Editing Geronimo (section)

=== War with Mexico ===
Geronimo's chief, [[Mangas Coloradas]] (Spanish for "red sleeves"), sent him to [[Cochise]]'s band for help in his revenge against the Mexicans.<ref name="GeronimoStory" /> It was during this incident that the name ''Geronimo'' came about. This appellation stemmed from a battle in which, ignoring a deadly hail of bullets, he repeatedly attacked Mexican soldiers with a knife. The origin of the name is a source of controversy with historians, some writing that it was appeals by the soldiers to [[Jerome|Saint Jerome]] ("Jerónimo!") for help. Debo repeats this, speculating also an alternative unlikely in terms of phonetics, that it may have been "as close as they [Mexican soldiers] could come to the choking sounds that composed his name."{{sfn|Debo|1996|p=13}}

Attacks and counterattacks with Mexicans were common. In December 1860, 30 miners began a surprise attack on an encampment of Bedonkohes Apaches on the west bank of the [[Mimbres River]]. According to historian Edwin R. Sweeney, the miners "killed four Indians, wounded others, and captured thirteen women and children." Attacks by the Apache again followed, with raids against U.S. citizens and property.<ref name="GeronimoStory2" />

In 1873 the Mexicans once again attacked the Apache.<ref name="GeronimoCasaGrande">{{Cite book |url=http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/B/geronimo/geroni10.htm |title=Geronimo's story of his life |access-date=May 10, 2011 |chapter=Heavy Fighting |editor-first=S. M. |editor-last=Barrett |orig-year=1909 |year=1915 |publisher=New York: Duffield & Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404072258/http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/B/geronimo/geroni10.htm |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After months of fighting in the mountains, the Apaches and Mexicans decided on a peace treaty at [[Casas Grandes Municipality|Casas Grandes]].<ref name="GeronimoCasaGrande" /> After terms were agreed, the Mexican troops gave [[mezcal]] to the Apaches, and while they were intoxicated, they attacked and killed 20 Apaches and captured some.<ref name="GeronimoCasaGrande" /> The Apache were forced to retreat into the mountains once again.<ref name="GeronimoCasaGrande" />

{{Quote box
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|quote=I have killed many Mexicans; I do not know how many, for frequently I did not count them. Some of them were not worth counting. It has been a long time since then, but still I have no love for the Mexicans. With me they were always treacherous and malicious.
|source=''My Life: The Autobiography of Geronimo'', 1905.
|}}

Though outnumbered, Geronimo fought against both Mexican and United States troops and became famous for his daring exploits and numerous escapes from incarceration from 1858 to 1886.<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/05/movies/film-geronimo-still-with-a-few-rough-edges.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm FILM; Geronimo, Still With a Few Rough Edges] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217143658/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/05/movies/film-geronimo-still-with-a-few-rough-edges.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm |date=February 17, 2017 }}." ''The New York Times''. December 5, 1993</ref> One such escape, as legend has it, took place in the [[Robledo Mountains]] of southwest New Mexico. The legend states that Geronimo and his followers entered a cave, and the U.S. soldiers waited outside the entrance for him, but he never came out. Later, it was heard that Geronimo was spotted outside, nearby. The second entrance through which he escaped has yet to be found, and the cave is called Geronimo's Cave, even though no reference to this event or this cave has been found in the historic or oral record. Moreover, there are many stories of this type with other caves referenced that state that Geronimo or other Apaches entered to escape troops but were not seen exiting. These stories are in all likelihood apocryphal.<ref name="GeronimoStory2">{{Cite book |url=http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/B/geronimo/geroni12.htm |title=Geronimo's story of his life |access-date=May 10, 2011 |chapter=Coming of the White Men |editor-first=S. M. |editor-last=Barrett |orig-year=1909 |year=1915 |publisher=New York: Duffield & Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224092901/http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/B/geronimo/geroni12.htm |archive-date=December 24, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>