The Mexicans called him Nana; meaning “Grandma”. In 1881, he was about 75 years old, and was crippled in one leg. Moreover, his eyesight was deteriorating. But he had one good leg, a keen mind, and all-consuming hatred of Americans and Mexicans. In the late 1870’s and early 1880’s, this … Continue reading
This is the first of a six part series about the longest war in American History. The saga of the Apache Wars is both complex and compelling. For over a quarter century, roughly 1861-1886, hundreds of ambushes, raids, massacres, and full-fledged military battles occurred over a huge, rugged, and diverse … Continue reading
A great deal has been written about Chiricahua Apaches, probably because they so completely terrorized settlers for a quarter century (1861-1886) and were the last Native American tribe to surrender to the United States government. However, most of these books were written by Anglos. No matter how diligent the authors’ … Continue reading
In 1942, Eve Ball, author and friend to many Mescalero Apaches (NM), convinced Asa (Ace) Daklugie, a Chiricahua Apache, to tell her the stories of his people’s war with the United States of America and the Republic of Mexico (1861-1886). These stories had been told many times by White Eyes: … Continue reading
“No white man who ever in the service, or employment, of the United States … can keep pace with an Apache on foot when he is in a hurry …” Lt. Charles Gatewood from His Apache Wars Memoir. **************** I have often thought that if Tucsonans knew the actual history … Continue reading
I recently read yet another account of the Chiricahua Apache wars with the Republic of Mexico and the United States of America that raged from 1861 to 1886. Geronimo: The Man, His Time, His Place (The Civilization of the American Indian Series) was written by noted Native American historian Angie … Continue reading
Dragoon Springs is located at the northern end of the Dragoon Mountains in Cochise County, Arizona. The springs were an important source of water for Native American people a thousand years ago or more. In September 1695, Spanish troops camped here. They described this place as muy penascosa, “very rocky”. … Continue reading
How did Pennington Street in Downtown Tucson get its name? (a) Could Pennington Street be named for some 19th century politician and merchant like Estevan Ochoa, who established a successful business supplying Indian reservations and U.S. Army forts northeast of Tucson? He served as mayor (1875-76) and has a downtown … Continue reading
Part III – The Tucson Ring If you have not read Part I or Part II of this series, start here; How Tucson Pioneers Perpetuated The Apache Wars: Part I. There were no successful Tucson pioneer businessmen who were not a party to the fleecing of the federal government to … Continue reading
Part II – The Subjugation of the American Indian If you have not read Tucson Pioneers:Part I, you will find it here. Grant’s Underlying Assumption President Grant was certain that Anglo-Americans and Native Americans could not live side by side peacefully. Moreover, to accommodate U.S. citizens, the Indians would have … Continue reading
