Cochise | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bronze bust of imagined likeness of Cochise by Betty Butts,Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Arizona | |
| Born | c. 1805 (1805) Chiricahua country, underSpanish occupation |
| Died | June 8, 1874 (aged 68–69) Cochise Stronghold,Dragoon Mountains, Arizona, U.S. |
| Buried | Dragoon Mountains, Arizona, U.S. |
| Allegiance | Chiricahua Apache Indians |
| Years of service | 1861–1872 |
| Rank | Chief (or leader) of Chiricahua Apaches |
| Battles / wars | Apache Wars |
Cochise (/koʊˈtʃiːs/koh-CHEESS;Apache:Shi-ka-She orA-da-tli-chi,lit. 'having the quality/strength of an oak'; laterK'uu-ch'ish orCheis,lit. 'oak';c. 1805 – June 8, 1874) was the leader of theChiricahui local group of the Chokonen and principalnantan of the Chokonen band of aChiricahuaApache. A key war leader during theApache Wars, he led an uprising that began in 1861 and persisted until a peace treaty was negotiated in 1872.Cochise County is named after him.[1]
Cochise (or "Cheis") was one of the most noted Apache leaders (along withGeronimo andMangas Coloradas) to resist intrusions by Mexicans and 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. He was about 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed about 175 pounds (79 kg).[2]: 21 In his own language, his nameCheis meant "having the quality or strength of oak."[2]: 22
Cochise and the Chokonen-Chiricahua lived in the area that is now the northern region ofSonora, Mexico;New Mexico, andArizona, which they had settled in sometime before the arrival of theEuropean explorers and colonists.[3] As Spain and later Mexico attempted to gain dominion over the Chiricahua lands, the indigenous groups became increasingly resistant. Cycles of warfare developed, which the Apache mostly won. Eventually, the Spanish tried a different approach; they tried to make the Apache dependent (thereby placating them), giving them older firearms and liquor rations issued by the colonial government (this was called the "Galvez Peace Policy"). After Mexico gained independence from Spain and took control of this territory, it ended the practice, perhaps lacking the resources (and/or possibly the will) to continue it. The various Chiricahua bands resumed raiding in the 1830s to acquire what they wanted after the Mexicans stopped selling these goods to them.
As a result, the Mexican government began a series of military operations to stop the raiding by the Chiricahua, but they were fought to a standstill by the Apache. Cochise's father was killed in the fighting. Cochise deepened his resolve, and the Chiricahua Apache pursued vengeance against the Mexicans. Mexican forces captured Cochise at one point in 1848 during an Apache raid onFronteras, Sonora, but he was exchanged for nearly a dozen Mexican prisoners.
Beginning with early Spanish colonization around 1600, the Apache suffered tension and strife with European settlers until the greater part of the area was acquired by the United States in 1850 following theMexican War. For a time, the two peoples managed peaceful relations. In the late 1850s, Cochise may have supplied firewood for theButterfield Overland Mailstagecoach station atApache Pass.[2]: 21
The tenuous peace did not last, as American encroachment into Apache territory continued. In 1861, theBascom affair was a catalyst for armed confrontation. An Apache raiding party had driven away a local rancher's cattle and kidnapped his 12-year-old stepson (Felix Ward, who later became known asMickey Free). Cochise and his band were mistakenly accused of the incident (which had been carried out by another band, Coyotero Apache).[3] Army officer Lt. George Bascom invited Cochise to the Army's encampment in the belief that the warrior was responsible for the incident. Cochise maintained his innocence and offered to look into the matter with other Apache groups, but the officer tried to arrest him. Cochise escaped by drawing a knife and slashing his way out of the tent,[3] but was shot at as he fled.[3]
Bascom captured some of Cochise's relatives, who apparently were taken by surprise as Cochise escaped. Cochise eventually also took hostages to use in negotiations to free the Apache Indians.[3] However, the negotiations fell apart, because the arrival of U.S. troop reinforcements led Cochise to believe that the situation was spiraling out of his control. Both sides eventually killed all their remaining hostages. Cochise went on to carry out about 11 years of relentless warfare, reducing much of the Mexican/American settlements in southern Arizona to a burned-out wasteland. Dan Thrapp estimated the total death toll of settlers and Mexican/American travelers as 5,000, but most historians believe it was more likely a few hundred.[4]: 15–18 The mistaken arrest of Cochise by Lt. Bascom is still remembered by the Chiricahua's descendants today, who describe the incident as "Cut the Tent".[5]
Cochise joined his father-in-lawMangas Coloradas (Red Sleeves,Kan-da-zis Tlishishen), the powerful Chihenne-Chiricahua chief, in a long series of retaliatory skirmishes and raids on the white settlements and ranches.[3] TheFirst Battle of Dragoon Springs was one of these engagements. During the raids, many people were killed, but the Apache quite often had the upper hand. The United States was distracted by its own internal conflict of the looming Civil War, and had begun to pull military forces out of the area. Additionally, the Apaches were highly adapted to living and fighting in the harsh terrain of the Southwest. Many years passed before the US Army, using tactics conceived by GeneralGeorge Crook[4]: 95–100 and later adopted by GeneralNelson A. Miles,[4]: 350–51 was able to effectively challenge the Apache warriors on their own lands.
At Apache Pass in 1862, Cochise and Mangas Coloradas, with around 500 fighters, held their ground against a New Mexico-bound force of California volunteers under GeneralJames Henry Carleton untilcarriage-mountedhowitzer artillery fire was brought to bear on their positions in the rocks above.[6]
According to scoutJohn C. Cremony and historian Dan L. Thrapp, the howitzer fire sent the Apaches into an immediate retreat. TheBattle of Apache Pass was one of the rare pitched battles the Apaches fought against the Army. Normally, the Apaches' tactics involvedguerrilla-style warfare. Capt. Thomas Roberts was persuaded by this conflict that it would be best to find a route around Apache Pass, which he did. Gen. Carleton continued unhindered to New Mexico and subsequently took over as commander of the territory.[6]
In January 1863, Gen.Joseph R. West, under orders from Gen. Carleton, captured Mangas Coloradas by luring him into a conference under a flag of truce. During what was to be a peacefulparley session, the Americans took Mangas Coloradas prisoner and later murdered him.[2]: 41–42 This fanned the flames of enmity between the encroaching Americans and the Apache. Cochise believed that the Americans had violated the rules of war by capturing and killing Mangas Coloradas during a parley session. Cochise and the Apache continued their raids against U.S. and Mexican settlements and military positions throughout the 1860s.
Following various skirmishes, Cochise and his men were gradually driven into Arizona'sDragoon Mountains, but used the mountains for cover and as a base from which to continue attacks against white settlements. Cochise evaded capture and continued his raids against white settlements and travelers until 1872. In 1871, GeneralOliver O. Howard was ordered to find Cochise, and in 1872, Howard was accompanied by his aide 1st LtJoseph A. Sladen and CaptainSamuel S. Sumner to Arizona to negotiate a peace treaty with Cochise.Tom Jeffords, the Apache leader's only white friend, was also present. A treaty was negotiated on October 12, 1872.[7] Based on statements by Sumner and descriptions by Sladen, modern historians such asRobert M. Utley believe that Cochise's Spanish interpreter wasGeronimo.[8]
After the peace treaty, Cochise retired to the short-livedChiricahua Reservation (1872–1876), with his friend Jeffords as agent. He died of natural causes (probably abdominal cancer) in 1874, and was buried in the rocks above one of his favorite camps in Arizona's Dragoon Mountains, now called the Cochise Stronghold. Only his people and Tom Jeffords knew the exact location of his resting place, which they never disclosed.[9]
Many of Cochise's descendants reside at theMescalero Apache Reservation near Ruidoso, New Mexico, and in Oklahoma with theFort Sill Apache Tribe of Chiricahua Warm Springs Apache.[3]
Whether a portrait of Cochise exists is unknown; a reported portrait is actually that of a 1903Pueblo of Isleta man named Juan Rey Abeita.[10]
Cochise married Dos-teh-seh (Dos-tes-ey,Doh-teh-seh – "Something-at-the-campfire-already-cooked", b. 1813), the daughter of Mangas Coloradas, who was the leader of the Warm Springs and Mimbreño local groups of the Chihenne band. Their children wereTaza (1842–1876) andNaiche (1856–1919).[11]
 | This articlemay containirrelevant references topopular culture. Please helpimprove it by removing such content and addingcitations toreliable,independent sources.(February 2018) |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
