Geronimo, born Goyakla (The One Who Yawns) was a medicine man and later warrior who fought for the rights of his tribe and other Native American Apache people in the mid-1800s. He had a particular vendetta against Mexicans as a whole after Mexican soldiers killed one his wives, some of his children, and his mother in a raid. He vowed to never forget his hatred of the Mexican people and spent many years crossing the border and wreaking havoc.
Geronimo became famous then, and now, for his desire for freedom. He fought against bigotry and hatred against the Apaches for more than 25 years.
He was from New Mexico, near the Gila River, and was part of the Bedonkehe band of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. His chief was Mangas Coloradas.
Mangas Coloradas was the father-in-law of Cochise—a friend and future leader of Geronimo. All three men held the similar belief that all of their people should be free, and all of them fought in the Apache Wars.
The Apache Wars only saw a few actual battles, and mostly consisted of ambushes and skirmishes. They lasted 24 years.
Following the Battle of Apache Pass in 1862, Chief Mangas was critically wounded. The battle itself saw 120 U.S. soldiers with two wartime canons against 200 Apache warriors, fighting with guns and arrows. The Apache warriors were defeated and shocked by the destruction of the canons.
Many felt that Chief Mangas lost his fire after that. He agreed to negotiations with the U.S. However, when he arrived, he was killed. His son-in-law, Cochise, stepped into the role of Chief.
The U.S. Army now targeted Chief Cochise, and believed that with his death they would win control of the Apache people (ie: killing them and/or forcing them into often poorly cared-for reservations).
Chief Cochise evaded reservation negotiations for ten years. In 1872 Cochise met with Army Scout, Tom Jeffords, and General O.O. Howard. He negotiated for excellent land (much of modern-day Cochise County in southeast Arizona). As the agent of the reservation, Jeffords grew a soft spot for Native Americans. He also became the only white man that Cochise considered a friend. Unfortunately, shortly after Chief Cochise’s untimely death in 1874—likely from stomach cancer—the peaceful period between the U.S. and Apache came to an end. Only four years of calm existed. Jeffords was fired as agent and the reservation was destroyed, leading to new negotiations.
The U.S. appointed John Clum to create and maintain the San Carlos Reservation in eastern Arizona. Clum asked for a meeting, insisting all the Chiricahua Apache be moved to the reservation. At the meeting was Cochise’s son, now Chief Taza, as well as Cochise’s long-time warrior friend, Juh. Juh spoke with a stammer, and brought his brother Goyakla (later nicknamed Geronimo by the Mexican soldiers for his reckless abandon in battle) to speak for him.
Geromino was despised by San Carlos Reservation agent, John Clum for persuading many of the tribe from moving into San Carlos Reservation. Clum was the first to capture Geronimo with the help of Apache dissenters. Clum hoped to receive permission from the Bureau of Indian Affair and Department of War to put Geronimo to death. However, there was debate between the two groups, and in that time of indecision, Geronimo escaped, infuriating Clum.
Chief Taza accepted a trip to Washington D.C. to learn more about the white man. He got sick and died, resulting in his younger brother, Naiche becoming Chief.
Many years of conflict continued. A $25,000 bounty was placed on Geronimo as he was still roaming free. Geronimo offered his perspective and expertise to his Chief, Naiche, of the Chiricahua Apache. By 1886 only 37 members of the tribe remained off the reservation: 18 warriors, 13 women, 4 children, and 2 infants. As the summer passed, many of the women and children surrendered to 5,000 U.S., 3,000 Mexican, and 1,000 volunteer soldiers in pursuit of their capture.
An insidious plan was stirred up in the mind of General Nelson Miles, appointed by President Grover Cleveland. Knowing there were still 434 Chiricahua Apache in the reservation, he decided to send them away to Florida in hopes of drawing out the last remaining of their hidden family members. The plan worked.
The move to Florida by train car was difficult, and though promised to be reunited, the warriors and their family members wouldn’t be together for more than two years. They were separated intentionally and sent to two different Forts.
Many of the Chiricahua Apache got malaria and other sicknesses in Florida. The tribe numbered only 251 at the time of their release.
Eventually, they were moved to Oklahoma where the terrain would be more familiar to them. Over time, some stayed in Oklahoma, while others moved to New Mexico.
Years later, when Geronimo asked President Roosevelt if they could return to Arizona, he declined, saying the tensions around the Chiricahua was still too great there. Geronimo had a portrait made, and the artist later explained there were upwards of 50 bullet wounds on Geronimo’s body. No bullet could kill him. He died in 1909 from complications of pneumonia.
There are 850+ Chiricahua Apache—descendants of Cochise and Geronimo.
To learn more about Geronimo, his battles, and eventual death, visit the National Park Service.
Here’s more information on The Apache Wars.