Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief (Volume 204)

by Edwin R. Sweeney

When it acquired New Mexico and Arizona, the United States inherited the territory of a people who had been a thorn in side of Mexico since 1821 and Spain before that. Known collectively as Apaches, these Indians lived in diverse, widely scattered groups with many names—Mescaleros, Chiricahuas, and Jicarillas, to name but three. Much has been written about them and their leaders, such as Geronimo, Juh, Nana, Victorio, and Mangas Coloradas, but no one wrote extensively about the greatest leader of them all: Cochise. Now, however, Edwin R. Sweeney has remedied this deficiency with his definitive biography. Cochise, a Chiricahua, was said to be the most resourceful, most brutal, most feared Apache. He and his warriors raided in both Mexico and the United States, crossing the border both ways to obtain sanctuary after raids for cattle, horses, and other livestock. Once only he was captured and imprisoned; on the day he was freed he vowed never to be taken again. From that day he gave no quarter and asked none. Always at the head of his warriors in battle, he led a charmed life, being wounded several times but always surviving. In 1861, when his brother was executed by Americans at Apache Pass, Cochise declared war. He fought relentlessly for a decade, and then only in the face of overwhelming military superiority did he agree to a peace and accept the reservation. Nevertheless, even though he was blamed for virtually every subsequent Apache depredation in Arizona and New Mexico, he faithfully kept that peace until his death in 1874. Sweeney has traced Cochise’s activities in exhaustive detail in both United States and Mexican Archives. We are not likely to learn more about Cochise than he has given us. His biography will stand as the major source for all that is yet to be written on Cochise.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Westerns, Native American

526 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

After visiting the Chiricahua Mountains and Apache Pass in Arizona, I wanted to know more about Cochise. Unfortunately, this book isn't what I was looking for. It's poorly written and way too much in the weeds with details of every engagement between the Apache and their adversaries/allies.

[Krzysztof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jestem pełen podziwu dla autora za wkład pracy jaki włożył w napisanie tej książki, jednak samo jej czytanie jest bardzo męczące, ponieważ ponad połowa książki przypomina tabele statystyczne. Wygląda to mniej więcej tak: "W dniu A Apacze w liczbie B zaatakowali miasto/wioskę/presidio/itp. C, zabili D osób, zranili E i porwali F osób, a do tego rabowali G mułow/krów/koni. W pościg za nimi wyruszyło H żołnierzy/cywilów/ochotników, doszło do potyczki w której zginęło I indian, a J zostało rannych, wśród białych/amerykanów/meksykanów/itp. zginęło K, a rannych zostało L. Odzyskano M mułów/krów/koni". Rozumiem, że autor chciał pokazać ilość krzywd wyrządzonych nawzajem przez obie strony i w ten sposób ukazać kontekst wydarzeń, ale przez to książka zamiast przybliżać historię tego ciekawego okresu, zniechęca do siebie i myślę, że duża część czytelników odłoży ją nim dobrnie do ostatnich rozdziałów, które są dużo bardziej interesujące. Ze swojej strony zachęcam do wytrwałości, Wasz wysiłek zostanie nagrodzony. :)

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is detailed. The first half of the book was very slow, perhaps because of the limited information written at the time. The second half was more complete in its information with more first hand accounts. I learned a lot about the history of this area, and since I love the Chiricahuas, I could picture the action. My next visit will be to a Fort Bowie!

[Michael Huckaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A void in the desert southwest and northern Mexico history has been filled with the author's clear chronolgy of Cochise life and his contemporaries. This book is also attempts to follow vacant spaces in Apache predations, and makes a clear distinction between the bands that ofter only the bands themselves recognize.

[Keith Gandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The extensive biography details the life of the great Apache chief, Cochise - a leader who shaped southwestern expansion in the 19th century. It was helpful to fill in details of this great native leader in Arizona.

[Brian Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so sad what the Native American people had to suffer through as the white people moved in and took the land. But what a rewarding book about Cochise's life. Glad I read it.

[Chad Geese · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of speculation throughout the book but it definitely goes into detail about the history of the area and the Apache raids. It has plenty of citations to hold accountability to the history but it can be a little overwhelming at times trying to remember all the people named throughout the book. I picked up the book because I wanted a better understanding of who Cochise was and I think this book does a decent job at doing such.

[Jerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not really the story of Cochise, but more the story of the Apache people living in the southwest during the life of Cochise. It is not what I expected so far. Hopefully, later in the book, the story will be more about Cochise, himself.

The book did pick up in the final third. It did tell the story of Cochise in his later years when he decided to move on to the reservation. The book did showcase his intelligence and leadership ability.

The rating would be closer to 2.5 stars.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find out how Cochise eluded the U.S. Cavalry for over twenty years. He was able to unite the dispirate Apache groups, one of the few Chiefs able to do so. Sweeney is the expert on Cochise and includes more detail than non-historians will find necessary. His prose is clear and well organized, allowing readers to skim ahead when they wish. Anyone interested in southeastern Arizona (Fort Bowie, The Dragoon Mts., and the Chiricahua Mts. will want this book.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learn about the local and international legend, i learned so much about this guy and the history of Arizona during the late 19th century, i learned about myself a bit, too

[James Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short & Sweet - excellent History that becomes like a novel of the life of a Great Man.

[Michael Kissit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an academic historical treatment that reads like a novel. I read it while living in Arizona and was almost driven to a nomadic life of cross border raiding.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have studied the Apache Culture for many years. Some of the information in the book is not completely accurate.