As you head north on FS 687, the western side of Cochise Stronghold stands imposingly on your right. Imagine that, in 1869, you are a member of the U.S. Cavalry stationed at Fort Bowie. A band of Chiricahua Apaches, perhaps 30 well-armed warriors, had that morning raided a nearby ranch, … Continue reading
AMERIND AUTUMN FEST 2014 CELEBRATES APACHE CULTURE The Amerind Museum is one of Southern Arizona Guide’s favorite attractions. It is located in beautiful Texas Canyon and will hold its Annual Autumn Fest October 18, 2014. The day-long event will celebrate the culture of the Apache Native people with food, family … Continue reading
Which was America’s longest war? President Obama claims that the war in Afghanistan is America’s longest. But is that true? First, let me say that “wars” no longer start with a formal “declaration of war” nor end with a formal signing of surrender documents or “peace accords”. So part of … Continue reading
A Spanish woman living with her family in a fort on the northern frontier of New Spain tells of her terrifying experience during the Second Battle of Tucson. On May 1, 1782, hundreds of Apaches attack the lightly-guarded Presidio San Agustin de Tucson. The civilians and soldiers of the Tucson … Continue reading
In early April 2013, I wanted to drive the back road to Ft. Huachuca from Sonoita to view the Garden Canyon petroglyphs.
Continue readingLast week I posted here about how the U.S. Government hosted 8 0r 10 Apache men for an all expenses paid sightseeing tour of Washington D.C. and New York City. Many people seemed to have enjoyed that tidbit of local history, so here’s a brief follow-up. This account comes from the same book, Britton Davis’s […]
Continue readingA Map of a scenic drive through Apache Country. From Fort Lowell in east Tucson, to Fort Bowie, to Cochise Stronghold, to Chiricahua National Monument and back to Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista
Continue readingPlaces of Major Historical Importance In Southeastern Arizona include Ft. Huachuca, Ft. Bowie, Chiracahua Mountains, and Cochise Stronghold
Continue readingThe Apaches lost their wars against the Mexicans and Americans for six basic reasons.
First, the Apaches were hopelessly outnumbered. When an Apache chief, such as Cochise, lost a warrior in battle, there was no replacement until one of the younger boys grew up and became a warrior. All an American or Mexican military officer usually had to do when he lost men was call for readily available replacements. It was a war of attrition.
Continue readingCould these devastating wars have been avoided? The short answer is “NO!” Given the inevitability of the White Man’s massive western migration; and the Apache’s understandably powerful desire to hold on to their ancestral lands, brutal conflict was unavoidable.
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