Article by Ruth Evans

The Apache Wars were a series of conflicts fought over the last half of the nineteenth century between the United States army and many Apache tribes. The Apaches were experienced in warfare, having fought Spanish and Mexicans long before the conflict began with Americans. Apache lands originally spread from western Texas through Arizona heating and air to southern California, and from Mexico to Oklahoma. The conflicts began during the Taos Revolt of the Mexican American War in 1847. At that time the Apaches were fighting with New Mexican allies in defense of Mexico. The first campaigns against the Apaches specifically began in 1851, and ended when Geronimo surrendered in 1886. However, the Apaches continued to attack white and Mexican settlers as late as 1900. Most of the major campaigns occurred around where Tucson is now located.

The first major outbreak, in 1851, was the result of a conflict between gold miners who had invaded Apache lands and violated treaties between Apaches and the government. Apache reprisals against the miners led to several battles with the U.S. Army, culminating in the Battle of the Diablo Mountains in 1854 in which the army defeated a large force of Lipan Apaches. An attack by miners on a peaceful Apache camp in 1860 provoked Apache retaliation, and led to kidnapping and murders on both sides. The betrayal of Apache chief Cochise by army Lieutenant George Bascom led to massacres of hostages and initiated eleven years of Arizona heating and air conditioning open warfare between the Apaches and the army. When the American Civil War broke out, the withdrawal of troops led many Apaches to believe they had won.

For the first twenty years of the conflict battles often resulted from massacres of white people and Mexicans; but from 1875 on the conflicts stemmed from governmental efforts to forcibly settle Apaches on reservations. The army rounded up groups of Apaches by destroying their crops and livestock, and forced them on The Long Walk to the reservation at Fort Sumner and other Arizona air conditioners camps. Guerrilla warfare continued off and on for another decade as the army continued to imprison Apaches. A group led by Geronimo escaped to Mexico and waged occasional warfare until he was hunted down and imprisoned in 1883 by General George Crook. Geronimo escaped to Mexico a year later, and the U.S. army mounted a major expedition of over 5,000 soldiers against him. He was recaptured and sent to Fort Pickens, Florida. After Geronimo’s surrender in 1886 minor battles flared up occasionally between U.S. army forces and small groups of Apache warriors who evaded the reservations.

The Arizona heating and air Apache Wars lasted fifty years and are a tale of broken promises and betrayal. Arizona heating and air conditioning produced heroes of the people who fought against all odds for their Arizona air conditioners freedom.

About the Author

Ruth graduated college in 1985 with a major in Engineering