Naiche/Natchez

[naiches2]

Eskinye (30? -Mahshoo-eedish-koh) - This person could have been Chiricahua Jim.
Ahnandia (25) was not single, he was with his wife Dahteste (sister of Ilth-gozey)

[coeurrouge]

Eskinye was not Chiricahua Jim, because his nickname was Bill, so it was why his wife was Nelly BILL.

Ahnandia will married Dahteste some months after their escape, but they were not married in May 1885, I think, like Naiche who would marry Haozinne after march 1886.

[Lynda Sánchez]

Coeurrouge and many others on this site:
Your research is admirable and very knowledgeable. Good information as are others who contribute on this site.

I would like to invite you to view the Zoom presentation:
Apache Warriors tell their side to Eve Ball



And also I have posted elsewhere the fact that a very good history and archaeological survey of the Hembrillo Canyon battle in New Mexico has now been digitized. I have been to Hembrillo Canyon three times and it is a sacred place. There are Mogollon and Apache pictographs; there is the site of Victorio's ranchería and the battle itself has now been surveyed and mapped. There are many images. So, for those of you who are into the military history, it might be of interest.
And here's the link to the Hembrillo Battlefield (Victorio Wars) report on the WSMR museum website:

wsmrmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Hembrillo-Battlefield-Report-HSR-Report-9730.pdf

Lynda Sanchez, author, historian and retired educator.

[coeurrouge]

From there they moved south, stealing horses and killing unfortunate witnesses, they wanted to lure their pursuers and to avoid Fort Bowie’s troops. So, they decided to cross the Gila River near Duncan to reach Ash Peak where they hoped to be joined by Naiche’s relatives that Atelnietze and Chinche were in charge to bring in. 2nd of June, the last of the outbreakers joined Naiche who was certainly happy to be finally united with his family. The Chokonens were also surely relieved to known they had more than one day in advance on Pedes-klinje and his scouts.
At this time, they changed again their direction and went southeast to the western side of the Peloncillos Mountains. They were on their guard about the Fort Bowie’s troops, their nearest threat they thought in this area. They moved carefully, about less than forty miles in two days. Apparently reversing often their direction to lose their potentials soldiers pursuers. Using their luck that pickets from Fort Bowie in Doubtful Canyon had returned to the Fort, the morning 5th of June, they changed again their direction in schedule to cross the San Simon Valley during the night and to be, the next morning, in their old protecting homeland in the Chiricahua Mountains.

But they did not expect a citizens’ militia from Duncan had followed their trail and attacked them in the canyon. A running fight took place. There were no casualties each side, but the Chokonens had to abandon thirty to forty mounts and Cah-gah-ashsy lost her cradle with his baby in the canyon. After the fight she returned to find him but she failed to. So, with his older son, she decided to come back to San Carlos, letting Chinche alone. The other Chokonens crossed the San Simon Valley and reached Wood Canyon, northeast of the Chiricahua Mountains, in the morning 6th of June, according to the plan. By the previous fight and Fort Bowie north of them, they left some warriors at rearguard to prevent an attack from a militia or Fort Bowie, maybe Chinche, Tah-ni-toe and Zhonne.
But because of the militia’s attack they needed new mounts to go fast and cross quickly the Sulphur Springs Valley. So, 6th of June they raided a ranch. They rested all the day and the night, butchering cattle to prepare the next steps to Mexico. The day after they quitted the Chiricahua Mountains by the western side between Piñery Canyon and Bonita Canyon and went through Sulphur Springs to the Dragoon Mountains. There, Kla-esch and Naiche decided to split in half to disturb again the soldiers.

7th of June Naiche headed his group, south in direction of the Mule Mountains where they wanted to wait the rear guard. With Naiche were, I think, his family, Atelnietze, Sta-losh, Nah-dozinne, La-zi-yah and their family and the lone girl Anosaein. At the same time, Kla-esch led the other Chokonens southeast to reach Guadalupe Canyon where he thought to cross the border. At the end of the day, they certainly reached the Mules Mountains and they made camp up of Dixie Canyon, in the eastern side. Chinche, Tah-ni-toe and Zhonne certainly joined them.
Did Naiche hesitate to go back in Mexico or did he decide some days of rest, needed by his followers, I do not know, but 9th of June his group was still camping up of Dixie Canyon. Suddenly, the warriors saw two white men tracking their trail. They would surely spot the camp and give the alarm to the US Army. Naiche acted quickly with his warriors and they attempted to kill the two white men before they could escape from the canyon. Unfortunatly they could kill only one man. Knowing the other would guid a lot of enemies, Naiche ordered to move south. The crossed the border by the San José Mountains in Sonora. Soldiers from Huachuca, reinforced by a militia from tombstone pursued Naiche and his group during three days and fifty miles below the border in the Mountains. Naiche decided to scatter his group into several smaller and fixed as a rendez-vous along the Fronteras River. The White trackers abandoned because they were exhausted, they were lacking of food and maybe they feared a deadly ambush.

Finally, 14th of June Naiche joined Kla-esch and the other Chokonens in the Teras Mountains about thirty miles northwest of Oputo. Since they were in Sonora, the Chiricahuas did not see much Mexican troops. In 1885, the Sonora troops were very occupied to fight a strong Yaqui’s revolt. In their fear, the Sonoran authorities thought the Chiricahuas, under Naiche and the others leaders, escaped San Carlos to help the Yaquis in their revolt against the Mexicans. It was a non-sense because if the Chiricahuas and the Yaquis were not enemies from a long time, they never fought with eachother.
During several days, the Chokonens stayed there, everybody needing rest. But they also needed supplies, fresh mounts and food. Only raids could bring these. I think Naiche tried to convince Kla-esch to put aside his animosity against Goyakla and to join him and the others at Bugasetka. For few times they needed to unit with all the warriors to do some big raids which would allow them to get supplies for several weeks. If they did not unit, they would have to raid more often because Naiche and Kla-esch had not enough warriors to strike bigger target. But more often raids would mean more possibility than enemies followed their trails.
Apparently, Kla-esch was still too bitter against Goyakla to follow Naiche. So maybe 18th of June, after some days together, the Chokonens split again in half, Naiche leading his group to Bugasetka to join all the other outbreakers with Goyakla, Kas-tziden, Mangas and Nat-cul-baye. It seemed that Tas-de-the joined Naiche’s group. It was not by pleasure that Naiche went in the heart of the Sierra Madre to join Goyakla but by necessity of supplies and news. Naiche did not forget the trickery of the Shaman.

Like Kla-esch, Naiche understood that Nantan Lupan had ordered his troops to go in Mexico guided by Apache scouts among them Chiricahuas. So, the Sierra Madre was no more a safe place for their women and children. It was why the two Chokonen’s chiefs did not want to live too long in the Sierra Madre and rather, they scheduled to live in the mountains west of the Sierra Madre, well known by the Chokonens since old times, hoping to avoid the US Apache scouts. But Naiche and Kla-esch did not anticipated the motivation of Pedes-klinje, the best friend of Naiche.
General Crook to have Chiricahua scouts, informed them that the renegades did not only break the peace but also, they could annihilate his efforts to release the Chiricahuas captives, held in Chihuahua City, unless Pedes-klinje helped Nantan Lupan to fight the outbreakers. Missing his wife Ish-shosen, his daughter Na-bo-ka and his son Bay-dis-doey, Pedes-klinje, furious upon the outbreakers, enlisted and encouraged others to do the same. Understanding the plan of the Chokonens, Pedes-klinje led Captain Crawford’s troops right to Kla-esch and Naiche.

Between 21st and 23rd of June, Naiche united with his uncle, Mangas, and Goyakla. They were certainly glad to see that everybody was safe. But the reunion was not so happy than in 1881, when Kas-tziden and his Chihennes welcome, Goyakla’s followers, the Nednhis and the Chokonens after heir escape from San Carlos. Naiche learnt that during their fly in New Mexico Goyakla tried to find a refuge in the Mescalero reservation without success. His emissaries were captured. They were two of his wives, Shtsha-he and She-gah, Naiche’s “sister”. When Naiche arrived at Bugasetka, Mangas and Goyakla were there for a week. They agreed they needed to raid.
As for ever, their target was the favorite of Goyakla, Sonora. The Chiricahuas feared the Tarahumas listed in Chihuahua’s troops and Sonora’s troops not very numerous near the Sierra Madre, they decided to strike south of Arispe. But they had to bring all their family, fearing an attack by Apache scouts. They raided and stole stock the first week of July 1885 but one hundred of people, most of them women and children, was not easy to hide during a raid. Quickly they were pursued and they had to split. Naiche decided to move north reaching to join Kla-esch again. The Mexicans did not follow his group. About 20th of July, he joined Kla-esch in the mountains west of Bacoachi.

Here, Naiche Nantan of the Chokonens, heard a very sad story happened to Kla-esch and his group. 23rd of June, after a rainy and misty morning hiding enemy’s approach, Kla-esch’s camp was attaked by Apache scouts. The sentry, Jolsanie, the dikohe son of Ulzana was killed as the mother-in-law of Kla-esch. Several people were injured, Cathla who succeeded to escape, his wife unknown and at least Nah-zis-eh, the youngest wife of Ulzana. I think eighteen, not fifteen, women and children were captured. Kla-esh, Ulzana, his son Pel-coy, Cathla, his daughter Nelly Gray, Eskinye, Shoie, Moh-tsos, Itsah-dee-tsa, Tsilnothos, his wife Oh-kis-say, the teenage boys Dodostenay, Bictonsewah, Biete and the young orphan Ezhunna escaped the attack safely. The day after, Nas-ish-lah was released to get a surrender message to Kla-esch. She informed the two brothers that it was Pedes-klinje who found the camp and led the attack done only by Apache scouts.
Kla-esch did not think of surrender but revenge on Pedes-klinje and the other scouts. They would know months later that an old woman badly injured, certainly Cathla’s wife, was let at Moctezuma and disappeared from records, the youngest son of Ulzana died accidently during the travel and a woman named Marcia Ju, maybe wife of Shoie died in Fort Bowie . The prisonners arrived at Fort Bowie, 2nd of July 1885. Osceola, son of Kla-esch, was taken to San Carlos by an Arivapai scout married to a sister of Kla-esch. The prisonners in Fort Bowie were Be-che, her daughters Baetan-hichan and Mabel; Ilth-gozey, her sons Hardcase and Tom; Nah-is-eh and his son Adam; Nelly Bill, her son Bezine and her daughter Bessie Beziyah; Nah-tziz-ohn; Huana and her daughter Kuka and the teenage girl Tsalth-zay-nah-zizzy.

Naiche found eight warriors disheartened but mostly furious and ready to kill every enemy on their trail. Well armed, well led and more free to move quickly without their women and children, Kla-esch and his group wanted to rescue their relatives but also to retaliate their deads as Apache custom asked to.

NEXT 4.3 Apache Retaliations

[coeurrouge]

4.3. Apache Retaliations.

The summer of 1885, in the Sierra Madre, was hot and very rainy, some thought because of Goyakla’s diyin. This moisty heat in this very rough country made very difficult purchase of the Chiricahuas outbreakers by the US soldiers even for the Chiricahua’s scouts. This summer would have an impact on men such like Pedes-klinje and Lieutenant Davis.
After the hot and useless pursuit of the outbreakers in US territory during May, General Crook prepared and launched troops in campaign in Mexico. He recalled “Tall Chief” Crawford from Texas to lead one of the two columns Crook would launch in the heart of the Sierra Madre. Early in June Captain Crawford penetrated with his troops, about fifty cavalry men, two pack trains of mules and ninety-two Apache’s soldiers among them twenty-two Chiricahuas, led by Pedes-klinje. Crawford was second by Captain Kendall, Lieutenant Elliot for the white soldiers, Lieutenant Davis and Al Sieber for the Apache’s soldiers.

Crook had about one thousand men patrolling or guarding waterholes north of the border, hoping to discourage the outbreakers to come back in Arizona. The other column entered Sonora in early of July. This column was commanded by Captain Wirt Davis, seconded by Lieutenants Walsh, Erwing and Day. They led about forty cavalry men, two pack trains and one hundred and two Apache’s soldiers, mostly Cibecues and White Mountains, but also sixteen Chiricahuas. Apparently, Sam Bowman was present too. Bylas, the Apache White Mountain, whose uncle was killed in 1880 by Bi-duye in retaliation, was also member of this column as sergeant.
Bylas like most of the Apaches, obeyed to the custom of retaliation. When a relative or a close friend of a warrior was killed by a man, this warrior had to retaliate by killing the murderer or someones of his family. Bylas did not forget the killing of his uncle and the killing of the Mestas’s family by Goyakla’s followers, in April 1882. His life was only spared because of the intervention of Naiche . This Apache’s custom of retaliation was resumed with sadness by Betzinez “an Apache never forget and never forgive.” This time the officers fully confident of their scouts, let them to go ahead and to act by theirself if necessary, with orders to spare women, children and men who surrendered. While Crawford’s column purchased northwest of the Sierra Madre, Davis’s column penetrated in the heart of the old Nednhi’s territory.

But it was Crawford’s men who stroke first attacking Kla-esch’s group. Only the Apache’s soldiers fought the outbreakers, the white soldiers arrived after on the battlefield. Pedes-klinje led the track and the attack. It was not the first time that Chiricahuas killed another kinfolk, but before it was only because of tribal affair. Some Chiricahuas’ warriors had already weared the blue coat of a US soldier, but it was the first time that a Chiricahua led an attack to kill another Chiricahua for the US Army.
Pedes-klinje, by doing that, created another schism in the Chiricahua’s tribe and put Kla-esch and Ulzana in the situation to respect the Apache custom of retaliation. After the attack, the only goals of the two brothers were to free their relatives alived and to avenge their dead relatives by killing Pedes-klinje and the other Apache’s scouts who attacked them.

The relative failure of the previous raid with Goyakla and Mangas’ followers seemed to have convince Naiche to unite again with Kla-esch and to raid only with all the Chokonens. His acts showed Naiche raided only for supplies and stock for his people. Revenge or killing was not his purpose even he was ready to kill to protect his women and children. Kla-esch and his followers were not in the same mind, they wanted to draw blood. But Kla-esch needed Naiche’s warriors to also get mounts and ammunitions. The two chiefs seemed to make a kind of deal, they would unite to raid and to rest and when Kla-esch would stay in the warpath, he would act away from Naiche’s camp.
I think their raids were to get supplies, stock but also mounts, guns and ammunitions in schedule to prepare a foray in Fort Apache. Kla-esch wanted to attempt the release of his group’s relatives. The plan was also to avoid “Tall Chief” and the other blue soldiers operating in Dzil-dotl-izhihi, by raiding only west or north of these mountains. 20th and 21st of July, by three attacks, five civilians slained, ambushed and drove back Mexican’s soldiers with two killed by them, the Chokonens had what they wanted, supplies, cattle and horses enough to hide quietly for ten days before needing another raid. But Kla-esch wanted to test if the road Pedes-klinje took during his 1883’s raid to enter in USA, was less guard by Nantan Lupan’s soldiers.
So, Naiche and Kla-esch decided to divide and to join together in the Azul Mountains for antoher raid, in ten days. At this time only the warriors of Kla-esch’s group follow him, the women and the children of their group stayed with Naiche. Naiche led the other Chokonens, thirty-three in all, to the Pinito Mountains twenty-five miles southeast of Nogales in order to butch the cattle and to restore themselves after two months of runs without enough rest. I think after less than one week there, Naiche ordered to move discretly to make camp in the Azul Mountains, twenty miles southeast from their Pinito’s camp. There they waited for Kla-esch and his warriors.

1st or 2nd of August, Kla-esch joined Naiche ready to launch another raid to get the supplies and food the people needed. They certainly understood that Sonoran’s soldiers in the vicinity were not a great threat to them and that Apache’s soldiers of “Tall Chief” were looking for them in Dzil-dotl-izhihi, not west of el Rio Sonora. The two chiefs decided to make a decisive raid away from their camp to not risk the life of the women and children if they were trailed after the raid.
Their next target would be the very little town of Cumpas, seventy miles southeast from their Azul’s camp. I think they let their women and children in the Azul camp under the guard of older warriors like Cathla, Nah-dozinne and Sta-losh or La-zi-yah with the youngest teenage boys Pel-coy, Biete and Satsitnitsu. Naiche and Kla-esch moved with all the other warriors and teenage boys, during the day 2nd of August, to Cumpas. Their raid on Cumpas, 3rd of August, was fully a success for them. They returned without casualties and enough supplies for the ten days followed, to their camp in the Azul Mountains.

During their quiet week in this camp, Goyakla and Mangas faced dramatic events that the Chokonens would heard only two months later. Bylas had his revenge upon Goyakla and his followers and upon Bi-duye’s Chihennes. 7th of August, Captain Davis’ Apache soldiers, under Lieutenant Day, surprised and attacked Goyakla and Kas-tziden ranchéria at Bugatseka. Bylas led partly the Apache’s soldiers. It seemed that, like sometimes in Goyakla leadership history, the Shaman and Kas-tziden did not put sentries because the Apache’s soldiers succeeded to approach the outbreakers’ camp during the morning and the early afternoon without be spotted by Chiricahuas. Only the bray of a mule saved most of the outbreakers.
Two women and a teenage boy were killed. The dead women were maybe a widow of Tandinbilnojui, Kildigai’s wife or Nachol’s wife and the teenage boy killed by a random bullet right in the head was certainly a son of Nat-cul-baye. Several women were injured and seventeen women and children had been captured. All Goyakla’s family was among them.
The captured were Chee-hash-kish, Taz-ay-slath, her sons Fenton and the two years old, the children of She-gah, her five’s years old daughter and her son nicknamed Little Robe, Dohn-say and her daugther Nina, Ha-dun-key, Loozah; Tascenola, Dolan and her daughter Bessie; Tze-gu-jun, Tonse, Counteza and her son. The daughter of She-gah was sent weeks after to her mother in Fort Apache and the two youngest sons of Goyakla would die of dysentery in Fort Bowie. Goyakla was in the same position than Kla-esch living without his family except his son Naclede.
Naiche was the only chief of the outbreakers to not have lost members of his family and to not have been surprisingly attacked by enemies. It showed that Naiche had learnt of the previous period of life in Mexico and that he was more cautious than the other chiefs. I think in the attack of Bugatseka, Goyakla lost his last credit as a leader outside his extended family. While they were in their camp in the Sierra Azul, Naiche and Kla-esch prepared their next step and raid. I think they planned to launch several raids north of their position, while some older warriors would go south with most of the women and children. After getting enough supplies, Naiche and the warriors of his group would return beside the women. Kla-esch would continue north to find a way to Fort Apache.

Between 14th and 18th of August, Naiche, Kla-esch and their warriors made three attacks, marching north since the Sierra Azul. They killed or wounded about ten Mexicans, sparing no one by sex or age. They got what they wanted, supplies, food, mounts, guns and ammunition. Their raids a success, Naiche and his group of warriors returned southwest beside their families. Certainly 20th or 21st of August, Naiche and his warriors joined the camp in the Sierra de la Huerta, southwest of Moctezuma. Again, they stayed quiet ten days, eating all the food they had by raiding.
About 2nd of September, Kla-esch regrouped with Naiche. Kla-esch surely explained that there was not one column of blue soldiers but two chasing them in Dzil-dotl-izhihi. They had to stay away west of the sacred mountains of the Nednhis. Kla-esch, resoluted to release and to avenge his relatives, needed Naiche’s help to distract the Blue Soldiers while he and Ulzana led their men to Fort Apache. All the outbreakers thought their families caught by Nantan Lupan’s soldiers had been sent back in the Chiricahua’s camp near Fort Apache.

I think Naiche and Kla-esch made a plan. They would move north in schedule to reach la Sierra de Teras just below the US border with all the people. First, they went to the mountains between Baviacora and Ures. Their women and children certainly moving north across the mountains, the warriors attacked in the western valley two ranches fifty miles northwest of their previous camp, 4th of September. Some days later, always moving north, in the eastern valley along the Rio Sonora, they stole stock. Because they were nearer from Dzil-dolt-izhihi, fearing Blue Soldiers’ encounter, Naiche and Kla-esch decided to divide again their Chokonens.
I think Naiche led all the women and children and most of the warriors, discretly as possible to the Sierra de Teras, about eighty miles northeast of Arispe. These mountains were the last before the Guadalupe Canyon, the favorite enter of the Chokonens in USA. To attrack away enemy’s forces, Kla-esch would launch a raid near Cumpas forty miles southeast of Arispe. About 16th of September, Naiche certainly reached la Sierra de Teras, waiting for Kla-esch and his diversion’s group.

But Kla-esch did not arrive alone, 21st of September. Captain Davis and his Apache’s soldiers followed Kla-esch’s trail. They were spotted by the Chokonens. Naiche and Kla-esch decided to make a stand and built an ambush. They needed to give time to their women and children to put distance between them and the soldiers. The chiefs ordered to let some mounts behind them, certainly to pretend a panic retreat and to invite the Apache’s soldiers to get valuable loot of the outbreakers, while the warriors were put in position above and waited to fire onto the enemies.
22nd of September, late in the afternoon, the ambush worked. While the advance scouts stopped to secure the abandoned horses, like most of the Chiricahua’s ambushed led by his father, Naiche certainly fired the first shot, giving signal to the other warriors to shoot. After several hours of gunshots, one Apache soldier killed and another wounded, a relative of Kla-esch, the fight stopped. In favor of this ambush and the darkness of the night following, Naiche and Kla-esch had what they wanted. They had prevented four times outnumbered enemies to advance to their people.
Kla-esch made some loudly talks during the night, to provocate and to announce they were still there. A Chiricahua’s scout, Nahn-tee-nesn, a relative to Kla-esch responded they wanted to talk hoping to stop the war. Kla-esch, with the blessing or the inducement of Naiche, seized the opportunity and proposed a meeting during the night. The two chiefs waited to nothing , surely with great disappointment for Naiche. In his mind, it maybe more obvious that offers of peace talking by Nantan Lupan’s men had to be taken caustiously.

Finally, thinking they had given enough time to their people, Naiche ordered to his warriors to break out and to left the ambush. After some days of resting and slow moving, avoiding US soldiers patrolling Guadalupe Canyon, undetected, the Chokonens crossed the border during the night between 27th and 28th of September. They splitted again. Kla-esch and Ulzana led north, along the Peloncillos Mountains, warriors who had left the reservation without their family or warriors who, like the brothers, had their family members captured or killed by Pedes-klinje and other Apache’s soldiers. They began their foray to Fort Apache. With the two brothers were, by my guess, Cathla, Eskinye, Moh-tsos, Chinche, Shoie, Tah-ni-toe, Itsah-dee-tsa, Zhonne and the dikohes Dodostenay and Bictonsewah.
I think after secured for some days the women and children in the mountains near Mud Springs, southwest of the Chiricahua’s Mountains, Naiche would raid in the Sulphur Springs Valley with two goals in mind, getting enough mounts to allow a quick return to Mexico for all the people he had in charge and diverting the soldiers from Kla-esch and his warriors. After he was quite sure the women and children were relatively secured near Mud Springs, Naiche moved north longing the western side of the Chiricahua’s Mountains, 30th of September.
Naiche had very few warriors to guard the people and in the same time to get enough mounts. I think he let the saisoned warriors Nah-dozinne and Stalosh with the dikohes Pel-coy and Biete to take care of the women and children, the time to raid, a day or two. Accompagnying Naiche were surely Atelnietze, his dikohe’s son Satsitnitsu, La-zi-yah and Tsilnothos. Even there was a cow-boy and a dog to guard the corral, the raiders succeeded to stole fifty horses and mules, at 3 AM, 1st of October. A white man hearing noise in the corral, quitted his cabin to watch what was happening. He faced a very tall Apache, on a horse, threatening him with a rifle. Remaining quiet, the white man was spared by the tall Apache when the raiders had finished. The tall Apache was certainly Naiche because Atlenietze who was the only outbreaker taller as Naiche did not show mercy towards enemies.
I think, Naiche ordered his loyal “brother”, maybe with Tsilnothos to make diversion trail to the Dragoons mountains, while with La-zi-yah and Satsitnitsu, Naiche brought the mounts to Mud Springs. Atelnietze and his companion killed a rancher in the Dragoons and returned beside their nantan. The next day Naiche and his warriors were surprised to see Kla-esch and his warriors. Kla-esch avorted the risky foray because there was too much blue soldiers, Whites or Apaches, in Arizona between the border and Fort Apache. What they did not know was their relatives were not at Fort Apache but, some forty miles north of them, at Fort Bowie.

The Chokonens to avoid patrols along the border went east, in New Mexico and crossed at Alamo Hueco to enter in Mexico. Understanding the two columns of blue soldiers had returned to USA to rest and to get new supplies, they certainly reached their camp location in the Carcay Mountains 7th or 8th of October, north of Dzil-dolt-izhihi, all alived and safe. 10th or 11th of October 1885, Goyakla, Kas-tziden and their followers joined the Chokonens. The feelings during the reunion were certainly mixed and the necessity to unite prevailed to arguments and revenge between Kla-esch and Goyakla. Naiche acted perhaps as a mediator or simply as the Nantan on all the outbreakers there, Kla-esch and Goyakla included.

[juan]

Just a question most of your links and pictures are not viewble

[coeurrouge]

Naiche acted perhaps as a mediator or simply as the Nantan on all the outbreakers there, Kla-esch and Goyakla included. I think at this time, even Kla-esch and Goyakla kept some influence, Naiche took control of the outbreakers living with these three leaders. Their movements, the location of their camps, the decrease of their raids after their reunification and the fact Santiago McKinn reported that all the outbreakers called Naiche “Nantan”, convince me.

Kas-tziden and Goyakla taught to the Chokonens about what happened to their followers since May 1885. They explained the attack of their camp in August by Apache’s scouts and that, since this event, Mangas quitted them and they never met him again. With the uncle of Naiche were his family, Eskilnetze, Pet-zahn, Nachol, Delzhinne and their family with two very young warriors Goso and Daklegon, twenty people in all. Goyakla also demonstrated that with a handful of warriors and determination, through New Mexico, he succeeded to free near Fort Apache his two wives Shtsha-he, She-gah and his little daughter. More he captured a Mescalero woman, married her and he captured an eleven years old’s white boy named Santiago McKinn.
This news enhanced Kla-esch and Ulzana’s determination to attempt a release of their families. Goyakla warmed them that they were not near Fort Apache but quite sure near the San Carlos’ agency. Naiche and the other chiefs understood that Nantan Lupan’s troops, Apaches or Whites, seemed to have stopped to look for them for since one week and came back to their forts. Surely, like others, Naiche thought the US Army stopped their actions in Mexico during the winter. For Kla-esch it was the right time to act. 

What the outbreakers could not know was the impact of their raids, especially the last done by Goyakla. Crook was under heavy pressures. The citizens of the southwest, because most of the victims were civilians, blamed him for the outbreak and that his troops were enable to stop the killings done by the Apache’s renegades. Worst, his troops did not kill or capture a single warrior. His old opponent in the Army since the Civil War, General Miles, was named in 1885 commander of the department of Missouri which the military district of New-Mexico depended. Miles who was appreciated by Sheridan, the head commander, criticized Crooks’ strategy to employ Apache’s soldiers. Crook responded by writing that Miles not helped him enough and asked to have the soldiers of New Mexico under his direct orders. Crook would obtain this favor which offensed Miles ready to take revenge. He also obtained that the San Carlos reservation would been administrated only by the Army. Crook named Captain Pierce as agent of the reservation.
Another pressure was from the politics and Sheridan from Washington. They had enough of the Chiricahuas and thought to find a definitive and efficient decision from their point of their cynic view: Exile in the East. If Sheridan did not share, too, the strategy of Crook about the Apache’s scouts he supported Crook but he wanted significant results. 30th of September 1885, he promulged an order which would be approuved by the new President Cleveland. The terms were clear and definitive:

"I recommend that General Crook be authorized to secure, if possible, the surrender of those now at large upon the terms of their being regarded as prisoners of war, to be transported to some distant point, as were the criminal Cheyennes, Kiowas and Comanches, from the Indian Territory to Fort Marion, Florida, in 1875. They should never be allowed to return to Arizona or New Mexico."

In November, when Sheridan visited Crook at Fort Bowie, he explained that orders and acts were in preparation to exile all the Chiricahuas to the East. Crook protested to this unfair reflexion upon the Chiricahuas who stayed at Fort Apache and fought against the renegades. This last order was temporized. The last pressures Crook got was the resignation of Lieutenant Davis, exhausted by the last campaign of five months and Pedes-klinje, his loyal Chiricahua’s scout, did not reenlist.
Because of all these pressures, Crook overreacted. First, he ordered to move, near the San Carlos’agency, all the Chiricahuas relatives to the outbreakers and living near Fort Apache. To motivate more his Apache’scouts among the White Mountains and Cibecue’s, he blamed and accused his old allies to not do all they could against the renegades, forgetting the renegades had stolen some of their horses and that some scouts had been killed during the campaign. Crook also put a reward of 100$ for each head of a dead warrior, killed by a scout. These two orders would make worse the war and the relationship between the Chiricahua and the White Mountain’s Apache. These pressures also pushed Crook to lose his capacity to manage with the Chiricahuas. In October Crook prepared a winter’s campaign with two columns in Mexico. These columns would be led again by Captains Crawford and Wirt Davis.

But in mid-october, it was the outbreakers who initiated actions. Determinated, Kla-esch and Ulzana planed the rescue of their relatives and retaliation towards Pedes-klinje and the White Mountains. Eigtheen seasoned and young warriors followed them. All had their family captured or stayed in San Carlos. Ulzana was in charge of the rescue and retaliation’s group. This groupe was composed of twelve warriors, who were I guess: Ulzana, Atelnietze, Nezulkide, Ischi, Chinche, Eskinye, Tah-ni-toe, Moh-tsos, Tsinah, Seeltoe, Azariquelch and Kanseah. The second group led by Kla-esch had to do diversion. With Kla-esch were, I think, Cathla, Shoie, Itsah-dee-tsa, Ahnandia or Tsilnolthos, Dah-ke-yah, Hunlonah and Len-sey.
While the two brothers went northeast with their warriors, Naiche led West the women and children protected by twenty-three warriors and teenage boys. Naiche chose again Sonora to camp because he feared the Tarahumas, often volunteers in Chihuahuan’s army, and was uneasy staying too long in Chihuahua’s state. No very sure at this time that Nantan Lupan’s troops were no more in the Sierra Madre, and waiting for Kla-esch’s group, Naiche made camp in the Sierra del Tigre just north of Dzil-dolt-izhihi.

It is why I do not think that it was Naiche and Goyakla’s warriors who raided near the Dolores mines, between mid-october and 27th October. I think Mangas and his warriors did. Hidden in Guaynopa, just north of the Dolores’ mines, avoiding as possible raids they could not get all they needed for the winter just by hunting and gathering, like ammunitions, mounts and clothes. So, they certainly raided in the Yepomera’s area, in Chihuahua south of Guaynopa, in schedule to get their needs there or to trade some loots at Casas Grandes after. Separated from the other outbreakers, they would face bad fate.

In the beginning of November, Naiche and Goyakla launched raids in the valleys, east and west, below of their camp. The outbreakers needed too supplies for the winter coming. Naiche, Goyakla, Kas-tziden and Nat-cul-baye thought about their next moves. They had to get more supplies and mounts, Kla-esch was certainly in mission to get ammunitions for their American guns and rifles. The fact they selected for their winter camp nor Bugatseka neither Guyanopa but el Cerro Espinazo del Diablo, one hundred and thirty miles south of the border and about thirty miles north of Sahuaripa proved, for me, that Naiche was in command. Goyakla and the Nednhis would have chosen a location in the heart of Dzil-dolt-izhihi.
Fearing their recent raids, around their camp in the Sierra El Tigre, could reveal their presence Naiche and the others leaders decided they could not wait more time Kla-esch and left. I think they separated in two groups. At this time, they definitively believed that Blue Soldiers, especially Apache scouts, abandoned to pursue them in Mexico for the winter. One group led by Goyakla, with all the women and children, moved south across the western Sierra Madre, to reach the location of the winter camp. With Goyakla, I think were older warriors like Kas-tziden, Nat-cul-baye, Beshe, Sta-losh and Nah-bay. They were helped by teenage boys certainly Pel-coy, Biete, Chachu and Garditha. While their women and children could go relatively safely to the winter camp, Naiche and the other warriors led raids more west, moving south along the Rio Sonora.
About 24th of November, Naiche launched raids between Tepache and Sahuaripa killing at least five people. They joined their women and children at el Cerro Espinazo del Diablo. Feeling secure because they had not seen blue soldiers in Mexico since October and Sonora forces did not patrol in this mountain, the outbreakers did not put sentries to guard their camp. But this mountain was a sentry by itself. Located on the heights, the camp was protected, below, by the rolling rocks and their herd. Even a Chiricahua with his mocassiins could not be noiseless during his approach to the camp because of the rolling rocks and Naiche knew it.

In the same days of the raids, Kla-esch and his group were at Casas Grandes trading their loot. The first column of Crook for the winter campaign, led by Wirt Davis, entered Chihuahua with one hundred Apache scouts, all Tontos, Arivapais and Pinals. 24th of November, attracting by the 100$ reward promised by Crook for each head of a renegade warrior, a Cibecue living with the White Mountain killed and beheaded Azariquelch while he was the sentry near Turkey Creek. Enraged, his fellow men under Ulzana retaliated and slaughtered twenty-one White Mountain Apaches, men, women and children, near Fort Apache. This massacre got worse the relationship between this tribe and the Chiricahuas.
The second column of Crook crossed the border 11th of December, in Sonora. Commanding by Captain Crawford, it was composed mainly of one hundred Apache scouts, White Mountain, Cibecue and Chiricahuas. The Chiricahuas were led by Noche, this time. When they penetrated in Mexico each scout knew about the killing near Fort Apache done by Ulzana and his warriors. Quickly they found the trail of Kla-esch and his group, in the Sierra de Teras and followed it. Kla-esch had, at least, one week of advance and went south to unit with Naiche and Goyakla. I think he joined them and after, about mid-december 1885, with or without Naiche, he stole some forty mounts south of Nacori Chico.

At Christmas, the column of Captain Wirt Davis chased ghosts in Chihuahua, and Davis got very sick. Captain Crawford and his troops, following the trail of Kla-esch, went closer to Naiche and his people. A third force looking for Apache’s scalps for rewards, Mexican volunteers from Chihuahua, most of them Tarahumas and led by Corredor, came also towards the Chiricahuas’ ranchéria.

NEXT : 4.4.Another lie at Los Embudos.

[saskia21]

Aug 5, 2021 1:40:11 GMT -5 naiches2 said:

Hi coeurrouge!

Names of Naiche's relatives are Zhan-te - sister, Jas-tassy – sister, “married to Tonto Indian”, Tah-do-tonn - nephew, Ah-tsi-tah and her son.

From United States Congressional serial set 4155 v81:

<button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button>

Hi naiches2 ,

Do you happen to have de rest of the list. Or if not where would I be able to find it? it is de list posted on this thread on page 21.
I have a theory about one of  Geronimo's relatives that was also on the other list but obscured, i though maybe if I can find it on this version I would be able to prove or this proof my theory.
If you do have it could you either post it or private message me? Thanks!

[naiches2]

May 5, 2022 5:38:19 GMT -5 saskia21 said:

Aug 5, 2021 1:40:11 GMT -5 naiches2 said:

Hi coeurrouge!

Names of Naiche's relatives are Zhan-te - sister, Jas-tassy – sister, “married to Tonto Indian”, Tah-do-tonn - nephew, Ah-tsi-tah and her son.

From United States Congressional serial set 4155 v81:

<button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button>

Hi naiches2 ,

Do you happen to have de rest of the list. Or if not where would I be able to find it? it is de list posted on this thread on page 21.
I have a theory about one of  Geronimo's relatives that was also on the other list but obscured, i though maybe if I can find it on this version I would be able to prove or this proof my theory.
If you do have it could you either post it or private message me? Thanks!

You can find it at Hathitrust.org.
link
babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b639096&view=1up&seq=848&skin=2021&q1=apache

[coeurrouge]

4.4.Another lie at Los Embudos.

10th of January of 1886, at sunrise, rolling rocks below the herd put on alert some donkeys who began to bray. Three warriors, waken up by the brays went outside their wickiup to see what happened. They had not the time to see something because an enemy shot gunfire to them. Immediately all the outbreakers stood up, ready to leave the camp. Naiche and the other leaders realized that almost one hundred of Apache blue soldiers attempted to surround the camp. While Goyakla and certainly Kas-tziden led the escape of the women and children, Naiche surely commanded the warriors fighting back to protect the escape of their family.
The fight lasted some hours and if the outbreakers lost their herd, most of their food and their belongings, fortunately there was no casualty and they still had their guns. But for Naiche it was certainly the confirmation than the US Army would not let them quiet even in winter. And with the efficiency of the Chiricahuas blue soldiers, he heard and surely, he recognized during the fight, it would be a matter of time before a tragic and deadly attack by them would occured. Weary but relieved, Naiche carefully opened talkings with his Chiricahua’s pursuers. I think they informed Naiche that “Tall Chief” Crawford was their principal officer who was ready to speak with the outbreakers. He said to the scouts that he would come to talk with “Tall Chief” about peace and surrender’s terms.

When his people in safety, Naiche had certainly a council with Kla-esch, Goyakla, Nat-cul-baye and Kas-tziden. They had two possibilities, put distance with their attackers but they needed to raid quickly to feed their people and get new mounts to be more mobile. It would be a risky way because “Tall Chief” and his Apache’ scouts, especially the Chiricahuas led by Noche, could successfully follow them. The second option was to talk about a surrender and their return on the reservation with Crawford, who they knew. But Crawford was a hard negociator with high principles and Naiche had no information what orders had the captain.
I think Goyakla and Nat-cul-baye were for the first option while the two Chokonen Chiefs, who had not chosen to flee the reservation, wanted to talk. And because they were more influancials than Goyakla and Nat-culbaye, Naiche and Kla-esch, who was wary about the fate of Ulzana and his warriors, obtained that talkings was the chosen option by the outbreakers. Naiche had the support of most of them because they were tired to move and to fear an attack which could happen everywhere.
During the afternoon, Naiche send one or two emissaries to Crawford. One said to the officer that Naiche wanted to talk about their possible return in the reservation. The young Chokonen chief proposed a plateau one mile of the camp as a place to meet the next day. Captain Crawford answered he accepted the meeting, 11th of January, and gave some foods to show his good spirit.

Again, when day light appeared, 11th of January, Naiche heard gunfires. This time it was not against his people but on the Apache’s blue soldiers. After fifteen minutes, the gunfires stopped and the Chiricahuas could see what happened. Mexican’s soldiers had shot on the US Army soldiers pretending they thought the Apache’s scouts were the Chiricahua’s renegades. Naiche and his fellows watched the scene with binoculars. They noted that most of the Mexicans were Tarahumas, their hatred enemies who had made much damage to the Chirichuas at Tres Castillos and El Cascada de Satachi. They saw and heard the Apache’s scouts ready to fight again.
Then, the US Army officers tried to calm everybody and to avoid another fight. “Tall Chief” Crawford stood up on a rock and to demonstrate their peaceful intentions, he shook the white clothe he held in his hand and yelled to not shoot. But he had no time to repeat, a Mexican sniper shot him in the forehead. The fight occurred again but with more violence. In few minutes the Mexicans were defeated with ten dead and wounded. All their officers died this day.
But for Naiche and the other Chiricahuas, the presence of these Tarahumas prevented any talkings in this aera with “Tall Chief”. Worst the only officer they knew and relatively trusted seemed dead. Despite the events, Naiche still wanted to discuss about their return at the reservation. They waited that the blue soldiers would be ready to be contacted. The next dayt when Mexicans tried another treachery, the outbreakers joined the Apache’s scouts’ threats to kill all the Mexicans. It stopped the struggle between the Mexicans and the Americans.

The Blue Soldiers broke camp and moved northeast with the Chiricahuas following at distance. During two days, very short contacts were made to arrange a meeting between the second in command Lieutenant Maus and the chiefs. The chiefs chose Goyakla as their spokesman. They had to test this unknown officer. 15th of January, Naiche, Goyakla, Kla-esch and Kas-tziden finaly met Maus and his men. When Goyakla asked why the Americans were in Mexico, Lieutenant Maus answered he was there to capture or kill all the renegades. The honesty of the answer pleased the chiefs.
The chiefs responded they agreed to meet Nantan Lupan, at the frontier near San Bernadino’s ranch, in two months. Lieutenant Maus said he would transmit the information to General Crook. Then the Chiricahuas told the scouts they would signal for the meeting. The next day they definitively separated from Lieutenant Maus and his troops. To show their good faith they gave nine prisonners to Maus. They were the olders Kas-tziden and his wife Nah-dos-te; Ilthedda the new wife of Goyakla, his little girl, daughter of She-gah certainly because of her poor health ; one warrior I think he was Itsah-dee-tsa, fluent in Spanish, he could help the other and his family was held captive by the US Army since June 1885; Ejonah, one wife of Nat-cul-baye also fluent in Spanish; and Nah-de-yole, her son Paul and the youngest child of Naiche, Bas-na-kli.
Like in June 1883, when Nantan Lupan came back USA with Chiricahuas, Naiche kept E-clah-eh and send Nah-de-yole with the Americans. It was suprising that Bas-na-kli did not stay with his parents maybe Naiche wanted to protect him from the hard life of the outbreakers. His son was the youngest child of the band at this time. Soon after the departure of Lieutenant Maus, Kla-esch, with surely Shoie, Cathla, Tsinolthos and the teenage boys Pel-coy, Bictonsewah and Dodostenay went north to look for his brother and his raiders. Naiche led the rest of the bands in Sahuaripa’s district to raid because they needed to replenish their stock, clothes and mounts.

Naiche and Goyakla had eighteen warriors at this time. 31st of January, twelve to fifteen fighters raided some miles north of Sahuaripa. It was certainly a diversion led by Naiche while Goyakla with some warriors marched west with the women and children in direction of Rio Sonora along where settlements had more stocks to plunder. After separated from Kla-esch and Ulzana, Atelnietze, Nezulkide, Ischi, Tsinah, Chinche, Tah-ni-toe, Seeltoe and Kanseah joined Naiche and his band. These warriors tought their expedition in USA for three months with Ulzana. Naiche certainly at this time heard about the rewarded promised, by Nantan Lupan, to the Apache scouts for each head of dead renegade the scouts would get. It was the fate of Azariquelch.
In mid-february moving north, in two raids, Naiche and his men killed two Mexicans and stole great stocks and mounts, replenishing themselves. At the end of February 1886, they camped in the Sierra de los Ajos, the mountains west of Fronteras. Their schedule was to move east, one week later, joined Kla-esch and his group in the Sierra de Teras and after they would make contact with Nantan Lupan’s men in the Pitaicache Mountains.
In the way they decided to launch one more raid, to get new mounts. 8th of March they decided to steal the horses of the Mababi’s ranch, east of Sierra de los Ajos. At sunrise they appeared, twenty-two in all, certainly led by Naiche. But they had been spotted and the ranchers, hiding some yards outside the house, made an ambush. These ranchers opened fire when the first warrior began to open the gate of the corral. The first bullet killed instantly Chinche right in the head. Surprised, one warrior dead and others maybe wounded, Naiche ordered to break the fight. Unfortunalty they had to let the dead body of Chinche in the hands of the ranchers who mutilated and burnt it, which made very furious his fellow men. In the beginning of the afternoon, Naiche and his warriors surprised seven travellers and killed atrocely six of them, men, woman and children.

Reaching the Sierra de Teras, Naiche, Kla-esch and Goyakla sent a little group to make contact with Lieutenant Maus. This group met Lieutenant Maus and four scouts under Noche, 14th of March, in the Pitaicache where they certainly exchanged informations and made an arrangement where Naiche and Goyakla would join Lieutenant Maus. The former maybe informed that Nantan Lupan would be at the rendez-vous about a week later. In fact, Lieutenant Maus send immediately the news of the meeting with the renegades to Crook who received this message 16th of March.
When General Crook had the first report of Lieutenant Maus in January, he understood that the surrender would be hard because the renegades hoped to come back at the reservation without punishement while he had to obtain their unconditionnal surrender before an exile forever. Since the first encounter between Maus and the renegades, Crook managed well by bringing, at Fort Bowie where he stationed, Dos-teh-seh, Etsohnn the cousin of Goyakla, mother of Yahe-chul and Tsinah and Al-chesay, the respected chief of the White Mountain Apaches in schedule to mollify Naiche and others’ wish. Crook had also the idea to release Kaathenay who changed his mind about the warpath.
But in March, Crook lost his momentum and made several mistakes that would be mainly the reason of the Embudos’ failure. Firstly, he never answered Maus who could not, then, say to Naiche and the outbreakers when and with what intentions Crook would arrive. Secondly, he waited too much to ask the release of Kaathenay which delayed again his departure from Fort Bowie. If he was ready to go, he could join Maus one or two days after the outbreakers camped near Lieutenant’s troops. And thirstly Crook forgot that the main leader to convince was Naiche not Goyakla and the General thought, before to negociate the surrender, to humiliate Goyakla in front of his warriors.

19th of March Naiche led his people, with all the herd they stole in the last two months, near the camp of Maus in the Pitaicache Mountains. Kla-esch and his group were not with them. Naiche and Goyakla explained they would wait Nantan Lupan there and they did not want to go northern. 22nd of March, Maus convinced Naiche and the shaman to move more north to avoid a possible Mexican’s attack. They agreed and selected El Cañon de Los Embudos and made camp on a place easy to defend and to escape.
But the delay to arrive from Crook made nervous Maus and his surbordinates and suspicious the outbreakers especially Naiche who did not like Nantan Lupan unlike Kla-esch. Naiche knew the general was in Fort Bowie, and since 14th of March Nantan Lupan could already be there. What kind of treachery this blue general could be prepared, ordered his scouts to cut heads for rewards, maybe thought Naiche with the waiting continuing? One man did not lost his time. He was Charles Tribolett, from the Tucson’s Ring, who had certainly heard about this meeting about February and prepared to sell at the right time his supplies, mostly whisky. He arrived about 20th of March and began to sell his alcohol to the scouts but two days later the outbreakers bought him a lot of whisky.

Waiting Crook, the outbreakers, as Naiche, drunk much whisky which did not help to eject emotional thoughts in the brain of each man. Crook finally arrived at El Cañon de Los Embudos, 25th of March, eleven days after the first contact between Maus and the Chiricahuas, one hour before noon. Daly, civilian chief of the packers, welcame him but also blamed the general for his delay which alerted more that necessary the renegades and gave them time to drunk a lot of whisky putting them in ugly mood.
Crook was accompagnied by his headquarters, Kas-tziden, Kaathenay, the Apache emissaries named above and a surprised guest who would immortalize these historic days. The photographer of Tombstone, Camillus.S Fly, and his assistant asked and were allowed to accompagny Crook’s expedition. They would take the only photos of the History of Native Americans on the warpath.

Crook and his officers observed that the renegades were very well dressed, having enough fresh mounts and armed with modern american’s guns like Springfield and Winchester rifles or carbins with modern revolvers too. Each warrior had several and their cartridge’s bells were full. It showed what Crook and some of his officers already knew, a Chiricahua alived and free could always get what and when he needed and stayed a deadly threat for the settlers both side of the border more specifically in Mexico.
At this time Nantan Lupan and Naiche made mistakes which concurred to the failure. Enough of waiting, the Chiricahuas wanted to begin council as soon as possible. Crook agreed and just after lunch opened the talkings. Naiche should have waited Kla-esch because the bold leader would be an ally against Goyakla’s stubborn influence. Also, while the others called him Nantan, Naiche certainly because of his excess of humility, doubted about his capacity to stand firm with Nantan Lupan and his traditional respect of the elders, the young Chokonen’s chief let Goyakla be the spokesman. Crook in his goal to humiliate his hatred adversary, ignored Naiche, the real chief, and made the surrender too much in background. The fact the two let Goyakla led the talkings would not allow a real negotiation.

[coeurrouge]

Before beginning, Naiche and Goyakla were pleased and surprised to see Kaathenay alived and beside Nantan Lupan. I believe Naiche was also glad to see his mother but he had no time to discuss with. Crook chose a place under cottonwoods for the council. From Crook headquarter, Captain Bourke transcripted the meeting. A photographer, to the outbreakers’ surprise, took place near them. The council was tense. About twenty warriors in arm assisted at the council or were near ready to shoot at every sign of treachery.
As the spokesman, Goyakla opened the council, talking about his personal reasons of leaving the reservation. But he intentionnaly eluded the facts he was, with Kas-tziden present at Los Embudos, the instigators of the binge which initiated the outbreak and how the shaman convinced the Chokonens to follow him in the outbreak. Even he was sincere thinking about a conspiracy against him from Davis and Pedes-klinje, it was exaggerated. But mainly, as a spokesman, Goyakla forgot, I think voluntary, to speak for all the outbreakers like they all left the reservation for the same reasons like him.

This and the behaviour of Nantan Lupan, aloof and edgy during Goyakla’s explanations, had certainly irritated Naiche who already disliked the General. When Goyakla had finished his speech, Nantan Lupan said, in his schedule to humiliate the shaman, that all Goyakla spoke off were lies. This abrupt and mostly unfair remark offended Goyakla and tensed up the warriors on their gun. Naiche, surely sharing the same feeling, ordered the warriors to stay calm, only by raising his hand. He showed to everybody who commanded to the warriors at this time and that he was the real chief. Apparently at the same time Kla-esch and Ulzana with their group arrived .
The Americans feared a tragic action of their White Mountains scouts against the leader of the slaughter against some of their people, in November 1885. But their scouts kept control of themselves and Kla-esch seeing Nantan Lupan, a general he deeply trusted, showed a more open mind that Naiche and the council could continue. But again, Naiche and mainly General Crook did not cease the opportunities of the moment. Kla-esch, still angry about the trickery of Goyakla in May 1885, could support Naiche’s point of view and despite Nantan Lupan discredited their spokesman, Naiche did not led the talkings for the Chiricahuas and explaining why he and his Chokonens left the reservation. After Naiche just showed the control, he had on all the warriors and that Crook knew Kla-esch could be an ally against Goyakla, the General did not definitively put aside the shaman by asking Naiche to be the spokesman.

While Kla-esch set back, Nantan Lupan explained that he knew about the lie of the killings of Nantan Enchau and Pedes-klinje, made by Goyakla, to incitate Naiche and Kla-esch to participate of the outbreak. At this time, the talkings were no more a council but a verbal fighting between Nantan Lupan and Goyakla. Each tried, by accusing eachother to be a bad and treacherous human being, to get the power on the others but both forgot the goal in this council, a permanent peace with a return at the reservation for the outbreakers and an unconditional surrender with exile for Crook.
Naiche did not interfere, a part because it was not his nature and was not still enough confident to mortify an elder who had been one of his mentors, but mainly because Naiche disliked Nantan Lupan, his behaviour and unlike Kla-esch, Naiche distrustfulled Crook because he was an American’s soldier. He also feeled that no more word said this day would change the general’s mind. And the words said by Nantan Lupan at the end of the council, 25th of March, made angry most of the outbreakers.

While the Chiricahuas came sincerely to explain the reasons of their outbreak and they agreed to return living in the reservation, under the order of a blue soldier officer, surrounded by Apache’s enemies, abandoning their freedom and the right to walk on their homelands, Nantan Lupan ended by an ultimatum, fighting until death even it would take fifty years or unconditional surrender and finished their life as prisonners of war far away in the East. Naiche with these last words, certainly thought it was useless to continue the council.
The warriors came back to their camp very angry. Worst, Dos-teh-seh and Etsohnn certainly gave news about their relatives hold prisonners at Fort Bowie. If the outbreakers learnt the majority were safe and in good health they also learnt very bad fates. Cathla’s wife certainy did not survive and never reached Fort Bowie like the youngest’s son of Ulzana. Shoie’s wife was beaten to death in the fort. And the youngest’s children of Goyakla died in the fort of dysentery. Humiliated by Nantan Lupan, just learning the death of his two sons, Goyakla was the most furious and commanded the warriors to be ready to shoot and leave.

Naiche was apparently also mortify and angry. If his family in Fort Bowie was fine, they were separated, Nantan Lupan did not brought back the hostages with him except Kas-tziden and maybe his wife. But what deeply disappointed Naiche was that Nantan Lupan knew about the lie of Goyakla towards he and Kla-esch, in May 1885, but the General condemned the Chokonens to the same treatment as Goyakla which for Naiche was unfair. The night passed with a lot of discussions in the outbreakers’ camp. Kaathenay and Al-chesay were barely accepted and carefully tried to convince them that the surrender was the better option. Naiche certainly talked with his mother at this time but it is impossible to know the contents of their talking.
Even Crook’s emissaries did not persuade lot of the outbreakers. Kla-esch missing too much his family and trusting Nantan Lupan seemed ready to surrender but they were very few to think about the same option. Most of them, who were young, thought to escape again and to continue to fight with the support of Goyakla. If the night calmed them, the outbreakers after night discussions would try the next day to mollify Nantan Lupan’s position.

The next day, the outbreakers were still in a bad state of mind but they surprisingly accepted that Bourke and the photographer Fly visited their camp. Bourke who was liked by the Chiricahuas, saw Santiago McKinn in good health and becoming a Chiricahua. The photographer was permitted to take several photos of the renegades’ band. These photos are very valuable because it showed the last band of Native’s renegades in USA. During the day, directly or by the intermediary of Kaathenay and Al-chesay, Naiche and the other leaders expressed to Nantan Lupan that they would never accept the proposition of Nantan Lupan because they thought it was too hard for them.
Crook was under pressure because he knew if the renegades fled again, long years of fighting, raids, pursues and hundreds of deaths would follow. It would cost his post. To success, he had to get a surrender of all the band. He also understood that the leaders to convince were Kla-esch but mainly Naiche. He knew Kla-esch was ready to surrender but without Naiche, Goyakla would not be isolated enough to surrender too. So, 26th of March, during unformal talkings, he proposed a new deal to Naiche and the others.

Despite the day before, Crook accused Goyakla to have lied to Naiche and Kla-esch to induce them to join the outbreakers with their Chokonens, the General did the same thing towards Naiche. But if Goyakla was persuaded that his loyal men would kill Lieutenant Davis and Pedes-klinje, Crook knew he had few chances that his new deal would be validate by his superiors Sheridan and the President Cleveland. So, Crook to obtain a success, promised that after giving up their weapons, the renegades would become prisonners of war during two years in the East with their family and then they could return at the reservation living with the other Chiricahuas. This promise was a lie to convince definitively Naiche and Kla-esch and their followers to surrender.
The lie worked. During the following night, Kla-esch announced the next day he would accept the last proposition of Nantan Lupan. With him some of his followers having their family kept captive by the US Army in Fort Bowie would join him. A wife and two sons at Fort Bowie, E-clah-eh certainly tired of their actual life also wanting to surrender, feeling most of the Chokonens wanting to surrender surely enough of their hard life of renegades, Naiche reluctantly said he would also give up the fight and accept the two years promise. Without support on his stubborn position of a return at the reservation or nothing, Goyakla quited the warpath. Did the shaman lie again? It was possible.

27th of March 1886 in the morning, the second official council took place. It was brief and just to announce the surrender of the band, agreed of the two years of POW in the East following by their return at Turkey Creek in the reservation. This time it was not Goyakla who talked first but Kla-esch, showing the discredit the shaman had even in the band. When Kla-esch finished his speech of surrender, Naiche was next. Maybe the Chief was honest or perhaps considering the last three days were a pernicious joke, Naiche simply wanted to end this. His speech was brief as often:
"I surrender just the same as he did…I give you my word, I give you my body. I surrender, I have nothing more to say than that. When I was free I gave orders but now I surrender to you. What you tell me to do I do. Now that I have surrendered I am glad. I’ll not have to hide behing rocks and mountains; I’ll go across the open plain. I’ll now sleep well, eat contentedly, and be satisfied, and so will my people…I will go wherever you may see fit to send us, where no bad talk will be spoken of us."

Goyakla also and officially said he gave up as all the band. Satisfied Crook explained that Lieutenant Maus and his troops would escort the renegades to Fort Bowie where they would be disarmed before going East by train. The chiefs came back to their camp and the band certainly knew they did not need anymore of their money they got by raids, bought during the evening a lot of whisky sold by Tribolett.
Crook and the Americans heard the noise of the heavy drinking in the Chiricahuas’ camp. The scouts reported to the general how deeply drunk were the renegades but Crook did not care much worried that Sheridan would not validate the last deal which was a disobedience of the 30th of September 1885’s order. So, 28th of March, while his subordinates feared another outbreak Crook left premeturaly El Cañon de Los Embudos to Fort Bowie. He let Lieutenant Maus to manage the escort of the drunken band to Fort Bowie.

29th of march, immediately after he arrived, Crook telegraphed about the surrender and asked Sheridan to validate the two years’ promise deal. The answer was sent the next day and was a terrible disclaiming for Crook. Sheridan refused the deal and repeated to his subordinate that the only option for the renegades to stay alived was an exile at Fort Marion, Florida, until their natural death. Sheridan asked Crook to return to the renegades and to tell them to accept the initial proposition. Crook, destabilized, knew this new announce would scatter the renegades on the warpath. At the same time, he thought about what to do, he received another telegram from Maus. The Lieutenant announced him that Naiche and Goyakla fled with thirty-eight followers among them sixteen warriors. War would continue.
Crook informed his superiors. Sheridan exceeded, ordered to tranfer as soon as possible Kla-esch and all the Chiricahua’s prisonners Crook had and to send troops to pursue Naiche and the last renegades. He also ordered Crook to abandon the employement of scouts’ companies in which Crook based all his strategy against the Chiricahuas. All these failures and bad news of 30th of March 1886 decided the General Crook to resign as the head commander of Arizona’s Department. He was the third General, in a row, to lost this post because of the Chiricahuas. His resignation was accepted and Sheridan named General Nelson.A Miles to replace him.


NEXT : 4.5.Fear, Shame, Desperation and Surrender.

[coeurrouge]

Some times later we talked about the Chiricahua's relatives of Naiche who lived in San Carlos after 1886. We knew he had a nephew named Tahdotonn (later called Charles Denton) born circa 1870. Naiche had one brother, two sisters and at least two half-sisters Djataize (or Jatessay) and Zhante (or Djanate and later called Julia Denton). In San Carlos census since 1907, Tahdotonn had as mother a woman named Zanyego (later Maria Denton), born circa 1850, and Gessamuday as grandmother. So I deducted that Gessemuday was the third wife of Cochise and Zanyego their first daughter and oldest sister of Naiche.

I wonder who could be the father of Tahdotonn? In 1872 when General looked for Cochise, the first Chokonens he met were the group leading by Nah-dozinne. With him was a wife of Cochise. Why a wife of the chief lived one hundred miles of her husband in a time of war? Because, I think, she followed her oldest daughter and her husband. So I am more and more convince that Nah-dozinne was the oldest son-in-law of Cochise by marrying Zanyego circa 1868. And Tahdotonn was their son.

But Nah-dozinne was single in 1884's census and his known wives were not named Zanyego. I think I had an explanation.

We all read that Naiche lost relatives captured by Mexicans in Casas Grandes in May 1882 and in January 1883 at Satachi Falls. But we do not know their names and relationship with Naiche. In april 1885, asked by Crook, with the Chiricahuas Lieutenant Davis made a list of the Chiricahuas' prisonners in Mexico. In the list we can read that a woman at age 36 years old had been captured at Satachi Falls. Her name was written by Davis Bish-Zah-Ye-Go and I think she was the half-sister of Naiche, Zanyego.
The fact Nah-dozinne was single in 1884, the written names were very similar and the estimate age also about the same, convince me. Maybe she was among the 13 women released by the Chihuahuans in April 1885 and arrived in San Carlos in September (so she could not see again her husband) or like it happened for few of them, she escaped from Mexico and went to San Carlos about 1900.

[saskia21]

Hi Coeurrouge that is an interesting theory. The name Davies has recorded is indeed very close to zanyego's name and the earliest I can find her in de census (sofar) is 1907.
Names seem to change quite a lot so it is possible she was known under another name before 1907. I do not no much about Nah dozinne, so if any one can tell me a bit more about him that would be great.
Who is he related to, what were his wives names? Did he have children? Thanks!

[coeurrouge]

Not know much about Nah-dozinne or Nazee. He was considered as a capitan of Cochise in 1872 and was certainly born circa 1840. In 1884, he was single and soon after certainly marrid two wives, I think :
Bah-na-geay (born c.1865) and Ee-lold-lahm (born c.1860) maybe two sisters. He had at least one boy Price born in 1891 who did not live a long time. Nah-dozinne came to mescalero in 1913.



In 1907 Yanyego was in San Carlos Reservation census, n°755 in the San Carlos Apache and named Zanygo age 55

[coeurrouge]

In May 1900 a request was made by the commander of Fort SIl for the Chiricahuas : allow their relatives settled in San Carlos to join them at Fort Sill. There was a list of names and relationship.
Naiche had two sisters (Zhante and Jas-tessay), a nephew (Tah-do-tonn) and a relation and her son (Ah-tsi-tah).

On the previous researches we found that Zhante/Djanate (aka Julia Denton) and jas-tessay/Nasatay/Djataize (aka Helen Curley) were the daughter of Gessemuday (so the third wife of Cochise). Tah-do-toon/Tahdetunn was the grandson of Gessemuday and the son of a woman called Zanyego (Maria Denton). As I aldready wrote, I deduct that Zanyego (born c.1850) was the first daughter of Cochise and Gessemuday.

Gessemuday lived with his granson untill her death in 1913.

Looking the husband of Djataize (born c.1862) and Zhante (born c.1864), I think they married the Arivapai chief Eskiminzin (tag band SCL)c.1880 for Djataize and c.1884/85 for Zhante. It would explain whye they with their mother did not go to Fort Marion in 1886.
Djataize had at least one son, with the chief, Howetdoan who in 1905 was still living with his grandmother Gessemuday. Howetdoan was certainly born c.1880 and i think his nickname was Roy Eskiminzin and was in San Carlos school between the exile of his father (1891 - 1894). I did not find yet if he survived after 1905 and married. Roy, I guess, right in the following photo :



Eskiminzin died in 1895 and in 1898 Djataize married Sherman Curley (aka Jim Curley, Jim Kelly) a scout from the Coyotero band (Tag band CJ39, Sherman Curley died in January 1934. Djataize died after 1939 and they had no children.

With Zhante, Eskiminzin had at least three daughter, Anajohe (Anna Baylish-Logan) born in San Carlos c.1888, Anuje/Najotes (Susie Baylish) born 07/12/1891 in Mount Vernon as Iske-dastlahe born 05/25/1894. See the birth records and on the photo (may 1893) I may identified Zhante on the left with Anajohe (standing) and Anuje (sitting on her mother)

Zhante never married another man. She lived with her nephew untill her death 02/23/1928 from a stomach cancer like her father at similar age...


Iske-dastlahe certainaly died between 1908/1909 or married in 1909 at 15 years old.
Anajohe was the first to marry in 1903 with Eskehelte (tag band CF80), son of Bylas chief of Tag band F from the Coyoreto (Eastern White Mountain living in San Carlos). Bylas who was spared by the Chiricahuas thanks to Naiche in April 1882.In 1914 Eskehelte died and Anajohe, in 1915, married Hushkayonchihe (John Logan) Both still lived in 1939 (tag band CF56).
Anuje married in 1907 a brother of Eskehelte named Richard Baylish (tag band CF75). Anuje died in 1919.

For Zanyego and his son, it was much harder before 1906. But I think I find them. The first nickname of Tah-do-toon was certainly Big Charley from Tag band SO12 (1894-1899) and tag band SG13 (1900-1904). In 1907 Zanygo was listed as mother of SG13. Big Charley had a mother with a similar name and age than Zanyego. He had the same age of Tahdetunn. When Big Charley disappeared from the records, in 1905, he had no child (even he was married twice) and Tahdetuun appeared in 1906, he was single with in 1908 a mother named Zanyego. And he chose as American nickname Charles Denton Below Big Charley and his mother (1894 and 1901)


For all those people (except Zhante) I do not find yet their names on the census, before 1893.

And the Ah-tsi-tah/Altsedah and her son Delonah-gai-stanneh, I found them since 1892. There was another son born in 1893 and died in 1895. They lived in the San Carlos band in Tag SO10 untill 1899. In 1900 they joined Gessemuday and lived in tag band SH23. Delonah-gai-stanneh was born in 1888 and died apparently (or perhaps he married) in 1905. Altsedah died or quitted the tag band in 1907.
Altsedah was born c.1850, so she could be a cousin of Naiche. I pleased to think she was a sister of Atelnietze or Chie.



I will look for all those people in 1889 and 1888, but it will be hard I think.