When I watch old westerns, particularly those produced in the 1950s, the portrayal of Indians is universally so terrible that they make me cringe. Virtually anyone who had dark features was cast in the roles of such men as Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and of course, the legendary Cochise, who was never photographed in real life. Seeing blonde-haired, blue-eyed Chuck Connors playing Geronimo just makes me shudder.

Thankfully, as time has passed, a small number of genuine Native American actors, such as Wes Studi, have improved at least the appearance of such films. Still, Hollywood cannot seem to resist tinkering with the facts concerning the real lives of these fascinating men. In “Geronimo, An American Legend,” we see Studi in the title role, but unfortunately, he is always mounted – riding a horse.

In reality, Geronimo was usually infantry. It makes so much more sense – it is a lot easier to disappear into an arroyo when one is afoot, as opposed to being accompanied by a thousand pound, noisy animal!


In any case, this story is about Cochise and a wool-headed Army lieutenant named George Bascom, whose approach to dealing with the legendary Chiricauhau warrior led to nearly three decades of relentless war. The whole thing started at a place called Apache Pass, in the Arizona Territory, near a Butterfield stagecoach station.

On January 27, 1861, young Felix Ward, whose mother was Mexican and his stepfather a white man, was kidnapped by Apaches. Felix was never recovered and eventually escaped on his own, carving out his own unique image in the annals of the west as the scout known as “Mickey Free.”

But it was the actions of Bascom in his attempts to retrieve the boy that led to the disastrous war. Felix’s father, John Ward, had ridden 11 miles to Fort Buchanan, seeking military aid in the rescue of his son. On the 29th, Second Lieutenant Bascom set out with a 54-man infantry unit mounted on mules. John Ward accompanied them, acting as an interpreter. On February 3rd, the detachment reached the Butterfield stage station near Apache Pass.

Bascom summoned Cochise several times before the Apache leader finally appeared on February 4th, along with his brother, his wife, two of his sons, and three other men. Cochise had not kidnapped the boy, and saw no cause for alarm. In fact, he had been led to believe he was attending a conference. However, when he and his entire party were taken hostage and informed that they would be held until young Felix was returned, Cochise was outraged.

Almost immediately Cochise used the knife that the Army had failed to confiscate to slash through the back of the tent in which he was being held. Slightly wounded, Cochise was the only Apache to escape. The other men had followed him, but they were all recaptured. One was killed.

All that night, signal fires blazed in the peaks around Apache Pass. It was a request for immediate assistance, and that assistance was not long in coming…

The next day, Cochise returned – in the company of several hundred Apache warriors. This made Bascom’s troops more than a little nervous. However, the Apaches displayed a white flag of truce, and a warrior advanced toward the soldiers. He announced in Spanish that Cochise wished to parlay with the soldier chief, Bascom.

Bascom stepped into the open with Ward and two sergeants, William Smith and Daniel Robinson. From the other side, Cochise, in the company of White Mountain Apache chief Francisco and two warriors, advanced. Cochise demanded the immediate release of his family, and Bascom told him that could only happen after Felix Ward was returned. It was a recipe for disaster, and that disaster was not long in coming.

Three Butterfield employees, among them James Wallace, came out of the station. Wallace saw an Apache woman named Juanita, with whom he was reportedly romantically involved, and walked down to the ravine where she stood, followed by the other two men. However, as soon as the couple embraced, Juanita tightened her grip into something that was not exactly romantic, and some warriors leaped from the brush and seized all three men. In the ensuing melee, one of the white men was shot, but broke free. At the same moment, Francisco began yelling “Aqui! Aqui!” (Here! Here!)

Things had gone from bad to worse in an amazingly short span of time.

Next: Open fire! 

Taken from previously published works of the author.

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