Chief Victorio – Fighting for Ancestral Lands
Victorio, a name synonymous with resistance and resilience, stands as a towering figure in the history of the American West. Known to his Apache people as Bidu-ya or Beduiat, Victorio was a prominent warrior and chief of the Chihenne band, a division of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. His life was a testament to the struggle for survival and the unwavering defense of ancestral lands in the face of relentless encroachment by the United States government and its settlers. His story, though marked by conflict and tragedy, remains a powerful symbol of indigenous sovereignty and cultural preservation.
Born around 1825 in the rugged Black Range of present-day New Mexico, Chief Victorio emerged from a lineage steeped in Apache tradition and survival skills. While details of his early life remain somewhat obscure, some accounts suggest a possible Mexican heritage. Adding to the narrative of his family is his sister, Lozen, a renowned woman warrior celebrated for her exceptional skills as a strategist and horse thief, earning her the moniker "Dextrous Horse Thief." The presence of such a formidable figure in his close family undoubtedly influenced Victorio’s own development as a leader and warrior.
By the early 1850s, Victorio had risen to prominence as a respected chief within his band. In his twenties, he began collaborating with other influential Apache leaders such as Geronimo and Nana, participating in numerous raids into northern Mexico. These raids were often driven by the need to acquire resources and to retaliate against perceived injustices perpetrated against the Apache people. In 1862, he aligned himself with Mangas Coloradas, a highly influential Apache chief, to conduct raids against both Mexican settlements and the increasingly intrusive white settlers. This alliance marked a significant escalation in the conflict between the Apache and the encroaching forces of the United States.
The year 1863 proved to be a pivotal moment, further inflaming tensions and setting the stage for prolonged conflict. Mangas Coloradas, under the guise of peaceful negotiations, met with representatives of the U.S. Army under a flag of truce. However, this gesture of peace was betrayed when the army seized Mangas Coloradas and subsequently executed him on January 18th. This act of treachery ignited fury among the Apache, including Chief Victorio and Cochise, another influential leader. The death of Mangas Coloradas served as a catalyst, hardening their resolve to resist further U.S. expansion and injustice.
In response to the betrayal and death of Mangas Coloradas, Victorio consolidated his forces, forming a band comprising Eastern Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache warriors, numbering approximately 300. He launched retaliatory attacks against the U.S. Army, demonstrating his tactical prowess and leadership abilities. Military officers who engaged with Victorio recognized his strategic acumen and his capacity to command the loyalty of his followers. However, by 1869, the relentless pressure from the U.S. military led to the subjugation of Victorio and his band. They were persuaded to relocate to a newly established reservation near Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, with the promise of a more peaceful existence. In 1869, they settled near Fort Craig, New Mexico, awaiting the completion of the reservation.
The following year, Victorio and approximately 500 Mimbrenos, Mogollones, and Mescaleros Apache were officially assigned to the Ojo Caliente Reservation, situated roughly 15 miles northwest of present-day Monticello. This area, which Victorio asserted was their ancestral homeland, initially appeared to offer a respite from the ongoing conflict. The Apache found some degree of contentment in the familiar surroundings. The reservation’s population swelled to over 3,000, reflecting the hopes for a stable and secure future. However, the rations provided by the U.S. government proved inadequate to sustain the growing population. This scarcity forced many Apache to venture beyond the reservation boundaries in search of sustenance, leading to accusations of raiding and depredation in the surrounding areas. While some of these accusations were valid, many were falsely attributed to the Apache, with Mexican bandits often being the true culprits. In August 1871, the U.S. Army, citing the ongoing unrest, recommended the removal of the Apache from Ojo Caliente to the Tularosa Valley, located approximately seventy miles to the northwest.
By April 1872, the new reservation in the Tularosa Valley was established. The following month saw the initial movement of Apache individuals and families to the new location. By June, approximately 450 Apache, including Chief Victorio, had arrived at Tularosa. However, many others refused to relocate, opting instead to join their Chiricahua relatives in Arizona, unwilling to submit to the restrictions and uncertainties of reservation life. In the summer of 1874, the Tularosa Reservation was ultimately abandoned, and the remaining Apache were permitted to return to Ojo Caliente, marking yet another disruption in their lives and a failure of the U.S. government’s policies.
The Ojo Caliente Reservation was officially closed in May 1877, signaling a further erosion of trust and a growing sense of desperation among the Apache. Taza, the son and successor of the deceased Cochise, began leading his people to the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. However, conditions at San Carlos were notoriously deplorable, characterized by inadequate resources, disease, and a general sense of hopelessness. In early September, Victorio, accompanied by approximately 300 followers, made the momentous decision to flee the San Carlos Reservation, initiating a three-year period of intermittent warfare across Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico. His actions were driven by a deep-seated desire to protect his people and preserve their way of life, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
In Texas, Victorio and his warriors were relentlessly pursued by the "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 9th and 10th Cavalries, as well as the Texas Rangers. These military forces, tasked with suppressing Apache resistance, engaged in numerous skirmishes and battles with Victorio’s band. Chief Victorio demonstrated remarkable tactical skill and resilience, evading capture and inflicting casualties on his pursuers.
In April 1880, Victorio was alleged to have led his band in the "Alma Massacre," an incident involving raids on settlers’ homes and the deaths of several individuals. This event further intensified the U.S. Army’s determination to capture or eliminate Victorio and his followers. U.S. Army troops were dispatched from Fort Bayard, New Mexico, with explicit orders to pursue and subdue Victorio’s band. The soldiers strategically positioned themselves at water holes in the Sierra Diablo Mountains, anticipating Victorio’s need for water. After two unsuccessful attempts to reach the water sources, the Apache were forced to retreat into Mexico, their situation becoming increasingly dire.
On October 14, 1880, tragedy struck when Victorio and his people were ambushed by Mexican troops. In the ensuing battle, Victorio and many of his warriors were killed, effectively ending his campaign of resistance. Only the women and children survived the confrontation, and they were subsequently taken prisoner and held in Chihuahua City for several years. The death of Chief Victorio marked a significant turning point in the Apache Wars, representing a major loss for the Apache people and a blow to their struggle for self-determination. His legacy, however, endures as a symbol of courage, leadership, and the unwavering defense of ancestral lands.