Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Using oral histories told by relatives of the legendary Apache warriors Cochise, Geronimo, Victorio, and Mangas Coloradas as well as the personal diaries of others who were involved, author Steve Price paints a vivid and memorable portrait of a people.
"The Apache sense of place was essentially their culture." They worshiped one god-- Ussen-- who made them caretakers of the Earth, and if they did not care for it properly, it would be taken from them. They knew their homeland so intimately it was the major reason why they were able to hold off thousands of soldiers in America's longest war. For example, during one time period, Geronimo, along with thirty-four men, women, and children outran and outfought 5,000 American and 3,000 Mexican soldiers.
Even though so much Apache history has been wiped clean from their ancestral lands, Price includes many historic places (and the directions to them) that readers can visit. I was pleased to see that I'd been to most of the Arizona locations such as Cochise Stronghold, the Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Bowie, the Butterfield Overland Trail, and Skeleton Canyon.
But while my knowledge of the area greatly enhanced my enjoyment of Riding with Cochise, it was the history of the Apaches themselves that was vital. I learned so much about Cochise, Mangas Coloradas, Victorio, and Geronimo-- leaders known by their Spanish names because their actual names were too difficult for the Mexicans and Americans to pronounce.
The Apache leaders were honorable men. They wanted peace and did their best to achieve it. They upheld all the terms of any treaties they agreed to. However, it was impossible to trust those with whom they signed agreements. An American Army officer ordered one Apache leader to be murdered, and the Mexicans loved to bring the Apaches in under a flag of truce to then massacre them and collect the bounties on their scalps. No wonder the Apache fought so hard.
Riding with Cochise is a fast-paced, informative history of the American Southwest. The next time I'm traveling in southeastern Arizona, I'll have an even greater appreciation of the Apache, their history, and their homeland.
"The Apache sense of place was essentially their culture." They worshiped one god-- Ussen-- who made them caretakers of the Earth, and if they did not care for it properly, it would be taken from them. They knew their homeland so intimately it was the major reason why they were able to hold off thousands of soldiers in America's longest war. For example, during one time period, Geronimo, along with thirty-four men, women, and children outran and outfought 5,000 American and 3,000 Mexican soldiers.
Even though so much Apache history has been wiped clean from their ancestral lands, Price includes many historic places (and the directions to them) that readers can visit. I was pleased to see that I'd been to most of the Arizona locations such as Cochise Stronghold, the Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Bowie, the Butterfield Overland Trail, and Skeleton Canyon.
But while my knowledge of the area greatly enhanced my enjoyment of Riding with Cochise, it was the history of the Apaches themselves that was vital. I learned so much about Cochise, Mangas Coloradas, Victorio, and Geronimo-- leaders known by their Spanish names because their actual names were too difficult for the Mexicans and Americans to pronounce.
The Apache leaders were honorable men. They wanted peace and did their best to achieve it. They upheld all the terms of any treaties they agreed to. However, it was impossible to trust those with whom they signed agreements. An American Army officer ordered one Apache leader to be murdered, and the Mexicans loved to bring the Apaches in under a flag of truce to then massacre them and collect the bounties on their scalps. No wonder the Apache fought so hard.
Riding with Cochise is a fast-paced, informative history of the American Southwest. The next time I'm traveling in southeastern Arizona, I'll have an even greater appreciation of the Apache, their history, and their homeland.
