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Geronimo

Geronimo There is so much about Geronimo that is appealing as a story. Geronimo the Man was a brilliant personal leader; strong and proud, and immensely spiritual--a hero in the real sense. As Geronimo's exploits became daily fare in the newspapers, the American government's Indian policy became the popular subject of political debate in that time period that extended even to the President. Raids, counterraids, traps and ambushes, Geronimo proved himself a master tactician and more. Always, just when the end seemed near, Geronimo and his band would disappear like ghosts back into the canyons and mountains of the desert southwest. Across thousands of square miles of the Great American Desert, Geronimo, along with a handful of Apache men, women and children, would lead thousands of soldiers of two nations on bloody chase. Consistently outgunned and always outmanned, Geronimo's legend would grow as he continually overcame enormous odds, persistent government agents and Apache scouts recruited by the US Government. Geronimo has the distinction of being "the last American Indian to formally surrender to the United States government" (Davis et al 88) --but only after a long struggle. Geronimo was born in June of 1829 in No-doyohn Cañon, Arizona. His tribal name was Goyathley, which means "one who yawns". Later in life he became known as Geronimo, "Little Jerome" As he learned to talk, his mother told him stories of the sun, moon, stars, wild beasts, and of Usen the "Great Spirit who made everything and should be worshipped" (Trimble165). When he was 8 or 9 years old he began hunting. He first learned to stalk deer by crawling long distances from bush to bush, taking hours to creep close enough to launch his arrow. As he grew older he went after bigger game such as bears and mountain lions. The only weapons he used were spears and arrows and he was never injured in a fight with any of them. In the summer of 1858, when he was near the age of 30 he accompanied his tribe to trade. They made camp a short distance from a town. When most of the men rode into town to barter with the citizens, they left only a small guard over their possessions, wives, and children. On their way back they encountered fugitive women from their tribe who told them Mexicans raided the camp. The Mexicans stole their ponies and valuables and killed most of the women and children. The tribe separated and approached the camp from different directions. The information was true. Geronimo found his wife, three children and mother killed. Geronimo recalls "...there were no lights in camp, so without being noticed I silently turned away and stood by the river. How long I stood there I do not know but when I saw the warriors arranging for council I took my place" (qtd.Leider, et al 122). This incident marked a turning point in his life-Geronimo learned to hate that day and vowed to fight to the death for his land and people. To the Apaches, Geronimo embodied the very essence of the Apache values; aggressiveness and courage in the face of difficulty. These qualities brought fear to the settlers of Arizona and New Mexico. The apaches were mostly migratory following the seasons, hunting and farming. When food was scarce, it was the custom to raid neighboring tribes. Raids and vengeance were an honorable way of life among the tribes of this region. Their prowess in battle became the stuff of legend. "An Apache warrior, it was said, could run 50 miles without stopping and travel more swiftly than a troop of mounted soldiers" (Davis et al 126). During the mid-1800's, one Apache raid caused as many as 4,000 colonists to lose their lives. In the late 1800's, one U.S. Army general who had fought them meant it as a grudging compliment when he described the Apache as "tigers of the human species" (qtd Trimble 158). The Apache saw themselves differently; they faced constant struggle to survive. When they raided a village, they did so from pure necessity, to provide corn for their families when game was scarce. Most of the time they went their own way, moving from camp to camp in pursuit of deer and buffalo, collecting roots and berries, sometimes planting seeds that they later returned to harvest. Apache lived in extended family groups, all loosely related through the female line. And, each group operated under a respected family leader; settling its own disputes, answering to no higher human authority such as the modern day police or judge. The Elders of the tribe were the judges. The main exception to this occurred during wartime, when neighboring groups banded together to fight a common enemy. Unlike ordinary raiding, where the main object was to get food, war meant lethal business: an act of revenge for the deaths of tribe members in earlier raids or battles. Leaders of the local family groups would meet to elect a war chief, who led the fights. A strict code of conduct governed Apache life, based on strong family loyalties. The most important bond led from an Apache mother to her children and on to her Grand children. Beyond this code of family obligations, the Apache shared a rich oral history of myths and legends and a legacy of intense religious devotion that touched every part of their lives. "In 1874, U.S. authorities forcibly moved some 4,000 Apaches to a reservation at San Carlos, a barren wasteland in east central Arizona" (Powersource). Deprived of traditional tribal rights, short on rations and homesick, they turned to Geronimo who led them in the fight for freedom that plunged the region into turmoil and bloodshed Within a few months three other tribes agreed to join them on the warpath. They traveled silently and swiftly on foot. Horses would leave a trail; and on foot they could dodge and twist around the mountains so they could not be followed. When they reached the town of Arispe eight soldiers had tracked them down. The Indians killed and then scalped them in plain sight of the villagers, this to prove that the Apaches were strong and would not go down without a fight. The next morning two groups of Calvary and infantry were sent out to capture Geronimo and his tribe. Geronimo recognized some of them who took part in the killing of his family, and his hate blazed even more. The battle between the red and white was very fierce and the Mexicans were shocked at seeing the Indians stand so firmly against them. As the Mexicans tried to push them off the field the Indians would disappear and then reappear in clusters everywhere. Geronimo arranged his men in a hollow circle near the river where they were sheltered by trees. "When the Mexicans tried to dislodge them, he threw his men to attack from the rear confusing the Mexicans. However, the Mexicans withstood the attack and the fight lasted for two hours" (Leider et al 94). After only eight men were left, four Mexicans and four Indians, the Indians arrows were all gone and their spears were broken in the bodies of enemies. Left with their bare hands and small knives to fight with, the Indians turned to face the Mexicans who fired and two warriors fell. Geronimo and the other Indian turned to flee but his companion was struck down. Geronimo was left to fight the four Mexican soldiers alone. He pulled a spear out of a body and killed the Mexican soldier the closest to him. He stole his saber and killed the next one. By now he was covered in blood ready to kill the other two but they had disappeared. Other Indians saw what took place and rejoiced because the massacre was now avenged. Geronimo was elected war chief of their tribe. There were so many fights between the Indians and the Mexicans so the Indians decided to break up into smaller groups and leave. Six men and four women followed Geronimo to New Mexico. Along the way they killed every Mexican they came across and stole their supplies. They later met up with their tribe in the Sierra de Antunez Mountains. United States soldiers trailed them and they had fights with them almost every day. Eventually the Apache made a treaty with the Mexicans agreeing they wouldn't fight anymore and the Indians would return to the Arizona Territory. They hoped to make a treaty with the United States. General Miles, leader of the treaty representatives, told Geronimo and his tribe that he would like peace between Geronimo and the white men. They both took an oath they would not do any wrong to each other. General Miles told Geronimo if he would surrender and become a man of peace he would be given a house, land, and men to work on his land. Even though Geronimo did not fully believe him he agreed and laid down his arms. As Geronimo thought, General Miles did not stand up to his end of the bargain. During this final fight, "at least 5,000 white soldiers and 500 Indians were employed in Geronimo's capture. Geronimo was finally tracked to his camp in the Sonoran Mountains. It was ordered that Geronimo to surrender again, promising him that, after serving prison time in Florida, he and his tribe would be permitted to return to Arizona" (Leider et al. 228). On the Apache's long contained journey from the desert southwest to the humid East Coast, tuberculosis attacked the Apache for the first time. At this time in history, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in America. Everyone was susceptible; but some were more susceptible than others were. Northern Europeans, who'd been exposed for generations, had acquired some resistance to TB, but populations that had never faced the disease had almost none. The Apaches were held for a time at Fort Marion in St. Augustine. They were crowded together in the run-down barracks; their outhouse was a sandy floor a few feet from the water supply. The army continued their journey east, and stopped again, in a humid, swampy part of Alabama; their TB promptly became worse. Weakened by the journey, sick from unfamiliar food and filthy living conditions, the Indians did not have the strength to fight the disease. "Out of a population of 519 Apache who were first imprisoned, approximately 300 died as victims of tuberculosis during their 27 years as American prisoners of war" (Avery et al 61). Geronimo and his fellow prisoners were put to hard labor, and it was May 1887 before he saw his family. He Moved to Fort Sill in the Oklahoma Territory in 1894, Later in life, with few other resources available, Geronimo capitalized on his fame, selling souvenirs and appearing at public events such as Teddy Roosevelt's 1905 inaugural parade. Said a judge who presided at his trial; "There is not, probably, in the history or tradition or myths of the human race another instance of such prolonged resistance against such tremendous odds" (qtd. Leider et al 225). The plight of the Apache, the ones that fought for freedom, as well as those who surrendered to reservations was one of suffering and inhumanity; have persevered through two centuries of opposing societal views. Once thought of as savage beasts, wild animals, and worse; they now are no longer the oppressed, controlled miserable people of the past. Through the strength and values taught by tribal leaders such as Geronimo, the Apache Indian today has become a strong and intelligent society. They have been able to adapt to many cultural and environmental changes in just 200 years. Though the old ways are maintained, the Apaches have become modern warriors. And there is no question of their modern identity. Money from the wool of their thousands of sheep is supplemented by income from their hundreds of gas and oil wells. Through steadfastness, strategy, and an understanding of business they have done well for themselves. They are brilliant business people with strong leaders. They have developed a multi-million dollar empire in the casino gaming business. "Indian gaming has become the industry that tribal governments can use to overturn 150 years of federal neglect. As of February, 1997, the National Indian Gaming Commission reported there are over 150 tribes using Gaming for economic support" (Powersource). These brave and heroic people fought to the death for their freedom and for their rights, and without a leader such as Geronimo, may never have won that fight for freedom. Bibliography:

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