Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Geronimo On Western Wednesday...!

Been a while since we did a post about of of our better know names from long ago. Here is a bit of history about Geronimo...remember him ? Of course you do!

Geronimo flees Arizona reservation

For the second time in two years, the Apache chief Geronimo breaks out of an Arizona reservation, sparking panic among Arizona settlers.

A famous medicine man and the leader of the Chiricahua Apache, Geronimo achieved national fame by being the last American Indian to surrender formally to the United States. For nearly 30 years, Geronimo and his followers resisted the attempts of Americans to take away their southwestern homeland and confine them to a reservation. He was a fearless warrior and a master of desert survival. The best officers of the U.S. Army found it nearly impossible to find Geronimo, much less decisively defeat him.

In 1877, Geronimo was forced to move to the San Carlos, Arizona, reservation for the first time, but he was scarcely beaten. Instead, Geronimo treated the reservation as just one small part of the vast territory he still considered to belong to the Apache. Fed up with the strictures and corruption of the reservation, he and many other Apache broke out for the first time in 1881. For nearly two years, the Apache band raided the southwestern countryside despite the best efforts of the army to stop them. Finally, Geronimo wearied of the continual harassment of the U.S. Army and agreed to return to the reservation in 1884, much on his own terms.

He did not stay long. Among the many rules imposed upon the Apache on the reservation was the prohibition of any liquor, including a weak beer they had traditionally brewed from corn. In early May 1885, Geronimo and a dozen other leaders deliberately staged a corn beer festival. Reasoning that the authorities would be unlikely to try to punish such a large group, they openly admitted the deed, expecting that it would lead to negotiations. Because of a communication mix-up, however, the army failed to respond. Geronimo and the others assumed the delay indicated the army was preparing some drastic punishment for their crime. Rather than remain exposed and vulnerable on the reservation, Geronimo fled with 42 men and 92 women and children.

Quickly moving south, Geronimo raided settlements along the way for supplies. In one instance, he attacked a ranch owned by a man named Phillips, killing him, his wife, and his two children. Frightened settlers demanded swift military action, and General George Crook coordinated a combined Mexican and American manhunt for the Apache. Thousands of soldiers tracked the fugitives but Geronimo and his band split into small groups and remained elusive.

Crook’s failure to apprehend the Indians led to his eventual resignation. General Nelson Miles replaced him. Miles committed 5,000 troops to the campaign and even established 30 heliograph stations to improve communications. Still, Miles was also unable to find the elusive warrior. Informed that many of the reservation Apache, including his own family, had been taken to Florida, Geronimo apparently lost the will to fight. After a year and a half of running, Geronimo and his 38 remaining followers surrendered unconditionally to Miles on September 3, 1886.

Relocated to Florida, Geronimo was imprisoned and kept from his family for two years. Finally, he was freed and moved with this family to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. He died of pneumonia at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1909.

In my opinion, this man was one tough and wise old bird. I certainly wouldn't want to ever face him in battle! Know what I mean?

Coffee out on the patio this morning, but it may rain later, so be ready!

4 comments:

linda m said...

Geronimo was a true warrior and one tough old bird. He was a foe I would never want to face. I must say I have admired his tenacity and bravery. Just wouldn't want to be fighting against him. Sad that he couldn't die in his native territory.

Momlady said...

We treated the native Americans poorly and still do. I actually admire his resistance.

HermitJim said...

Hey Linda...
I have to say that I agree on all counts. Hell of a leader and warrior!
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Momlady...
The actual start of domestic terrorism?
Thanks for the visit today!

JO said...

You know this is a topic I have read so much on. All Geronimo, wanted was for himself and his people to live in peace on land they lived on for 100's of years. The stories that are told of how horrible they were was brought on first by the Spaniards that made slaves of these people and brought disease and death and forced Religion, then the white man to bring further heartache. Well white people are still treating these American Indians with such a high degree of disrespect still just walking onto their lands and taking what you want. I'll get off my soap box now. Geronimo was a mighty warrior.

I'm ready for coffee on the patio and I promise I won't go on about this.