Great Leader: Mangas Coloradas of the Mimbreno Apache, c 1793-1863
A Native leader gained prominence through his skills in war and hunting, his wisdom in council and force of personality. It also helped to be at the right place at the right time, and to be related to other powerful leaders. Mangas Coloradas, c 1793-1863, had all of the above.
Mangas was a Bedonkohe Apache by birth, who later married into the Mimbreno division of the Apache. The Mimbreno controlled hunting and home range from the Rio Grande in Texas through southwester New Mexico. Mimbreno leader, Cuchillo Negro, became Mangas mentor and may have also been his brother-in-law. In time, Mangas became father-in-law to Cochise of the Chiricahua, Victorio of the Mimbreno/Warm Springs Apache, and Kutbhalla/Caballero of the Mescalero. Mangas name was the Spanish word for Red Sleeves, a translation of an Apache name referring to a pink shirt. Mangas got his start in raids against the Mexicans. The Apaches hated the Spanish and the Mexicans for many reasons, but mostly because they often enslaved Apache children, forced them to work on missions or become Christians, and even paid scalp bounties for Apaches, siding with their traditional enemies, the Comanches. When United States forces first came into New Mexico, the Apaches welcomed them as protection against the Mexicans. Mangas signed a treaty in 1846, granting American troops safe conduct through Apache lands.
Then, in the 1850's, what is now New Mexico had a minor gold rush and settlers began pouring onto Apache land. Prospectors began staking claims and killing any Natives who stood in the way. In 1851, Mangas himself got a personal taste of what was to come when he was captured by some miners, tied to a tree and flogged nearly to death. Then, in 1857, Cuchillo Negro was killed by Americans. Then, in 1860, miners launched a raid on Mimbres River, killing four men and capturing 13 women and children. Mangas was busy. What Americans chose to call raids on mining camps he saw as protecting his people. Then, in 1861, Mangas' son-in-law Cochise was accused of the murder of a White rancher and kidnap of a young Mexican boy, the future scout Mickey Free. Cochise escaped from near captivity at the infamous Bascom Affair, but his brother and other Apache warriors were hanged in retaliation for the dead rancher.
Cochise, Delgadillo, Juh, Nana, Victorio and Geronimo decided to form an alliance of their various bands to deal with this threat. Their efforts slowed settlement in Arizona and New Mexico for awhile, but the Native leaders knew that once the war in the east was over, more miners, farmers and ranchers would come and they would have more battles to fight. In 1862, during a skirmish, Mangas was seriously wounded by a bullet in the chest. He decided to explore options for peace and met under a flag of truce with Brig. Gen. Joseph R. West. West ordered Mangas taken into custody and ordered his guards to execute him on the spot. He decided to delay the execution in to the morning and left Mangas tied spread-eagle on the ground. During the evening, soldiers began prodding the now elderly warrior with red hot bayonets. When he naturally made an effort to escape this treatment, he was killed on the grounds of trying to escape, period.
Americans were fascinated with Mangas Coloradas as they were with other Native leaders. He stood nearly 6'6" tall, incredibly tall for a Native or even a White person of that era. After his death, his head was amputated and his skull sent to the Smithsonian Institution as a curiosity. The Smithsonian has since lost the head. Mangas' son and namesake continued the fight. Hostility between the Apaches and the Army continued for another 25 years.
Mangas was a Bedonkohe Apache by birth, who later married into the Mimbreno division of the Apache. The Mimbreno controlled hunting and home range from the Rio Grande in Texas through southwester New Mexico. Mimbreno leader, Cuchillo Negro, became Mangas mentor and may have also been his brother-in-law. In time, Mangas became father-in-law to Cochise of the Chiricahua, Victorio of the Mimbreno/Warm Springs Apache, and Kutbhalla/Caballero of the Mescalero. Mangas name was the Spanish word for Red Sleeves, a translation of an Apache name referring to a pink shirt. Mangas got his start in raids against the Mexicans. The Apaches hated the Spanish and the Mexicans for many reasons, but mostly because they often enslaved Apache children, forced them to work on missions or become Christians, and even paid scalp bounties for Apaches, siding with their traditional enemies, the Comanches. When United States forces first came into New Mexico, the Apaches welcomed them as protection against the Mexicans. Mangas signed a treaty in 1846, granting American troops safe conduct through Apache lands.
Then, in the 1850's, what is now New Mexico had a minor gold rush and settlers began pouring onto Apache land. Prospectors began staking claims and killing any Natives who stood in the way. In 1851, Mangas himself got a personal taste of what was to come when he was captured by some miners, tied to a tree and flogged nearly to death. Then, in 1857, Cuchillo Negro was killed by Americans. Then, in 1860, miners launched a raid on Mimbres River, killing four men and capturing 13 women and children. Mangas was busy. What Americans chose to call raids on mining camps he saw as protecting his people. Then, in 1861, Mangas' son-in-law Cochise was accused of the murder of a White rancher and kidnap of a young Mexican boy, the future scout Mickey Free. Cochise escaped from near captivity at the infamous Bascom Affair, but his brother and other Apache warriors were hanged in retaliation for the dead rancher.
Cochise, Delgadillo, Juh, Nana, Victorio and Geronimo decided to form an alliance of their various bands to deal with this threat. Their efforts slowed settlement in Arizona and New Mexico for awhile, but the Native leaders knew that once the war in the east was over, more miners, farmers and ranchers would come and they would have more battles to fight. In 1862, during a skirmish, Mangas was seriously wounded by a bullet in the chest. He decided to explore options for peace and met under a flag of truce with Brig. Gen. Joseph R. West. West ordered Mangas taken into custody and ordered his guards to execute him on the spot. He decided to delay the execution in to the morning and left Mangas tied spread-eagle on the ground. During the evening, soldiers began prodding the now elderly warrior with red hot bayonets. When he naturally made an effort to escape this treatment, he was killed on the grounds of trying to escape, period.
Americans were fascinated with Mangas Coloradas as they were with other Native leaders. He stood nearly 6'6" tall, incredibly tall for a Native or even a White person of that era. After his death, his head was amputated and his skull sent to the Smithsonian Institution as a curiosity. The Smithsonian has since lost the head. Mangas' son and namesake continued the fight. Hostility between the Apaches and the Army continued for another 25 years.
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