Chihuahua or Chewawa ( apm, Kla-esh or ''Tłá'í'ez'' ("To push something under something else with your foot")) (about 1822/1825 – 25 July 1901) was chief of the Chokonen local group of the
Tsokanende Band of
Chiricahua
Chiricahua ( ) is a band of Apache Native Americans.
Based in the Southern Plains and Southwestern United States, the Chiricahua (Tsokanende ) are related to other Apache groups: Ndendahe (Mogollon, Carrizaleño), Tchihende (Mimbreño), Sehende ...
Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
who carried out several raids on settlers in Arizona in the 1870s and 1880s. His elder brother
Ulzana (ca. 1821–1909), who would later become known as leader of a very famous raid through New Mexico and Arizona in 1885, was his war chief (segundo).
Biography
He was a protege of
Cochise, fought under Cochise orders, and he surrendered with Cochise in 1872 going to live on the
San Carlos Reservation in southern Arizona, where he became first sergeant of a company of
Apache Scouts in 1880 under Lieutenant James A. Maney.
Both brothers—Chihuahua and Ulzana—followed Cochise voluntary but after Cochise's death, they—together with Skinya (ca. 1825–1876) and his brother Pionsenay (ca. 1830–ca. 1878)—didn't recognize Cochise's sons' leadership. Skinya (brother-in-law of
Naiche) was killed by
Naiche (ca. 1857–1919) himself and Pionsenay (youngest brother of Skinya) was badly wounded by
Tahzay (ca. 1843–1876).
Three years later Chihuahua fled the reservation to lead a war party into Mexico, but surrendered to General
George Crook
George R. Crook (September 8, 1828 – March 21, 1890) was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. During the 1880s, the Apache nicknamed Crook ''Nantan ...
in 1883.
He left the reservation in San Carlos again with Geronimo and other chiefs in 1885 after the tiswin incident and led raids into Mexico, finally surrendering again to Crook in 1886.
On April 7, 1886, Chihuahua was shipped to Fort Marion, Florida, with the remaining Chiricahua renegades. In May 1888, he was transferred to Mount Vernon Barracks in Mobile, Alabama. In October 1893 the remaining were transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. A cemetery and the hill on which he lived at Fort Sill are named after him.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chihuahua (chief)
1820s births
1901 deaths
Chiricahua
Apache people
Native American leaders
Native American people of the Indian Wars
People of pre-statehood Arizona
People of the American Old West
Apache Wars
Native Americans imprisoned at Fort Marion
United States Army Indian Scouts