Chiricahua Chief Cochise
Chiricahua Chief Cochise was famous for his skills as a warrior, leader of an uprising that began in 1861, his truthfulness, and honor (newworldencyclopedia.org). He was born in the early 1800’s -- the exact date is unknown, but it’s suspected to be around 1805. (historynet.com). He died on June 8, 1874 (historynet.com). He was a large man, over six feet tall, with a muscular frame, and long black hair (newworldencyclopedia.org). He was never photographed (newworldencyclopedia.org). Chief Cochise was a leader of a band of Chiricahua Apache (thewildwest.org). His warriors were known to be fierce and resistant to government (thewildwest.org). Their territory was between Southern Arizona and Northern New Mexico (thewildwest.org). They fought in the battles of Bascome Affair, Battle of…show more content… They held a meeting in a tent, Cochise had six other men with him, three of which were relatives (thewildwest.com). The army men weren’t convinced that he was innocent and tried to place him under arrest (historynet.com). They decided to hold his family members until the child returned (historynet.com). He then pulled a knife out and slashed the tent and escaped into the bushes (thewildwest.com). The six men that were with him were then placed under arrest, tortured, and lynched. Soon after they were captured, they took in Mexican men and tried to negotiate and exchange hostages. When the army refused, they killed and mutilated the hostages (historynet.com). Angry at what the Mexicans had done, anyone who crossed on their territory was killed. The act of what they had done erased any sense of fairness in his mind, he was out for revenge. Sixty days after the lynchings happened reports listed one hundred and fifty white travelers along the Overland trail killed. Cochise and his small band held off the army for more than a decade
