In times dating back to the period of Mexican rule of New Mexico (1821-46), the most important Apache chief was known as 'Red Sleeves,' or 'Mangas Coloradas.' Born probably around 1795 somewhere in southwestern New Mexico, Mangas became an imposing figure in the land of the Apache, both in terms of his leadership qualities and in physique. Several sources report that he stood 6'6" tall and weighed over 200 pounds, which was extremely large for an Apache.1 By the late 1830s he had assumed a leadership role among the Apache groups in southwestern New Mexico.

He earned a fearsome reputation as a warrior/chief fighting the Mexicans of Chihuahua and Sonora. The governments of those two Mexican states began paying bounties for Apache scalps in 1837, and that exacerbated the situation.2 By 1846, after the U. S. Army occupied New Mexico, Mangas met with Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny in an effort to get the Americans to help him with his long-standing war against the Mexicans. There was little Kearny could do at that point since he was on his way to fight in southern California. This meeting does serve to show that Mangas had no fear of Americans, or animosity toward them, at that point in time.

A U. S./Mexican border surveyor named J. R. Bartlett also came in contact with Mangas in the early 1850s, in an amicable way. Bartlett dined with the chief several times, and remarked, "on these occasions his [Mangas'] conduct was marked with as much decorum as though he had been used to civilized society all his life." In 1853 Mangas signed a provisional treaty that was intended to normalize relations between the United States and the Chiricahua Apache. 'Provisional' is the key word. Mangas declined to sign a more comprehensive treaty in 1855, even though it resulted in relative peace for a couple of years.

Gold was discovered at Pinos Altos, not far from Silver City, in 1860. Mangas did not understand the white man's attraction to the soft, yellow metal, and told several prospectors where they could find it. As the story goes, some of the prospectors got together and compared notes and came to believe that the Apache had told far too many of them about the deposits. They captured the chief and flogged him with a bullwhip. Mangas turned to Cochise, his daughter's husband, to assist in avenging his humiliation, but Cochise had other business and Mangas joined him.

The Civil War was on. The Confederates had occupied southern New Mexico (which then included Arizona) but had lost their foothold after their defeat at Glorieta Pass and retreated to Texas. Cochise received word that Union troops were en route east from California, and he determined to stop them at Apache Canyon. This would be Mangas' last battle.

This battle pitted about 700 Apaches against 126 soldiers, but the advantage rested with the army, which was outfitted with two mountain howitzers capable of firing grapeshot canisters. During the fighting, a detachment of cavalrymen were separated from the main body and set upon by a party of Apaches. All the soldiers escaped, but one, Pvt. John Teal who had his horse shot from under him. Teal, using his horse for cover, was able to hold off the Indians and was finally able to wound one of them. After that, the warrior party seemed to loose interest and they rode away. It was discovered later that the Apache Teal wounded was Mangas.

The old chief recovered, but he was close to 70 and nearing the end of his adventures. There are several stories regarding how Mangas was taken. One is that during an army offensive against the Gila Apaches, troops simply captured the chief. Another is that miners captured him when he went voluntarily to Pinos Altos to discuss a peace arrangement with them. The most probable story is that a group of mountain men and soldiers hatched a plan to lure the chief into meeting to discuss peace, and they promptly took him into custody when he arrived. He was removed to Fort McLane, near the present-day town of Hurley.3

Here is what happened then according to a witness. "About 9 o'clock I noticed the soldiers were doing something to Mangas. I discovered that they were heating their bayonets in the fire and burning his feet and legs. Mangas rose upon his left elbow, angrily protesting that he was no child to be played with." Then, the witness concluded, the guards killed the chief with four shots. To complete the deed, he was scalped and decapitated.4

Not a stellar day for the frontier army.

Endnotes:

1 The Apache chief Cochise also stood above six feet. It is doubtful that he looked much like actor Jeff Chandler who played the part of Cochise in the 1950 movie Broken Arrow.

2 One source says that Mangas had a Mexican wife. It was not uncommon for the Indians to capture Mexican women and adopt them into the tribe.

3 Historian R. E. Twitchell reports that Mangas was taken to Fort McLeod. There was no Fort McLeod in New Mexico at the time, but Fort McLane was originally called Fort Floyd.

4 Another source says that Mangas was running to avoid red-hot bayonets when he was shot down.

Sources:

Benjamin Capps. 'The Great Chiefs' (Time-Life Books)

Rathbun & Alexander. 'New Mexico Frontier Military Place Names.'

John Stoutenburgh, Jr. 'Dictionary of the American Indian.'

Dan L. Thrapp. 'Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography.'

Marshall Trimble. 'Roadside History of Arizona.'

Ralph Emerson Twitchell. 'The Leading Facts of New Mexican History.'

Robert M. Utley. 'Frontier Regulars, The United States Army and the Indian, 1866-1891.'

DON BULLIS writes about New Mexico history for The Rio Rancho Observer. His most recent book, '99 New Mexicans...and a few other folks,' is available at local bookstores. He is also the editor of the New Mexico Historical Notebook. He can be reached at don.bullis@att.net.