Warm Springs Apache

The Warm Springs 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 the late 1870s. In 1877, the Warm Springs Apaches were relocated to the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. Within four months, some of the Apaches bolted the reservation and returned to New Mexico. Many of the Warm Springs Apaches under Victorio refused to return to Arizona after surrendering. Following an unsuccessful attempt to gain acceptance on the Mescalero Reservation,

Victorio and his followers, joined by Mescalero malcontents left the reservation and waged a 14-month struggle against the U.S. Army.

The campaign against Victorio peaked in 1880. Troops from Fort Davis were called into action. That summer, Victorio led his warriors across the Rio Grande from Mexico. Colonel Benjamin Grierson’s Buffalo Soldiers blocked his path and defended nearly every water hole in west Texas. After two skirmishes with Grierson’s troops in July and August, Victorio and his followers retreated back across the Rio Grande. In October, a command of Mexican soldiers cornered Victorio at Tres Castillos, Chihuahua. After a lengthy but one-sided fight, Victorio and most of his followers were killed.

The few survivors of Victorio’s band joined up with other Chiricahuas on the San Carlos and White Mountain Apache reservations, or joined forces with Geronimo and Juh. Following the surrender of Geronimo in September 1886, the Warm Springs Apaches were exiled to Florida. In 1887, they were relocated to Alabama, then Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1894. In 1913, the surviving Warm Springs Apaches were allowed to either remain in Oklahoma or join the Mescaleros in New Mexico.