From Cochise to Geronimo: The Chiricahua Apaches, 1874–1886 (Volume 268) (The Civilization of the American Indian Series)

i loved this book. i came away with more knowledge of the apache tribe than i ever thought possible. don't be mistaken though, this is a history book. sometimes my head was spinning with dates and places in Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona. occaissionally i had to gloss ocer some details because i was a little confused. but i was NEVER bored by this book

Edwin R. Sweeney has written several books on the Apache Indians. His first two focused on earlier leaders Cochise and Mangas Coloradas. The book on Cochise was well received by most reviewers. I believe Sweeney has matured as a historian since then. With the Mangas Coloradas biography, I could see that he was mining the Mexican sources better than other historians had. In his latest work "From Cochise to Geronimo", he has continued to develop those sources. When describing operations by the Mexican nationals it is clear that he has been looking carefully at the Mexican sources. He clearly has accessed primary source material to describe the Apache actions while in Mexico, yet he does so with a critical eye. Sweeney makes sure to compare sources that disagree, for instance: the Apache view of Chatto as described in the works of Eve Ball is compared with contemporary military dispatches and Sweeney attempts to resolve those differences. This all is done in a very readable format. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about this period in American history as well as to those who want a good one volume work that describes the final years of the Apache conflict.

This is the complete day by day, play by play account of the Apache leadership and their desperate fight to preserve their territory, culture and physical well-being. It is also a complete picture of the white civilians, generals and other army men who fought with, against and sometimes for the Apache. It is detailed almost beyond comprehension, but as a scholarly history it needs to be that day. What research.

I used the book to confirm stories of my great-grandmother who died in 1985 at the age of 109.

Great book. Informational

This is an excellent book. There are no "dead spots", this book is solid, valuable information to any Native American History buff. If I could ask for anything, it would be larger print for my old eyes. Sweeney always seems to hit the mark.

Title is deceiving. Very little to do with the Indians wars. Spent most of the time discussing the reservations. Not what I believed the book was going to cover

A unique treatment of Apache indian history during this period.

This book was first published in 2010, has 581 pages, 25 chapters, 24 B/W photos and 4 good maps. The book is dedicated to author's daughter 'Courtney' who died aged 20. EDWIN RUSSELL SWEENEY (born 1950) is a retired professional accountant. With his wife JOANNE, they had 3 daughters and now many grandchildren. This book covers the story of Chiricahua Apaches between 1874 and 1886.After the deaths of Cochise (8.6.1874) and Mangas Coloradas, their sons Naiche and Mangas took the leads in their young lives. They also fled the reservations because of mistrust of American military. Their raids into Mexico continued along with other Apaches, into Sonora. White man's whiskey affected the Indians. On 3.5.1876, Indians were to be moved to San Carlos. Chiricahua reservation was abolished and between 1876 and 1886, their numbers were reduced from 1275 to 525. The World was changing around the Apaches and Western Apaches and Navajo scouts were helping Americans to hunt them down. While Mexicans wanted Apache exterminated, the Apache struggled to settle in the new reservations, due to fever and heat.On 24.4.1877, Geronimo was sent for and a trap was set for him at San Carlos reservation. Victorio and Loco were in the Ojo Caliente reservation. The Indian Agents practiced corruption. In the end of 1879, Chief Juh also came into the reservation near San Carlos. In 1880, Indians were moved to the mountains away from malaria (shaking sickness). Cornered by the Mexicans, Victorio took his own life on 15.10.1889, aged 60. Geronimo and others crossed into America and escorted all Indians from San Carlos into Mexico, fighting with soldiers as they retreated to Sierra Madre Mountains. At Alisos Creek, Mexicans ambushed the Indians and shot many at Casas Grandes.In January 1883, Mexicans killed families of the Chiefs - Chatto, Geronimo, Juh, Bonito and Naiche. On 20.5.1883, Geronimo came into camp of general Crook. On 21.9. 1883, intoxicated Chief Juh, fell off his horse at Casa Grande river and died. On 20.3.1884, Geronimo had come back into San Carlos from Mexico. Naiche and Chatto had already come in. They moved to healthier location of Turkey Creek. On 17.5.1885, there was an uprising and exodus of Apaches from reservations, crossing the border into Mexico. In June 1885, General Crook sent troops and scouts into Mexico. On 11.1.1886, Crawford was killed. On 25.3.1886, Crook came into Embodus Canyon and met Geronimo, Naiche, Ulzana ,Chihuahua and Nana. When the Apaches agreed to surrender, Crook left for Fort Bowie, next day. So the Apaches got drunk.On 2.4.1886, Crook resigned. Chihuahua and his people were moved to Fort Marion, Florida. On 26.3.1886, Geronimo and Naiche agreed to surrender and see their families. On 4th September, 1886, the Apache were taken to Fort Bowie accompanying general Miles. The Apache were put on to the train wagons and they left Bowie Station on 8th September, arriving at Fort Marion, Florida on 20th September. Here they spent 27 years as prisoners of war, including the scouts who served the Americans. Men were separated from the women and children. They suffered from malaria, dysentery, anxiety and TB. Their children were moved to Carlisle Indian School. Many died. The Chiricahua were eventually moved to Mount Vernon, Alabama. In October 1894, they were finally moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In April 1913, they were moved to Mascalero Reservation, new Mexico. Nana died in 1896, Chihauhua in 1901, Ulzana and Geronimo in 1909, Naiche in 1921 and Chatto in 1934.Some other books of interest are:-(1) Life Among the Apaches, Cremony, 1868(2) Nine Years Among Indians, Lehmann, 1927 (2017)(3) Six Years with Texas rangers, Gillett, 1963 (2017)(4) In the days of Victorio, Eve Bell, 1970 (1997)(5) Cochise, Sweeney, 1991(6) Mangas Coloradas, Sweeney, 1998(7) Empire of the Summer Moon, Gwynne, 2010(8) Indian Nations of North America, Nat Geo, 2010(9) The Old West, Hyslop, 2015(10)Thunder in the Mountain, Sharfstein, 2017Having born in Kenya, I enjoyed reading this large book.

This book completes a trilogy on this Southeastern Arizona tribe, the first two being biographies of Cochise and Mangus Coloradas.In the decade after Cochise's death the tribe struggled to survive and their relations with the US government deteriorated. It was a turbulent period and one of considerable complexity. After the death of Cochise and the murder of Mangas Coloradas one important event, from which the seeds of distrust were sown, was the proposal to remove the tribe from its ancestral homelands to the the reviled San Carlos reservation. They had just known some idyllic years on two reservations when they accepted the fact that accommodation with the Americans was necessary for their survival. Some made the move to San Carlos while others refused. Some fled to Mexico and from their they conducted raids on American soil.After Cochise there was no dominant tribal chief and this enables concentration here upon a number of individuals who provided direction to the four bands, such as Taza, Naiche, Victorio and Chato etc. They were important leaders who have been overshadowed in the literature by the Geronimo war which ends the period, and which has been the subject of numerous writings. The years leading up to this were also important and this is why Sweeney's book is so valuable to the overall picture, being as thorough as it is on the period as on the more active and miitary conflicts regarding Apache raids and reprisals. Of course the well-known figures are present: George Crook, Nelson Miles, John Clum, Emmet Crawford, Charles Gatewood - and Tom Jeffords, who continues to have a considerable role to play after the death of his 'blood brother' Cochise.The book is very detailed and intenesly focussed. Sweeney has drawn upon numerous American and Mexican archives, some recently opened. Its 700 pages provides a thorough history of the period in this region and is highly recommended.

an excellent and comprehensive volume. as a student of american native history over many years,i was devastated two years ago to lose many of the books that i had taken years to collect, to a flood. [ pre internet days].I was delighted therefore to find that this book contained a very well written and thorough history of the Apache conflict from ,as it says, Cochise to Geronimo [ 18 60s to 1880s]. would thoroughly recommend.

Comprehensive history of the last yearsa of the Chiricahua apaches.

bought for my husband, great read