HEAVY FIGHTING
About 1873 we were again attacked by Mexican troops in our settlement,
but we defeated them. Then we decided to make raids into Mexico. We
moved our whole camp, packing all our belongings on mules and horses,
went into Mexico and made camp in the mountains near Nacori. In moving
our camp in this way we wanted no one to spy on us, and if we passed a
Mexican's home we usually killed the inmates. However, if they offered
to surrender and made no resistance or trouble in any way, we would take
them prisoners. Frequently we would change our place of rendezvous; then
we would take with us our prisoners if they were willing to go, but if
they were unruly they might be killed. I remember one Mexican in the
Sierra Madre Mountains who saw us moving and delayed us for some time.
We took the trouble to get him, thinking the plunder of his house would
pay us for the delay, but after we had killed him we found nothing in
his house worth having. We ranged in these mountains for over a year,
raiding the Mexican settlements for our supplies, but not having any
general engagement with Mexican troops; then we returned to our homes in
Arizona. After remaining in Arizona about a year we returned to Mexico,
and went into hiding in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Our camp was near
Nacori, and we had just organized bands of warriors for raiding the
country, when our scouts discovered Mexican troops coming toward our
camp to attack us.
_Battle of White Hill_
The chief of the Nedni Apaches, Whoa, was with me and commanded one
division. The warriors were all marched toward the troops and met them
at a place about five miles from our camp. We showed ourselves to the
soldiers and they quickly rode to the top of a hill and dismounted,
placing their horses on the outside for breastworks. It was a round
hill, very steep and rocky, and there was no timber on its sides. There
were two companies of Mexican cavalry, and we had about sixty warriors.
We crept up the hill behind the rocks, and they kept up a constant fire,
but I had cautioned our warriors not to expose themselves to the
Mexicans.
I knew that the troopers would waste their ammunition. Soon we had
killed all their horses, but the soldiers would lie behind these and
shoot at us. While we had killed several Mexicans, we had not yet lost a
man. However, it was impossible to get very close to them in this way,
and I deemed it best to lead a charge against them.
We had been fighting ever since about one o'clock, and about the middle
of the afternoon, seeing that we were making no further progress, I
gave the sign for the advance. The war-whoop sounded and we leaped
forward from every stone over the Mexicans' dead horses, fighting hand
to hand. The attack was so sudden that the Mexicans, running first this
way and then that, became so confused that in a few minutes we had
killed them all. Then we scalped the slain, carried away our dead, and
secured all the arms we needed. That night we moved our camp eastward
through the Sierra Madre Mountains into Chihuahua. No troops molested us
here and after about a year we returned to Arizona.
[Illustration: GERONIMO Apache War Chief
ASA DEKLUGIE Official interpreter for Geronimo. Son of Whoa, chief of
the Nedni Apaches. Chief elect to succeed Geronimo at the latter's
death]
Almost every year we would live a part of the time in Old Mexico. There
were at this time many settlements in Arizona; game was not plentiful,
and besides we liked to go down into Old Mexico. Besides, the lands of
the Nedni Apaches, our friends and kinsmen, extended far into Mexico.
Their Chief, Whoa, was as a brother to me, and we spent much of our
time in his territory.
About 1880 we were in camp in the mountains south of Casa Grande, when a
company of Mexican troops attacked us. There were twenty-four Mexican
soldiers and about forty Indians. The Mexicans surprised us in camp and
fired on us, killing two Indians the first volley. I do not know how
they were able to find our camp unless they had excellent scouts and our
guards were careless, but there they were shooting at us before we knew
they were near. We were in the timber, and I gave the order to go
forward and fight at close range. We kept behind rocks and trees until
we came within ten yards of their line, then we stood up and both sides
shot until all the Mexicans were killed. We lost twelve warriors in this
battle.
This place was called by the Indians "Sko-la-ta." When we had buried our
dead and secured what supplies the Mexicans had, we went northeast. At
a place near Nacori Mexican troops attacked us. At this place, called by
the Indians "Nokode," there were about eighty warriors, Bedonkohe and
Nedni Apaches. There were three companies of Mexican troops. They
attacked us in an open field, and we scattered, firing as we ran. They
followed us, but we dispersed, and soon were free from their pursuit;
then we reassembled in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Here a council was
held, and as Mexican troops were coming from many quarters, we
disbanded.
In about four months we reassembled at Casa Grande to make a treaty of
peace. The chiefs of the town of Casa Grande, and all of the men of Casa
Grande, made a treaty with us. We shook hands and promised to be
brothers. Then we began to trade, and the Mexicans gave us mescal. Soon
nearly all the Indians were drunk. While they were drunk two companies
of Mexican troops, from another town, attacked us, killed twenty
Indians, and captured many more.[22] We fled in all directions.
FOOTNOTE:
[22] It is impossible to get Geronimo to understand that these troops
served the general government instead of any particular town. He still
thinks each town independent and each city a separate tribe. He cannot
understand the relation of cities to the general government.