peace it would be possible with Americans. Few people were their friends at this time. Some White Mountains or Pinals Apaches, the Americans Streeter, Jeffords and Merejildo Grivalja, the former captive of Miguel Narbona.
Streeter was certainly in Mexico, at this time, considered an outlaw in USA. Jeffords often in propection of new mines was hard to locate surely. However, Grivalja had a ranch with his wife educating a young Chiricahua girl, captured in October 1881 during the Dragoon Mountains’ battle. They liked this adopted child like she was their daughter. While Cathla talked with the former captive and the other warriors were resting, the US army was still trying to understand who was doing these killings and stealings, Apache’s renegades from San Carlos or Chiricahuas from Mexico.

At night, the Chiricahuas moved again north to go at the rendez-vous they had with Cathla and Mykili-tzso. In the morning they stopped to sleep and to rest their herd. The warriors knew the next day they would raid again stettlements south of Cliffton. Pedes-klinje with certainly Naiche and few others retreated to watch if they were pursued. This day, sad and close from San Carlos more than he had been from a long time, Tsoe decided to leave the expedition and came back to San Carlos to live with the Cibecue Apaches, his born tribe. Certainly the son-in-law of Stalosh, a Chihenne’s warrior from Jlin-tay-i-tith’s gota, he had lost his two wives and his baby killed during the Rio Alisos’ battle. His best friend Beneactinay dead, Tsoe had no more ties with the Chiricahuas.
Some warriors objected and opposed Tsoe because they considered he betrayed them. But Bénito stopped the objections and blessed Tsoe’s wish to be reunited with his family. Bénito gave a mount and a gun to Tsoe who left the expedition, in the morning 26th of March. This day, the head commander of Arizona informed his superior in Washington, that he had confirmation since the previous day, a party of Chiricahua’s warriors was raiding in Arizona. But the Americans had no idea where the raiders were.
26th of March, divided in two bands, they stroke a mining camp and took stock north of York’s ranch. Mykili-tzso and Cathla joined, in the evening, Naiche and the others. They had good news. Grivalja was agree to act as an intermediary between Chiricahuas and Americans on future peace talkings. The two warriors recognized also the young Chiricahua’s girl their parents thought she was lost forever.

But their main goal was fireguns and ammunitions. The next day, they separated again. One band certainly taking care of their herd and their previous loot they had done. The second band attacked a stage station south of York’s ranch. After, all the warriors entered in New Mexico going east. Late in the day they killed again. Pedes-klinje guided them in his former homeland where he lived as a child. It was also Naiche’s paternal grandfather’s sacred homeland, in the Burro Mountains along the Santa Lucia’s springs. On the evening 27th of March, they camped for the night. In two days, they had killed fifteen people, mostly men. Their next direction would be south to come back in Mexico. Their raid, at this time, could be considered a success.

At this time, I think, the raiders only thought to return, they did not look for new targets, but with the will to destroy all the fortuitous and interesting plunders they would meet. They were differently organized. An advance guard, perhaps leading by Atelnietze, the main party under Bénito and Pedes-klinje with the herd and the loots and finally the rear guard with Naiche. 28th of March, about noon, Atelnietze and his men were surprised to see a family of three people to get a picnic lunch in Thompson Canyon. A man with his wife and their little boy. He had a winchester, ammunitions and some horses, all the Chirircahuas looked for and this family was an easy target.
Without hesitation, the Chiricahuas attacked. The white man tried to make a courgeous stand hoping his wife and his boy could escape with the buckboard. But he was quickly killed when Pedes-klinje and reinforcement came. Soon after, a horse of the buckboard was shot down stopping the course. The wife was beaten to death in the head under the eyes of her son who became mute after this emotional shock. Naiche arrived on the scene when the warriors ended the looting and querelled about the little boy. Bénito stopped the dispute by taking the boy on his horse. Each taking back their position, they continued their road south certainly with more speed.

The family was the one of Judge McComas very well known in New Mexico and the wife was from a celebrated family from Kansas. Some hours after when US troops and civilians reached the scene in Thompson Canyon and saw the dead body of the wife, they were shocked and enraged. Thinking the raiders would come back in Mexico by their traditional road along the Peloncillo Mountains, they rushed to Stein’s Peak hoping to intercept the Chiricahuas. But the warriors lured them by taking a more direct road between the today’s Animas and Playas.
29th of March, they were camping north of the Animas Mountains. Pedes-klinje with four men, I am convinced Naiche was one of them, turned back to see if they were pursued. Again they were happily surprised, no enemy’s troops behind them. In fact, like a year ago, the US troops were lack of good judgements from officers who crossed the trail or saw the bloody acts of the raiders and then unable to counter the Chiricahua’s warriors of Bénito and Pedes-klinje.
Naiche, Pedes-klinje and the other three men saw a new target north of the Animas Mountains. Two men driving a mule pack were coming towards the warriors unconsciously. After the two White Men were seriously injured, the mules rushed onto the hands of the warriors. They found plenty of ammunitions, provisions and some bottles of whiskey. They came back to their camp rested and drunk with the others all the next day. This same day Bénito scouted ahead their road. He saw Captain Crawford’s troops with his Apaches scouts blocking the San Luis Pass’ road. Informed, the warriors decided to change their return’s road and went more southeast reaching to cross the border by the Sierra Enmedio. 31st of March 1883, just before entering Mexico they killed their last victim.

Except the death of Beneactinay and the desertion of Tsoe, their raid was a complete success. They had at least one hundred guns, lots of ammunitions, several hundreds of mounts and they killed some thirty people and captured one little boy. They also avoided fights with US troops. More for the future, Grivalja accepted to intercede for them with the Americans.
But what they did not know, was the same day they crossed back to Mexico, Tsoe was arrested in a Cibecue camp, in San Carlos and revealed he was with the renegades. Hoping fresh news from Mexico and some people to guid his troops in the Sierra Madre, the new commander of the Arizona’s Department, was contended. He could finally launch his plan to submit the Chiricahuas. This new commander was General George.R Crook.

NEXT : General Crook and his men.

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coeurrouge

Thanks for your great effort to put all this together about Naiche and his people. I have read so many books about their history already but still learning so many new things, which is fantastic. Cheers again!

[coeurrouge]

Mar 4, 2021 17:17:13 GMT -5 xframe said:

coeurrouge

Thanks for your great effort to put all this together about Naiche and his people. I have read so many books about their history already but still learning so many new things, which is fantastic. Cheers again!

Thanks a lot for your wishes

[coeurrouge]

3. General Crook and his men.

3.1. Nantan Lupan.

When Sitting Bull and his last followers surrendered from Canada, in July 1881, the Americans believed the Indian Wars were over. The Cibecue revolt was contained in the San Carlos reservation except the Chiricahuas. But in the eyes of Americans, outside the Southwest, they had been ejected in Mexico by the US Army, in October 1881. For most of the White Eyes all the Native Americans were under control in the reservations and were not anymore a threat or an actuality, except maybe for the Arizona and New Mexico citizens.
So in April 1882, when suddenly Goyakla and his men erupted in San Carlos, “delivered” their people and returned in Mexico without much damage while they killed and plundered much, it astonished Americans. How it was possible that a tribe, very less numerous than the Sioux, could still resist to USA and its army? The generals Sherman and Sheridan were upset and angry about their men on the field unable, at least, to kill some of the renegades in USA and of the calamitous administration of the San Carlos reservation, since years. The War Department and the Department of Interior were agreed, they had enough about Apaches and had to find a solution which meant the best man for the mission to pacify all the Apaches.

Sherman, head commander of the Army, tought General Willcox proved he was not this man and decided to replace him. In July 1882, Sherman appointed the only officer who have defeated strongly Apaches, General George.R Crook whom the Apaches nicknamed Nantan Lupan (Wolf Chief). In the same time, agent Tiffany resigned because of poor health. Sherman wanted changes for San Carlos, the appointment of Crook and the resignation of Tiffany could show this, positively, for the San Carlos’ residents.
But Sherman knew that Chiricahuas could still resist because they had refuges below the border which his troops were not allowed to cross. The US government and the one of Mexico signed a treaty in July 1882, called “Hot pursuit Treaty”, allowing army troops from USA or Mexico to pursue Apaches raiders, or their fresh trails, on the otherside of the border. It was not commom that Mexico allowed US army to penetrate in their country thirty-five years after the Blue Soldiers invaded their country and obtained by a humiliated treaty, California, Arizona and New-Mexico.

For Crook, this new command could restore much his star. Indeed during his campaign against the Sioux and the Cheyennes, Crook had mixed results and was more efficient to control these natives when they were in the reservations than to defeat them, as Colonel Miles, outside the reservations. Crook took command of the Arizona Department, 4th of september 1882. Very soon he put the departure of the next expedition in Willcox, closer to the operations of his troops than Prescott. His strategy was the same than ten years before. To submit the Apaches, his troops would have to penetrate deep in the renegades’ strongholds, to force them to surrender or to fight them until all would be in the reservation or dead. For this, Crook would employ Apache soldiers, well managed by efficient and loyal officers, and pack mules train.
But ten years after the Basin Tonto’s campaign and against the Pinal’s Apaches, Crook was more sensitive and human. Ten years before, his soldiers killed several hundred of Apaches, men, women and children during the fights. Crook also paid rewards to get heads of the principal hostile leaders. When he got it, he put the heads for several days on poles, on the view of every Apaches in San Carlos. His experience wih the Sioux and the Cheyennes seemed to have mollified his behavior against Native hostiles. He also understood that diplomacy could bring better results of surrending.

It was quite simple on the paper, but Crook knew it would be more complicated to be effective. First the territory of the Chiricahuas was larger than any other Apache tribe. Even they did not live anymore in their old homeland they could use it as temporary hiding place or road to raid in USA. Then he asked and obtained that the troops of New Mexico would be under his command to have consistent movement between the troops in Arizona and New Mexico.
The use of mules train would not be a problem. Also, He had to find efficient officers and chiefs of scouts to command the large Apache companies he wanted to recruit. He had these kind of men. Al Sieber, Archie McIntosh and Sam Bowman had his confidence as chiefs of scouts. For the officers, if he had his loyal Bourke in his headquarters, he needed to have the same confidence in valuable officers who were in capacity to understand, to follow and to manage many Apache soldiers on the field. He had several. One he knew well from ten years, appointed with the 3rd cavalry in Fort Thomas, was Captain Emmet Crawford. Beside him a second lieutenant just graduated from West Point, would become one of the trusted officers by Crook, named Britton Davis.
The last of Crook’s most valuable officers, he and Crook did not like much eachother. But this first lieutenant was the best and the more experienced officer in Apache warfare and to command Apaches scouts. Appointed since 1877 in the 6th cavalry, he fought the Chirichuas with Apaches Scouts since 1879. Pretty much underrated, the different campaigns on the field also weakened the health of Charles.B Gatewood.

The principal obstacles of Crook was greatly out of his control. When he came back in Arizona, he found the Apaches of San Carlos demoralized, resigned and angry, especially the White Mountains and the Cibecues. These tribes had provided much of Crook’s scouts companies in the 1870’s. After heared them, Crook understood that the Apaches knew their different agents, after Clum, stole their supplies and had sold some lands of the Reservation to mines’ companies, without their agreement. For the White Mountains and the Cibecues, the removal to San Carlos in 1875 was not yet accepted.
And worst, I think, by a great part of the actions of Colonel Carr who seemed to have not much sympathy or understable of the Apaches, the former Apache allies of Crook thought the US Army betrayed them by doing nothing during the removal in 1875, by letting the selling of their lands, by letting white ranchers intrusions and by attacking pacific Apaches in Cibecue Creek.
Crook, knowing he had always the confidence of these Apaches, acted quickly to restore trust between the US Army and the San Carlos’ residents. He had to because he needed a lot of Apaches recruits for his strategy against the Chiricahuas. After the temporary agent closed the subagency, Crook asked and obtained from the Departement of Interior, that the Cibecue and White Mountain Apaches could return permentatly on their ancestral lands in the Reservation around Fort Apache. He renewed his close friendship with Alchesay who was, at this time, the most influencial chief of the White Mountains. The rations of these apaches would be, until they would be self-sufficient, distributed near Fort Apache.

Crook ordered the 3rd Cavalry to station at the San Carlos Agency to watch the Apaches but also that contractors and employees did not steal supplies intented for the Apaches. Captain Crawford and Lieutenant Gatewood were in charge to recruit new companies of scouts. Crook obtained the right to recruit twice more scouts than before, two hundred and fifty at all. He ordered the officers, with permission of the Departement of Interior, to have the police rights in San Carlos for Crawford and in Fort Apache for Gatewood. The two applied exactly what Crook adviced them, to treat fairly and equally Apaches and white people. To be effective on the control of all the bands, he ordered to not station into the Forts, the scouts if they were not on the field, but to let the scouts living with their own band.
Quickly, thanks to his decisions and his acts, Crook regained confidence and trust among the Apaches and one hundred and twenty-five scouts were recruited mainly among the Cibecues and White Mountain Apaches. But none of them was familiar with the Sierra Madre. It was more than a decade, warriors of these tribes crossed the border, to go raiding in Mexico. Except maybe some Pinal Apaches, none of them had past relationship with the Nednis whom the Sierra Madre was their sanctuary where, in 1882, were all the Chiricahuas. And a great part of the scouts were anxious to go in Mexico because they feared the Mexicans and the Chiricahuas.

Crook had to reach someone to find the hiding strongholds of the Chirirahuas in the Sierra Madre. He tought to find this people when in October 1882, at a ration’s day, he surprisingly learnt that eight Chirichuas lived in San Carlos and that some were still with the hostiles few months before. They were Massai and his family, the loyal scout Toclanny, two women and two White Mountain men who escaped. But Crook realized that the latters would not be volunteers to go, Toclanny surely did not know well the location of the stronghold and Crook, like his officers, certainly thought Massai was not reliable because he had already deserted once.
However, in November 1882, Crook made a pacific attempt like he has done with Spotted Tail upon Crazy Horse and his followers in 1877’s winter. He sent the two Chiricahua’s women with a scout named Navajo Bill, in Mexico to tell the Chiricahuas, he offered peace and forgiveness if they agreed to live in the reservation, at San Carlos. But the mission failed and, I think, Navajo Bill never met any hostile whatever he reported.

A new agent was appointed, in the autumn 1882, named Wilcox from Colorado. Apparently he was a man wanting to make money fast and not to be too present in San Carlos. He would live most of the time in Denver. First, he supported Crook and let the militaries doing their police duties in San Carlos. But the General was in a deadlock. If the Chiricahuas did not raid in USA, he could not pursue them into Mexico and stopped the threat they represented. He also understood that defensive actions against them were useless because they could pass without detection, wherever they wanted across mountains they knew very well.
He decided to send Crawford, during February 1883, with one hundred Apache soldiers and some troops in southeast of New Mexico. Crawford had to patrol, to prevent raids from Mexico by the Chiricahuas, between the Peloncillo and the Animas mountains. This locations was one of their usual road to cross the border like they used it, in Octobre 1881 and April 1882. Crook also ordered other officers, in the different forts along the border, to be vigilant to any of trails from Mexico and to alert him when some were found. So he could engage his expedition against the Chiricahuas. Unfortunately, Captain Madden from fort Huachuca misjudged who attacked the miners near the fort and did not alert in time.

Captain Crawford near the border, Lieutenant Davis was in charge of the police with twenty-five scouts stayed in San Carlos. When he heard that Chiricahua’s hostiles were arrived in the reservation, he took his men and troops and went to arrest or to fight them, 31st of March. In fact, the Chiricahuas were a lone man, Tsoe, who came back in his original tribe, the Cibecue’s Apaches. Tsoe was not reluctant to give informations about the renegades. Immediately Davis informed Crook that a warrior who was living with the renegades several weeks ago, seemed to know well where the hostiles lived.
It was the right time for Crook because Pedes-klinje and Bénito’s raid had a tremendous echo in the southwest but also in all of the country. And his soldiers were unable, at least, to encroach them. The murders of Judge McComas and his wife and the capture of their son, Charley, added of the shock. Crook was under pressure to success. Crook began to organize his expedition against the Chiricahuas and his relation, with this Apache tribe he did not know, would begin too.

What Crook would did not apprehend, I think, was the diyin of the Chiricahuas upon the generals who fought them. Stoneman, Kautz and Willcox lost their command because of them. Crook would not be an exception and worst this diyin maybe ended the military’ carrer of Davis, provoked the death of Crawford, avoided Gatewood to be ever promoted and speeded up the chronic illness of Gatewood.

3.2. Nantan Bse-che, Gatewood.

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Hello,

I am very busy but the following of my work on Naiche will be here soon.

[coeurrouge]

3.2. Nantan Bse-che, Gatewood.

Crook had the Apaches soldiers he wanted thanks to Crawford but mainly, I think, to Gatewood. This last officer, from whom Al Sieber should have said “he did not hate his enemies but he did not like his friends”, was nicknamed Nantan Bse-che (Chief Big Nose) by the Apaches. Since his appointement he very often commanded scouts’ companies, Navajoes then Apaches. He was very active during Bi-duye’s war and fought him and his warriors several times. Since he was at Fort Apache, the White Mountains and the Cibecues knew him better and was one of the few officers they trusted much. The fact he understood their language and seemed to talk some, helped Gatewood.
He was not close to Crook. The two had arguments about the management of Apaches on the reservation and Crook thought Gatewood spent too much time in lawsuits against ranchers who illegaly entered the reservation with their castle. Also, the different campaigns on the field during hot summer and cold winter altered quickly Gatewood’s health. He had a chronic illness, the rheumastism which pained him much when it wakened.
But Nantan Bse-che knowing very well the White Mountains and the Cibecues was certainly very usefull to recruit the first hundred and twenty-five scouts of Crook, during the autumn of 1882. They were mostly White Mountains and Cibecues Apaches. On the field he was one of the best to conduct Apache soldiers on operations. And he was one of the few officers who Crook had confidence, to know some of the Chiricahuas warriors. He was unmissable to Crook, even they did not like eachother, and the general recognized that.

The Chiricahuas and Naiche were completely unaware who they would fight or not and they did not care much at this time. The days would follow, would change their perceiption of their future life.
31st of March 1883, Naiche and his fellow men killed a last man in USA and crossed the frontier, returning to their camp and to their family with much plunders. The Blue Soldiers closer to them were the Apache scouts of Crawford but they were not detected and Crawford was out of communications with other troops. Crook, knowing for five days the raiders were Chiricahuas from Mexico asked the right to lead his expedition in Mexico. His superiors sent him more than the authorization: they gave him order to cross the border in purchase. When Lieutenant Davis informed him that a young warrior was just arrived, in the reservation, from the renegades with great informations, Crook asked him as volunteer to guide his expedition onto the stronghold of the Chiricahuas. Tsoe accepted. The young warrior was agreed certainly to get some revenge against Goyakla and others because he thought they were partly responsibles of the death of his family. But mainly, Tsoe fearing potential retaliation, wanted to please the militaries.

6th of April, while the twenty-three raiders and Naiche were happily welcome at Bugatseka, Crawford, joined by Colonel Forsyth, always looked for the raiders in USA. The loots brought by the raiders contented certainly the ranchérias and the warriors were surely happy to see again their families after this dangerous raid. I think, at this time, the ranchérias were assembled like this: Jlin-tay-i-tith and his gota lived apart. They were still watched by the others but with looser vigilance; near them, under Kas-tziden and Kaathenay who became the real chief as Kas-tziden wished, were the others Chihennes more belligerents, supporting much Goyakla; Zele and Goyakla reformed the old Bedonkohe’s gota of Mahko during this time and seemed to have no wish of peace of any kind; with them lived the majority of the Nednhi’s survivors; Bénito and Pedes-klinje seemed to have one camp, the two chiefs were thinking to follow Jlin-tay-i-tith’s way for their people both mixed Bedonkohe-Chokonens, at this time; close to them was the ranchéria of the united remanents of the Chokonen’s band under the leadership of Naiche and Kla-esch. Tandinbilnojui and his very few followers joined them time to time.
7th of April, Crawford tired to search, sent the two Chiricahua’s women he had with him and six scouts below the border to contact the hostiles. He did not know yet, Crook prepared his expedition in Mexico and the general would order him to command. Crook ordered to regroup the troops, the supplies needed for forty days for three hundred men and the mules train at Willcox. He ordered Gatewood to recruit seventy more scouts among the Apaches living in San Carlos not at For Apache. Done, he would come at Willcox to be one of the seconds in command of the expedition in Mexico. He had to bring the man, Tsoe who would guide them. Crook let to his subordinates the preparative and went to Mexico asking the authorization to enter in Mexico with three hundred soldiers, mostly Apaches.
8th of April, Goyakla, Kla-esch, Kaathenay, Zele and their eighty warriors arrived in the camp with a lot of plunders, too. During three weeks they ravaged the area of Ures killing between ninety to one hundred and twenty people. They lost one or two warriors. The two successfull raids brought strong moral upon all the people, surely. Everybody knew, at this time, that a little blond boy lived in the ranchéria of the Chokonens. Naiche told later Charley McComas spent much of his time with his family and seemed to like one of his wives. He also revealed the boy could barely speak. The victorious returns promised several nights of celebrations at Bugatseka, maybe four.

9th of April, Crook arrived with lieutenant Bourke and another officer at Guaymas, Sonora, in Mexico. There and in Hermosillo, the Sonoran authorities gave their approval to Crook to enter in Sonora with his troops to chase down the Chiricahuas. The Mexicans, fighting the Chiricahuas since several decades more than the Americans, were easely convinced by Crook that only Apaches could defeat Apaches. About the worry of the Mexicans to differentiate Apaches scouts from hostile Apaches, Crook answered that his scouts would wear a red head-band. Then was born the picture of the Apache scout with his blue jacket and his red head-band.
11th or 12th of April, Crook and his diplomatic delegation came in Chiuahua, Mexico, to meet the State’s authorities. The general had the same agreement from the Chihuahans. At this time, Crook knew that he had no more obstacle to launch his expedition to catch the Chiricahuas only the Chiricahuas themselves, off course.
14th of April, Crook returned with the good news at Willcox. The preparation was on time. Two hundred and sixty-six mules and their seventy-three pakers were already there. Among them a very young man named George Wratten who already spoke N’de. Another civilian was there too with his photography’s materials, from “New York Herald”, Franck Randall. Gatewood was arrived or would arrive the days after with the new recruits of scouts.

15th of April, the Chiricahuas chiefs sent raiders to steal beef to feed the People. Fifteen raiders whom their leader was unknown, maybe Naiche, stole one hundred heads of castle near Oputo, without casualties. The following days were spent to butch the castle and to prepare the meat. Certainly, during councils, the chiefs talked about their next steps. Outside Mexican soldiers who never penetrated deep in Dzil-dolt-izhihi, except the Tarahumaras but they were not a threat in Bugatseka, Naiche and the other chiefs had two concerns. Their concerns were to send emissaries in Grivalja’s ranch and how to free their kinfolks still captives in Chihuahua and Sonora.
20th of April, Colonel Garcia, certainly to support Crook, left Moctezuma, looking for the Chiricahuas with one hundred and thirty-six soldiers in direction of Oputo, near the last known raid done by the Apaches. During the day, a fire erupted in the Chiricahua’s camp and was huge. It provoked the death of several mounts and a tall smoke above the ranchérias. After controled and stopped the fire, fearing to be spotted, the Chiricahuas moved their camp twenty miles northwest in another mountain, letting scouts behind them to watch for potential enemies.

22nd of April, the emissaries of the Chiricahuas left their kinfolk to reach Merejildo Grivalja. They were Mykili-tzso and Gooday. The previous seemed to represent all the Bedonkohes except certainly the extended family of Goyakla. Gooday, grandson of Jlin-tay-i-tith and nephew of Mangus, represented the Chihennes looking for peace. As a cousin of Naiche, Gooday maybe had the right to talk for the Chokonen’s chief. It was possible because the close friend of Naiche, Pedes-klinje seemed wanting to stop hostilities.
23rd of April, Crook transferred his men at San Bernardino, just near the border. He waited for Captain Crawford, who would lead his expedition on the field, and his Apache soldiers. He also waited for the cavalry units. Colonel Garcia, south of the border, following the trails from the raiders of 15th of April and certainly advertised about a great cloud of smoke in the Sierra Madre, ordered his column to penetrate in the Sierra Madre. He led his troops in direction of the previous camp of the Chiricahua.
24th of April, the Chiricahuas left behind, four days before, came back in the camp. They announced that Mexicans troops had followed the village’s trail, penetrated the foothills and would be there the next day at noon. The Chiefs immediately decided to made an ambush in the canyon below the village. We can guess that Goyakla, Kla-esch and Bénito planed the ambush. They organized their hundred of warriors in three groups. One would be on the top of the trail and would open the fight. Opening the battle, this group was certainly command by Goyakla and Kla-esch. A second group, composed of the best fighters, was hided in the lower position close to the enemies and then, more exposed. I think this group was leading by the young generation of chiefs like Kaathenay, Pedes-klinje and Naiche but it is just a supposition. The third group was in charge to take position in the top of the canyon and to prepare rocks and boulders to roll on the Mexicans below them.

25th of April, Garcia and his men arrived in the canyon after noon. One third of this troops were sent with Torres on a left flank maneuver wich would be inefficient. As expected by the Chiricahuas, the Mexicans rode careffuly in a single line across the canyon unaware of the ambush. The warriors, hided in the lower position were undetected. When the first soldiers arrived at the end of the canyon, on the top of the hill, a fire was shot, closely followed by many others. The battle begun. Totally surpised, the Mexicans retreated in a panic, as expected too by the Chiricahuas. Then Naiche and the others with him launched their flank attack which surprised again the enemies. After all, the warriors in the higher position pushed the rocks and the boulders on Garcia’s men. Then, after Garcia regrouped his men, a sniping fight followed. The battle finished at the end of the day, with the victory of the Chiricahuas without casualties on their side, ten percents of the Mexicans were hit. I do not know exactly, again, the role of Naiche during this battle.
During the night, the Chiricahuas certainly celebrated their victory by festing and dancing. They surely let scouts to watch Garcia and his troops in schedule to prevent an attack. So, they were less vigilant about Jlin-tay-i-tith’s Chihennes and some of them decided to escape. Twenty-one did it, among them four warriors. The others were the close family of the chief and some of their friends. The Chief refused to go because of his age and certainly knowing Goyakla and maybe Pedes-klinje would pursue and bring back the Chihenne’s chief.

29th of April, Crook had his all troops, he needed, reunited in San Bernardino’s ranch. Crawford arrived with his Apache’s soldiers. The expedition would be command by Crawford, well second by Gatewood and chiefs of scouts like Sieber and Bowman. They led one hundred and ninety-three Apache’s soldiers. Crook accompanied them with forty-two cavalry men, his headquarters officers and a pack train of two hundred and sixty-six mules and seventy-six packers. The expedition would be guided by Tsoe. During the expedition nine companies of cavalry would patrol along the border to avoid Chiricahua’s raids. While Crook saw his troops ready to action, Mykili-tzso and Gooday reached Merejildo Grivalja’s ranch. He welcame them and kept his words to serve as intermediary for peace talks.

30th of April, Grivalja brought the two emissaries in Fort Thomas. The officer in charge showed a poor sense of understanding. The Chiricahuas explained for the first time since years the wish of the tribe to live in San Carlos but the officer did not try to communicate to Crook about this big news. He decided to send them with escort to San carlos and Lieutenant Davis in charge of the Police. Just a second lieutenant and knowing Crook was in Mexico or just to be, without possibility of communication, Davis put in jail the peace emissaries. During the day, Crook motivated his troops and promised that in forty days they would succeed. He ordered his men, especially the Apaches, to spare the women, children and all the men who would surrender.
About this day the Chiricahuas moved their camp to Bugasetka. Preparing expeditions, I think they separated their ranchérias from each other of sevral miles, to prevent too much damage if a surprise attack arrived while lot of warriors would be absent. I think the northern ranchéria was the one of the Chokonens under Naiche and Kla-esch with next to them the mixed Bedonkohes-Chokonens of Pedes-klinje and Bénito. Some miles south of them was certainly the Bedonkohe’s camp of the old Mahko’s gota led by Goyakla and as subchief Zele. Finally, the Chihenne’s ranchérias were surely the southern. The most important had as Chief Kaathenay and subchiefs Mangas and Kas-tziden. Jlin-tay-i-tith and his gota were certainly near them. Goyakla as Goci and Kan-da-zis-tlishishen was chief of all the Chiricahuas there even he did not have the title. But the majority followed him more by necessity than because they trusted or liked Goyakla.
At Bugatseka the Chiricahuas felt very secure because their enemies never invaded this Nehdni’s stronghold. The chiefs thought to make their second concern of their schedule. They needed Mexican’s hostages to exchange with their relatives held prisonners in Chihuahua and Sonora. But the people needed supplies too. The Chiefs decided to organize two expeditions. One in Sonora, with about twenty warriors, would raid to get food and supplies. Kla-esch and his brother, Ulzana, would lead them. The second expedition, more perillous, of thirty-six warriors would capture Chihuahuan’s citizens as hostages. The other leader with Goyakla of this raid was certainly Pedes-klinje but Kaathenay, Naiche, Bénito, Zele and Djelekine were presents too. It was possible Atelnietze joined his “brother” Naiche on this raid. It seemed that most of the Chihennes stayed in the camps.

1st of May, Crook and his troops entered in Mexico. Their first goal was to reach Bavispe. They would march carefully and slowly as an average of fifteen miles per day.
2nd of May, Kla-esch and his warriors left Bugasetka.
6th of May, it was the turn of Goyakla and his followers to leave. The only chiefs stayed at Bugasteka were Kas-tziden, Jlin-tay-i-tith, Mangas and Chiva. All were unaware that Blue Soldiers looked for them deep in Mexico and most of them were Apaches. This day, the expedition of Crook reached Bavispe. They first travelled in open field, empty of human life in the north. Near Bavispe they discovered the pity life of the Sonoran, constanly fearing a bloody raid of the Chirichuas. This area showed the terrible signs of desolation due to the Chiricahuas. Crook and his men moved southwest in direction of Huachinera.

[coeurrouge]

9th of May, Goyakla and his warriors attacked a group of travelers, south of Carmen, in Chihuahua State. They killed by torture the two men and captured five women and a baby. The tortures were certainly done by Goyakla and Kaathenay’s followers. As records remembered, Naiche never tortured or ordered it. He surely disapproved his mentor about his habits to do that. The raiders chose Chihuahua State first because most of their kinfolks were captives in this state. They were relatives or friends of the main leaders of the camp. In Sonora the captive were from the Chihenne’s gota of Jlin-tay-i-tith whom they cared less. It seemed obvious that the warriors on this raid had close relatives in captivity in Chihuahua. This was why Naiche certainly participated, comforting my theory that Goci’s widows and at least one half-sister of Naiche were prisonners.

11th of May, Crook and his troops entered in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. The general opted for a very cautious march. While Crawford and fifty to one hundred of his Apache Soldiers went in advance, Crook waited in a temporary camp with the cavalry and the pack train for news.
Then, Crawford informed him the trail was clear, all advanced to another temporary camp and the Apache soldiers under Crawford and Gatewood scouted again. Since this day Tsoe advertised they were closer to the favorite’s site camp of the Chiricahuas. The Blue soldiers discovered a country with deep canyons, hard to travel but with also plenty of grass, games and pine trees. They lost several mules falling in the ravines, like the one carrying the photographic equipment of Randall. Crook and his officers realized this country was a formidable stronghold of the Chiricahuas to live and to hide. He would have to be sure when his troops would strike to hit all the tribe. Kla-esch had, certainly and already, done his goal and was coming back to the camp with more than one hundred head of cattle.

13th of May, the Blue Soldiers saw plenty of signs that the Chiricahuas lived next to they were. They discovered the old ranchérias in Pah-gotzin-kay, the renegades had left since two weeks. At this time, I think, Kaathenay made a raid in Chihuahua and got several heads of cattle. Goyakla and Pedes-klinje had let a message along the road between Janos and Casas Grandes. They wrote they wanted to exchange their prisonners, who were soldiers’ spouses, against their relatives in prison in Chihuahua, at Casas Grandes around 25th of May. The raiders continued their track of new hostages.
14th of May, I think Kla-esch Ulzana and their men came back with their plunder in their Chokonen’s ranchéria close to the one of Pedes-klinje and Bénito. Maybe during the night, the inhabitants celebrated their successful return without casualties. Feeling they were closer to the renegades and adviced by Tsoe, Crawford shared a plan with Crook who agreed. Crawford, Gatewood, Al Sieber and others would lead one hundred-fifty Apache soldiers ahead in schedule to find the main camp, guided by Tsoe. They would surrounded the renegades and attacked only if they were sure to have most of the Chiricahuas.

15th of May, in the morning, Crawford and his men went ahead. At this time, the women butchered the cattle and put the meat in the trees to dry. The scouts saw two Chokonens and seemed to have followed them. They found the northern ranchéria, the one of Naiche. But as often, some of the Apache Soldiers were too impatient and opened fire on the village. The fight lasted several hours, the Chiricahua’s warriors certainly protected the escape of their families. Mostly Chokonens, they were commanded by Kla-esch, the only chief there at this time. The Chiricahuas, stunned, escaped and scattered in every direction they could, abandoning all their properties except the arms.
When the fight ended, Crawford and his men were the masters of the field. Apparently, it was a victory with nine Chiricahuas dead, five children and teenagers’ captives, nearly fifty mounts captured, a lot of plunders taken and thirty wickiups destroyed. But they did not success to hit all the Chiricahuas. Worst most of the casualties were women and children.At his time most of the renegades were scattered in the mountains around them, in places the Blue Soldiers could not find.
If most of the Chiricahuas were safe, three chiefs had suffered. An aunt of Kla-esch was killed by cold blood. In revenge, her son, Espida mortally injured with rocks on the head Charley McComas. Bénito had his teenage’s daughter captured, as Naiche, a son. The only son Naiche had, in 1883, was Paul, about five years old. In an ironic and dramatic destiny, the father and the son had been prisonners of the Blue Soldiers at the same age. If all the Chiricahuas, present at Bugasetka, were stunned, the main impact was upon the women. They were demoralized because they noticed that the Americans were helped by there efficient allies, Apaches. They realized that none Chiricahua stronghold was anymore safe for them and their Children, in United States or in Mexico. They understood that the only place where their children could survive was in the San Carlos reservation, even most of them did not like this reservation.
In the evening, the five prisonners were questioned by Crook, mainly the olders. To his surprise, Bénito’s daughter told him that his father, Pedes-klinje and certainly other chiefs were ready to live in San Carlos, peacefully. One hundred-twenty miles east, Naiche did not know his son was a prisoner of Crook. But he and his fellow men knew their camp was surprised and attacked by Blue Soldiers. Goyakla alerted by his diyin, explained that to his men. Without hesitation they decided to came back quickly as they could.

20th of May, at 9:00 AM, Goyakla and and most of his thirty-six warriors arrived at Bugasetka. Some were a day late with Kaathenay driving the stolen cattle. Goyakla, Naiche and the others took position on a ridge above Crook’s camp. Immediately, it made nervous everybody, the Apache’s soldiers taking their arms ready to fight while the Chokonen women yelling their warriors to not open fire and that Nantan Lupan wanted peace. It was certainly at this time Naiche learnt about his son was captured and, I think, that most of his family lived in Crook’s camp after they surrendered. Kla-esch and Ulzana seemed to be absent looking for the Chokonens still scattered.
The chiefs hesitated but stunned by the Blue Soldiers presence in their stronghold and convinced by their women, they called for a parley with some scouts they knew well. Talking with these scouts Naiche was surely reassured about the care of his family and Paul. After the parley some warriors went down to Crook’s camp. Finally, in the evening, Naiche and others also came to meet the US general they called Nantan Lupan. I think the first meeting Crook had with the Chiricahua‘s chiefs, especially Naiche, would have repercussion two years later.

The approach of Crook about the Chiricahuas had sense but the general made mistakes because he was too confident of his power on the events. He made mistakes before the departure. He thought the other Apache’s tribes would allow the Chiricahuas to come back at San Carlos and to be equal as them. But Crook underestimated the hate the Pinals, Arivapais had towards the Chiricahuas and the Cibecues and the White Mountains were more distrustful about the Chiricahuas than before 1880. Crook did not have all that power Howard had in 1872 on the militaries and the civilian’s officials. Certainly by the pressure of the Arizona politics, the agent of San Carlos did want the return of the Chiricahuas at San Carlos. He wanted deportation or prison for all the members of the little tribe. Unaware or understating these factors, Crook assured the Chiricahuas they would be welcomed at San Carlos and could lived like the other Apaches. But when they began to live again in the reservation, the Chiricahuas would fell very quickly insecure and not welcome at all in San Carlos by mainly everyone. The fact Crook let them keeping their arms avoided new escapes.
Crook made also mistakes during his talkings with the chiefs. First he said he wanted peace but Naiche and most of the chiefs certainly thought “How to believe Crook was sincere when he said he wanted peace while his troops fought and killed first?” The soldiers of Crook destroyed Naiche’s ranchéria, killing several Chokonens and capturing his son. During the talkings this evening and the next morning, Crook was abrupt, not very friendly and gave only two options living in San Carlos or fight until death. To Naiche, remembering the peace talkings between his father and Howard, it was surely depleasant. The results of Crook’s behavior with he Chiricahua’s chiefs were mixed. If all the chiefs respected and feared him as a military’s chief, some were confident and like him, others were suspicious and did not like him. I think Naiche who did not trust all the Blue Soldiers, was part of the second group. A misunderstanding, unknown from Crook, was the fate of the two peace emissaries send by the Chiricahuas a month earlier. If they were alived, they certainly succeed to inform of the peace words, from the Chiricahuas, Nantan Lupan before he began his expedition against the Chiricahuas. It is possible that Naiche and others questioned themselves “Why Nantan Lupan, with all his power, knowing of our peace intentions, attacked us?”

Another factor, clear for everybody, would have repercussion two years later begun 20th of May: the psychological’s war between Crook and Goyakla to have the Power upon all the Chiricahuas. They very soon, after their first meeting, hated eachother. When Crook’s men destroyed Naiche’s camp, Crook broke the leadership Goyakla had on the tribe, and the shaman would never foregive and would try to restore it.
It was not Crook who convinced the chiefs but the women. Most of them were tired to live in Dzil-dotl-izhihi and the attack astonished them. They thought the only place to live safely, at this time, for the Chirichuas was San Carlos. In this tribe, matrilineal, the women voice counted a lot. A woman’s words counted more in the chiefs’ ears, especially to Naiche, than others, the voice from Dos-teh-seh, his mother. By the fact, two years later, that Crook would asked her to interfere on her son, I think she was in favor to return in San Carlos and said it to his son.

To gain some times before taking their decision, the chiefs asked Crook to find their people scattered. They explained they did want to not let some of them in Mexico. I have doubts that two weeks after the attack they did not find everybody because it is known that making camp, the Chiricahuas were use to define a rendez-vous point if the people had to scatter after an attack. So, I think they knew where the remanants of their People were. But some were surely to scarry to come and others did not want to return to San Carlos like Goyakla.
The shaman was certainly used this time, trying to convince the chiefs and headmen to not surrender, but unsuccessfully even with Kaathenay. So, he changed of arguments. I think he lied, announcing he would surrender with the others, but they, first, would need to restore their herd of mounts and other properties by raiding the Mexicans because when they would be in San Carlos, it would be too late to get it. Pedes-klinje, Kla-esch and Naiche, who had lost most of their mounts and equipments during the attack of 15th of May, decided to stay in Mexico with Goyakla to raid. Kaathenay, Zele and most of the Nednhis also stayed.

End of May 1883, Crook ordered to leave and to return to San Carlos. Three hundred of Chiricahuas followed him and his soldiers. Most of the Chihennes went leading by Kas-tziden, Jlin-tay-i-tith and Mangus as one third of the Bedonkohes leading by Bénito. Few Nednhis followed Crook and half of the Chokonens also went with Cathla, but I think the leadership was assumed by Dos-teh-seh. Naithlo-tonz, her son Nasdlada, Das-den-zhoos, his husband Kay-dhazinne and their baby daughter returned with Crook. They took care of the other half-sister of Naiche, of Nah-de-yole and her son Paul. Naiche could also count on his close friend Tah-ni-toe to take care of his family at San Carlos. With Naiche in Mexico, stayed E-clah-eh and Deh-kluh-kizhee. Naiche promised Crook to come to San Carlos after finding the remanants of his Chokonens. I think in his minds, he would be in San Carlos to one or two months.

Crook was confident of the promises made by the chiefs stayed behind because, except Goyakla, they all had close relatives returning to San Carlos. In his schedule, Captain Crawford would do again his duty as the police chief in San Carlos. When they arrived at San Carlos, the Chiricahuas were surprised, certainly in a bad way, to know that their emissaries were in custody like the members of Jlin-tay-i-tith’s gota who left the renegades two monhts earlier. If Crawford immedialtly succeed to release them, these news would be heard by Naiche later and certainly made worst his suspicious towards Crook and his men, even if Crawford was a man of fair and pragmatic decisions.

NEXT : 3.3. "Tall Chief" Crawford.

[coeurrouge]

Hi,

In the facebook page of "Naiche, The Last Chief", I found that, apprently write by Burbank on a book.

"Naiche told me that in one of the fights between the American soldiers and the Apaches he had received a bullet which passed
completely through his chest. He fell and the soldiers cheered, thinking they had killed him, but before they could reach him
he recovered enough so that he could mount his horse and escape."

we know, Naiche was lightly injured in august 1886 during a fight in mexico against Amrican Civilians. I wonder when Naiche had been hit by American Soldiers. Naiche as records told us, fought American soldiers during the 1880's. Only four fights occured between Chiricahuas and US soldiers in which Naiche participated (near Mount Graham and in Dragoon Mountains). 2 during the 1881's escape and 2 during Loco's "rescue" (in Doubtfull Canyon and against Tupper's men).
As i understand on only two Chiricahuas fought on horses, always when they were surprised and attacked (in the Draggon Mountains in october 1881 and at Tupper's fight 28th of April 1882). With the description Naiche did, i think Naiche was seriuosly hit 28th of April while certainly leading warriors on horses reaching to get back the herd stolen by Tupper's soldiers.
It could be explain why the next day, NAiche did not participated of the Aliso's fight.

just a guess

[saskia21]

Coeurrouge thank you for all the hard work you put in to writing the story of Naiche, really informative en lots of new info. Just a few questions , maybe you will know the answer:
- Beneactinay, son-in-law of Kla-esch, do you know which daughter of Kla- esch he was married to?
- "However, Grivalja had a ranch with his wife educating a young Chiricahua girl, captured in October 1881 during the Dragoon Mountains’ battle. They liked this adopted child like she was their daughter.Grivalja was agree to act as an intermediary between Chiricahuas and Americans on future peace talkings. The two warriors recognized also the young Chiricahua’s girl their parents thought she was lost forever." Do you know who the Chiricahua girl was and who her natural parents where? Thanks.