Talks

In 1872, Cochise had been at war with the United States for 11 years. From his Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains he could see soldiers approaching while they were still two-days' ride away. He didn't trust Americans and wanted a reservation in his own country. Tom Jeffords had captained a ship on the Great Lakes, scouted for the army, and prospected. Asked to ride alone into Cochise's camp, he did, and won the Apache leaders respect and friendship. That bond made peace negotiations possible. Jimmy Stewart played Tom in the movie Broken Arrow. 

 In 1849 the Jicarilla Apache had been at war with the United States for two years. That year massacred the men of a wagon train and kidnapped a woman and her child. Kidnapping Mexican and Pueblo women was a commonplace, but Mrs. White was an Anglo and a lady, almost the only one in New Mexico. Pursuit came from all directions but it took Kit Carson to find and follow a trail already a month old. This is the historic background to the historical novel, Massacre at Point of Rocks, the real story. 

Author Doug Hocking  grew up among the Jicarilla and can tell their story in a way that few can match.

The range of the Jicarilla Apache covered a third of the Santa Fe Trail on both the Cimarron Cut-Off and the Mountain Branch. At any time, they could cut New Mexico off from the Union striking cold fear in the hearts of leaders in Santa Fe. Three times when angered they closed the trail, but in 1854 they had been at peace for four years. 

Governor Meriwether predicted a war caused by the policies of his predecessor. But it didn't come. Then Lieutenant Davidson attacked a peaceful camp of Apaches. They defended themselves with 100 warriors to his 60 dragoons. Twenty-two dragoons died and the rest were wounded while the Jicarilla suffered only 3 casualties. The governor had his war which was officially declared. Davidson became a hero and after almost two years of pursuing and killing Apaches, the governor made almost the same peace treaty as his predecessor. 

Through it all Kit Carson was enemy, neighbor, friend, scout, and their Indian agent.

In 1858, seven men worked at the Dragoon Springs Station of the Overland Mail, colloquially known as the Butterfield Mail. In the night as the men slept, three Mexican employees attacked the other four. They lay wounded and dying for many days in the Arizona sun until relief came. Only Silas St. John, horribly mutilated, survived. The other three lie buried in two cairns along with Silas's arm.

In 1862, near Dragoon Springs Cochise attacked a crew of Confederate soldier/herdsmen accompanied by Union prisoners. Union and Confederate fought side by side against Apache, Some of them fell. 

For more than 300 years New Mexico was a Franciscan mission field and her people, other than Indians, an afterthought. With the Mexican Revolution in 1821 that changed and the Franciscans were expelled leaving the land with only one priest. Padre Martinez performed wonders, trained priests and led the Penitentes only to have much of his work undone by a French bishop who didn’t understand the culture. He owned and operated the first printing press in New Mexico, started the first school and seminary, served the Mexican and then the American legislature. He's rumored to have fathered five children and to have been the head of the Pentitente secret society. He was excommunicated for baptizing his flock without forcing them to tithe first.