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.