Victorio and the Warm Springs Apaches Escape San Carlos (1877)

On September 2, 1877, Loco, Victorio, Nana, and other Chihende fled San Carlos. Loco said they left because of the unjust removal from their own country, the harsh manner of their removal (since many Apaches were sick), and neglect by agents at San Carlos. Victorio blamed continual fighting there with Coyotero Apaches.

After battling troops and Apache scouts, the Chihende were allowed to stay at Ojo Caliente until October 1878. Soldiers then took many of them back to San Carlos. Victorio, however, refused to return.

“They made very strong protests against going, and said that they could not live at San Carlos, that the Indians there were unfriendly to them, were constantly abusing them, and imposing on them, and had even killed some of them, that the water there didn’t agree with them, that their arms, and horses were taken away from them and given to unfriendly San Carlos Indians, that they were willing, and wanted to do as the Government wanted them to, but asked, and implored that they either be left at Ojo Caliente or given some other good place away from San Carlos.” (Captain Frank T. Bennett, Ninth Calvary, October 12, 1878, reporting his conversation with Victorio and Toggi at Ojo Caliente. Quoted in Thrapp 1974:210.)

Victorio alternately fought and negotiated with U. S. forces over the next two years. Following several encounters with Apache scouts, troops, and Buffalo Soldiers, he led his people into Mexico. On October 15 and 16, 1880 at Tres Castillos, Mexican troops killed and scalped Victorio along with most of his followers. Mexicans enslaved the survivors.

“The signal is given and the column moves forward, and behold! These waving plumes are the ghastly scalps of the fallen enemy, held aloft to the gazing crowd, who yell and cry, and follow along perfectly wild with excitement…. We count them, seventy-eight in number, sixteen of which are women and children…. The whole head of hair had been in most cases taken.” (On Terrazas’ march into Chihuahua City following the slaying of Victorio and others. “(A Chicago Times correspondent, reprinted in the Daily New Mexican. Quoted in Thrapp 1974:310-311. )

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Apaches Before 1886