Cochise

Cochise was an Apache Native American who is well known for his resistance against the invading Americans in the 19th century. He is particularly known for his uprising against the Americans in 1861. Cochise and his people lived in what is presently the northern area of New Mexico and Arizona, which was originally Apache land until the European came to America. Cochise and the Chokonen-Chircahua mainly depended on food rations from the Mexican government when Spain and Mexico invaded the land. When this stopped, the Chircahua groups raided villages to acquire food. The Mexican government began military operations to capture or stop the Chircahua from raiding for food. This proved to be difficult for the Mexican government, and they soon relied on hired American and Native American mercenaries to do their work for them. These mercenaries were ruthless, and killed many innocent Chircahua civilians, but rebels as well. One of these was Cochise’s father, which made him even angrier. Cochise himself was eventually captured, but he was released in exchange for a dozen Mexican prisoners the Chircahua took hostage. Cochise and the Chircahua had slowly been building up tension between the invaders that took over the Apache land. The peace was short lived, ending as an Apache raid took place at a cattle farm, and kidnapped the farmer’s son. Cochise and his band were falsely accused for this crime, and imprisoned. They managed to escape, but Cochise was shot three times during their escape. Some members of his band and family hadn’t escaped, and he tried bargaining for them by taking hostages. This plan backfired, and hostages on both sides of the conflict were killed, including his brother and two nephews. There were numerous other minor conflicts after that, but the Apache began to achieve more and more victorious battles. This caused the United States to send in their army. Soon after, Cochise and his men were driven into the Dragoon Mountains in Southeastern Arizona, which they used as a base for many more brawls. Cochise retired to an Arizona reservation, and died peacefully of natural causes in 1874.

Osceola

Osceola was an influential leader of the Seminole in Florida. He led a small group of warriors in resistance during the Second Seminole War. During that war, the United States attempted to remove Osceola and his people from their land. Osceola had a significant influence on Micanopy, the highest ranked chief of his people. In 1832, several Seminole chiefs agreed to and signed the Treaty of Payne’s Landing, which stated that the Seminole were to give up their land in Florida in trade for land west of the Mississippi. Five of the most important chiefs disagreed with the treaty, and a Native American called Wiley Thompson decided that the rebellious chiefs were to be eradicated from the land. Soon after, Thompson declared that he forbid the sale of guns and ammunition to the Seminole people. Osceola was a young warrior at the time, and he was enraged by this, comparing their treatment to that of the enslaved. Osceola was captured by deceitful means. On October 21, 1837, General Thomas Jesup ordered that Osceola was to be captured. The young warrior was captured when he arrived to make a truce at Fort Payton. The nation was in an uproar pertaining to this dishonesty. Osceola died approximately three months after his capture, succumbing to malaria. The men who had captured Osceola through this treacherous plan were punished and denounced by higher officials, along with the entire nation. While Osceola was held captive, many oil painters came to paint a portrait of him.

Lewis & Clark Native American Relations

Lewis and Clark’s relationship with Native Americans along their journey was critical to their success. In fact, they would have surely failed without the assistance of their guide, Sacajawea. Sacajawea was a Shoshone woman who served as a guide and interpreter to Lewis and Clark. Her appearance saved the journeymen several times, assuring other Natives that they came in peace. Many tribes would have mistaken the two armed men as soldiers on a mission if not for her. The three travelers successfully encountered over three dozen different tribes on their journey. According to Robert Archibald, Lewis and Clark “…were the first United States citizens to have described the place officially.” Many say that the Missouri River was more of a guide to the travelers than Sacajawea because she hadn’t been near that area since her early years. Regardless, she was an important interpreter, and as a food gatherer. Without her knowledge, the two men surely would have perished. She gathered edible roots that almost all men never knew existed, and her hunting skills were phenomenal as well. She accompanied the men for thousands of miles along the trip, traveling from North Dakota to the Pacific Coast in two years, an incredible feat. No factual image of Sacajawea exists, as there is little information known about her. Sadly, very little accurate, historical documentation pertaining to Sacajawea has been recorded, so everything we currently know is based on the interpretation of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

Crazy Horse & Fetterman Massacre

Crazy Horse (aka Tȟašúŋke Witkó) literally meant “His-Horse-is-Crazy.” He was a highly respected leader of the Oglala Lakota, who fought against the United States Government to preserve the Lakota way of life, including their traditions and values. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it was agreed that he was born sometime between 1840 and 1845. His name at birth was ‘In the Wilderness’ or ‘Among the Trees.’ His mother called him ‘Curly’ or ‘Light Hair,’ due to his light curly hair he inherited from his mother. Crazy Horse’s father was named Crazy Horse as well, and passed his name down to his son. On December 21, 1886, Crazy Horse and a few other warriors developed a plan to trick the 53 infantrymen and 27 cavalry troopers under the command of Captain William Fetterman and Lt. Grummond into an ambush. Crazy Horse led Fetterman’s troops up (what is now called) Massacre Hill, while Grummond’s troops followed the other decoys beside the Peno Head Ridge, and down towards Peno Creek where many women of the tribe were taunting the soldiers. In the meantime, Cheyenne leader called Little Wolf and his warriors were hiding on the opposite side of the ridge, and blocked the infantry’s escape route to their fort. Soon after, the Lakota warriors attacked the soldiers and traveled over the hill. The American soldiers were surrounded, and wiped out. This (at the time) was the worst defeat the Americans had suffered on the Great Plains.