In the early sixties United States troops invited the Apache chiefs into a tent under promise, Geronimo states, that they were to be given a feast. Geronimo says: “When in the tent they were attacked by soldiers. Our chief, Mangus-Colorado, and several other warriors, by cutting through the tent, escaped; but most of the warriors were killed or captured.” Heavy fighting followed. Such Apaches as spoke English visited the officers and advised them where were located camps they sought, and while the soldiers hunted for these camps, Geronimo and his warriors, “watched them from our hiding-places and laughed at their failures.”
In 1863 the favorite chief, Mangus-Colorado, was put in the guardhouse. He had been told by General West that he would be protected if he made peace. As the old chief entered he said: “This is my end.” During the night some one threw a stone through the window and struck him in the breast. He sprang up, and as he did so the guard shot and killed him.
In the seventies the United States troops sent for Victorio and Geronimo. As soon as they entered the camp they were taken to headquarters and tried by court-martial. Victorio was released and Geronimo was put in chains, remaining in shackles four months.
For the next ensuing years there was considerable fighting, the Apaches being afraid to trust the United States authorities and the frontier element anxious that the Apaches be exterminated. Our troops occasionally defeated the Indians but were more often repulsed. General Crook took away the Apaches’ cattle and horses, and as few of the Apaches were horse Indians, preferring to fight or hunt on foot, and as the cattle were an incentive to thrift and industry, this action of General Crook’s was not a severe blow to the Indians.
The General followed the Apaches into Mexico and held an interview. I quote Geronimo’s description of what occurred.[46]
“Said the General: ‘Why did you leave the reservation?’
“I said: ‘You told me that I might live in the reservation the same as white people lived. One year I raised a crop of corn, and gathered and stored it, and the next year I put in a crop of oats, and when the crop was almost ready to harvest, you told your soldiers to put me in prison, and if I resisted to kill me. If I had been let alone I would now have been in good circumstances, but instead of that you and the Mexicans were hunting me with soldiers.’