Separating Myth from Reality: Who Was Chief Cochise and What Did He Fight for?

Is separating Myth from Reality: Who Was Chief Cochise and What Did He Fight for something you want to understand? Read key explanations right here.

Q1: Why did Cochise declare war on the United States after maintaining peace for years?

A1: Cochise maintained friendly trade relations with Americans until the 1861 Bascom Affair at Apache Pass. When Second Lieutenant George Bascom falsely accused Cochise of kidnapping a settler's child and hanged his brother and nephews, Cochise launched an 11-year guerrilla campaign to defend his band and avenge their deaths.

Q2: Where is Chief Cochise buried?

A2: Cochise is buried in an unmarked, natural crevice within the Dragoon Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Following Apache burial custom, his followers rode horses back and forth over the burial terrain to eliminate any scent or visual trail, successfully keeping the site hidden from trophy hunters and historians ever since.

Q3: How did Cochise's strategy differ from Geronimo's resistance?

A3: Cochise was a recognized tribal headman who commanded wide political authority across the Chokonen band and fought with the primary objective of protecting families and securing an autonomous homeland. Geronimo was a medicine man and war leader from the Bedonkohe band whose smaller, agile raiding parties operated out of northern Mexico after the reservation system had already broken down.