There are 5 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 8,445 times. The latest Post () was by colkid60.

Participate now!

Don’t have an account yet? Register yourself now and be a part of our community!

  • COCHISE


    Born
    1815.
    Arizona


    Died
    June 8, 1874.Arizona


    Years of Service
    1861-1872


    Occupation
    Chief


    Indian Wars
    * Apache Wars
    * Bascom Affair
    * Battle of Cooke's Canyon
    * Battle of the Florida Mountains
    * Battle of Dragoon Springs
    * Battle of Apache Pass


    Cochise (pronounced /koʊˈtʃiːs/; Apache K'uu-ch'ish "firewood";
    was a chief (a nantan) of the Chokonen ("central" or "real" Chiricahua)
    band of the Chiricahua Apache and the leader of an uprising that began in 1861.
    Cochise County, Arizona is named after him.


    Cochise was one of the most famous Apache leaders
    (along with Geronimo) to resist intrusions by Americans
    during the 19th century.
    He was described as a large man (for the time),
    with a muscular frame, classical features, and long black hair
    which he wore in traditional Apache style.
    Cochise's family currently resides at Mescalero Apache Reservation,
    New Mexico.


    Cochise and the Chokonen-Chiricahua lived in the area that
    is now the northern Mexican region of Sonora, New Mexico,
    and Arizona, which were traditional Apache territories
    until the coming of the Europeans. Due to encroachment by Spain
    and later Mexico, the Chokonen and Nednhi-Chiricahua
    became increasingly dependent upon food rations issued
    by the Mexican government to placate them.
    When this practice was abruptly ended in 1831,
    the various Chiricahua bands resumed raids to acquire food.


    The Mexican government began a series of military operations
    in order to either capture or neutralize the Chiricahua,
    but they received stiff resistance from Cochise and the Apache
    who were implacable foes.
    Mexican troops were largely unsuccessful in their attempts
    and were often fought to a standstill by the Apache.
    As part of their attempts at controlling the Chiricahua,
    Mexican forces, often with the help of American
    and Native American mercenaries, began to kill Apache civilians,
    including Cochise's father.
    This hardened Cochise's resolve and gave the Chiricahua
    more reason for vengeance.
    Mexican forces were finally able to capture Cochise in 1848
    during an Apache raid on Fronteras, Sonora,
    but they exchanged him for nearly a dozen Mexican prisoners.

    Border Tensions and Fighting
    The region inhabited by the Apache had experienced increased
    tension between the Apache and European settlers
    (including early Spanish encroachment) from about 1831
    until the greater part of the area was annexed by the
    United States in 1850, which ushered in a brief period of relative peace.
    Cochise worked as a woodcutter at the stagecoach station
    in Apache Pass for the Butterfield Overland Mail line.


    The tenuous peace did not last as American encroachmen
    into Apache territory continued.
    The formal peace ended in 1861 when an Apache raiding party
    drove away a local rancher's cattle and kidnapped his twelve-year-old son.
    Cochise and five others of his band were falsely accused of the incident (
    which had actually been done by the Coyotero band of Apaches).
    The six suspects were ordered by an inexperienced Army officer
    (Lt. George Bascom) to report to the fort for questioning.
    Although they maintained their innocence, the group
    was arrested and imprisoned.
    Cochise escaped immediately by drawing a knife and cutting
    his way out of the tent.
    Cochise was shot three times as he fled.


    The rest of the group soon mounted an escape attempt in
    which one of their number was killed.
    Cochise took hostages to use in negotiations to free t
    he other four Chiricahua.
    However, the plan backfired and both sides killed
    all their hostages in what was later known as the "Bascom Affair".
    Bascom's retaliation included hanging Cochise's brother
    and two of his nephews, which served to further enrage Cochise.



    Cochise then joined with his father-in-law Mangas Coloradas
    (Red Sleeves, Kan-da-zis Tlishishen), the Chihenne-Chiricahua Apache chief,
    in a long series of retaliatory skirmishes and raids among the settlements.
    The Battle of Dragoon Springs was one of these engagements.
    During the raids many people were killed on both sides,
    but the Apache began to achieve the upper hand, which prompted the
    United States Army to send an expedition (led by General James Carleton).



    Apache Pass Conflict
    At Apache Pass in 1862, Cochise and Mangas Coloradas,
    with around 500 fighters, held their ground against a force of
    California volunteers under General James Henry Carleton
    until howitzer artillery fire was brought to bear on their position.


    According to scout John C. Cremony and historian Dan L. Thrapp,
    the howitzer fire sent the Apaches into an immediate retreat.
    But Carleton's biographer, Aurora Hunt, wrote,
    "This was the first time that the Indians had faced artillery fire.
    Nevertheless, they fought stubbornly for several hours before they fled."
    Capt. Thomas Roberts was persuaded by the engagement
    that it would be best to find a route around Apache Pass, which he did.
    Gen. Carleton thus continued unhindered to New Mexico
    and subsequently took over as commander of the territory.


    In January 1863 Gen. Joseph Rodman West, under orders from
    Gen. Carleton, was able to capture Mangas Coloradas
    by duping him into a conference under a flag of truce.
    During what was to be a peaceful parley session,
    the Americans took the unsuspecting Mangas Coloradas
    prisoner and later executed him.
    This continued a series of incidents that fanned the flame
    s of enmity between the encroaching Americans and the Apache.
    For Cochise, the Americans held nothing sacred
    and had violated the rules of war by capturing Mangas Coloradas
    during a parley session.
    Cochise and the Apache continued their raids against
    American and Mexican settlements and military positions
    throughout the 1860s.

    Capture, Escape, and Retirement


    ...
    Cochise Stronghold, Dragoon Mountains, Southeastern Arizona.


    Following various skirmishes, Cochise and his men were
    gradually driven into the Dragoon Mountains
    but were nevertheless able to use the mountains as cover
    and as a base from which to continue significant skirmishes
    against white settlements.
    This was the situation until 1871 when General George Crook
    assumed command and used other Apaches as scouts
    and informants and was thereby able to force Cochise's men to surrender. Cochise was taken into custody in September of that year.


    The next year, the Chiricahua were ordered to Tularosa Reservation
    located in New Mexico, but refused to leave their ancestral lands
    in Arizona, which were guaranteed to them under treaty.
    Cochise managed to escape again and renewed raids and skirmishes
    against settlements through most of 1872.
    A new treaty was later negotiated by General Oliver O. Howard,
    with the help of Tom Jeffords who had become blood brother to Cochise,
    as the Americans relented to some of the Apaches' terms.
    Cochise quietly retired to an Arizona reservation, where he died of natural causes in 1874.


    Family


    ..
    Taza, son of Cochise..........................Naches (or Wei-chi-ti), son of Cochise, with wife. c1884


    He married Dos-teh-seh, the daughter of Mangas Coloradas,
    in the 1830s. Their children were Taza, born in 1842-died 1876,
    and Naiche, born in 1856-died 1919.


    Edited and Compiled by ethanedwards.
    Information and Photographs from wikipedia

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 6 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • From everything I've ever read about Cochise (which is quite a bit), he was a very admirable, honorable man (unlike the Americans with whom he dealt).

    All of my life I've felt a deep sense of shame at the way this government and my people treated the American Indians. I still have much sympathy for their plight, since most of them are consigned to reservations (another word for a concentration camp, far as I'm concerned) and live in deep poverty.

    De gustibus non est disputandum

  • I hope this does not get anyones Bowles in A Up-Roar because my post on Cochise has some this Same Info. that Ethanedwards put up Earlier, But I live Right in The Middle of Apache Country here in Arizona and The Apaches like to talk about Cochise as
    Their Greatest Chief !
    :beer:
    Here is more Info. on The Great Apache Chief Cochise,
    Then if you have time you can Click at the Bottom of the Page and watch the Complete Film that I put up on YouTube .
    "Broken Arrow"
    ==========
    It is about as close as you can get to the Real History on Cochise and Tom Jeffords that were Blood Brothers !
    :wink_smile:
    I know Something about this Film as it was done in Sedona, Arizona in the late 1940s, and I got Killed 7 Times In The Film !!!



    And you are right about Jeff Chandler He was Jewish and Michael Ansara was Born in Syria and came to the U.S. when he was 2 years old, but all of the other 250 Real Apaches were brought in from The White Mountain Apache Reservation here by The 26 Bar Ranch.

    Chilibill





    __________________
    OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER

  • A better end then Geronimo had. Apparently Cochise was able to stay on his tribal land.


    Bringing up to a new post.

    "A people that values their Privileges above it's Principles. Soon looses both." Dwight Eisenhower