AZ: The History of Arizona podcast

If you got a fancy new railroad, why would you not tell the Pope about it?

All throughout the 1880s, Prescott had one great fear. Then in 1889, because of Phoenix, it came true.

Because any truly epic story needs a correspondingly grand conclusion.

The Apache Wars came to an end on September 4, 1886. But, as with everything else in the 25-year conflict, the road to this ending would not be straight or smooth. And it would prove to not be a happy ending for the Chiricahua.

It’s time for Geronimo to try and strike a deal - first with the Mexicans, then with the Americans - but he quickly finds out that he is far from being able to set his own terms. (Note: I lost my voice about halfway through my recording sessions, so apologies that the ending sounds worse than the beginning!)

In July 1886, General Miles settled on a multi-prong strategy to deal with the Chiricahua. And one of those prongs involved Geronimo, two scouts, and an Army officer who was doing his best not to be involved.

The summer of 1886 would prove to be a disheartening campaign season for both the renegade Chiricahua and the Army soldiers tasked with finding them.

Let’s meet the next contestant in our long-running game of ‘Who Will Catch Geronimo?'

With the arrival of two items of bad news, the Apache Wars changed in an instant. And that means it’s time to say good bye to the Gray Fox himself, General George Crook.

In March 1886, General George Crook and Geronimo would negotiate for the last time. Raised tempers, impatience and a whole lot of liquor would ensure this meeting was not the end Crook hoped it was.

Bad luck is everyone in the story of the Apache Wars, but the most tragic example might be that of Captain Emmett Crawford on January 11, 1886.

We turn our attention back to Geronimo as he, Nana, Naiche, Chihuahua, and Chihuahua’s brother, Ulzana, each in turn decide to take the offensive and raid into Arizona and New Mexico. Meanwhile, top Army officials consider how to handle the Chiricahua Apache once and for all.

Captain Davis and Lieutenant Davis must deal with hostile terrain and hostile Mexicans while trying to hunt down hostile Apache. And, just for fun, we will throw in some more Davises to boot.

General Crook and his troops find out the hard way that, in this case, the sequel is truly not as good as the original.

With Geronimo and others on the loose, Chiricahua unity fracturing, public opinion turning, and the Army unable to win the chase to the border, Crook prepares to wage a second, harder campaign down in Mexico.

Illegal tiswin brewing, an inexperienced officer, an unsent telegram, Geronimo’s paranoia, and a not-so-white lie will bring everything spiraling downward for the Chiricahua Apache at Turkey Creek.

The Chiricahua Apache’s new home was idyllic, but problems with illicit moonshine would make sure that everyone was always just a little bit on edge.

In our 100th episode, things are a little tense at San Carlos. A new leader among the Chiricahua is pushing the limits, the Apache want to move some place better, the military commander and Indian Agent are at each other’s throats, and two over-eager custom officials almost blow Geronimo finally turning himself into Crook.

In the fall of 1883, Crook and other Americans had two questions on their minds: What the heck was up with the Apache still in Mexico and where the heck was Charley McComas?

Crook managed to get hundreds of Chiricahua from Mexico back to the reservation in Arizona … only to be told that the Indian Agent didn’t want to lift a finger to help them.

Crook and his scouts have a travel montage, while Geronimo’s Power grants him a remarkable vision. These two threads will converge high in the Sierra Madres, where the Chiricahua Apache will make a fateful choice.

History sometimes turns on very small hinges. In this case, it was the seemingly innocuous decision of a man named Peaches that would help determine how the next chapter of the Apache Wars would play out.

Organizational shakeups in 1882 returned General George R. Crook to Arizona. He had big plans for how to bring the Apache to heel, but first, it was time to put right everything down at San Carlos.

As the Apache sought refuge in Mexico, they kept finding ambushes laid out for them. At a certain point, they decided to set up a snare all of their own.

In which Geronimo, Juh, and Naiche decide that since they broke out of San Carlos, every other Chiricahua Apache had to do it too - and they wouldn’t take no for an answer.