Sunday, June 16, 2013

How does the War Department feel about Geronimo’s story being told?

The War Department is surprisingly relaxed about the publication of Geronimo's story. It openly acknowledges that his manuscript is "an interesting autobiography of a notable Indian...;" an important work that tells the story from the side of the Native-Americans. However, the department does object to a number of individual passages in the manuscript. The first one concerns an attack by U.S. soldiers upon an Indian tent at Apache Pass, yet Geronimo's account is confirmed by contemporary news reports.
The War Department also objects to Geronimo's criticism of General Crook, but the publishers of the book maintain that it's simply a matter of private opinion and doesn't materially concern the history of the Apaches. Geronimo criticizes another officer General Miles, accusing him of bad faith. The publishers recognize that General Miles concluded a treaty with the Apaches, one whose terms were subsequently violated when Geronimo and other Apache warriors were actively prevented from returning to their tribal lands. However, they conclude that the unfair treatment meted out to the Apaches was the responsibility of the government and not of General Miles personally.

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