Apache Indians

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Apache Prisoners of War

The Chiricahuas, who were once one of the most feared Native American tribes of the southwest, became prisoners of war by the United States for a period of twenty seven years. This period of time was the longest captivity a Native American tribe had ever been imprisoned. The Chiricahuas imprisonment began in 1886, when the United States Army transported four hundred Native Americans from San Carlos and Fort Apache reservations to army posts in Florida (Davis). By 1887, the bulk of the Chiricahuas had been transported to the Mount Vernon barracks in Alabama, and the rest of the dislocated band of Chiricahuas, including the now famous Geronimo were reunited by 1888 (Davis). During the period of 1887-1894 the Chiricahuas were forced into a life of many hardships that would affect their cultural and economic status for years to come.

Before the Chiricahuas arrived at Mount Vernon, they lived in the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. The Chiricahuas are one of the seven Apachean speaking-tribes that called themselves N’ de, which means person or Apache (Davis). Their first contact with the United States military came as a result of the Mexican war, which resulted in their land being divided between Mexico and the United States. The United States authorities then called for a policy of restricting those Native Americans of the area to reservations in the region. In 1861, a Native American by the name of Cochise, lead a bloody eleven year resistance against this policy (Davis). As early as the 1870’s, Cochise facing almost complete devastation of his people made a peace agreement to confide his people to a reservation. Cochise’s death in 1874 sparked a new resistance and leader to emerge named, Geronimo.

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...s regulars in all Indian units of up to two thousand. Not many of these Apache were interested in the idea of a mandatory five year enlistment period. Only seventy eight Chiricahuas enlisted in the all Indian infantry army. This all Indian unit, which was referred to as “I Company”, was the largest all Native American units ever created. The Chiricahua that enlisted in this company received the same army pay, haircut, drills, discipline and duty as all the other white and black troops.

In October 1894, the Chiricahua in Alabama were relocated to Fort Sill in the Indian Territory. The social and economic changes that these Chiricahua Apaches were forced to go under during their brief stay at Mount Vernon Barracks would carry with those people for the rest of their lives. It was not until 1913 that the federal government finally officially freed the Chiricahua Apaches.

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