Book Review Desperate Warrior

 

Award-winning W. Michael Farmer's newest book, “Desperate Warrior: Days of War, Days of Peace Chato's Chiricahua Apache Legacy Volume One," offers readers an exceptional view into an epic saga in Apache history. The story is narrated by Apache warrior Chato. Farmer's meticulous and well-researched historical fiction brings to light a time period often overlooked and misunderstood. Pedes-Klinje(1854-1934) was known to the Mexicans as Chato, meaning “flat-nosed.” He was a subchief of the Chiricahua Apaches and often Geronimo's sequndo (second in command) for many raids and battles in southern Arizona and northern Mexico in the 1870s. His thirst for power and contempt for White Eyes (Blue Coats) was all-consuming.

At the beginning of the book, the author wisely incorporates a list of Apache words and phrases, names of historical characters pertinent to the story, specialized names, and Chiricahua Apache bands for ease of reading. A brief overview/synopsis of the story was a helpful background addition. While based on actual historical events, “Desperate Warrior” is a work of fiction, making it more impressive as the author effectively captures the “heart and soul” of a warrior who was betrayed by White Eyes, Geronimo, and his fellow Indian groups. 

Chato and Geronimo were taken under guard to San Carlos Reservation in 1877. Geronimo left the reservation in 1878, but he and the great war chief, Juh, were talked into returning in 1880. During this time, many promises were made to Apache bands but were not kept. Life on the San Carlos Reservation lacked necessary supplies, rampant mosquito-borne diseases prevailed, and corrupt politics provided crooked agents who stole supplies from sick and starving Indians. In 1881, Geronimo led a breakout from the reservation and was followed by Chato, then his Segundo, and over 300 Chokonen Chiricahua Apaches. From a stronghold of Juh in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountains the Apaches made war and raided on both sides of the border. While in Mexico in January 1883, Chato’s wife and two of his children were taken prisoner and sold into slavery by Tarahumara Indians serving as Mexican paramilitary. Chato desperately wanted to return them but had no idea where they were taken or who had them. In May of 1883, General George Crook led 50 cavalry troopers and nearly 200 Apache scouts into Mexico. In a near-bloodless coup, Crook convinced the Apache leaders to surrender and return to San Carlos. When Chato surrendered to Crook, Crook promised him he would get the army to work with the Mexican government and get his family back. Clinging to the notion that peaceful co-existence with White Eyes might improve the Apache’s situation, his he vowed to aid the US Army in maintaining peace on the reservation. When he returned to the reservation from Mexico in 1884 Chato became a First Sergeant of Scouts (the highest rank an Indian could hold), for Lieutenant Britton Davis who was in charge of the Chiricahuas at Fort Apache. Chato and Geronimo became enemies at Fort Apache when Chato warned Geronimo not to botch any deal to get his family back by leading a breakout from the reservation. A hard-eyed killer, Geronimo loved his People and his family but hated disloyalty. He called Chato a traitor and, just before breaking out in 1885, told his brothers Fun and Tisnah to kill him, which they were unable to do. When Geronimo denounced him as a traitor, hope began to fade for Chato to retrieve his family. With a relentless pursuit of justice, Chato becomes one of the primary scout leaders and leads the hunt for Geronimo’s renegades who broke out of Fort Apache in 1885.

Farmer's extensive knowledge of the time period and Apache history is evident in his descriptive writing. He vividly captures the essence of battle scenes, raids, everyday Indian life, the emotional turmoil of the Apache warriors, and the heart of a desperate warrior, Chato. Farmer's book is an impressive piece of writing and, from a historical perspective, a wonderful resource on Apache history and culture. 

Chato-1884

 

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MICHAEL FARMER https://wmichaelfarmer.com

W. Michael Farmer is a retired Ph. D physicist. He is an award-winning author of 18 books. He combines ten-plus years of research into nineteenth-century Apache history and culture with Southwest living experience to fill his stories with a genuine sense of time and place. His novel Desperate Warrior recently won the Will Rogers Medallion Award.