Random Facts About Life Of Geronimo (11 items)

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  (#6) With Only Three Other Warriors, Geronimo Secured Enough Supplies to Last His Tribe a Year

  In the summer of 1863, Geronimo led a raid on a small village about forty miles west of Casa Grande. At high noon, Geronimo and his small band of soldiers stole into the town and sent its residents scattering. According to Geronimo, no one in the town put up a fight or even gave chase. They simply saw the Native Americans coming, turned tail, and got out of town.

  Once the town was empty - only one person had been killed - the Apaches drove several ponies into the town and loaded up as much loot as they could carry. Upon his victorious arrival, Geronimo feasted for a full 24 hours and handed out various gifts to everyone in the tribe... and there was still enough supplies left over for his people to use for the following year.
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  (#11) At 80 Years Old, Geronimo Still Wanted to Keep Fighting

  In his waning years, Geronimo presided over the slow decline of the Apache. By the end of his life, he’d taken eight wives, though he rarely married more than one woman at a time. The aging chief wrote often of the hollow promises of land and cattle made by United States troops.

  He lived until February of 1909, when he was thrown from a horse and left to lie in the rain for an entire night before he was found. A few days later, he succumbed to pneumonia. According to witnesses at the scene, Geronimo’s last tragic words were of regret: “I should have never surrendered,” he said. “I should have fought until I was the last man alive."
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  (#7) Geronimo Wasn’t Originally Keen on Taking War to the White Men Who Invaded

  Around 1868, American soldiers advanced on Apache territory. As was America’s MO, the initial settlers were largely peaceful, and Geronimo and the Apaches lived in harmony. Unfortunately, a year later, several prominent chiefs and warriors were invited to confer at Fort Bowie under the auspices of peace.

  After being led into a tent, the gathered party was attacked by soldiers who cut down many men. In retaliation for the treachery, Geronimo - who had not been included in the talks - banded together with two tribes of Apache commanded by Cochise and attacked a freight train. The war party captured several prisoners whom they offered to trade in return for the captives from the attack at Fort Bowie. 

  The US Army refused the terms, so Geronimo and his men killed their prisoners and disappeared into the mountains.
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  (#3) Geronimo Once Single-Handedly Evaded Close Armed Pursuit for Two Days

  After the revenge for Kas-Ki-Yeh, the Apaches resumed their daily lives and attempted to put the massacre behind them. Geronimo, however, was still bent on revenge. He convinced two other warriors to join him as he went on the war path to Mexico.

  Almost immediately after picking out a small village, Geronimo’s little band came under fire from Mexican rifles. His two companions were killed and Geronimo was surrounded by armed soldiers. Rather than run and hide, Geronimo fought his way back to Arizona - on foot - while being closely pursued by the soldiers. 

  This raid, most likely caused by Geronimo’s incomparable grief, set back the Apache’s plans to get revenge on any Mexican who would dare to get close enough to him.
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  (#4) Geronimo Was Shot in the Face and Still Got Up to Do Battle

  Though his first battle was a victory, Geronimo spent several years early in his career getting his ass kicked by the Mexican people. His first several raids in Sonora were beaten back soundly, his band of warriors returning empty-handed.

  Geronimo himself spent a lot of his time injured. In one attack on a convoy, he rushed into the fray only to slip on some blood and get smashed in the skull with the butt of a Mexican soldier’s rifle. In another nearly successful raid, Geronimo’s Apaches were followed by soldiers and Geronimo was shot several times. In fact, the opening volley actually saw him shot in the face, after which the soldier got up and fought his way to safety.
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  (#2) Geronimo Was Given His Chance to Lead Because of His Pain

  As the Apache tribes gathered to avenge the massacre at Kas-Ki-Yeh, the chiefs (including the famed chief Cochise) decided to anoint Geronimo as the battle’s leader. Though that honor typically went to a chief (which Geronimo was not), it was determined that Geronimo’s loss was the greatest among them.

  In his own words, Geronimo says that he lead his Apache braves against the Mexican army in a bloody, two-hour battle that saw the murder of nearly every combatant on the field. Always at the fore of the battle, Geronimo reputedly killed dozens of men until he was left with nothing to rely on but his knife.

  As he wrote in his autobiography,

  Still covered with the blood of my enemies, still holding my conquering weapon, still hot with the joy of battle, victory, and vengeance, I was surrounded by the Apache braves and made war chief of all the Apaches. Then I gave orders for scalping the slain.

  That quote that might go down as one of the most chilling yet awesome things an historical leader has ever said.

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