Comanches join Bronco Apaches

[ouroboros]

I have read the superb book "The Life of Ten Bears. Comanche Historical Narratives. Collected by Francis Joseph Attocknie, ed. with intro. by Thomas W. Kavanagh", 2016. On pp. 199-201 there are some stories about Comanche warriors who joined Apache groups.

After the US troops broke the Comanche resistance some die-hard nʉmʉnʉʉ warriors joined the Mescalero Apaches, others went further west or south and attached themselves to some Mexican tribes, some to the Bronco Apaches. One of them was a Yamparika warrior whose name was Tabeyetsi, a renowned brave known for his leadership in Battle and Courage. Refusing to live in a reservation, he moved west with his wife and joined the Bronco Apaches. They fought many skirmishes with Mexican and US troops, some of them a described in detail in the above-mentioned book.

As for the Bronco Apaches, they are mainly (but not always) identified with the Nednai band. Jason Betzinez described that these Band was formed from "outlaws recruited from other bands, and included in their membership a few Navajoes as well as Mexicans and whites who had been captured while children." I think that the story of Tabeyetsi presents a good argument to include some Comanches to the ethnically mixed Nadnai warriors.

[ouroboros]

There are some original reports which mention Comanches who joined Victorio's band:

1) Document 83

Hatch’s Estimate of the numbers of Hostile Apaches still at Large 16 June, 1880.

Santa Fe June 16th 1880.

General Pope,
Fort Leavenworth, Ks

The following just received to be repeated to you Craig, June fifteenth, eighty

Can only approximate to hostiles with Victorio. Agent stated that he had present at one time at Agency five hundred and fifty three but may have not included all the Indians. There are now prisoners, mostly women and children, two hundred and eighty five. With Victorio two hundred and sixty eight. Victorio had fifty three warriors when he first left the Reservation, Indians from Mexico one hundred. Renegades from Arizona, Comanches and others seventy five. Total force four hundred and ninety six of which women and children one hundred and sixty. Killed in various engagements one hundred leaving present strength of hostiles two hundred and thirty six warriors. Parties who claim to know more than myself make the hostiles much stronger. I will remain here until the last moment, as my presence is necessary, and meet you in Santa Fe on your arrival. Please come directly to our house. I can send Morrow to Mexico if you so desire.(Signed) Hatch
Col.
Comd’gLoud
A.A.A. General

Yo can download the Documents form Victorio's campaign: www.helion.co.uk/docs/docs/hwms-annex-1036.pdf

[ouroboros]

The following letter:

Referring to my letter to you of the 16th inst. I desire to say that in the enumeration of forces with Col Hatch in Southern New Mexico I omitted to state that he has in addition to the force mentioned in that letter, eighty-five Indian Scouts and Trailers.Since the letter was written I have received a telegram from Col Hatch containing his estimate of the hostile Indians supposed to be with, or operating in conjunction with Victoria.The whole force of Indians stated by him is four hundred and ninety six, from which is to be deducted, according to his telegram, one hundred and sixty women and children, leaving three hundred & thirty six men. He includes in this estimate the Indians he had heard were out from San Carlos Agency and also some Comanches. As there were no Indians out from San Carlos Agency and only eight Comanches (two men & six women) reported absent, his estimate must be further reduced by seventy five leaving two hundred and sixty one as his estimate of the hostile Indians, which means but little from my own. If one hundred of these have been killed during the campaign, there remain only one hundred and sixty one hostiles, all of whom are supposed to be now in Old Mexico