LionHeart Sends – Apache Tactics

Hello Happy Partisans,
I found a book that needs to be read. Only 66 pages with many pictures and diagrams in a free PDF so no excuses.
https://www.theoldsystem.com/forDownloads/Tabletops/Deadlands/Misc/Osprey – ACW/Osprey – ELI 119 – Apache Tactics 1830-86.pdf
It is an Osprey publication discussing Apache tactics from 1830-86 and is extremely informative. Their methods grew from their culture and an education that began at a very young age. Stamina, endurance, discipline, leadership and fieldcraft were excellent and it was simply the Apache way of life with various performance expectations and initiations along the way. Survival, hunting and war all meshed together in a lifestyle and the feats described in the book are amazing and worth learning.
The Apache were far more devious and cunning than the Plains Indians. They would establish patterns and change them with great results as soon as the enemy seemed to catch on. For example, they would always leave the area after performing an ambush in order to be far away when any response arrived. Then one day they wiped out a Mexican militia patrol. Instead of leaving as usual they remained in position two more days until a second detachment showed up. The Apache waited until group 2 collected and buried the bodies before springing again while their new victims were lined up, heads down, for a graveside memorial ceremony.
In another instance a 75 year old chief led a force on a 1500 mile raid into Mexico to steal a massive herd of cattle. The Mexican pursuit was awesome and the entire US Cavalry force in the area, several regiments worth, knew they were coming and awaited their return. The Apache handled it all with ease and the entire herd made it to their home ground. The diversion they used is worth study.
The Apache were able to run rings around much larger forces and they did so for decades in a rather limited area with a very small population. It only ended when the Army found other pissed off Apache and made it Apache vs Apache. Even then it took years to run them down.
As an aside, I was surprised to find they rarely worked at night because that was when the poisonous snakes and scorpions were active. That means most of their accomplishments were in broad daylight. How cool is that?
Enjoy,
LionHeart

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

18 Comments

  1. Vagabond January 9, 2021 at 05:22

    Thanks for this. I for one like the historical perspectives in and of themselves, and with this one comes the added value of special relevancy. I had read the Comanches were extremely effective, organized and viscous but dependent on horses and the Apaches avoided them, but for bushcraft relevant to the Southwest the Apaches had it down.
    Given these ‘interesting times’ lots of reading these days but the variation in perspective is welcome, thanks.

    • Coyyote January 9, 2021 at 12:04

      The Commanches were recognized as some of the finest mounted cavalry ever. In the end the government starved them and the others out by relentlessly hounding them and of course killing off their major food source – the buffalo. But the benevolent government then took over the care taking of these tribes. Having traveled through several reservations I have a good idea of how this could end up for patriots, and it is not good.

  2. Anonymous January 9, 2021 at 06:04

    5

  3. Rooster January 9, 2021 at 08:45

    In the old Western films the Apache would not attack at night. Now I know why…..if they only had nods imagine how much more awesome they would have been.
    R

  4. 71M January 9, 2021 at 09:06

    Downloaded and saved. Very informative read & reference.
    1873, 45-70, Trapdoor Springfield is a durable and fine weapon. I have a low serial #, functional one hanging in my kitchen.
    Have a 1758, 62 cal, flint lock Colonial Musket reproduction. The flintlock was used at every Colonial Re-enactment I attended. Even hard corn down the barrel for shot was lethal. Yet one Indian warrior could unleash a quiver of arrows in a Colonist before a second reload

  5. mobiuswolf January 9, 2021 at 10:19

    In broad daylight, in barren country!
    Thanks

  6. Wyogrunt January 9, 2021 at 11:55

    I grew up in Arizona frequently backpacking into the chiracuahua mountains. A great spot was cochise stronghold one trip there will open your eyes to how tough a fight it was that terrain. Bring plenty of water.

  7. StormN January 9, 2021 at 13:07

    Geronimo was an Apache who, practically speaking, was unbeatable. Going ‘off the reservation’ a little (pun alert!) his spirit guardian had told him he could not be killed by a bullet. So he would charge the entrenched mexican soldiers head on scaring the crap out of them. He liked to show off to tourists the numerous bullet scars on his body. When asked about regrets he replied that he didn’t sleep well because he would see the faces of the white (non-indian) children he had killed on raids. His fighting spirit was born out of a depression turned to rage at the non-whites (mexican soldiers) who had slaughtered his wife and children.
    Going further off the reservation, I just read House to House where a GI almost shoots a child but was ordered off by a superior. There just doesn’t seem to be any justifiable excuse for deliberately killing a child. It is just my impression that the regret that Geronimo experienced is likely typical – and a God-given warning to the rest of us.

    • StormN January 9, 2021 at 13:13

      Oh crap! Where I said non-whites I meant non-indians.

    • HighCountry January 10, 2021 at 00:12

      Chief Roman Nose thought he had the invincible JuJu too at the Battle of Beecher Island (actually a sand bar). The Army and civilian volunteers were heavily outnumbered by the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers. The Indians had no idea that a repeating rifle even existed. Every one in the small command had been issued Spencer 7 shot carbines. When the Indians charged, which was reported to be 300 of them, Lt. Forsyth told everybody to hold their fire until the Indians reached the river bank. Over 100 Indians were killed including Chief Roman Nose. There is a lot to be said about superior firepower.

      • StormN January 10, 2021 at 11:42

        Too true. Yesterday I read that the army’s repeater rifles were, for some unclear reason to me, at the end of the civil(?) war were replaced back with the previous breech-loading rifles. At Custer’s last stand the indians had about 700 repeater rifles. Enough said.
        Oh, so Chief Hook Nose also had a guardian spirit tell him the same thing? I’ll have to check that out. Thanks.

  8. Curve the Straight January 9, 2021 at 14:19

    I read this years ago and keep it in my bookshelf next to my Army TMs. Good choice for everyone.

    • StormN January 9, 2021 at 22:24

      I just printed it out. Looking forward to reading it.

  9. Mark. January 9, 2021 at 15:31

    Thank you.

  10. James January 10, 2021 at 09:20

    Thanks for link Lion,will give it a peruse and perhaps a printing.

  11. Anonymous January 10, 2021 at 11:34

    4.5

  12. Big Eared Dave January 10, 2021 at 11:40

    I live next to San Carlos Indian Reservation. (Apache) I have this book. Another interesting book is “Western Apache Raiding and Warfare”

  13. StormN January 16, 2021 at 13:53

    Just finished reading this short book. The diagrams of and inserts explaining specific attacks or ambushes was worth following. The book is very well written. The author really did his homework. I live in Arizona and can more readily identify with this subject. Although I think the author has a slight bias in favor of his subject: Apaches, I really enjoyed it and found it objective and very informative. Fundamental, effective guerrilla warfare without the ideological or communist slant.
    I stand by my belief that future generations of our 3% should follow the Green Berets 2 team SOP and more effectively defend our country from . . . just about . . . anything. De Opresso Liber indeed!
    It is worth noting and is nothing short of amazing that often the Apaches did all these movements, raids, ambushes, etc. with their families (wives, children) in tow!
    The Apaches use of cruelty and the killing of women and children is explained. While I understand the effectiveness of cruelty as a tactic(read Vlad the Impaler), what the author fails to point out is the long term fallout of such a tactic. Little wonder our soldiers and Mexican soldiers used such tactics, I believe, in frustration and revenge. Little wonder civilians for several generations despised, mistreated and lynched indians: “The sins of the father shall be visited upon their children for 7 generations . . .” As for indian women and children getting caught in crossfire, per the above comment on how they traveled with their families, the Apaches only have themselves to blame. The author doesn’t say it but I’ll wager this crossfire may have also been a motivator for Apache cruelty.
    And on it goes. War is hell.

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