Warm Springs Apache

Warm Springs Apache Chief Loco

Photo: National Archives

The Warm Springs (Chihennes) Apaches formed the eastern branch of the Chiricahuas who frequented southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and Chihuahua, Mexico. The Warm Springs were also referred to as the Ojo Caliente, Coppermine, Mimbrenos, or Mogollones Apaches. Principal leaders of the Warm Springs included Mangas Coloradas, Nana, Loco, and Victorio.

The Warm Springs Apaches had no association with West Texas or Fort Davis until after 1879. In May 1877, the Warm Springs Apaches were relocated to the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. In September the Apaches left the reservation and returned to New Mexico. After losing 54 members of the band in various skirmishes the Apaches surrendered and returned to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico. They remained there for a year until an attempt was made to return them back to the San Carlos Reservation. Victorio and his warriors escaped and left the women and children behind, who were then moved to San Carlos.

In 1879 Victorio agreed to stay on the Mescalero reservation. Their families were to join them there. A rumor that Victorio would be taken prisoner and tried for a murder in Silver City, New Mexico caused the Warm Springs to leave the reservation. He would never return to a reservation. Victorio and his followers, now joined by some Mescalero Apaches, waged a 14-month struggle against the U.S. Army. Victorio and his band roamed and raided between Northern Mexico, Southern New Mexico, and West Texas.

In 1880 Victorio moved into northeastern Chihuahua and prepared to enter the United States through West Texas. The Buffalo Soldiers from Fort Davis comprised of the 10^th Cavalry and the 24^th Infantry were to block his path, they defended nearly every water hole in West Texas. After two skirmishes with troops in July and August, Victorio and his followers retreated across the Rio Grande River. In October, a command of Mexican Militia found Victorio at Tres Castillos, Mexico and after a lengthy but one-sided fight, Victorio and 78 Apaches were killed, and 68 women and children were taken captive. Children under the age of thirteen were distributed among Mexican families in Chihuahua, the rest were imprisoned. Three small groups, including one led by Nana escaped. Some of the few survivors of Victorio’s band returned to the San Carlos Apache reservation, some joined Geronimo and Juh in the Sierra Madre in Mexico.

After the surrender of Geronimo in September 1886, the Warm Springs Apaches were exiled to Florida along with the rest of the Chiricahuas. In 1887, they were relocated to Alabama, then Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1894. In 1913, the surviving Warm Springs Apaches could either remain in Oklahoma or join the Mescalero Apaches at their reservation in New Mexico.