Apache Wars

Apache War
Part of the American Indian Wars

"A Dash for the Timber, 1889" by Frederic Remington
Date1849–1924
Location
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States
(1849–1924)

 Confederate States
(1861–1865)

Apacheria:

Apache allies:

Commanders and leaders
United States John Davidson
United States James H. Carleton
United States Kit Carson
United States Philip Cooke
United States John G. Walker
Confederate States of America Granville H. Oury
Confederate States of America Thomas J. Mastin
United States George Crook
United States George Jordan
United States Eugene Asa Carr
United States Philip Sheridan
United States Andrew Evans
United States Nelson A. Miles
United States Henry Lawton
United States James W. Watson
Flechas Rayada
Chacon
Black Knife
Mangas Coloradas
Iron Shirt
Cochise
Francisco
Juh
Delshay
Victorio
Nanni Chaddi
Na tio tish
Geronimo
Chatto
Apache Kid
Massai
Little Wolf (Mescalero)
Te-He-Nan
Nana #
Saguaro
Coronado †
Santos
Red Dog

The Apache Wars were a series of armed conflicts between the United States Army and various Apache tribal confederations fought in the southwest between 1849 and 1886, though minor hostilities continued until as late as 1924. After the Mexican–American War in 1846, the United States inherited conflicted territory from Mexico which was the home of both settlers and Apache tribes. Conflicts continued as new United States citizens came into traditional Apache lands to raise livestock and crops and to mine minerals.[1]

The U.S. Army established forts to fight Apache tribal war parties and force Apaches to move to designated Indian reservations created by the U.S. in accordance with the Indian Removal Act. Some reservations were not on the traditional areas occupied by the Apache. In 1886, the U.S. Army put over 5,000 soldiers in the field to fight, which resulted in the surrender of Geronimo and 30 of his followers.[2] This is generally considered the end of the Apache Wars, although conflicts continued between citizens and Apaches. The Confederate Army briefly participated in the wars during the early 1860s in Texas, before being diverted to action in the American Civil War in New Mexico and Arizona.

  1. ^ Thrapp
  2. ^ Sweeney