Great Leader: Narbona of the Navajo, 1766-1849
Natives of the Southwest had a two-front war with both the Mexicans, who had taken over from the Spanish after 1821, and later the Americans, who took over from Mexico in 1848. The Navajo were and are a highly successful and adaptable people who quickly learned horse and livestock raising, weaving and other skills from the Spanish and were allies of the various Puebloan peoples. Narbona, 1766-1849, was not only a skilled warrior and charismatic leader, he was also personally wealthy as a result of livestock raising, primarily sheep, and trade. Though he was referred to by Mexicans and Americans as a chief of the Navajo, in the sense of a principal chief, there was no such institution among the Navajo, who like many Natives, were composed of several clans or bands which were self-sufficient and didn't answer to a central authority.
Narbona entered the historical record in 1824. Several Navajo leaders had been invited to a peace parley with Mexican authorities at Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico and ambushed the attendees. Twenty-four Navajo leaders were killed. In 1835, Narbona would lead Navajo warriors against a Mexican expedition in the Chuska Mountains, led by Bla de Hinojos. The site of the battle, once called Copper Pass, is now known as Narbona Pass, in his honor. In 1849, Col. John M. Washington (a relative of George), led a mixed expedition of New Mexico militia and U.S. Regulars into Navajo territory to meet Narbona and his men. After several days of talking, a tenuous peace was arranged between the American and the Navajo.
Problems ensued almost immediately. Sandoval, a younger warrior, began to urge the other younger men not to keep the treaty. Meantime, a New Mexican officer spotted a horse being ridden by one of the warriors that he believed was his. Washington demanded return of the horse but the Navajo who was riding it refused and rode away. Washington had a small cannon with him and ordered his troops to open fire on the Navajos. In the confusion, Narbona was hit and killed. A New Mexico militiaman scalped the chief before his men were able to retrieve the body. Narbona's sons wrapped their father in a blanket and disposed of his remains in a crevice of rock, slaughtering horses to assure that he would have transportation in the afterlife.
Narbona entered the historical record in 1824. Several Navajo leaders had been invited to a peace parley with Mexican authorities at Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico and ambushed the attendees. Twenty-four Navajo leaders were killed. In 1835, Narbona would lead Navajo warriors against a Mexican expedition in the Chuska Mountains, led by Bla de Hinojos. The site of the battle, once called Copper Pass, is now known as Narbona Pass, in his honor. In 1849, Col. John M. Washington (a relative of George), led a mixed expedition of New Mexico militia and U.S. Regulars into Navajo territory to meet Narbona and his men. After several days of talking, a tenuous peace was arranged between the American and the Navajo. Problems ensued almost immediately. Sandoval, a younger warrior, began to urge the other younger men not to keep the treaty. Meantime, a New Mexican officer spotted a horse being ridden by one of the warriors that he believed was his. Washington demanded return of the horse but the Navajo who was riding it refused and rode away. Washington had a small cannon with him and ordered his troops to open fire on the Navajos. In the confusion, Narbona was hit and killed. A New Mexico militiaman scalped the chief before his men were able to retrieve the body. Narbona's sons wrapped their father in a blanket and disposed of his remains in a crevice of rock, slaughtering horses to assure that he would have transportation in the afterlife.
Comments
Post a Comment